Let's go ahead and get started. This post won't be nearly as long as Volume 1, but it will have a lot of really awesome stuff.
Like I said, you'll be a pro when you're done!
FastPasses - the joy of Disney.
How do they work?
How many do you get?
How do you use them?
Let's talk about FastPass booking.
1) On-site guests get to start booking FP reservations 60 days before their travel dates.
2) Off-site guests can start booking 30 days before their travel dates.
3) FP reservations are saved to your MagicBand along with Credit Card information and other reservations this means if you are an on-site guest, you'll get your MagicBand included with your stay. If you're staying off-site and you want the convenience of the MagicBand, you'll have to purchase one - the basic ones start at $14.99 and go up. You can check out the MagicBands available HERE.
How do they work?
FastPasses are Disney's ride-cutting service - as I like to think of it at least. Essentially, Disney picks certain rides, meet and greets, and other attractions at each park in which you can take advantage of cutting main line.
FastPasses really are the joy of Disney because they drastically cut down the wait time allowing you to enjoy those "must do/must see" things without waiting hours. If you have a smaller child who can't ride the roller coasters yet, and they would prefer to see a show or meet a certain character, then you can easily use the FastPass for that instead. I suggest taking the time to figure out which rides your child can/can't ride, which shows you have to see, and if there are any specialty characters that your son/daughter would love to meet.
You can find all a list of all of the rides and their height requirements on Disney's website (HERE). For an updated list of the FastPass rides, meet and greets, and attractions at each park click HERE!
How many do you get?
You start off with 3 FP reservations per park, per day. You can only book 3 however once you are at the park and have used all 3 reservations, Disney allows you one additional FP at a time after the first 3. Let's say you book your first 3 and use them, you can now go back into the app and select one more FP reservation while you're in the park. Keep in mind it's based on availability, so do not expect to get popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train while in the park - it may happen, but chances are very likely.
Here are a few hacks we learned while in the park:
1) Try to make it to rope drop or take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours provided to on-site guests - this way you save a few FP reservations because you won't need them if you are first in the park or first to a ride once the park opens.
2) If you are going to the park in the morning and don't plan on staying late, book all 3 FP reservations from 10am to 1pm. This is the busiest time at the park, and if you use your FP reservations before 1pm, then you will have the extra FP reservations available after that. Which means more opportunities to ride. However, I suggest booking your top-3 rides during your 30/60 day reservation window and then worry about the other rides once you're in the park.
3) If you are going to park in the evening, book all 3 FP reservations between 1 and 3pm as this will be your busy window and you may be able to snag some extras before the park closes.
4) When searching for your extra FP reservations, after using your original 3, refresh regularly on the FP page in the app. You may be able to find some last minute cancellations, so don't give up if you check once. Try and try again!
How do you use them?
Once you are at the park, and you're ready to use your FastPass, you have a few options.
Option 1: CANCEL & CHANGE RESERVATIONS
Let's say you decide once you're in the park that you want to cancel and find another FP - maybe you want to try your luck and get a popular ride or you want a later time, or you just don't want that FP anymore. You can easily search FP in the park while there and change reservations as you please. Keep in mind you have to use your first 3 to access others.
Option 2: USE FASTPASS RESERVATION
When you’re ready to use your FP, simply go over to your ride and find the FP line (sometimes the FP and Regular line are not side-by-side, so make sure you pay attention to which line you’re in). Once in the FP line, you’ll need to have your MagicBand ready to be scanned. You’ll simply tap your band to the FP Mickey-head and once it lights up green, you’re good to go! Enter the line and enjoy! One thing to note, you can arrive as early as 15 minutes before your reservation time and as late as 15 minutes after your reservation window. This means you have an hour and 30 minutes to use your FP - 15 minutes before FP window, plus one hour in the FP window, and within 15 minutes past the FP window. My suggestion: try really hard not to miss that one hour window. I know they give you the extra 15 minutes on the backend, but don’t be that person unless it’s due to something out of your control - someone got sick, issue with previous ride/show, etc. Also, if you believe that you will not make it to your FP reservation, go to the app and change it so that it releases that time window allowing a chance for another family to pick it up.
Another awesome thing about FastPasses is they are available to use with rider switch which makes riding rides so much more fun. Not only do you get to skip the long lines, but your family can easily swap out and skip the line too. Rider switch is an amazing program that Disney designed for families with children or members who can’t/won’t ride certain rides. If you have a child who doesn’t meet the height requirement or a member of the group who can’t ride due to medical issues or they’re just scared, then rider switch is a way that you can go on those rides while those non-rider members wait with another adult who will then switch out with the first adult without having to wait in the line again.
Let's side-note and dive into the rider switch a little more because this is very helpful for so many. How exactly does rider switch work.
Step 1) Everyone in your group goes to the FastPass queue
Step 2) Request at Rider Switch Pass at the scan station
Step 3) Group 1 rides the attraction while Group 2 waits with non-riders
-The Cast Member will tell the Group 2 members where to wait
Step 5) Group 2 members then switch out with Group 1 members as soon as the ride is complete
Be sure to keep rider switch in your mind for those bigger rides or for rides where members won't/can't ride.
A few closing notes...
At this point in the planning timeline, you can't actually book your FP reservations, so just as you did with the dining prep, take time to prep for your FP booking time:
Start by writing down your top 5 FP attractions/rides/meet & greets.
Then, circle your top 3 - since you can only book 3 to start, make sure you're ready to go with those so those are the first one's you grab.
As we get closer to the booking window, we will go into more detail on how I plan this out, but for now, make it a priority to review all of the rides that do have FP reservations.