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Guide to FastPass at Disneyland

A Splash Mountain FastPass ticket

FastPass is a new system instituted at Disneyland and Walt Disney World to reduce the amount of time guests are required to spend in line at the most popular attractions. At Disneyland, FastPass is currently operating at the following attractions:

Note: Click on an attraction see go to its page in the Disneyland Attraction Guide or Disney's California Adventure Attraction Guide.

Disneyland

Disney's California Adventure

Here's how it works

Go to the attraction and you'll see displays indicating the current wait time for the normal line (called the stand-by line) and the current return time for FastPass. You always have the option of waiting in the normal line or getting a FastPass. If you get a FastPass you'll need to return at the time indicated (a one hour window).
If you choose to get a FastPass, insert your ticket - whether it be a one-day passport, Flex passport, annual passport or any other type of passport - and out will pop a Fastpass ticket indicating when you will need to return.
Go do something else! When the time comes, return to the attraction and look for a sign marked "FastPass Return". Show your FastPass to the Cast Member and, when asked to, enter the line and have little or no wait for the attraction.

There are a couple of rules to keep in mind

Because your ticket is required to get a FastPass, make sure you hold on to your ticket after entering Disneyland.
Once you have obtained a FastPass, you cannot obtain another FastPass on any attraction until two hours have passed or your return time has arrived. This means you cannot get a Space Mountain FastPass then immedietely go get a Splash Mountain FastPass. You must wait for two hours or until your Space Mountain return time has arrived - whichever comes first - before getting a Splash Mountain FastPass.

Tips

Be sure to look at the current return time before getting a FastPass. If it's not a time you'll be able to make, or it's too far in the future, don't get a FastPass. Remember, you won't be able to get another FastPass until that return time has come and you can always wait in the normal (stand-by) line.
Pay attention to the length of the stand-by line. If it's not very long, you may be better off just getting in line and not getting a FastPass.
If the length of time from now to the return time is approximately the same as the length of the stand-by line, consider getting a FastPass then waiting in the stand-by line. Then, when you get finish the attraction, go to the FastPass Return entrance, present your FastPass and ride a second time with a very short wait.

-- Last Updated May 14, 2003

Below are comments from readers about Disneyland's FastPass

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For those who have parkhopper tickets or passes: The fastpass systems in Disneyland and DCA are independent of each other, so you can get concurrent fastpasses for attractions in the two parks. For example, if you get a fastpass for a ride in one park, you can then go immediately to the other park and get another fastpass for a ride in the other park without waiting.
-- hgkelley (11/2/2006)

The attractions at DCA that offer fastpass are Grizzly River Run, Soarin Over California, Muholland Madness, California Screamin, and Tower of Terror. Those 5 and only those 5!! Mon-Thurs. in the off-seasons fastpass is closed because the lines aren't that long anyway. Fri-Sun they are always open and open everyday during peak periods. Here's a secret: You can get a fastpass for Grizzly without it hindering you from getting another one in the park at the same time. Also, consider that fastpass creates a huge problem for the stand-by or regular lines. They will move much slower and the wait times will always be longer than before fastpass was available in the parks. You cannot return before your fastpass time starts, but fastpasses are still good after your time has passed.
Ok I'm giving all the insider info away so I'll stop now!
-- sealdwithakis (5/1/2006)

I like fastpass because we loved the fact of basically no line waiting when we came back to the ride. Just becareful that when you leave that you dont miss your fast pass times. It is so easy to do in the wonderful world of Disney!!
-- ARROYSLUVDISNEY (9/22/2005)

Fast Pass is great. It saved us much time. Over three days I think the longest we waited for anything was 30 minutes. That would not have been the case without fast pass. It also allowed us to go on all our favourites twice.
-- darcy-becker (8/27/2005)

I'm talking about riding Space Mountian first
-- sandman (8/15/2005)

When I went I just braved the 45 min. wait first thing in the morning so I could get more fast passes during the day.
-- sandman (8/15/2005)

I got a fastpass at 3pm for Space Mountain (it recently re-opened) and the time I got was 10:30-11:30pm. Get your fastpass early for popular rides!!
-- superhero99 (7/22/2005)

Fastpasses for really popular rides, like Indy and Splash, tend to run out around 5-6 pm during the busy seasons. Be sure to get Fastpasses before this time if you don't want to stay at the park until midnight.
-- adventurelander (6/21/2005)

It's great, use it

-- Eric (4/6/2005)

We were there in mid December and the Fast Pass machines for Pirates of the Caribbean have been removed. I don't know if this is a permenent change of if if it's just for the winter months. Also, the Fast Pass machines for "Splash Mountain" have been moved from near the exit of the "Haunted Mansion" to an area closer to the actual entrance to the ride.
-- Bliflyer (2/10/2005)

Time to update this page... don't you read my posts ;)
-- Darkbeer (1/15/2005)

Fastpass rocks!!!!! When we go out there we use them all of the time. For example, first thing in the Morning we go to Indiana Jones and get a fastpass and then during the wait we ride Pirates and the Haunted Mansion, and then get a fastpass for Splash Mountain. Then we go ride Indiana Jones and go back to Splash Mountain. Then we go to the other lands and get fastpasses for the rides we can, and while we wait we ride the rides without the fastpass option. SO we end up riding each of the fastpass rides at least four times a day.We use our saved time to watch the parades and shows, and ride the rides in Fantasyland. Fastpass is great! IT allows us to do everything we want to because it saves us time and energy. We love it and will continue to use it!
-- triviaman908 (8/21/2004)

Based on Rumors...I've heard that several of the rides will no longer have FastPass or the will be CLOSED during non peak days. I also hear the small world holiday FastPass will not return. Haunted Mansion will not have it EXCEPT for the holiday time and Pirates and Winnie will no longer have it. DCA also has A bugs life on the removal list. These are rumors and looks to be true based on certain location currently showing a closed status.
-- DLFreak71 (7/20/2004)

Well, I'll tell you the attractions not connected:
Star Tours
Pirates
Haunted Mansion (except at Christmas)
Roger Rabbit
Grizzly River Run
And I can confirm that they're strict about the start of the 1 hour window, but not the end. I used one with a 9:40 AM return at 9:15 PM with no problem. In fact, we had basically spent the morning collecting FPs for use at night.
-- ralfrick (5/31/2004)

WE LOVE FAST PASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!If you know how to time it just right you can actually hold multiple FastPasses at the same time. It is a little known fact, but at the time of our last visit (Thanksgiving '02) we were told by a cast member that there are a few attractions at DLR that allow you to hold a FP at any time. We tried them all out and it is true. Of course I'm not going to tell you what attractions, just make that part of your adventure! Last year at one time we held FPs for 4 different attractions at one time! Good luck in figuring out the system!!!!
-- FamilyOfDisneyFans (10/11/2003)

Go on matterhorn first thing. It is not fastpassed.
-- year2late (10/5/2003)

I love the fastpass system, however keep in mind, I prey on the uneducated park explorer. I am afraid that the more that fastpass is explained the more trouble I will have in overtaking the park. I get the fastpass for the attractions I want with very little difficulty in working in the rides I see in-between the major attractions.
-- goofy4disney (6/5/2003)

I just returned from Disneyland & California Adventure. With our AAA Disney tickets, we were able to get Fast Passes for ALL the rides without waiting 2 hours. One busy day at California Adventure we were able to get fast passes for Soarin Over California (wait for a "front row seat"), California Screamin, and Grizzly River Run while the family rode the Sun Wheel. Same at Disneyland. AAA tickets really made scheduling with a family easier. I don't mind doing other things and returning later. Many times when we did wait in stand-by, the wait was a lot longer than posted. Also try Delta Vacation packages. You get special perks at Disneyworld parks.
-- Briandsmia (4/1/2003)

We love fastpass, After deciding what our next FP destination is, we send one person to get the FP (for our entire party). This saves clogging the FP lines, and allows the rest of the group, to shop, get into food lines, or into another attraction line. Have Fun!!!!
-- oneofakindshoppe (3/15/2003)

Fastpass works well!
-- Kgschaal (2/10/2003)

What has been the experience of getting multiple fast passes at Disneyland. We'll be ther during the Dec. Holidays
-- Zipadee (10/22/2002)

I think FastPass is really cool. The only problem is when you walk right by the people in the Stand-by line, you feel a little bit guilty as they scowl at you. But you get over it quickly when you get on the ride sooner than they do.
-- lovebutton04 (9/16/2002)

I highly recommend this option if you don't have alot of time to wait or if you want to get alot done in a day. It's a real time saver. Disney came up with a grand idea when they incorporated this.
-- MMClub (9/4/2002)

last I checked not all fastpass locations appeared linked together therefore if you know which ones are not linked you can have more than one pass at a time for different rides at different times
-- spamspamspam (7/14/2002)

It is very useful. It saves time. One thing I noticed was that you can come back any time after the minimum and they let you in!

-- johnmuirburbank (6/19/2002)

There's a limit on how many people can get a fastpass for each ride, so the lines cannot "equalize" as some people state, unless a very small amount of people were at the park
-- JUNEBUG1233 (6/3/2002)

doctornothing... appropriate handle..
doesn't suprise me you are familiar with a long list of theropists... sounds like you have a lot of repressed memories..

-- knowitall (2/7/2002)

On all my visits, my family and I have used FastPass. We found it easy to use if you read and follow the directions. It isn't that hard to do, just follow the directions people. I find that my trip are more fun when I am not standing in line. I enjoy using it on all my trips to Disneyland. We have never been questioned by those in the "stand-by" line, when using FastPast. So, I highly recommend the use of the FastPass system.
-- aochoa95 (2/6/2002)

The in-line themeing is easy to miss with fast pass, but if you blink your eyes really fast as you go through, you can create a sort of strobing effect where even if you don't conciously see everything, subconciously, you've memorized it all. With the help of a licensed hypnotist back home, you'll be able to draw up this and any other repressed memories and enjoy them all year round.
-- doctordonothing (2/6/2002)

Fastpass is nice if you have a fastpass ticket but if you are in the "standby" line it is very annoying.. The bottom line is that over the whole day you wait the same amount of time to get on the same number of attractions. The time you save using fastpass you loss when you have to use the "standby" lines.. Ultimately where a guest losses with this is in attitude. The time you are happy getting in quick is much shorter, because you get on an attraction much quicker, than the time you are waiting in the "standby" line annoyed watching people being put in in front of you. Also, now you get board with the theming when you are in the "standby" lines because they move so slow and when you are in the fastpass lines you don't get to experience much of the theming because you move through it so fast. As long as fastpass is here I will use it and not put myself behind everybody else but guest were better off without it. Now Disney, they are obviously happy with it because now guest are spending time and money on shopping and food in stead of standing in line..

-- Time8 (2/6/2002)

good idea
-- 092458 (2/6/2002)

FASTPASS is NOT the invention of Disneyland! The UK's Alton Towers introduced 'The Virtual Q' last year, and I'm pretty sure that other Themeparks have used a similar system.

Ironically Alton Towers impliments the system far, far better than Disney with the FAST PASS, despite introducing it a year before. Towers' allotted 'Virtual Q' time brackets are smaller, tickets can only be taken up to an hour before the atual ride time, you can have as many passes t a time as you want (not just one every two hours) and the ride entrance for 'Virtual Q' ticket holders is well away from the 'normal' queue, sorry, line (avoiding any possible disputes between park guests).

Suggest to Disney, lie I've done, that they take a leaf our of Alton Towers book - their system works a hundred times better.
-- eddmorris (4/15/2001)

I have an AP to Disneyland, so I go all the time. I think FASTPASS is a wondeful idea. Before, I would have to wait one or two hours for Space Mountain, now I only wait about five minutes. I find that I get a lot more done during my one day visits than I used to. One thing I would advise is to make sure you see what the return time is and what the stand-by line is. Sometimes, on less crowded days, it is just as easy to go on stand-by. But, FASTPASS is still great! Good job Disneyland!
-- KevAct1 (4/6/2001)

I've only been to Disneyland once since FASTPASS has become available...and I loved it! It is a great way to maximize the amount of rides you can go on, but mostly, it keeps kids happy because it saves them from having to wait in long lines. To me, FASTPASS seems to be more of a moral booster than time saver (but it is both). To those who are anti-FP, it's not a 'cutting in line' system, it HOLDS your place in line so instead of staying there you can do other things, but board at (roughly) the same time you would if you waited in line. Nobody is cheating, and FP holders really are not making the line any longer...so stop hating it, and start taking advantage of it!
-- -Megara- (3/19/2001)

Great! Works well
-- poa65 (3/11/2001)

I'm happy that the parks have
developed the FASTPASS. This
system is wonderful. When we went
to Disneyland in November during
Thanksgiving weekend, we used the
FASTPASS for Splash Mountain, Big
Thunder Mountain Railroad,
Autopia and the Indiana Jones
ride. That's probably it. So next
time you go to any of the parks
and prefer not to wait in line,
use the FASTPASS whenever you can.
By the way, while waiting for
Splash Mountain's return time,
we caught a show at the Country
Bear Playhouse. At the time we
were there, they had the Christmas
show, so we saw that.
-- bugs85 (3/11/2001)

FastPass, excellent! I never have a visit in which I don't use it.
-- Shorty (11/13/2000)

Excellent...hope they keep it in place! Just get one and not feel 'Dopey' for standing in line.
-- MothX (10/25/2000)

When I was at Disneyland just last week I used quite a few fast passes. I liked them when Ihad one, but not when other people with fast passes got to cut in front of me. That let me know how the people I was cutting in front of felt. I think Disneyland had a good idea to begin with, but nothing can beat the good old fashioned waiting in line for an hour
-- Morwool (8/11/2000)

I am a castmemeber and i speacialize in the fastpass service.
This is a great system regardless of what people say. Why wouldn't you want to use it?
I constanly get guest complaining about the fastpass and how it's soooo unfair and discriminating cause they aren't the one's with the pass.
Just like the freeway carpool lane, if you choose to use the option than good, but if not; then don't
complain about it. The opportunity is there for each guest, its not our (Disneyland) fault that you are not using the system.
-- FASTPASS-BOY (8/8/2000)

I love this system...on the 4th of July, it allowed us to ride about 6 or 7 more rides that we would have without it. It doesn't seem to work well on Splash Mtn.--that line seems to equalize after a while...90 minutes Stand-by, 40-45 minutes Fastpass; but on Space Mountain, Autopia, Roger Rabbit's, and especially Indy, it works extremely well. If have only one day at Disneyland, use this as much as you can...It will work about 95% of the time. Wish they wouldn't make it so the Stand-by guests can see you--they give kind of odd looks. But take advantage of the system! It WILL allow you to do much, much more during your stay.
-- rrdl2k (7/9/2000)

Fastpass is a great idea by Disney. A tip,try to stay in the same area until your window comes.(i.e; if you get a space mountain Fastpass,get in line for something like Rocket Rods to consume time)Also, by staying in the same area it cuts the wait even more because you'll be the very first in the Fastpass line.
-- Rollercoasterfreak (7/6/2000)

Fastpass is OK now at best. It allows a few extra minutes to ride the smaller rides while waiting. But the more people find out about it, the more useless it will become. All it will do is lengthen the standby line and eventually lengthen the fastpass line too! Plus it makes your trip to the park more hectic, trying to be in a certain area at a certain time.
-- cfb403 (6/17/2000)

I think that that fast pass was a great idea. It minimizes waits without waiting. While you would be waiting in line at that rides, you can go off and ride in a diffrent ride. Way cool!

-- Lil Mermaid (6/17/2000)

I tried FastPass for the first time on a Saturday and absolutely HATED it! It causes more problems than it's worth! We went to get a FP for Splash Mountain in the early afternoon only to get a reservation time of between 9:55 to 10:55 PM. Who wants to go on a water ride that late at night??? The CM at the entrance said that at 10:00am that morning, tickets for 5pm were being distributed. The reservation time for Space Mountain was 6 hours ahead! All the while, the standby line is taking a lot longer to wait in because of all the FP people going ahead of you! Space Mountain use to take about 45min MAX to wait in line for, even on a busy day. It took us 1.5 hours (twice the normal wait) to get on. To me, FastPass stinks unless the park is nearly empty, and who needs FastPass then???
-- tad (5/17/2000)

FastPass is one of the best innovations to come out of Disney (smart of them to patent it). It actually is a great way for Disney to help spread out the demand for attractions and give guests who know what it is a way to enjoy other activities in the park rather than wait in line. People who don't know about it may get angry, but I think there is enough information on it... sometimes you have to take the initiative to inform yourself by reading the brochure given to you.
-- dairyvalley (3/12/2000)

I was very skepical at first. I just didn't understand how it would work. But, when we tried it we loved it. You get your fastpass, stay in that same land, shop get a snack or even take in a less busy attraction. We used it during New Year's. Would like to see FastPass used on Indy. An advantage right now is that not that many people are aware of the program. Once fastpass becomes common knowledge it may not be so great.
-- cmckeown (3/3/2000)

I actually run FastPass at Roger and Splash. You'd be suprised at how unhappy the folks are that wait in line and don't know what it is, then see people waltzing in right in front of them. They get rather "animated" themselves ;-). But don't let that stop you, it's a great feature for those that DO use it :-).
-- Admin (3/2/2000)

FastPass is a wonderful invention. As a premium A/P holder, I refuse to wait in any line that is horribly long. I figure that people coming in from out-of-town deserve to ride Splash more than I do, since I can come ride any time I wish.

FastPass allows me to ride what I want without having to wait, or without feeling guilty for riding a ride four times in one day.

I recommend FastPass for everyone, especially visitors outside of the SoCal area. There is much to see and do at DL, so I hope people take advantage of this system to avoid wasting two hours of their whole day in a line.
-- Ursula (3/1/2000)

I have used Fastpass at WDW and love it!!! I couldn't reccommend it more! It's easy to use & maximizes your whole park experience! =)
-- tdcMeeko (2/24/2000)

My problem with FastPass is that it depends on a large number of guests making "the wrong choice", i.e. the Standby line. It works well as implemented, but as more guests figure it out I think the numbers may start to equalize.. negating the advantage of coming back later.
On the other hand, FastPass is really boosting the numbers at the smaller C ticket attractions, like Country Bears.

-- Andrew Rich
-- lt_damato (1/31/2000)

Note: Information in reader comments is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Reader comments do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

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