How do Fastpasses Work at Disneyland Resort?

May 25, 2016

Q: How do FastPasses Work at Disneyland Resort?

A: Fastpasses at Disneyland are paper tickets allowing you to visit some of the main attractions at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure but skip the lines. Anyone with a valid park admission is eligible to use the FREE FastPass system. Visitors to the parks will stop by the kiosk of the ride they would like a FastPass for, check the return time listed on the distribution sign and if the time is suitable, guests pick up a paper ticket at the FastPass kiosk. Visitors then return at the allotted time and enter the FastPass line which is drastically shorter than the standby line. It is a great system allowing guests to spend less time waiting in long lines and more time enjoying headline attractions.

What attractions offer FastPass tickets? There are several attractions at both parks that offer the FastPass option, they are as follows:

Disneyland:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones Adventure
Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Disney California Adventure:

California Screamin’
Goofy’s Sky School
Grizzly River Run
Radiator Springs Racers (kiosk found near It’s Tough to Be a Bug!)
Soarin’ Over California
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
World of Color (kiosk found near Grizzly River Run)

Can I get more than one FastPass at a time? No (for the most part). Unlike the Walt Disney World system, Disneyland FastPasses are typically distributed one at a time. FastPass kiosks will not distribute another FastPass ticket to you until the starting time on your current Fastpass.

There are two exceptions to this. The first is World of Color. FastPasses for this evening spectacular are called “disconnected FastPasses.” What this means is that holding a FastPass for this attraction does not prevent you from obtaining other FastPasses. The World of Color FP’s are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis outside Grizzly River Run). It is strongly recommended that guests visiting Disney’s California Adventure Park, try to nab them as early as possible upon entering the parks.

The other exception is if visitors opt to visit both parks in one day. Which I will discuss below.

Does Disneyland Resort ever run out of FastPasses? Yes. particularly during peak times. A FastPass shortage can happen with popular headline attractions. The biggest one is Radiator Springs Racers so again it is recommended to try and get a FP early. Other rides that may also have a shortage include: California Screamin’, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain so again these are rides best experienced earlier in your visit.

Does everyone in my party need a FastPass? Yes. In order to ride with your entire party, every member must get their own Fastpass. However a good tip is to select what Disneyland fans call a “FastPass Runner” which is a designated member of your party that will use your tickets to obtain Fastpasses for everyone. This takes a bit of the stress off of all members of the family, and also reduces gridlock at the FastPass kiosks. Children under the age of 2 who do not need a park ticket are not required to get FastPasses.

Can I get FastPasses at both parks if I park hop? Yes. Unlike Walt Disney World, Disneyland does not restrict your FP use to only one park. As a matter of fact, Disneyland and California Adventure run on different FastPass systems so it is even possible to hold a FastPass for each park at the same time. There are Disneyland strategists out there who will run between both parks in the AM to nab FastPasses for headline attractions at both. However it should be noted that valid Park Hopper admission is required to visit both parks on the same day.

Can I save my FastPasses and use them next time I visit the parks? No. FastPasses are valid only on the date that they are issued.

What happens if I missed my FastPass window? If you didn’t make it to your ride during the selected time, then sadly you will need to get another FastPass. You may find a kind Cast Member willing to wave you through, but it cannot be guaranteed as Disney has cracked down on FastPass windows in recent years.

What happens if I lose my FastPass? Disneyland Resort does not offer replacements for missing FastPasses, again you would need to select a new Fastpass.

A quick tip if you’re new to the FastPass game is to avoid getting FastPasses for any rides that have lines under 20-30 minutes. Also the biggest tip you will get from most Disney insiders is to make good use of early morning park time. You will find that arriving at park opening will mean shorter lines allowing you to get in many key attractions before the peak crowds. This means that you can save your FastPasses for a chosen few.

If you find posts like this helpful than why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I love sharing tip and tricks to help clients get the most out of their time at Disney. I can help you find that perfect package, book your dining reservations and can even help you plan itineraries for your days at the parks. Best of all my services are FREE. Contact me at 1.800.801.4025, by email mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook.

How do Fastpasses Work at Disneyland Resort? 1

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