Update – April 28, 2014
Starting today, Monday, April 28, guests can select more FastPasses once they are in the park and have used up (or have had the arrival window pass on) their initial three FastPass+ reservations. Simply go to one of the kiosks located in each of the Walt Disney World parks to make your additional selections. Once this new reservation is used up, another can be selected, and so on.
Even better, these extra FastPasses can follow you as you park hop – you just have to be at the park where you want your next FastPass to be.
For Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which are on a tiered system, the additional FastPass+ bookings aren’t restricted to one grouping or another.
The best advice we can offer on this new development is to make your initial three FastPasses as early in the day as possible – this way, you have as much time as possible to use the additional slots.
Previous article: Advance ride reservations now open to off-site guests
Disney’s MyMagic+ has been going through lots of phases and changes, the biggest of which starts Monday, March 31: any guest of Walt Disney World Resort can now begin to pre-plan their FastPass+ reservations using the My Disney Experience website or app before they actually arrive for their visit.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Guests of select Walt Disney World hotels get a 60-day booking window.
- All other guests get a 30-day booking window.
- You must create an account at MyDisneyExperience.com or through its counterpart app, available for free at iTunes or the Google Play Store
- To access the 60-day window, you must have a WDW hotel reservation – now including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort.
- To access the 60- or 30-day window, you must have valid theme park ticket media.
- MagicBands are now available for purchase for $12.95 plus tax.
The 60-day window: Guests of select Disney World hotels
For those that have already stayed at a participating Disney-owned and -operated resort and have participated in MyMagic+ using MagicBands, nothing has changed. However, Disney has finally enabled guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin to pre-plan their FastPass+ selections in the same 60-day window. This is fantastic news for the Starwood hotel. In fact, the Swan and Dolphin is the only non-Disney-owned property to receive this benefit!
As before, in order to prove you are eligible for the 60-day booking window, you must first “link” your resort reservation with your My Disney Experience account. Once this is done, you need to make sure you have included everyone in your party. For guests of the Swan and Dolphin, it can take about 24 hours after you’ve booked your reservation for it to be loaded into Disney’s system and therefore be recognized as a valid reservation.
The 30-day window: All other guests
While the 60-day window that WDW resort guests receive is a nice advantage, it is great news that all other guests can now pre-plan their FastPass+ selections up to 30 days in advance – this is a big development. Having the ability to plan your reservations before you arrive definitely beats waiting in line at one of the FP+ service kiosks.
In order to show that you are indeed coming to the Disney parks, as well as to find out how many days you can make FastPass+ selections, you must have valid theme park admission and link your ticket to your My Disney Experience account. You must also make sure that each person in your travel party is registered with MyDisneyExperience.com, and you must link the appropriate ticket to each person.
FastPass+ planning information
There is a lot to know about Disney’s FastPass+ system, and nothing is carved in stone; things will change. If you are brand-new to the planning process, I recommend you begin with going to Start Your Disney Experience. This website will automatically launch the step-by-step process once you’ve signed in. Just make sure you have booked your resort reservation (if you are at a participating hotel that gets you the 60-day window) and have your theme park tickets in hand.
Here are some general pointers to keep in mind as you work your way through the process:
Currently, Disney allows three FastPass+ reservations per person per day. You must make three selections; you cannot make fewer, and you cannot make more.
Your FastPass+ selections are for one park each day. Disney has said this is something they are looking at changing in the future. Enabling the “park hopping” feature of FP+ is going to take a lot to manage, and I would anticipate that a tiered approach will be taken, much like what is in place at Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Speaking of which…
Hollywood Studios and Epcot currently rank their attractions on a tiered system. You are allowed to make one FastPass+ selection from the top tier group, and then the other two choices will be from the lower group. This is to help ensure inventory is available for all guests to enjoy at least one of the most popular attractions at the parks. I recommend using the single-rider line where available to help supplement this, but just remember that your party will be split up by doing so.
Here are Hollywood Studios’ two tiers:
Experience Group 1 (allowed to select one)
Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
Fantasmic
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Toy Story Midway Mania
Experience Group 2 (select two)
American Idol Experience
Disney Junior – Live on Stage
Great Movie Ride
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
Muppet Vision 3D
Star Tours
Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
And here are Epcot’s:
Experience Group 1 (allowed to select one)
Character Spot
IllumiNations
Maelstrom
Soarin
Test Track
Experience Group 2 (select two)
Captain EO
Journey into Imagination
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE
Seas with Nemo and Friends
Spaceship Earth
Turtle Talk with Crush
Itineraries: when you make your FastPass+ selections, whether prior to your arrival or in the park, you cannot do them one at a time. First, you select what day you want to plan, then which park, then which three attractions. Then you will be presented with up to four itineraries from which to choose. Usually, one itinerary will place everything late in the day, the other with everything in the morning, and another with the times spread throughout the day. All of this, of course, depends on availability.
Changes: many people have expressed concerns with flexibility. The great news is you can change one or more of your selections, if needed, altering the time or the attractions themselves. These modifications can be made on the website, via the app, or at the in-park kiosks.
FastPass+ service kiosks
In case you are not tech-savvy – though, if you are reading this, I doubt that to be the case – or if you need help with your reservations, you can visit one of the many FastPass+ kiosks located inside each of the four theme parks. Before you visit one of the kiosks, however, make sure you have at the very least linked your ticket to your My Disney Experience account. This will enable you to make changes using the app later on in the day.
TIP: do not go to the first FastPass+ kiosk in each park, the one near the entrance; most guests go for the first one they see, while the kiosks further in the park typically have half the amount of guests waiting to get help.
Here is a list of FastPass+ kiosk locations at all four parks:
Magic Kingdom (please note that the locations inside Tomorrowland and Fantasyland are typically the busiest. Usually, there is less crowds at Storybook Circus and Frontierland):
Near Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Near The Diamond Horseshoe
Stitch’s Great Escape!
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Jungle Cruise
Epcot (please note that the Tip Board location is usually the busiest, and that the International Gateway kiosk is, of course, ideal for guests staying at the Epoct area resorts):
Innoventions West Breezeway, near Epcot character spot
Innoventions East Breezeway, near Electric Umbrella
Tip Board
International Gateway
Hollywood Studios (please note that the location at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard is usually the busiest, and there are typically less crowds at the Muppet Vision 3D one):
Muppet Vision 3D
Sunset Boulevard
At the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard
Animal Kingdom (please note that the locations at Island Mercantile and Disney Outfitters are definitely busier than the one near Yak & Yeti Restaurant):
Near Yak & Yeti Restaurant
Island Mercantile
Disney Outfitters
Guests of the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort can visit one of the dedicated kiosks in each park marked by the Swan Dolphin logo. This enables Swan and Dolphin kiosks to receive more one-on-one attention from a FastPass+ Cast Member who can offer a multitude of options with itineraries, and it also allows the hotel’s guests to avoid the crowds at the busier kiosks. These Swan Dolphin-dedicated kiosks are slated to be in place until the end of April to help those guests who arrive over the next month and did not have a chance to take advantage of the 60-day window.
The MagicBand
All guests can purchase a MagicBand for $12.95. Upon doing so, you can add your new MagicBand to your My Disney Experience account and then link your theme park ticket and PhotoPass. Please note that, at this time, if you’re not staying on-site at a Disney-owned property, you are not able to use your MagicBand for “touch to pay” payments at the parks.
These changes are all part of one of the biggest phases to date. Enhancements and adjustments will be made in the future, and Disney has been very welcoming to guest feedback on this program. So give it a try, plan it out, and feel free to visit Guest Relations or write to wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com if you’ve got an opinion on the program.
Have strong feelings about FastPass+, one way or the other? Be sure to let us know in our current Reader Poll. Otherwise, you can view all the other Walt Disney World posts on the OI blog.
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What about annual placeholders? What’s the limit?
@bonnie Annual Passholders are part of the “other” guests category and currently get 30 day booking window. All of this is something that can be adjusted as Disney makes future decisions.
If we’re from the UK and staying at a Disney resort do we pick up the magic bands at the hotel and are they free?
Alexlang22 Depends on how you booked your stay but if you are at a Disney owned and operated resort they should you a packet of info about 90 days prior to arrival. You might always want to visit http://www.startyourdisneyexperience.com as well.
Please note, it turns out the “touch to pay” component for the new purchasable MagicBands is not actually an option as of now. MagicBands that are purchased can be used as park tickets and PhotoPass once the band has been linked to your MyDisneyExperience account.
Dani of thisfloridalife Alexlang22 Actually we are from Australia and were there in Feb – if you have a non US or Canada address the bands are waiting for you at check-in!
Dani of thisfloridalife The post has been updated now 🙂
If we are not staying on site at WDW and we opt to buy MagicBands (mainly as a souveneir) will we still get paper tickets? And will our MagicBands get delivered to UK or will we have to pick them up at guest services at the park etc.
Craig McCrimmon and Maryanne Stewart read this so we are clued up. Oh and we need to pick colours are Defo buying a band lol x
Sinead O’Brien Burke
Is there every free parking in aquatica ??
No special
Perk for guests staying in Disney now?!?!
Cheryl, there’s still extra magic hours I think
Cheryl, Disney hotel guests get 60 days to prebook Fastpasses compared to 30, they also get free parking and also have access to free buses to the parks and back to their hotel, they also can get free transport from the airport directly to their hotel and back again, they also can check their luggage in at the hotel and not the airport, they also can make park purchases directly to their Magic Band. All in all …there are quite a few perks to staying at a Disney hotel….not to mention that it’s a Disney hotel. 😉
Universal Express system for on-site guests is still 100% better than Disney’s!
agree.I find Disneys FP+ painful after being at Universal Orlando Resort
My biggest gripe as a passholder is not being able to park hop with fast pass reservations. Can only make them at 1 park, and then i’m stuck at that park for the rest of the day. HORRIBLE for passholders who frequently park hop!
Olha o que eu te falei Tábata Gouvin.
ótima solução essa pulseira com ship para ingressar nos parques,pois, ja tive problema na portaria com o cartão, teve que chamar um cara espécie de fiscal que fez nova identificação de minha pessoas…..chato
But all that pre-booking leaves the annual passholder who only visits a few times a year at a disadvantage. When I could afford it, and wanted to make a reservation at a restaurant for a special occasion, even a week prior, had no reservations available! I can’t make plans any sooner than we do, and we have to make special arrangements with chefs for our daughter’s meals, who can’t chew. It got to be such a hassle we stopped eating at them. All I have to do is talk to the chefs at one of the Universal sit-down restaurants and… Read more »
I’m an annual pass holder. I’ve accepted the fact that Fastpass+ is here to stay. I prebook what I can and learn to live with change. Do I think the current system is perfect? No. But I believe that Disney is listening and is constantly making improvements that will implemented little by little. As to your daughters food issues…. First, I’m sorry for what you must be dealing with. I’m with you about restaurant reservations in general. I really wish that they took no reservations for restaurants. First come, first served has always made more sense to me at an… Read more »
I am not staying in a disney hotel but will be buying a 3 week pass. I understand I can sign up and link my park tickets therefore allowing me top prebook fast pass tickets. But do I then need to buy each member of our party a special fast pass plus wristband?? If I do, can I buy these before I travel to US or do I purchase in the park?? And how does my park tickets link to the wristband??
You do not have to buy the MagicBands, but each person who wants to plan FP+ does need to have a ticket associated with them.
When you arrive for your trip you use your tickets to enter the parks as well as to enter the FP+ entrance of the attractions you’ve reserved
Fastpass+ is HORRIBLE! As long time season pass holders, we are actually considering not renewing this year because of it. There’s no more spontaneity for those of us who probably spend more time and money than any other guests. We were pros at using the old fast pass system. If used correctly, we always got on the “must see” rides and had happy children. Disney has taken all the fun out of our experiences there. Why go when all we will do is wait in long lines all day? It’s ALWAYS packed there and fast passes were a way to… Read more »
Yes, when you are visiting Disney Theme Parks it is a much better experience having the magic band. One can easily go through the long lengthy lines. I highly recommend this magic band.
Anyone who may have kosher dietary needs can find Kosher restaurants in Orlando Florida.
http://www.i4limoservice.com/blog
Forgive me if I sound silly or I have missed it, but say for arguments sake I make a fast past reservation for Toy Story midway mania at 12pm, could I go on that and then go to a kiosk and make a fast pass reservation to go on the rock n roller coaster?
Jamiecs21 Yes, you have to use the current FP or the arrival window has to have passed then you can go to any FP kiosk and select your next FP for any available attraction in that same park.
@PhillipsE MagicBands cannot be purchased in advance. You will still need a ticket, so yes you will get a plastic RFID enabled ticket. Then when you purchase your MagicBand either at one of the parks or at Downtown Disney you can link your MagicBand to your MyDisneyExperience account. Just make sure you link your tickets first.
Thankyou for the response Dani. Another quick question, to make another FP selection at a kiosk do I have to have used all 3 of my original selections or can I add another after using my first FP?
Jamiecs21 You have to have used (or let the time window pass) on your original three FastPass+ reservations. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your initial three reservations as early in the day as possible 🙂
Thank you for the reaponse, is it clear if there is a limit on the amount of Fast passes that can be allocated to a specific ride?
Jamiecs21 It’s my understanding that, when you make your initial three selections, each must be for a different attraction. However, once you’ve used your initial three reservations and you make a fourth reservation, you can re-ride one of the attractions you’ve already visited. Once you’ve ridden a second time, if there are still FP+ slots available, you could do it again, and so on and so forth until the park closes.
Thank you for the response. However I may have not been clear with what I meant. Basically what I mean is, is there an allocation of FP+ slots for one attraction at a given time as in is there a chance I might not have the choice to make a FP+ selection on a certain ride. I apologise for my lack of knowledge on this subject!
this article was really helpful, but some of these remarks in the “comments section” are misleading. i’m going to go ahead and address the recurrent gripes i see and clear the air: 1) “I can only have 3 a day! Awful!”: No, you can have unlimited a day. Once you use your 3, you can get another. Use the fourth, you can get another…etc 2) “I can’t parkhop! I’ll be stuck at the same park all day!”: You *can* parkhop after you use your initial 3 (which have to be at the same park). For example, book 3 for the… Read more »
Jamiecs21 no way to tell. no one knows for sure what the “cap” is for fast pass distribution. I can say, for example, that over fifty thousand fast passes were issued for the new mine train ride within the first couple of hours its opening was announced. i thankfully got mine, but when i look at the website now, no reservations are available for my trip in mid-June. that’s an extreme example, but one i might apply to something like toy story mania as well. don’t count on getting a fast pass to a “hot ride” after you’re done with… Read more »
Dani of thisfloridalife Alexlang22 not true. anyone outside of the States will receive their bands at check-in. If you are staying at a WDW resort hotel, the bands are free. If you lose or damage your band before arriving, they’ll replace it.
shona, to answer your questions (to the best of my knowledge): you can book your fast passes 30 days in advance to your arrival; you do not *have* to purchase the wrist bands, but most people do because they’re fun and convenient; you do have to purchase them in the park to get help linking them to your fast pass reservations and dining.
Except it’ll be too late lol
Could we purchase the magic bands even if we not staying on-site and can they be purchased before arrival?
the fast past system at disneyland is better
I think you can online 🙂 But if not you can get them in the park and use them for the rest of you vacation at Disney 🙂
I pretty sure I read if you stay in Walt Disney you get
The bracelet but if you stay off resort you get the card and can purchase the bracelet in the parks or downtown Disney.
I don’t want the arm bands, I prefer the cards
Hi David, you can purchase a band for $12.95 and link your park tickets to it. This is available for all off-site guests.
Or that’s great thanks saves having to take the cards with me all the time do you know if they ship to the uk?
Unless you want to fast pass+ Anna and elsa
I’m so confused now & I know there’s a new learning curve, but I found the original system so straightforward & clear.
So if I’m staying off site, how do I obtain these bands? Do I absolutely need one? Is the original fast pass system completely gone? Aren’t lines just being relocated elsewhere (ie the kiosks rather than the ride itself?)
Sucks if your fast passes are for later in the day….