Ask Tink: When Can I Book FastPasses?

"I heard that you can now book FastPasses in advance of your trip. When and how can I do that?"

     Good question! Thanks to the Tinker that sent it in! Yes, with the new FastPass+ system, you can actually reserve your FastPasses prior to arriving at Disney, and it is very smart to do so. What's a FastPass? Sort of like having a reservation for an attraction. You'll be given an hour long block of time to visit your selected attraction and you will use a special queue line, turning your wait time into one that is usually about 15 minutes or less. 

     If you are staying on a Disney Vacation Package, which includes a Disney resort stay and park admission, you can reserve your FastPasses 60 days, plus the number of days of your stay, prior to your arrival date. (Confused? Ok, so if you are coming for a 5 days trip, you can book your FastPasses 65 days before your arrival date.) If you are not staying on a package, but you do have park admission in the form of either daily park tickets, or an annual pass, you can reserve your FastPasses 30 days prior to the date you want to book them for. If you do not have park admission, and plan on buying tickets onsite, you will not be able to pre-reserve your FastPasses, but you can still get them at in-park kiosks, or through the My Disney Experience app, once you link your park admission.

     In order to book, you will want to create a DisneyWorld.com, or My Disney Experience log on for yourself. Once you have done that, you will need to add your park ticket to your account. If you are booked on a package, you can usually enter your reservation number, and it will locate and attach your tickets for you. If you have a physical ticket, or wristband, just scan or enter the number on the back of the ticket, or enter the number on the back of the wristband, and you'll be all linked up. Then you will select the option for FastPass+ and then the date and park you want to book. Your available attraction options will appear, and they include character meet and greets, preferred parade viewing, preferred fireworks viewing, and most attractions. You may book up to three attractions per day. Don't worry though. Once you have used your FastPasses for the day, you can get more at the in-park kiosks. You can even switch parks if you have a Park Hopper, and get more FastPasses for the second park at the kiosk. 

     Yes, you will have to do some extra pre-planning and have an idea of what park you want to be in on which days, but it's also going to be hugely helpful when other Guests are waiting 3 hours to meet Anna and Elsa and you sail in and see them in 15 minutes! I recommend that you have a park map pulled up when you book your FastPasses, so that you don't schedule yourself to crisscross all over the park and waste valuable time.