The Disney parks are becoming increasingly crowded. This means that having FastPass reservations for the most in-demand Disney attractions is very important. As spring break season continues, and because summer crowds are about to begin, it is important to have a general sense of what FastPass reservation you and your family will want to make. I recognize that a family with two teenagers is going to want completely different FastPasses than a family with two 4-year-olds (at least I would hope so). Therefore I broken down which FastPasses I think are most essential for different types of families in the Magic Kingdom.

Families With Young Kids (0-5 Years Old)

3) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

2) Under The Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid

1) Peter Pan’s Flight

Fantasyland will be home base for families with babies, toddlers, and young children. These three attraction from Fantasyland are fairly popular, and all family friendly. Peter Pan’s Flight can surprisingly garner some of the longest lines in all of the Magic Kingdom, so that makes it a must get for FastPasses with young ones. Expect to wait over an hour without a FastPass for that attraction. Under The Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh can also attract longer lines that are 30-45 minutes long on an average day.

Families With Kids (6-12 Years Old)

3) Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

2) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

1) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Now at this age you’ll start getting into the territory of worrying about height requirements for your children. If they are all tall enough, and brave enough, to ride family-style roller coasters then three suggestions should be perfect for your family. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the newest and most popular attraction in the Magic Kingdom, and is arguably the longest line you’ll see at any Walt Disney World attraction. So you’ll certainly want to grab a FastPass for that attraction, but they go fast so make sure to book it on your My Disney Experience app as soon as you can. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also a fairly tame family-style roller coaster (maybe slightly more intense then Seven Dwarfs Mine Train) and Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is a fun interactive attraction that kids at that age will love.

Families With Teens or Young Adults

3) Thunder Mountain

2) Splash Mountain

1) Space Mountain

Mom and Dad will need to buckle up for a vacation filled with thrill rides if they are vacationing with teens. Teens will love Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain, which are all attractions you’ll want to make sure you get FastPasses for. These three attractions can all reach an hour on busy days at the Magic Kingdom, which make them good candidates for FastPass reservations. The only caveat to this list is if you’re visiting in the colder months of the year. During December, January, and February when the temperatures can dip down into the 50s you typically can get on Splash Mountain with a fairly short line. The recommendation for booking these three attraction is essentially the exact same for young adults without children.

Older Adults Without Kids

3) Pirate’s of the Caribbean

2) Haunted Mansion

1) Peter Pan’s Flight

If you don’t have children, and have grown beyond your years of intense thrill rides, then these three attractions will be perfect for you. Pirate’s of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Peter Pan’s Flight are all slow moving attractions with a ton of fun Disney parks history behind them. Like I said earlier, Peter Pan’s Flight is extremely popular and is something you’ll certainly want to get a FastPass for, and while Pirate’s of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion don’t attract extremely long lines it might save you 30 minutes to have a FastPass for them.

These are all my personal suggestions, and let this guide be fluid to what works best for you. If there is something you really want to do feel free to disregard my suggestions.

Several sources are reporting that the new FastPass machines for Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney California Adventure will be turned on Thursday, April 6th. Also that day, the FastPass system will be updated forcing some guests to change they way they use FastPasses.

When Disneyland announced their upcoming Disney MaxPass service, they also confirmed that both Toy Story Midway Mania and Disneyland Park‘s Matterhorn Bobsleds would adding FastPass machines.  While FastPass begins this week at Toy Story Midway Mania, the Matterhorn Bobsleds are closed for refurbishment, so FastPass will likely begin when the ride reopens on April 28th.

Also beginning Thursday, the FastPass systems for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure will be combined, thus eliminating the ability for guests to have overlapping FastPasses, one at each Park.

Guests are typically only allowed to hold one FastPass reservation at a time, but with the systems not connected, some guests would park hop and hold FastPasses at both Parks simultaneously. That “loophole” will no longer be possible.

There is still no word as to when Disney MaxPass will begin at the Disneyland Resort.

Source: MousePlanet

Take a look at our top 5 threads for last month and come join these and thousands of other discussions at DISboards.com.

5. Looking back at 2016, what is the best park tip you can offer?
Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum | Started by poster ‘CampbellzSoup‘

Our number five thread asks everyone to take a look back at 2016 and offer their best Park tip. We have lots of votes for scheduling in some downtime along with making plans to be in the parks at rope drop on at least one morning of your vacation. Also included in the thread is an important reminder for those bringing kids; forcing them to do what you think they should be doing rather what they feel like doing is never a good plan.

4. FastPass+ Frequently Asked Questions
Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum | Started by poster ‘mesaboy2‘
Whether you’re looking to stay in-the-know about all things FastPass+ or you are just beginning to learn about it, stop by this informative thread for all you need to know. From basic information to strategies, it’s all there and kept updated on a regular basis.

3. ******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream
Disney Dining Plan forum | Started by poster ‘mnmhouston‘
In this thread, posters are anxiously discussing the possibilities of the infamous Free Dining promotion that Disney has previously offered. Will it be offered this year? When will details be available? Do you think the promotion is gone for good? These are just a few of the questions being speculated upon in this lively thread.

2. What was your worst DCL rookie mistake?
Disney Cruise Line forum | Started by poster ‘adSimba‘
Seasoned cruisers in this thread are sharing things that they missed or didn’t know about prior to taking their first Disney Cruise Line cruise. From trying to do too much during the cruise to not completing an onboard booking for your next one, this thread has tons of great information that you won’t want to miss. If you have a rookie mistake that’s not included, don’t forget to join the discussion and add it in.

1. DIS 20th Anniversary Event – Official Info
The DIS Unplugged Podcast forum | Started by ‘WebmasterJohn‘
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The DIS and we’re getting ready to throw a party like no other! It goes without saying that we are as thrilled as can be to arrive at this milestone and we want you to come celebrate the momentous occasion with us. For answers to all of your questions like ‘When is this party?’ and ‘How do I sign up?’, stop by the thread and subscribe. Also, please be sure to check (often) the first post in the thread for any newly added information.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s top 5 – see you on the boards!

The Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland Park opened today a bit ahead of schedule and, as expected, the attraction now offers Fastpass.

Disney announced earlier in the year that both Matterhorn Bobsleds at Toy Story Midway Mania would be receiving Fastpass ahead of the upcoming Disney MaxPass service coming online.

The Fastpass distribution is currently at a temporary location while a new permanent location is being completed nearby.

Although the both announced Fastpass locations have opened and the Disneyland Resort has begun testing WiFi service in the theme parks, there is still no announcement as to when MaxPass will begin.

Source/Fastpass image: Orange County Register

When you have booked your Walt Disney World vacation, you may hear a lot about the need to plan, plan, and guess what, more planning! However, if you are completely new to Disney World, this may seem like a very daunting task. So with this in mind I though it may be helpful if I took you through, step by step, how I plan our family trips and hopefully you will pick up some helpful hints along the way. First of all, I do want to acknowledge that there will be many who really don’t enjoy having to plan their vacation ahead of time, or having their every move pre-decided, and that’s absolutely fine!  However, if you have never been to Disney World before, then I would really recommend that you try and plan even a little. Having a basic idea of what your family wants to see and do whilst on vacation will help you make the most of your stay and hopefully enjoy it even more! It’s also a lot of fun, because you get to enjoy your vacation long before it even starts! So lets start planning…

Create a Planning Template

When planning our trip,  the first thing I do is create a planning template like the one below. I find it much easier when all my planning is on one page, and if you’re a super keen planner, you can even make it look really nice and take it with you on your vacation! So let me talk you through exactly what information I include on it.

1. The days/dates of your trip. Simple. Along the top row I fill in the days and dates of my trip.
2. Extra Magic Hours (XMHRS). For each day of my trip I fill in the XMHRS information for that day – the park and times. This information can be found by clicking here. Even if you are staying offsite, still fill it in! Trust me I will explain in a moment!!!
3. After Hours Ticketed Events. I now try and find out if there are any extra hours ticketed events happening during any of my days, like MNSSHP (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party) or other planned events. Again, this information can be found by clicking here. Even if you don’t plan on attending these events it is still useful to know if and when they are happening, as it could influence where you spend your time.  *Helpful Hint*: If you are planning and the dates of these events have not yet been released but you think they usually happen at this time, go to the Park Hours page for the days you’re going to be in Disney World, and if any park is closing earlier than usual, i.e. Magic Kingdom 7pm when it usually closes at 9pm, this may indicate that an event is scheduled. It obviously isn’t a definite, but it may be enough for your planning. So now I  should have key information filled across all three top rows of my plan!

Make a list of ‘Must Do’s’

1. Down the side of my planning sheet, I will make a list of what our family wants to see and do during this trip. This will include shopping days, water parks, and other Orlando based attractions. So every family’s list will look different, but ours for this year is as follows:

• Magic Kingdom
• Animal Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Shopping at Disney Springs
• Water Park
• Pool time at our resort
• Universal Studios/ Volcano Bay

The Magic Kingdom

Deciding how to apportion each day.

1. When planning Disney World vacations, I always split our days into three: morning, afternoon and evening, and I only make plans for two out of the three each day.
2. *Helpful Hint*:  Disney World can be an exhausting place with all the walking, the heat and the crowds, so scheduling chill time could help your family enjoy it more. It is, of course, still doable to power through from rope drop to the final kiss goodnight, if you are wanting to maximize your park time. However, always keep in mind your family and how long they can go. It may seem great on paper clocking in 12 hours at the Magic Kingdom, but if you are leaving with exhausted,  tired and cranky kids, it may not be ending on such a magical note after all!
3. On previous trips we always did mornings and evenings in the parks, and that left the afternoon for chill out time at our resort. It got a 2 year old out of the mid-day sun and allowed him a cooler environment for him to have his nap. With the Florida heat, we often hit a brick wall after 5 hours in the parks, so scheduling chill out time mid-days usually works best for us. As he gets older we will probably do a mix of all three of the options below. *Helpful Hint*:  You can leave and return to the same park with your base park ticket. If you want to return to a different park, you will need to have the park hopper option added. If your ticket is the UK version it usually includes this.

• Morning : Park / Afternoon : Free/ Pool or Resort time / Evening : Park (same or different depending on our dining)
• Morning : Free / Pool or Resort time / Afternoon + Evening : Park
• Morning + Afternoon: Park / Evening : Free/ Resort time

Deciding our Daily Itinerary

So how do I decide which parks I want to visit on which days? These are just some of the things I will consider when plotting out my trip days.  I will also be using my ‘must do’ list to ensure I have planned enough time to enjoy it all.

1. Our family always visits Magic Kingdom on our first day when possible. No scientific reason for this one I am afraid.  Just some good old fashioned Disney traditions! After all, it is the most magical place on earth!
2. We try and stay on property most trips, so we do have the option of enjoying XMHRs. If I think I can get my family up and out for early morning XMHRs I will schedule that park for that day. However, as my little boy gets bigger that could be a challenge! So instead we may aim to skip early morning XMHRs parks and do alternative parks those days. Where it suits, we will instead plan to be in the parks that have XMHRs scheduled in the evening. So here is my *Helpful Hint*: If you are staying on site, only schedule to be in the XMHRs park  if you know you will be there during the actual Extra Magic Hours. Extra magic hours are a great Disney resort perk during the actual hours, however, it does make the named park generally busier with resort guests. If you’re staying offsite, then it is usually best to avoid XMHR parks; again for the same reason, it will be very busy! So on your template, you will be able to see which parks have their XMHRs on what days and then you can plan accordingly.
3. Magic Kingdom can sometimes be less crowded on a morning following a scheduled XMHRs evening. The same rule could apply to Epcot. So if you are not using the XMHRs, then you could consider this when making your plan! (Don’t quote me! But it does work! Sometimes!)
4. If you are planning your trip 180 days + then you will be making your schedule before you have your Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs). However, if you are planning closer to your vacation, and you already have your ADRs booked, then this will pre-determine at least part of your planned schedule. There is nothing wrong with this! If you have to be in the Magic Kingdom for dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table, then that’s a good a reason as any to be there! So if your ADRs are already in place, add them to the ADRs row and then you know where you need to be at these times.
5. We typically travel during September, which now happens to be the start of the Food and Wine Festival most years. This makes Epcot very busy, especially at weekends, with the locals coming in to enjoy the new samplings. For this reason I try to plan to visit Epcot on weekdays only. I also always avoid the first couple of days of Food and Wine, because the crowds tend to get crazy!
6. Personally, I feel certain parks are more suited to the evenings. For example, my family prefers enjoying Epcot in the evening as opposed to during the day. So we often plan more dining oriented evenings at Epcot.  We also learnt last year that Animal Kingdom at night is an even better experience with the cooler temperatures and more entertainment options. So again we will be planning more evenings there as well. That leaves our mornings for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and water parks.
7. Having an idea of what you want to see and do in each park can help you know when you should be there. If you only plan to be in the Magic Kingdom in the mornings, but you want to see the Festival of Fantasy Parade, which is typically scheduled mid-afternoons, then you will want to adjust your plan. For more information on attractions and shows in each park click here.
8. If you plan to spend an evening at a park, make sure there is not an extra hours ticketed event happening, e.g. on a MNSSHP evening the park will close earlier. Check your plan and if any of these events are scheduled, plan accordingly. We typically stay at Disney World during times when party events are scheduled, so we always plan to be in the Magic Kingdom on a non party evening so that we can enjoy the normal castle projection and fireworks show. This is, of course, only necessary if you don’t have the party ticket for that evening!

The Boat House – Disney Spring

Finally, it is time for your Advanced Dining Reservations.

We will have the Regular Disney dining plan this trip, so we will have a certain number of table service credits to use.

1. On my planning page, I will write down a list of our favourite restaurants that we want to enjoy again, and then a few new ones which recently opened that we have heard good reviews from. I will then start adding these restaurants into our plan, depending on which restaurant suits our location for that day the best. The list is a good checklist, so that I don’t forget any!
2. Once I have added these restaurants into our plan, this will then make it a lot easier for me once my 180 window opens up. I will know exactly what I need to book, and at what times.
3. I usually try and have a couple of evenings planned in most of the parks. This will then give a little flexibility when it comes to my dining for the hard-to-get reservations. If you are scheduled to be in the Magic Kingdom twice, then it gives you two potential dates for a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table!
4. If you usually go to any other vacation destination, then the thought of booking your dining restaurants up to 180 days in advance may seem a little crazy! However, if you want to eat at the popular restaurants, especially character dining, then it is needed. These restaurants could potentially have very long wait times without one, and some don’t even accept walk-ups depending on how busy it is! *Helpful Hint*: The dining reservations can be adjusted or cancelled up to 24 hours before, so if your plans change, even while on vacation, your dining can be adjusted too!
5. Having an idea of where you want to eat may influence your actual schedule too! Look at the plan, and if there are any after hours ticketed events happening e.g. MNSSHP, and you don’t plan on having a party ticket for that evening, then you will need to make sure your dining is scheduled within normal park hours. *Helpful Hint*: You will not be allowed into a park to dine in a restaurant during a ticketed event unless you have bought the ticket for the event.  Assuming you are already inside the park and at your dining location before the park closes, you will be allowed to stay past normal close hours to finish your dining experience. However, once you have exited the restaurant, you will need to exit the park too.
6. Having your dining planned out, at least in rough draft,  is also a good indicator if your planned itinerary will work for you. Or it may highlight a few issues. For example, on our last trip I had planned to eat at a lot of restaurants around World Showcase in Epcot. However, whilst on vacation, we found ourselves wanting to spend much more time at Animal Kingdom in the evening, which meant we had to rethink some of our dining for the last few evenings. So if it doesn’t all work out exactly, then you will need to decide what is more important, the destination or the dining experience. There will be good arguments for both!
7. So start thinking about your dining! If you aren’t sure of the options, why not take a look at the restaurants in each park that you hope to spend your evenings and choose from there. For this information click here. Once your ADR window opens up it will hopefully make booking them so much easier as you already have a basic plan.

Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom – A favourite ride to fast pass for our family.

Room for Fast Pass + …

You will notice I have room in my planner to add in my Fast Pass + selections. The window for booking Fast Pass + will open up 60 days before with a resort guest or 30 days out for non resort guests, so this is something you can do much closer to your vacation. It is not absolutely necessary to have a plan for these, but by looking at it before time it will give you an idea of what attractions can be selected with Fast Pass, and as a result what would suit your family for that day. Fast Pass + means you get to skip the regular stand by lines for three attractions or rides in the park you are visiting that day, and when used wisely, can really save you a lot of time. So if you have a think about it, and write down what you would like to Fast Pass, and approx. times, then it should help you get exactly what you want when your window opens up.

As you can see from the template, I have filled out the first column as an example of how our first day should look for our upcoming trip. So, depending on how little or how much you like to plan, hopefully this step by step guide will make it a little easier for you when you are planning your trip to Disney World. The idea of the plan really works for our family and I have found it to be the simplest way to do it! (At least for our family anyway!) So go on, have a go with this style of planning and enjoy your trip!

It has been rumored for quite some time now that there is a big change beginning today with regards to same day FastPass+.

The ‘word on the street’; i.e. DISboards.com is, if a guest attempts to enter a FastPass+ attraction with a MagicBand or RFID card that is not linked to a ticket that was used for park entry that day, the My Disney Experience profile will be locked. Unsuspecting guests will then have to contact or visit Guest Services to have their accounts unlocked. This is a big change as many guests have “ghost” MagicBands that are not linked to anyone in particular and they use them to make additional FastPass+ selections.

If you’re not sure what I’m referring to or what the fuss is all about, please visit the first post of this thread over on our Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum to catch up.

This morning, posters are reporting that they are missing information in their My Disney Experience accounts such as park tickets and/or FastPass+ selections for E-ticket attractions. They’ve also reported that when they’ve logged back into their My Disney Experience accounts using either a different browser or the app on their smartphone, the missing information mysteriously shows back up leading folks to believe that it’s just the update wreaking havoc.

Poster ‘IndyJammer‘ says, “We are there 6/9-16 and I had to Update All of my FPs! (We have 5 of us with 6 Extra ticketed ‘friends’) I made all my FPs at 60 days, then had to rearrange several last week in order to get our regular APs on the first set of 3. The new update only messed up one day – I had FoP too close to Na’Vi River and it will be too much trouble to rearrange that day to get both in. (We are opting for FoP)”

Poster ‘SgtTibbs’ reports that he “Logged into MDE this morning to find:

Error: We’re sorry. We encountered a problem retrieving one or more FastPass+ reservations. Please try again later or call (407) 939-4357 for assistance.

On my MDE account which is strictly by the book. Just 3 FP+’s per day on the single ticketed user.

Checked the list, it’s missing a 7DMT on the third day of my trip.”

Apparently, there are a lot of Disney guests who go through the time and effort of setting up these “ghost” profiles and even go as far as purchasing additional MagicBands which has led Disney to do something about closing up that loophole. As an example, take a look at these few quotes from the thread linked in this story (I’ve intentionally omitted usernames for privacy purposes even though DISboards.com is able to be viewed by the public):

“I have 1 MDE with a ton of ppl in it and carry around 10 phantoms. Only ticketed ones are my immediate family with pre-booked FP+.”

“I just booked at the kiosk at HS SDFP. 5 were friends; 2 with unused tickets and 3 just magic bands. I also booked 2 persons on my phantom MDE. None start until I’m through with the 2 that enter the park, me and my son. We are going at 4, so my moment of truth comes at 6:15 for friends and 7:15 for the 2 on my Phantom MDE. I’ll report what happens ASAP.”

Poster ‘ArielSRL‘ is at the parks today checking things out and reporting back on what she’s experiencing.

Take a look at this fast-moving thread entitled, “SDFP: CHANGES COMING!! Beware the 6th of June!” to keep up with the changes and what effects they’re having on folks who are trying out these strategies today in the parks.

If you happen to be in the parks, be sure to weigh in with your experiences by leaving a comment below or joining the conversation either on the thread itself or on our Facebook page.

Photo Source: Disney

A few changes will be implemented to Disneyland‘s FASTPASS system as it leads up to the debut of MaxPass.

From June 21st on, guests will no longer scan their FASTPASS ticket at eligible attractions; they will now need to scan their admission ticket or annual pass for access to the FASTPASS line. Paper tickets will still be important to schedule return times and serve as reminders to guests.

Guests may notice testing taking place at FASTPASS locations as early as June 19th.

Disney MaxPass will allow guests to download unlimited high-resolution PhotoPass images through the Disneyland App, and for the first time, guests will be able to use the Disneyland App to book and redeem Disneyland FastPass reservations. The cost will be $10 per day, and annual and daily options will be available for annual passholders.

UPDATE: Scanning of admission tickets started June 21st as expected, however long lines and glitches have been reported. For example, @DLthings on Twitter reports that FASTPASS return times are almost immediate.

Source: Orlando Theme Park News

Before I start this article, let me just say I love my Disney Vacation Club (DVC) membership! It has provided me with so many memories and the promise of many more to come, but every time I am planning and/or on a trip, I always think about what I wish DVC would do for me as a member. Here are the 3 things I wish DVC would do for DVC Members.

1) A Discount on the Dining Plan

Yes, many Disney restaurants give a discount on meals for DVC members, but my family prefers to use the Disney Dining Plan. If we are paying for a meal, we tend to limit what we order.  When we are on the dining plan, we order what we want, and let’s face it, dining has become a huge part of the Disney experience.  Yes, I realize it might actually be cheaper to pay outright, but it’s just what we prefer.

So why can’t I get a discount on the dining plan?  People who pay cash for a room can qualify for reduced dining, and I won’t even get into the free dining because I know that’s not always the best deal, but as Julia Roberts once said in Pretty Woman “I appreciate this whole seduction thing you’ve got going on here, but let me give you a tip: I’m a sure thing.”  I’m a sure thing, Disney!  You’ve got me!  My family comes at least twice a year. We spend at least $500 a trip on food, souvenirs, and other things in the parks.  That’s just spending money, that doesn’t include what we pay in membership and maintenance fees, annual passes, and the dining plan.  You’re getting your money from me.  Throwing me a bone and giving me a DVC member discount on the dining plan is not going to hurt your bottom line.

2) An Extra FastPass+

Now there may be logistical issues with this that I can’t understand, but I don’t think this would be that big of a deal. Even now, when you tour DVC they can add three instant FastPasses to your MagicBands.  These do have limitations. For example, you can’t use it for Mine Train, Toy Story Mania, Soarin’, Peter Pan, and character meets to name a few.

So what would it hurt to give DVC members one extra per day?  One instant one-per-day would be amazing, but I would even take one that I could schedule at 60 days out!  Even if I had to wait until 30 days out to book the last one, that would be cool.  This would just let me feel like I’m getting even more out of my Disney trips.  I also feel like it would let me be more flexible with my trip.  Especially with a little one.  It never fails that she falls asleep when we have a FastPass scheduled.  If we had one extra, I just feel like I could get more out of my day.  It would be a nice extra for DVC members.

3) Park Perks

I would like to see more perks for DVC members in the parks. I LOVE the DVC member lounge at Epcot.  Yes, there are no bathrooms, but when we need a little down time in the AC, this is a great option.  We can get off our feet, grab a drink, and charge our phones.  As of right now, this lounge was for the 25^th anniversary celebration for DVC and is not guaranteed to stick around.  I would love to see it stay and see similar lounges in the other 3 parks.  It’s just nice to have that option.

There are numerous member events that happen on property, but they always seem to be in months that I am unable to travel to Disney.  The one I really want to do is “Moonlight Magic.” These are after-hours parties in the theme parks and water parks that give you an additional 3 hours after park close.  I would love to see one of these events once a month throughout the year.  That way we, and I’m sure other members, would have a chance to catch one.  This one is probably my most costly request, but aren’t I worth it?

I don’t feel that any of these requests take away from other guests who are non-DVC, which I would never want to do.  As I said before, I am very happy with my DVC membership, but I do wish they would give me a few more perks.  These are just a few suggestions.

At the beginning of the year, Disneyland Resort announced the coming of a new MaxPass system, that would combine the benefits of mobile FASTPASS booking with unlimited PhotoPass downloads. Disneyland fans were quick to respond to the announcement, and it looks like we will finally see how MaxPass operates; it will debut on July 19th.

MaxPass operates through the Disneyland app, so guests will need to register there first.

It may be purchased when guests buy their ticket, or later on through the app. MaxPass has an introductory cost of $10; Annual Passholders may make a payment of $75 to purchase MaxPass for the life of their current pass. Premier and Signature Plus passholders need not pay any additional fees, as MaxPass will be automatically included as part of their annual pass.

Guests will still be able to use the FASTPASS service at no extra cost from attraction FASTPASS kiosks by getting a FASTPASS return time using their admission ticket.

New FASTPASS locations have recently been added to Toy Story Midway Mania and Matterhorn Bobsleds.

Here are the terms and conditions for MaxPass from Disney Parks Blog’s announcement:

“Guests are strongly advised to check the day’s FASTPASS ticket availability and other Park details before purchasing Disney MaxPass or using a Park ticket with Disney MaxPass as FASTPASS tickets for your preferred attractions may not be available at the time of purchase or use. FASTPASS tickets are limited and availability is not guaranteed. FASTPASS tickets may be obtained only while you are in the Parks and may not be available for entertainment through Disney MaxPass. An experience that does not have Disney FASTPASS availability at a kiosk will not be available using Disney MaxPass. The Disney MaxPass benefit will expire at the end of the day or when the Passport it is associated with expires, as applicable. Disney MaxPass is nonrefundable, nontransferable, may not be redeemed for cash and is subject to other restrictions. Price, terms, entitlements, attractions and entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Passholders who purchase the Disney MaxPass benefit may not use the value of any separate ticket media toward the purchase price of Disney MaxPass.”

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Earlier today, Redditor lisaaxmariee posted an image from Disney’s Blizzard Beach of wristbands with return times for Teamboat Springs, Summit Plummet, and Downhill Double Dipper. The wristbands haven’t been confirmed by Disney as anything that will be permanent in Blizzard Beach, but it does seem like these wristbands could be a test for Disney to have FastPass in the Walt Disney World water parks. Again, The DIS is working to confirm that this is a test for FastPass, but nothing is official as of now.

MagicBands are waterproof, so the incorporation of using them in the water parks would be simple. All that would need to be added would be touch points and the room for a FastPass line.

Interestingly, the wristbands have a half hour window for the return times, compared for the full hour return time window for a traditional FastPass.

Credit: Reddit user lisaaxmariee

The 5 Worst FastPass+ Bypasses

5) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

As soon as you leave the outdoor queue, FastPass+ merges with standby for a pre-show. Based on where you stand and if you keep your party together, this could affect your wait time for the rest of the queue.

4) Dinosaur

The octagon (8 sides) shaped room is where FastPass+ merges with standby at this attraction. You join up in a room to watch a safety pre-show. At this point, there isn’t a single file line. Meaning those people you skipped with your FastPass+ could just as easily pass you up when exiting said room. If it’s not the busiest of days at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, then the outside queue at Dinosaur probably isn’t running, meaning your FastPass+ only eliminates a small portion of the queue.

3) Illuminations: Reflections of Earth FastPass Viewing Location

This experience is listed as a Tier 1 FastPass+ at Epcot. That means if you chose this option, you would risk not getting a FastPass+ for Soarin’, Test Track and Frozen Ever After. This show is spectacular, but throughout the day you’ll hear that this show can be enjoyed all around the World Showcase. Besides the American Pavilion, where the America Gardens Theatre is blocking your view of the lagoon, there isn’t a bad spot to watch this nighttime spectacle. The benefit to this FastPass+ is that it’s located at the beginning of World Showcase, meaning it has the shortest distance to the main exit back to your resort. This can come in handy after a long day, making it not number 1 on the worst list. However, all things considered, I do think your tier 1 FastPass+ can be utilized better at other attractions.

2) Tower of Terror

Depending on if it’s a busy day or not at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (it will appear that way as half of the park is closed) Tower of Terror FastPass+ arguably could offer the least amount of value to a guest. The first area of the indoor queue is the hotel lobby. As soon as you pass through the lobby, FastPass+ and standby merge together just outside the library. The combined group of guests then walks through the boiler room together and you must choose to go straight or right to board your elevator. I found one way to generally be longer (the right).

1) The Haunted Mansion

Just before entering The Haunted Mansion from the outside queue, you merge with the standby line in the section near the graveyard. You may read about “Here lies good old Fred, a great big rock fell on his head”. From this point on, there is no longer a single file line until just before you board your doombuggies. The outdoor corridor, indoor corridor when entering the Mansion, the Ghost Host Rotunda and the area when leaving the rotunda are free for all areas for guests. The queue at this attraction always feels crowded and hot. Based on how quickly you move and where you stand, you may not pass that many guests at all with your FastPass+.

The 5 Best FastPass+ Bypasses

5) Star Tours: The Adventure Continues

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in the midst of a major transition; half of the park is closed for the addition of Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. With the announcement of the closure to The Great Movie Ride on August 13th as well, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be left with just four rides until Toy Story Land opens next summer – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania and Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. Just four attractions at an entire theme park means that Star Tours, as well as the other three attractions, will stay plenty busy for the time being. Star Tours also rates as a Tier 2 option on FastPass+, meaning people are given two opportunities to select this attraction as one of their three FastPass pluses. This attraction has one of the most efficient FastPass+ queues, as you don’t merge with standby until right before you board your StarSpeeder 1000.

4) Splash Mountain

The FastPass+ queue loads a good distance away from the standby entrance, which I particularly enjoy because entrances to some attractions can really become a cluttered mess at times. The queue doesn’t merge with standby until you are at the loading dock. Meaning, especially on a busy day, you’re bypassing a whole lot of people.

3) Jungle Cruise

This small intertwined standby line can get white hot during the summer, as a lack of a breeze is common in this attraction’s queue as it sits below the rest of Adventureland in terms of elevation. The FastPass+ queue is a short walking distance and is a straight shot right onto the ride. This is easily one of the most valuable FastPass pluses on property during the summer. If you use your original three FastPass pluses up in the morning/early afternoon, Jungle Cruise is likely to still be available to add on, as it’s still not the most popular attraction at Magic Kingdom.

2) Expedition Everest

One of the highest regarded thrill rides in all of Walt Disney World, Expedition Everest is a must for any coaster junkie. That means the wait time here can add up in a hurry, so FastPass+ is a nice addition here and its bypass doesn’t merge until you leave the indoor queue, less than 50 feet before you board. An extra bonus to this attraction is that it’s one of the few attractions at Walt Disney World that has a single rider line. This basically acts as an additional FastPass+ line as it is rarely utilized, because it is tucked away to the side of the attraction, and splitting up to ride an attraction, especially a thrill ride, just isn’t for everyone.

1) Peter Pan’s Flight

Guests looking to hit the popular Frozen Ever After attraction in the Norway pavilion at Epcot can now make FastPass+ selections beginning at 9:00 a.m. instead of waiting in the standby line for the first two hours that the attraction was open!

Additionally, the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party is still available on select dates through January, 2018.

Sources close to WFTV claim that Club Level resort guests will have the option of purchasing three additional FastPasses for $50 per person per day at any of the Walt Disney World theme parks. Club Level guests must reportedly be staying for a minimum of three days to be eligible for this upcharge. Disney has not officially confirmed this rumor, but if any other details are released, or if Disney officially announces this information, we will report on that immediately.

Sources say the three additional fastpasses will cost $50 a day and can be used at any park. The service will require a 3 day minimum and will only be available to club-level resort guests, sources say. Disney officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

— Chip Skambis (@chickenlilchip) January 9, 2018

Update 1/10/18: Yesterday we reported on a rumor that Club Level resort guests will be able to purchase additional FastPasses due to a tweet from the account of Assignment Desk Editor Chip Skambis. Disney has yet to confirm this rumor, but it has been published on WFTV’s website. Skambis stated that his source for this information came from cast members. In the same report he also stated that guests will be able to book these FastPasses 90 days in advance, and that this offering will begin on Friday, January 12, 2018. Again, when more details are announced or Disney makes this offer official we will report on it immediately.

Credit: Chip Skambis of WFTV and WFTV

Walt Disney World has confirmed the recent rumor regarding a new ticket add-on that will allow some guests to purchase additional FastPass+ selections.

The new pilot program will be tested beginning January 12, 2018. Guests staying at select Walt Disney World hotels that are eligible for Signature Services and have purchased a 3-day or longer ticket may take advantage of the new option.  Signature Services are typically available to guests in Club-Level Rooms or Suites and VIP Tour Guests.

The cost for the new ticket option is $50 plus tax per person per day.

Guests taking advantage of the new option can add three additional FastPass+ selections per day. The selections can be in any tier, and if a hopper ticket is purchased, the FastPass+ selections can be in multiple theme parks. Guests, however, cannot reserve the same attraction more than once in a single day. The booking window for the additional FastPass+ selections is 90 days in advance.

Each day that guests take advantage of the new option, they can also receive a preferred viewing location reservation for one of Walt Disney World’s nighttime spectaculars, including Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot, Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

All FastPass+ reservations, including the preferred viewing location, are limited and subject to availability.

There is no change to the existing FastPass+ rules for other park guests.

When I hear the word “vacation,” I instantly think of soaking up the sun on a beach, taking leisurely strolls at sunset, and letting all my cares fade away.

So, naturally, the phrase “Disney vacation” just seems like a laughable oxymoron to me.

A trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is always a blast, but rarely relaxing when you’re attempting to experience every attraction possible, eat at all the top dining spots, and squeeze in a few hours of sleep at some point too.

If you’re heading to a Disney resort, you’ll want to see and do as much as you can while you have the chance, but don’t you deserve to unwind a little as well? Taking it easy on your trip will keep the kids from getting too cranky, allow you to savor your time away, and help you return home feeling more rested.

If you’re looking to make your next holiday a little looser, it all starts months before you even leave, with how you prepare.

I understand the urge to get every detail of each day planned out. The thrill of confirming a coveted dining reservation. The excitement when you book a FastPass and know you just saved four hours of waiting in line for Frozen Ever After. The fun of writing your daily timetable out again and again… is that just me?

Planning is a necessity and it will make your trip easier, but that doesn’t mean you need to lock yourself into a detailed schedule for a time that’s supposed to be all about having fun. Try to think of your plans as a general outline for your trip, but never make yourself feel forced to be at a certain place at a certain time if it adds stress.

Better yet, have each person in your party come up with a list of five or ten non-negotiable must-do’s and make that your focus for the trip. These could be rides, shows, Character meet-and-greets, restaurants, or simply swimming in the pool. If possible, make a FastPass, reservation, or discern the best time to experience each with a minimum wait. Don’t worry about what happens in between; if you accomplish that list, then consider your vacation a success.

Even if you’re not so stressed yourself — you are at the “happiest place on earth” after all — being in a crowd of sweaty tourists can often take a toll. To save yourself, make a concerted effort to get some personal space for at least one third of your day.

Skip rope drop in favor of a morning of sleeping in, pass up the nightly fireworks display so you can get out of the gates before the masses, or take a midday break back at your resort. The latter is my personal preference — I feel like a new person after a quick nap, a shower, and a change of clothes before heading out to dinner and a night at the parks.

Or, if the thought of going through the turnstiles twice in one day seems too tedious, at least find a few ways to kick back inside the parks.

Seek out quiet spots so you can take a breather without even leaving, use a full hour to eat lunch at a restaurant with air conditioning, and take plenty of breaks for water to stay hydrated and energized.

Finally, recognize when you’re feeling FOMO (the fear of missing out) and fight it.

Visiting a Disney park is expensive. You have to pay to get there, pay to get in, and pay to stay in your resort of choice. When you’re pouring your expenses into a few days of fun, it’s only natural to try your best to get your money’s worth. It’s understandable that you don’t want to waste a second of your time, but as long as you’re enjoying yourself, you shouldn’t have to worry about the price tag.

While laying back by the pool or hitting the resort arcade might be obvious alternative activities, there are a lot of other exciting opportunities around property.

Consider renting a Surrey bike at the Boardwalk, parasailing on Bay Lake, or horseback riding at Fort Wilderness. If you want to really live it up, there are rejuvenating spas at the Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs, as well as the Grand Californian out in Disneyland. Or, just take the time to wander around a resort you’ve never visited where you can find often-overlooked lounges and restaurants.

Whether you’re spending every waking hour in the parks or staying put in a pool lounger, the most important part of any Disney trip is enjoying yourself! What’s your favorite way to relax when visiting Orlando or Anaheim?

Last year, we shared that guests staying at the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels would be able to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and would have the ability to make FastPass+ selections up to 60-days prior to their arrival for the entire year of 2018.

According to Orlando Weekly, guests staying at the Four Seasons Orlando will now have access to Extra Magic Hours and as well as the ability to make early FastPass+ selections. There is one big difference, however. Four Seasons Orlando guests will only be able to make FastPass+ selections 30-days in advance which is the same access given to all guests with theme park tickets. The other Disney Springs Resort Area hotels are given a 60-day window.

Four Seasons Orlando is not a Disney-owned hotel, but it is actually located on Disney property and opened its doors back in August of 2014.

Source: Orlando Weekly

As ongoing construction relocates the entrance of Toy Story Mania in preparation for the opening of Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on June 30th, multiple tracks of the attraction will be not be in operation.

While this phase of work is taking place and the tracks are down, FastPasses will not be available for Toy Story Mania — access will be available via the standby queue only.

This will affect guests looking to experience the attraction from April 9th through May 7th.

Starting today guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels can book their FastPass+ reservations for Toy Story Land, which opens on June 30 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests who are 60 days from their hotel check-in can now book one FastPass+ reservation at either the Slinky Dog Dash rollercoaster or the Alien Swirling Saucers, and two additional FastPass+ reservations at any attraction outside of Toy Story Land.

These FastPass+ reservations are subject to availability, and it is highly recommended to book them as soon as possible.

Additionally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open for the extended hours of 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for a limited time starting July 1. There will also be daily morning Extra Magic Hours, and weekly evening Extra Magic Hours for resort hotel guests.

Credit/Image: Disney Parks Blog

Toy Story Mania! in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close between June 11 – June 18 for queue and entrance construction.

This renovation is a part of the upcoming launch of Toy Story Land, set to open to guests on June 30th. After construction is completed, guests can continue to enter and exit this attraction on Pixar Avenue until the opening of Toy Story Land when the new entrance will likely debut.

All three tracks of Toy Story Mania! will be fully operational by May 20th, before the construction begins. Guests are now able to book FastPass+ for the attraction.

The new Toy Story Land will shrink guests to the size of a toy and take them on an adventure through the world of Andy’s backyard.

The day your FastPass+ window opens is a stressful one. Maybe it’s your first trip to Disney, or you’re a Disney vet who can’t wait to experience the newest attraction. Regardless, deciding what FastPass+ selections to make can be overwhelming. Sure, we all have our favorite rides and attractions at Walt Disney World. Everyone travels differently. A younger family with kids may have a different plan than a couple in their upper 20s, or an older family with teens. Fortunately, Disney has a ride for everyone. Whether you’re traveling with little ones, or taking an adults-only trip, these are the three FastPass+ selections you have to make in each park:

Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened up in 2014 and has yet to lose any momentum. It’s the most popular attraction and the hardest FastPass+ to secure at Magic Kingdom. Guests literally plan their day around it, opting for pre-park opening dining reservations or arriving for rope drop and racing to New Fantasyland.

The ride deserves the fandom. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a family-friendly roller coaster that’s enjoyed by both kids and adults. It’s one of the best-themed attractions at Disney, with an interactive queue, enchanting scenery, and cartoonish architecture. The ride itself boasts some new, impressive technology. The train vehicles feature a new “tilting” technology, allowing them to mimic the swaying and rocking of a real mine car. The ride’s animatronics are new designs from the animation team, with a high range of motion and lifelike projected faces.

Standby wait times are known to exceed 2-3 hours for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, making it a must-do when choosing your FastPass+ selections.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

“The wildest ride in the wilderness” is also one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom. The “original mine train” is a fan favorite, and like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, is designed for the entire family. Opening in 1980, the attraction is full of detail, has an amazing backstory, and is highly themed. It also offers some impressive views of Magic Kingdom. The roller coaster is a Disney classic that spans across three parks: Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney. It’s a must-do for both first-timers and Disney vets.

Jungle Cruise

Sort of a curveball here, but the Jungle Cruise absolutely deserves a spot on this list. The kitschy, pun-filled ride has developed a cult following over the years. It’s not the first (or even second or third) ride on anyone’s list, however, it will always have a 60-minute wait or longer.

The ride is a Disney classic, from the theming to the design and aesthetics, and the silly skippers who seem to genuinely enjoy their job. No one will ask or care whether you rode Jungle Cruise during your last Disney trip, but it’d be a mistake to miss a vintage Disney attraction “because the wait was too long.”

Why I didn’t choose…

Space Mountain

No doubt, it’s a Disney classic that will have an astronomical wait time by midday. We’ve never waited longer than 20 minutes, though. We’ll usually choose one day to arrive at Magic Kingdom for its morning Extra Magic Hour or rope drop. While everyone runs back to New Fantasyland, we make a right and go toward Tomorrowland. True, this strategy can be applied to most attractions at Magic Kingdom, but Space Mountain is mainly geared toward older riders. Most families will forego the attraction in favor of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The morning presents the best opportunity to ride Space Mountain at a low wait time, and for that reason, I’m skipping the FastPass+.

Splash Mountain

You can easily argue for using all three FastPass+ selections on “The Mountains”: Splash, Space, and Thunder. When you think of Florida, you envision hot, sticky, humid days. On those types of days, taking a plunge into the Briar Patch doesn’t sound so bad, does it? While Florida is hot and humid most of the year, it can be cold and damp between November and March. Because of this, Splash Mountain won’t always draw much of a crowd, and will have a low wait time as a result.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Peter Pan’s Flight, like Jungle Cruise, is another ride that will have a deceptively long wait time. It’s another classic Disney ride that is very family friendly. Aside from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, it’s the most popular ride in the New Fantasyland area. While the wait time can and will eclipse 60 minutes during the day, you should be able to get on in very little time during the morning. Because it’s such a family favorite, you can also wait until after the fireworks. A lot of the younger families will stay until Happily Ever After, then leave the park. The later it is, the lower the wait time will be at Peter Pan and other kid friendly attractions.

Animal Kingdom

Avatar Flight of Passage

I get goosebumps just thinking about Avatar Flight of Passage. The new fan favorite at Animal Kingdom’s Pandora warrants every hyperbole in the book. Upon returning from your Disney trip, everyone will ask whether you went on Flight of Passage. The ride features first-of-its-kind technology, immersive theming, and great storytelling. The wait time will be 2-3 hours by midday, sometimes longer during more-crowded periods at Disney.

Kilimanjaro Safari

You can’t go to Animal Kingdom without seeing the animals. Kilimanjaro falls under the family-friendly category, so it’ll always draw a big crowd. Throughout the safari, Disney intertwines its message of sustainability and caring for the planet with fun storytelling and picturesque views. The wait time will sit between 90-120 minutes, whereas a FastPass+ can normally get you through the queue in under 15 minutes.

Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest is probably my favorite ride at Disney. It’s a bit of an enigma. It continues to be a popular must-do attraction, but its wait time has seemingly seen a drop since Pandora opened. Located on the complete opposite end of the park, Expedition Everest has gone from a 90-minute wait to a 45-60 minute wait most days. Opt for the single rider queue and you’ll be on-and-off in no time. While the wait time has gone down a bit, it still warrants a FastPass+, but you’re not totally out of luck if you can’t secure one. Just head to the Asia area while everyone else rushes to Pandora.

Hollywood Studios

The Slinky Dog Dash Roller Coaster

The overall feeling toward Toy Story Land has been pretty “meh”. Maybe it’s overshadowed by the anticipation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or the fact that it’s geared toward kids and younger guests. Regardless, I’m excited. True, the Slinky Dog coaster may not be as exciting as the other attractions in Hollywood Studios, but new rides will always draw the biggest crowds. Getting a FastPass+ for the new roller coaster will be imperative, at least until the novelty wears off.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

I was very happy to see Hollywood Studios implement a similar strategy as Animal Kingdom did with Pandora, moving Toy Story Land attractions to tier one, and everything else to tier two. The days of deciding between Toy Story Midway Mania or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster are over.

Easily one of the more thrilling rides at Disney, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will see a wait time of 90 minutes or longer most days. I’ve seen it as high as 220 minutes.

Tower of Terror

Even if you chicken out last minute, I recommend every Disney fan goes through and experiences the queue at least once. Tower of Terror is the best-themed ride on property. The ride drops and pulls guests back up again at a quick pace. Its doors pull open at the top, revealing a picturesque view of the park, before quickly dropping guests down again. The 13-story plunge added a randomized drop pattern, so riders never know what to expect.

Why I didn’t choose…

Toy Story Midway Mania

Yes, Toy Story Midway Mania absolutely warrants a FastPass+. It’s one of the more popular attractions throughout Disney, as it’s a family-friendly ride that’s designed for everyone. It has some awesome theming and a fun premise. The new FastPass+ system at Hollywood Studios allows guests to choose one attraction from Toy Story Land, and two from another land (like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror). If you only have one day in the park and are looking to wait the least amount of time at attractions, I’d choose the Slinky Dog Coaster — at least for the time being. Guests can easily hop on Toy Story Midway Mania at rope drop, and the ride’s added track has alleviated the wait time quite a bit.

Epcot

In my opinion, Epcot is the toughest park to make FastPass+ selections for. Based on its tiering system, guests can choose either Frozen Ever After, Illuminations, Test Track, or Soarin’; and pick two from tier 2: Pixar Short Film Festival, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, Living with the Land, the Mickey and Pals character meet, RELAUNCHED! Mission: Space, Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Turtle Talk with Crush.

That seems like a lot, but it ultimately comes down to deciding which tier one attraction is most important to you, then filling your day with Spaceship Earth and one other tier two “throwaway” attraction.

Frozen Ever After

Frozen Ever After is one of the more heavily debated attractions at Disney. Upon being announced, many fans felt that the attraction was too far removed from the theming of the World Showcase. The World Showcase, after all, is built to educate guests, and Frozen was very much fiction. The argument didn’t slow the Frozen fever, as the ride saw 3+ hour waits upon opening, and still continues to be one of the hottest FastPass+ attractions in Disney.

It’s not the most exciting attraction in Disney, but it’s a must-do if you have a family or are a Frozen fan. Wait times can hit anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours.

Spaceship Earth

While certainly in need of some updates, the ride itself is a classic. The landmark attraction at Epcot takes guests on a ride through history, highlighting the biggest moments that shaped the world we live in today. The wait time will normally sit around 90 minutes.

Meet Mickey and Friends

The Epcot character meet-and-greet is one of the few spots in Disney where you can meet most of the popular, in-demand characters all under one roof. The wait time can jump up to 40-60 minutes, depending on when you go. While it’s not the best use of a FastPass+, it is a pretty unique attraction. Plus, you can’t leave Disney without some pictures with characters!

Why I didn’t choose…

Soarin’

Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of Soarin’. I went on it back in 2015 and the ride felt dated. The attraction has since been renovated with new screens, better projectors, and updated scents. While Soarin’ may not attract the crowd it once did, it’s still a very popular ride and warrants a FastPass+. Like the Slinky Dog Coaster vs. Toy Story Midway Mania argument, I’m choosing Frozen Ever After based on its novelty. The rope drop crowd will be split between the three tier-one rides. 70% will head toward Frozen Ever After, 20% will go to Soarin’, and 10% will go to Test Track. The morning is a great time to ride Soarin’ at a reduced wait time.

Test Track

I remember when Test Track opened and the idea of racing 60mph around a track in a convertible sounded amazing. Then I became old enough to drive and experienced going 70mph in a real convertible, down an actual road. Suddenly 60mph didn’t feel so fast.

Test Track is still a fun ride. Even with its Tron-like updates, it’s still a pretty solid attraction and will have a long wait. As I mentioned in my argument for why I didn’t choose Soarin’, most guests will go straight to Frozen Ever After. Those who don’t will go to Soarin’, and the remaining few will go to Test Track. Schedule a FastPass+ for Frozen Ever After, then make Soarin’ or Test Track your first priority at rope drop. If you can’t get up for rope drop, use the single rider line for a significantly lower wait time.

What are your must-do FastPass+ attractions? Leave a comment below!