Disney’s FastPass+
Disney has been working on a new FastPass system called FastPass+ that will likely roll out later this year and will eventually replace the old system.
One major change to the existing FASTPASS system is that FastPass+ users will be able to select their return time windows for attractions and entertainment before you leave home up to 60 days in advance. In addition, you’ll be able to choose from a set of 3 Fastpass+ for a park of choice for select Character Greetings, entertainment, and viewing areas for parades and fireworks. And if your plans change, no problem. You can update your selections at any time.
FastPass+ testing is now underway across Walt Disney World Resort. I have read that it is available for most resort guests with valid park admission tickets linked to their My Disney Experience account. We were hoping that we will be able to be a part of the FastPass+ and Magic Band (this is another test being carried out throughout Disney) experience.
Many guests have reported being able to select the FastPass+ for their stay about 50+ days in advance. Disney sure has a way to keep us very busy in that there will be no announcement or notification whenever the dates are open for selection. So, for many days and nights, I have been randomly checking on and playing around our MDE account, hoping that something will show up. Many users across DISboards usually get very excited when they notice something different in the Disney site especially when they loaded a Edna step-by-step training tutorial. The anticipation adds to the excitement.
On Thursday, 17 Oct, I noticed that Disney website was down for maintenance as I could not check reservation. I did not pay much notice to it and then as random as it is, on that night, I logged in our account, clicked on Make FastPass+ Selections thinking that it will show me the usual message to link my family and friends. Lo and behold, I was able to make FastPass+ selections for our entire stay at all four parks!
Well, I was not really ready for this but I started booking the Fastpass+ selections anyway, starting from the first day, park by park, prioritising what we really want as we can only have 3 per day. There are some attractions missing like Enchanted Tales With Belle which we really wanted but we settled for something else. After selecting, I modified some FastPass+ to our desired timing to fit in our schedule. It was a tedious process which took me more than 2 hours and forgot about dinner. However, I am glad that it worked and it will save us the hassle of running around the park to get the FastPass and then not using them eventually during the window period as we probably went too far from the attraction or are queuing for another attraction.
On the morning of Friday, 18 Oct, after Jarod left for school, I randomly checked on our MDE account again. Yes, this has somewhat become my hobby and habit. Not one day passes without me looking at it. To my surprise, many more other attractions were loaded overnight, including Enchanted Tales With Belle. I got myself really busy modifying my previous selections to include all the new attractions. How I wish I can have more than the entitlement of 3 per day! I noticed that parades and fireworks have not been loaded as yet and the other one that I’ll really love to get is the quick service lunch to Be Our Guest restaurant. Unknowingly, I spent another 3 hours moving things around.
I know that I am not quite done yet in my selection till all the attractions have been loaded and I get all the FastPass+ that I need. So, for the next few days and weeks, I will still be randomly checking our account a few times a day!
We are also still not able to personalise our Magic Bands yet. Other users have reported being able to do so after they completed and modified online check-in to the resorts. We are not keen to do online check-in so will wait and hopefully the option to personalise is available to us soon.