Disney’s new FastPass+ program is now available to all Walt Disney World guests, so part of your planning your itinerary will be planning your FastPasses. Today, I will talk about how to plan these selections at Hollywood Studios.
But first, some general info: Currently, Disney resort guests can make FastPass+ reservations 60 days ahead of arrival, and off-site guests and Annual Passholders 30 days ahead of arrival. As of today, all guests can make 3 FastPass selections per day, per park in advance, and then can make additional FP+ selections at the parks, after those first 3 are done, in any park.
Hollywood Studios’ FastPass system is tiered – this means that the FastPass-eligible attractions are divided up into two groups. Guests choose 1 attraction from group 1 and 2 attractions from group 2 when they make their 3 FastPass selections. Group 1 at Hollywood Studios includes the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, Fantasmic, and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. All other attractions fall into group 2.
Since guests have a limit of how many FastPasses they can initially choose, pick rides that deserve a FastPass. The FastPass+ program has given many rides FastPass eligibility that did not have it before, but you will probably not need a FastPass for many of these. Out of group 1, I would pick Toy Story Midway Mania, which normally has the longest lines in the park. Out of group 2, rides that deserve a FastPass include the Tower of Terror, Star Tours, and the Great Movie Ride. There are very few other attractions that will benefit from FastPass use most of the time. Consider using one for Voyage of the Little Mermaid if you are skipping most of the thrill rides. Remember that you have to pick 3 FastPasses when you reserve them, you cannot pick just 1 or 2.
I think the key to using FastPass+ is visiting some high-demand rides first thing in the morning and using FastPass for others later in the day. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a good FastPass candidate because of its long lines, but my plan includes hitting Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and then Tower of Terror first thing, then using my group 1 FastPass for Toy Story Midway Mania. Star Tours is also a good FastPass choice because it’s not a good first stop of the day, being so far from other high-demand rides.
Most of the shows have large theater capacities, frequent show times, or both, and so FastPass is not needed if you can arrive at the show early. Fantasmic is a very popular show that often requires guests arriving 45-60 minutes early for good seats, but I would not use FastPass for this unless I was visiting Hollywood Studios for 2 days or more. Remember that if you use FastPass for Fantasmic, you forfeit a FastPass for Toy Story or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster that day.
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Elizabeth lives in Kansas City with her wonderful parents and sister. She enjoys long walks, happy thoughts, and Disney magic! Elizabeth first visited Disney as a child, and when she prepared to visit Walt Disney World as an adult, she foolishly thought she may have ‘outgrown’ Disney. Happily, Elizabeth was proven wrong. After planning a second trip to Walt Disney World, Elizabeth is now her family’s go-to resource for Disney. She even has her own blog, planningformagic.com, with advice on how to plan your next Disney trip. Someday, she even hopes to be an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Elizabeth’s Disney wish list is a mile long, so she’s always ready to plan her next Disney adventure.
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