FastPass Tips

The number one thing guests need to know more about at the Disneyland Resort is the FastPass system, and with the latest changes made to its operation many guests are finding themselves somewhat confused and wasting time at attraction entrances unwittingly.  From what I've observed, there are a few things you should know that will speed things up and allow you to get less frustrated.

The first thing you need to do is understand the basics of FastPasses at Disneyland.  If you need a refresher, you can read our past articles here and here to brush up.

Have Your Park Tickets Ready

Once that's done, let's move on to the FastPass Return entrance.  With the new FastPass rules you no longer use the paper slips you get from the FastPass Distribution kiosks, you use your park entrance tickets.  I cannot stress this change enough because many guests do not notice the posted signs or Cast Member reminders before they reach the scanners.  If you try to use the paper FastPasses at the scanners, they won't work and the FastPass line will get backed up.  Have your park admission out instead before you reach the scanners.

Have Each Person Hold Their Own Ticket

There are many parents that choose to hang on to everyone's park tickets for fear of someone losing or misplacing them.  This is a very valid concern, but now that tickets are required at FastPass Return entrances, if one person stands at one scanner to scan multiple tickets it takes much longer.  Instead, hand every person in your party their tickets before you reach the FastPass Return entrance and collect them afterward.  This will zoom everyone through the scanners and save a lot of time.

If you're still concerned about your children carrying their tickets at all, I would suggest investing in lanyards to hold their tickets.  You can find them in almost any store in the parks, they're made to be the perfect size for your tickets, and you don't even have to take them out of the pouch to scan them at the park and FastPass Return entrances!

Hold the Ticket in the Right Place

Some guests, in an effort to scan their tickets quicker, hold them right up against the top of the scanner.  This is actually not the best place since it has a hard time picking up the barcodes if the ticket is too close or too far away.  It's better to place your ticket in the centre of the circle - it will pick it up almost immediately!

Be Aware of the Merge Point

The "merge point" is the term CMs use to refer to the point in the queue where the FastPass and stand-by lines meet.  Some merge points have additional scanners where you still need your park tickets ready while others merely have guests walk through with nothing extra.  Instead of trying to memorize which attractions are which, I find it easier to have your tickets out and ready every time you come through the FastPass Return entrance until after you've passed the merge point.  Then you can finally gather up everyone's tickets and put them all away safely.

These may seem like really simple suggestions, but I guarantee these are going to save you a lot of time and if everyone followed these points there wouldn't be long lines of impatient guests at the Return entrance of attractions.  Have fun!