What it is:

FastPass is Disney's new "virtual queue system". What this means is that instead of physically standing in line you can use a computer to make a reservation and it "holds" your place so you can return and wait in a minimal line.

How it works: You walk to the FastPass attraction of your choice. On arrival you will see a FastPass distribution center. You will also see a board listing the current stand-by time and the current FastPass return time. If you insert your ticket media into one of the FastPass machines you will receive your FastPass (Put valid image here)

• A FastPass is good for a one hour block of time to return to that attraction
• You are currently allowed to hold only one fast pass at a time (this may be changing soon, they are experimenting with allowing you to get a new FastPass after two hours of issuing the first one, for example if your return time was between 6:00-7:00pm and you got the FastPass at 1:00pm under this system you could get another FastPass at 3:00pm)
• You are allowed to get another FastPass after the start of your posted return time (meaning if your return time was between 2:00-3:00 you could get another FastPass at 2:00pm even if you have not used your first one yet).
• If you try to get more than one FastPass at a time you will get a FastPass that says (put image here)
• You need a FastPass for each person in your party (but you can send all your tickets with one person to pick up the FastPasses, so you all do not have to be present at distribution time).

• Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Mickey's PhilharMagic
• EPCOT: Test Track, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Maelstrom, Mission Space, Soarin
• Disney Studios: Tower of Terror, Rock n Roller, Muppet Vision, Star Tours, Indiana Jones, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story Midway Mania
• Animal Kingdom: Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjoro Safari, Dinosaur, It's Tough to Be a Bug, Expedition Everest

FastPass is a wonderful thing if used wisely. There is a large debate occurring in the Disney usergroups about the value and effectiveness of FastPass. The Geek's firsthand experience is that the system works ok. The way we used it made our wait times much shorter, but then again we are the type of people we will criss-cross the park(or walk in circles) just to avoid lines… The other advantage to FastPass right now is most people either do not know about or do not understand FastPass so it is used sparingly and unwisely, but as time goes on this will change, so enjoy it while you can…

There are several strategies that people employ while using FastPass.

The lazy approach: As you wonder around the park you come upon an attraction you wish to visit. The standby line is 2 hours long and you see people getting FastPasses, and decide to go for it. You get your FastPass and then look at your group and say, "Now what??"

The two-for-one approach: You send a member of your group to get a FastPass for an attraction (ex. Splash Mountain), while the rest of your group heads to Space Mountain to get in line. Your other member joins you in line at Space Mountain with your FastPasses. You wait and go on Space Mountain together, then all walk over an use your FastPasses to go on Splash Mountain. You get to go on two rides with the wait time of one.

The Geek's approach (warning this involves a lot of walking): Your group congregates around the "line board", or as it is called the Geek's favorite attraction(knowledge is power). There is a line board in each park and it will tell you the approximate wait times for the various attractions. You use this to know where the crowds are, aka where you do not want to hang out and where you want to get FastPasses. You begin your journey and go to attraction "A" and get a FastPass. You then go to an attraction (or two or sometimes three) that has a minimal wait (which is defined as less than 15min). Once your FastPass for attraction "A" comes up, you go to another attraction and get a FastPass for it. Then you go experience attraction "A". Then you repeat this process until you run out of time or energy. Also remember between each attraction you visit the line board to see where to go next (or if you are in "Total Geek Mode" you send a "advance scout" to the board to radio in where you need to go next.").