Earlier this year, the Walt Disney World theme parks and many of the Resort hotels reopened, but not without a few changes.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
Aside from the mask requirement and limited capacity, one of the biggest changes at the theme parks has been the temporary suspension of FastPass+.
According to Disney, the FastPass+ service was suspended because they are utilizing “additional queue space to manage capacity at [their attractions] and maintain physical distancing.”
© Disney
In fact, the FastPass+ feature has been temporarily removed from My Disney Experience. Just a few weeks ago, Disney published a page on DisneyWorld.com discussing guests using FastPass+ for their trips in January and February. The page appeared to us to contain information entirely from 2019. It was our guess that it was added back to the website because it is going to be edited and updated according to the options available for this coming year. The page was updated later and no longer mentions FastPass+.
FastPass Kiosk in Epcot’s Future World
We’ve seen some things from before the park closures, like character dining return in modified ways. Other queue space has also been modified since the reopening. For example, the graveyard at The Haunted Mansion was open on our most recent visit, yet had been closed since the parks initially reopened.
The question that has constantly been on our minds is whether FastPass+ will be returning soon. We decided to see what you all think so we asked our readers on Instagram “Do you think Disney World will bring back FastPass+ by the end of 2020?” The majority of our readers felt that Disney World will NOT bring back FastPass+ by the end of 2020.
Do you think Disney World will bring back Fastpass+ by the end of 2020?
Let’s see what some of them had to say.
YES!
Some strongly hope that FastPass+ will come back soon. One reader told us they really hope FastPass+ comes back because “[w]ait times are getting out of control for people going on a once in a great while type of vacation there.” Although the parks were fairly empty when they first reopened, we have seen wait times gradually increasing since the reopening. One park in particular — Disney’s Hollywood Studios — has consistently felt more crowded to us.
Crowds at Magic Kingdom
Another reader said they want FastPass+ to come back because they’re “going in mid December and [are] worried it’s going to be at capacity. And it’s hard to wait in 80 min long lines with a 3 year old.”
Although Disney has been limiting the capacity of guests within its parks, we have seen Disney Park Pass reservations filling up around holidays. While we anticipate that crowds will not reach the levels they normally do during the holiday season (hopefully we’ll avoid that shoulder-to-shoulder, sea of people experience) they will likely be more crowded than we’ve seen so far around Christmastime, which will likely result in longer wait times.
Slinky Dog Dash
Another reader said “They better do something if they continue increasing capacity. If not fast passes then more virtual queues.”
While we don’t have any official word as to whether Disney has itself been increasing capacity, we have noticed the parks feeling a bit more full. Near the end of September, Florida moved into Phase 3 of its reopening, which means that Theme Parks are allowed to operate as normal with limited social distancing protocols in place and no mandatory capacity caps.
Crowds at Magic Kingdom
Disney has said that they are evaluating the executive order, but are not currently making any changes regarding capacity limits.
Some clearly hope, however, that Disney takes some kind of action to help handle the incoming holiday crowds — whether that be the reinstatement of FastPass+ or some alternative. We’ve seen a virtual standby pass experience utilized for some attractions at both Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland. Could we see this system implemented in Disney World instead of the return of FastPass+? Only time will tell.
NO WAY!
Many readers, however, were happy to see FastPass+ go. One told us they hope it never comes back! That reader said, “It’s been so nice to have standby ride queues that move well. The fastpass system was so unfair. If Disney needs to do something more for resort guests then they should consider bringing back extra magic hour / early park entry for resort guests.” As of right now, extra magic hours are still temporarily suspended.
Disney World Crowds
Another reader shared similar feelings. They told us “I honestly wish they would remove FP+ all together. It’s too stressful planning your whole day months in advance!”
Obtaining a FastPass+ for some of the most popular attractions, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Flight of Passage, was once an incredibly difficult task. Those hoping to get a FastPass+ for some of those attractions in the past would have to plan their visit months in advance, get up extremely early on the day their FastPass+ window opened to try to get a FastPass+, and, if they weren’t lucky, consistently check back for any openings frequently.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
For some, planning this far in advance is wonderful and makes them feel like they’ve got at least some attractions secured for their trip. For others, however, particularly those who like to make surprise visits to Disney World or whose idea of a vacation doesn’t include extreme planning, the FastPass+ system could be seen as more of a hindrance than a help.
Click here to check out our video: Is Disney World getting more crowded and what does it mean for you?
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Will Disney relax from going park to park. We normally go to one park during the day but always had dinner at Epcot ( different county each night).
They could fix the bracelet so a person can not use it for rides. Dinner Only.
Annual Passholder.
We are DVC members and just returned from a week at WDW. I agree. Have extra hours for resort guests and get rid of Fastpass system. It was nice to not be on a schedule planned months ahead.
Definitely need Fast passes to come back. Disney wants, (needs) us to buy food and merch, not stand in line for 90 minutes for each ride. There is no stress planning out fast passes months in advance, especially if they maintain park reservations.
I think FASTPASS+ would be good to have back but should only be offered to those guest who are staying on Disney property and in Disney resorts! no good neighbor hotels! If they don’t bring it back then they need to figure out way to work to get folks thru line instead of waiting in lines and not following social distancing, which i do hope they keep that going – don’t need to be onto of each when standing in line or in shows.
No to Fast pass Returning It’s not always possible to plan months in advance.
Reservations ok but would like the park hopper option back as that is what are passes are for. Love going at the spur of the moment. Tend to go more often
Giving out fast passes would be a whole lot healthier than standing in crowded lines for hours sometimes for a ride.
My family and I where there at the end of September. And I will have to say Hollywood Studios was horrible it was so crowded. There wasn’t a whole lot of quick serve places open and restaurants where full. Also the way to (try) to get on Rise of the Resistance to me is worse than ever we had 6 tries to get with a group and never did. You have thousands of people all trying at the same time to get with a group. The system messed up three of the times we tried. It’s a mess I wish they would go back to first come first serve.
A fastpass+ system is one of the main incentives of staying at a Disney Hotel along with early entry and DDP, if you could not include these items why would you pay the extra money to stay at a Disney hotel.
Tony, no word on the return of Park Hopping yet.
Do away with fast passes permanently i
We are waiting for them.to bring back do to plan out vacation because we love planning and knowing we will at least have a chance to ride certain rides. Which is better than wasting countless hours standing in lines. It is also a great way to get us to stay in the resorts.
Was an annual pass holder for years. I liked fast pass the way it use to be years ago. The way they had it before the outbreak seemed unfair and the most popular rides would run out before I could get them.
There would be absolutely no point in staying in a Disney hotel without the benefit of the 60 fast pass once we get back to normal.
Just overheard a CM here at Hollywood Studios telling a guest that it won’t return until we don’t have to socially distance. They don’t have the space to socially distance 2 lines.
Phill you are absolutely correct. Zero point of paying a premium to stay on property with no added benefits. The money saved staying off site will more than cover parking fees at each park. And fast pass would keep the lines moving continuously and then the regular que lines would always be shorter. You’d think Disney would want less people in lines for hours at a time and have them moving throughout the parks spending money on food and merchandise.
The first comment under No Way! Says they are so happy that iit is so nice that the standby queue is moving well now. Waiting in an hour plus line to get on a ride is not moving well!
They should eliminate the fast pass system where you get them months in advance and go to the Max pass system Disneyland had where you book your fast passes online on your mobile app the day of. Should not be able to book in advance of the day you are in the park.