Key Difference – Disney Fastpass vs Fastpass Plus
Disney Fastpass and Fastpass Plus are two reservation systems used by Disney. Disney Fastpass, introduced in 1999, allowed visitors to skip lines and board their favorite rides without any delay. However, in 2014, Disney Fastpass was replaced by a new digital reservation system called Fastpass Plus. The main difference between Fastpass and Fastpass Plus is that guests could reserve rides on the day they visited the park with Fastpass, whereas with Fastpass Plus, guests can reserve attractions thirty days prior to the visit.
Key Takeaways
- Disney Fastpass was the original reservation system, while Fastpass Plus is the upgraded version.
- Fastpass Plus allows guests to reserve attractions up to 30 days in advance, while Fastpass reservations could only be made on the day of the visit.
- Fastpass Plus offers more flexibility in changing reservation times and attractions, which was not available with the original Fastpass.
What is Disney Fastpass?
Disney Fastpass is the innovative ride reservation system introduced in 1999 for Disney World visitors. It allowed people to avoid long lines at attractions and obtain tickets that allowed them to return to the attraction at specific times and hop right on board. Fastpass service was included in the park ticket at no additional cost. To obtain a Fastpass, visitors had to insert their park passes into the Fastpass machines at kiosks, which were located in front of the attractions. The machine would then issue paper tickets with a specific time (the next available reservation time). Guests would hand this ticket over to Disney cast members within this time frame, allowing them to skip the lines and board the rides. The tickets, however, were only available in the park on the day of the visit. Disney Fastpass was only available for selected attractions, and in 2014, the Fastpass system was replaced with Disney Fastpass Plus.
What is Disney Fastpass Plus?
Disney Fastpass Plus is a digital reservation system that allows guests to make advance reservations for attractions and experiences at Disney World. It is a free service that allows every ticket holder the chance to skip the line on three specific attractions at one park per day. Guests can start making selections as early as 30 days before they visit the park. If guests are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel, they can make reservations 60 days prior to their visit. Since Fastpass Plus has replaced the original Fastpass system, physical Fastpass tickets are no longer distributed. Fastpass Plus reservations are stored in guests’ My Disney Experience profile on their tickets or MagicBands. Once guests have booked their Disney tickets, they can log into the My Disney Experience website and make their selections.
Disney Fastpass Plus offers many benefits, including the ability to visit more attractions in Disney World, select convenient times to visit attractions, and reserve up to three experiences per day. However, it is not recommended to use Fastpass Plus on attractions with fewer crowds.
What is the Difference Between Disney Fastpass and Fastpass Plus?
| Disney Fastpass | Fastpass Plus |
|---|---|
| Introduced in 1999, it was the original ride reservation system. | The upgraded version of Fastpass, introduced in 2014. |
| Rides could be reserved on the day of the visit. | Rides can be reserved as early as 30 days prior to the visit. |
| Used physical tickets. | Selections are stored in Magic Bands or park passes, which look like credit cards. |
| Guests could only get one Fastpass at a time. | Guests can reserve up to three experiences in advance. |
| Guests could not change the Fastpass reservation time. | Guests can change reservation times as well as the attractions they planned to visit. |
| Only a few attractions could be reserved with Fastpass. | Many attractions can be reserved with Fastpass Plus. |
| Guests could get more than one reservation for the same attraction (they could visit several times). | Fastpass Plus allows guests to make only one reservation for a ride per day. |
| Guests could make ride reservations at more than one theme park during a day. | Guests can only obtain ride reservations at one park per day. |
Summary – Disney Fastpass vs Fastpass Plus
Disney Fastpass was replaced by Fastpass Plus in 2014. The main difference between Disney Fastpass and Fastpass Plus is the new features available with Fastpass Plus. With Fastpass Plus, guests can reserve attractions many days prior to their visit. Moreover, the reservation times, dates, and attractions in Fastpass Plus can be changed via My Disney Experience. These facilities were not available with the original Fastpass.
