Disney's Fastpass

One of the things that can put a damper on any Walt Disney World vacation is the waiting in lines to get on rides. If you are in the park during a peak season, your wait time can be crazy and you may even miss out on riding some of your favorites because the line is too long.

Disney created a system to help alleviate SOME of the congestion. FASTPASS is a service that is free to all Disney theme park guests. It is available on most of the most popular rides throughout the entire resort and makes it possible to almost "reserve" a time for you to come back and ride the ride without having to wait.

Per Waltdisneyworld.com:
Wouldn't it be great if you could cut your wait time for some of your favorite attractions? Now you can! Our complimentary Disney's FASTPASS Service saves your place in line for an attraction while you enjoy the rest of the theme park.

To Use Disney's FASTPASS Service:

• Look for the "Disney's FASTPASS® Distribution" sign near the entrance of an attraction.
• Check the "Return Time" displayed on the sign.
• The sign will indicate the time you would return to enjoy the attraction using a FASTPASS ticket.
• For attractions, the return time is a one-hour window (e.g., 1:10 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.), so you don't have to be there exactly at a given time. For shows, your return time will be for a specific performance.
• If the return time is one that works for you, just insert your admission ticket into the Disney's FASTPASS Service machine. (You may use your Walt Disney World Resort admission ticket, readmission ticket, Disney Resort Hotel keycard or Annual Passport.)
• A FASTPASS ticket will emerge with your return time printed on it. Now you're free to go and enjoy the rest of the theme park!
• Go back to the FASTPASS ticketholder entrance when your return time rolls around, show your ticket to the Cast Member and enjoy the attraction with a minimal wait.

Please keep in mind:

• FASTPASS tickets are only valid on the day of issue.
• Everyone in your party using the FASTPASS ticketholder entrance must have a FASTPASS ticket.
• There's a limit to the number of FASTPASS tickets you may have at one time. On your ticket will be printed the time at which you can get your next one. Disney's FASTPASS Service machines won't issue another ticket until the time stated on your current one.

Currently, the following attractions offer Disney's FASTPASS Service:

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Primeval Whirl, Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, and Expedition Everest

Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park:Toy Story Mania, Rock N Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Star Tours, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Magic Kingdom: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Peter Pan's Flight, Jungle Cruise and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Epcot: Test Track, Maelstrom, Mission Space, Soarin, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience

The thing to keep in mind with the FASTPASS system is that it may cause you to loose your pattern of park touring that you had going on, but it is well worth the back-tracking to go back and practically walk right on to the best rides.