A note from Leap: Starting Oct. 19, 2021, FastPass+ service at Walt Disney World will be replaced with the Disney Genie system. For an additional cost, Guests can bypass the standby line and utilize the reimagined Lightning Lanes. Guests will have the option to make individual attraction selections using the Lightning Lane entrance, or can opt for Disney Genie+ service. With Disney Genie+ service, for $15 per ticket per day at Walt Disney World, guests will be able to choose the next available time to arrive at a variety of attractions and experiences using the Lightning Lane entrance. You can make one selection at a time, throughout the day. Check out our Disney Genie Frequently Asked Questions for more information!
As long-time Walt Disney World Resort experts, ticket-sellers and adventure-loving frogs, we help families plan their vacations by sharing key information. FastPass+ is one of those key pieces of information! We have been answering many questions about FastPass+ since its debut in 2014 — and we're still going! This is a compilation of answers to customers' most frequently asked questions about FastPass+ (including when you can book your FastPasses!).
To the unfamiliar, FastPass+ may seem overwhelming. This service simply allows guests to pre-book rides and entertainment so that they skip the regular lines. While pre-booking rides and entertainment — in some cases, up to 60 days in advance of your trip — sounds complicated, it doesn't have to be. Using FastPass+ is one of the best ways to experience the most in-demand rides with little to no wait! We are answering these Disney FastPass+ FAQs to make things as easy as possible, and leave you toadally ready to tackle your vacay. If you already know the basics, check out our FastPass+ tips! Let's hop to it!
Disney FastPass+ Frequently Asked Questions
What is FastPass+?
FastPass+ is Disney's reservation system that allows guests to book advance reservations for experiences and attractions in the park. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels can make FastPass+ reservations up to 60 days in advance of check-in for their entire length of stay. Guests staying at select hotels (including in the Disney Springs area) also get this benefit. These include:
- Walt Disney World Swan Resort Hotel
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort Hotel
- Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort
- B Resort Located in the Walt Disney World Resort
- Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
- Four Seasons Resort Orlando
- Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
- Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
- Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
- Holiday Inn Orlando
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando
- Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs
- Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Guests staying off-site can make reservations up to 30 days in advance of each day of their theme park visit. (Psst! You can now book your Orlando hotel with us at a discount!)
Is FastPass+ free?
Yes, it is free for everyone visiting the parks who has valid admission.
What are MagicBands?
MagicBands are rubber bracelets that contain an embedded RFID (radio frequency identification) chip and function similarly to regular RFID park tickets. They both offer touch-and-go functionality at the park entrances, at FastPass+ attraction queues and with PhotoPass photographers. The bracelets are more practical since you don't have to fumble in your pocket or backpack for tickets every time you enter a park or use FastPass+. Just make sure the Mickey head on the bracelet, which contains the RFID chip, touches the Mickey head RFID reader!
MagicBands offer additional (optional) functionality if you are a resort guest: They serve as your room key (talk about pixie dust!). You also can associate a credit card with the band so that you can touch to pay for purchases around the property after you have entered your pin. Non-resort guests who purchase MagicBands cannot add credit card functionality to their bands.
MagicBands have even more fun uses for all guests who wear them in the parks. First, your ride photos and video are often automagically uploaded to your My Disney Experience account, such as on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tower of Terror. For other attractions, such as Expedition Everest or Splash Mountain, you'll need to touch your MagicBand to the RFID readers at the ride exit's photo area to associate your photos with your account. Second, Disney offers personalization in queues and on rides for those wearing their bands. At Expedition Everest, for example, you might see your name on one of the Himalayan advertisements before you ride. There is more personalization at it's a small world and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.
Do I need a MagicBand?
No, physical tickets offer the same functionality as MagicBands. But you may find that MagicBands are more convenient for entering the parks and FastPass+ queues and having photos taken by PhotoPass photographers since you don't have to search in a backpack or pocket for tickets. You also get all of the benefits mentioned above!
How do I get a MagicBand?
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, all members of your party will be given MagicBands free of charge. Depending on how far in advance you book your resort stay, you will have the option of choosing the colors of your bands and having them shipped to you (not available in all countries). These will be personalized with each party member's name, and you can also choose to upgrade to certain themes for a minimal charge. As we mentioned earlier, your MagicBand serves as your room key and can be used to make purchases at the resort and in the parks during your hotel stay. Guests using Disney's Magical Express transportation will also use them at check-in, so you shouldn't put them in your checked baggage if you are flying to Orlando.
If you are not staying at a resort, you have the option of purchasing the bands starting at $14.99 plus tax in the park or online. You no longer have to link your MagicBand in the park, so you can purchase bands as gifts or to use later.
How far in advance can I make a FastPass+ reservation? 
Disney has two windows of opportunity for guests to book FastPass+ reservations. Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel can book FastPass+ tickets 60 days before their check-in date and book for the entire length of stay. Non-resort guests have a 30-day booking window, and need to book for each day of their trip (rather than in one fell swoop like Resort hotel guests).
It really helps to have your park plans in place before that window hits, and you'll need to have already purchased tickets. You'll need to decide which day you will visit each park. It also helps to do a little research so you can book the most popular experiences and rides, or those most important to your family. Keep in mind that you may only reserve three FastPass+ attractions per day in advance. You can make additional FastPass+ reservations in the parks after you've used your first three (or the return times have passed).
On the day your booking window opens, you'll be able to book FastPass+ reservations starting at 7 a.m. EST. So, if you're on the West Coast and want to book right away, you'll need to be up and ready at 4 a.m. (Hint: Grab your coffee or caffeinated beverage of choice before your booking window opens!) It isn't toadally necessary to book right when your window opens unless your trip is during a very busy time (such as the holidays), you're not staying on-site and/or you want to secure reservations for a very in-demand FastPass+ attraction (such as Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, Avatar Flight of Passage or Slinky Dog Dash).
If you're staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, you can make your FastPass+ selections from your first day of check-in for your entire length of stay (up to 14 days) with valid park admission. If your stay is longer than two weeks, you can make FastPass+ reservations for up to 14 days. Note that the 30-day window does not offer this option. You must book each day. We definitely recommend staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel during your visit to take advantage of that window!
How do I make FastPass+ reservations?
When you have your tickets, you will need to create an account on Disney World's My Disney Experience website in order to make FastPass+ reservations. To make reservations for friends and family, you will need to add their name (such as for a child) or send an email invitation to connect through a Disney account. Everyone whom you wish to make FastPass+ reservations for must have valid tickets linked to their account. Once you and your party members' accounts are linked, you then need to link your tickets and/or hotel stay. While the process is fairly straightforward, we have found it is easier to use the app since you can actually scan your ticket number rather than having to key it in manually. For those of you who are close to your FastPass+ booking window, once your order has been processed, you can contact our customer service to obtain your ticket number to link your tickets in My Disney Experience.
Once your tickets are linked, you will be walked through the process of making FastPass+ reservations. Once online, you can book your three daily reservations, one at a time. You also get to see all of the available time slots within the morning, afternoon or evening. This is a big plus that makes it easier for guests to book separate reservations for their party members. For example, while Tad and I ride Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Mommy Frog and Lily split and use a FastPass+ for Toy Story Mania! If your family or group plan to make any of the same FastPass+ reservations, we recommend you make these first.
Can I still make advance FastPass+ reservations if I plan to purchase a MagicBand later?
Yes. If you decide to purchase a MagicBand later, you can still make FastPass+ reservations in advance and those selections will be stored with your My Disney Experience profile and linked with your ticket and MagicBand. Your tickets will continue to function even if you use a MagicBand.
How many reservations can I make?
Guests can make three advance reservations for rides and experiences per day via the My Disney Experience website, the app or the in-park kiosks. Those three reservations must be made for use in one park only. Note that at EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, a tiered structure is in place for the most in-demand attractions. Guests can make only one selection from the Tier 1 attractions and entertainment and two selections from the Tier 2 list at those parks. You can make additional FastPass+ reservations after you've used your first three (or the return times have passed) in the park using the app or an in-park kiosk. Magic Kingdom does not have a FastPass+ tiered system, but the most in-demand rides, such as Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, get booked quickly.
How do I use FastPass+ in the park?
When you're ready to use your FastPass+ reservation in the park, head to the attraction or entertainment experience during your allotted one-hour window. Look for the FastPass+ queue at the attraction and touch your ticket or MagicBand to the Mickey RFID reader for entry. You may be asked to scan your MagicBand or ticket a second time as you move further up the queue.
Just three reservations per day?
As mentioned above, after using your first three reservations in the park, you can obtain more. This can be at any park, and it can be at any attraction (even if you've already booked FastPass+ for Tier 1 attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Epcot or Disney's Animal Kingdom). Once you have used that FastPass+ selection or the window has passed, you are free to make another selection. And so on, and so on.
Booking additional FastPass+ reservations can be done using the My Disney Experience app. (Just make sure to update to the latest version of the app.) One important note is that you no longer need to physically be present in the park you wish to make reservations for. This is a big plus for park hoppers! So you could be in EPCOT, but make your reservation for Magic Kingdom if you have park hoppers or are an annual passholder.
You can also use the in-park kiosks to make reservations. If you do use a kiosk, know that not not everyone in the party must be present to add the FP+ selection as long as you are all connected using My Disney Experience.
What if I am late/need to modify my reservations?
If you are late by a few minutes on your slotted time for an attraction, you should still be allowed to enter the attraction. If you are going to be more than a few minutes late, you should re-book the experience for a later time. You can modify reservations using the website, app or in-park kiosks. Late entry is left up to the discretion of cast members, so it pays to be kind and on time!
Does everyone in our friends/family account need to complete all three FastPass+ reservations for the day before we can reserve a fourth?
The FastPass+ reservations are tied to an individual ticket. If someone in your group only uses one FastPass+, that doesn't affect you from getting your fourth after your other three have been used (but it will affect them!).
Which rides and attractions should I use FastPass+ for?
This is a great question! Your "best" choices toadally depend on individual family preferences (and availability, of course). That said, on our FastPass+ Tips post, we outline our top three FastPass+ recommendations in each park. If you hop over to our Park Plans page, we outline even more priorities for each park.
We hope these Disney FastPass+ FAQs have been hopful! If you still have questions, share them in comments below. Just starting to plan your vacation and want to know more about Disney FastPass+? Hop over to our Disney FastPass+ Planning page, part of our Orlando Vacation Planning Timeline.
Related: Disney World FastPass+ Tips and Park Strategies
Keep hopping!
