What’s a Fast Pass?

By Leave a Comment

Disney World, FL/ Disney Land, CA

Walt Disney World and Disney Land have so many magical and fun adventurous rides that it’s often hard to pick and choose when visiting.

Disney has created a fast pass system which allows guests to get into a faster ride line. Upon entering the line (que) you will notice two entrances. One entrance will read standby and one will read fast pass. If you have signed up for a fast pass you will be ushered into a line where the wait will be 10-15 minutes in general.

Fast pass works differently at Disney World and Disney Land so let’s get a quick crash course in using fast pass at both resorts.

 

 

Disney World-

All guests have access to the fast pass system. If you have purchased tickets to one of the four parks you may log into your My Disney Experience app or website and sign up for fast pass ride options at 30 days out from your trip at 7am EST. If you have chosen to stay on property at a Disney resort you will be able to sign up for your fast pass ride options starting at 60 days out from your trip at 7am EST. In order to register for fast pass selections you will need to sign into your My Disney Experience (MDE) account and register your party. Select all members of your travel party that you wish to ride on the fast pass ride with you. You will then be able to select fast pass ride options for the day/days you have purchased park tickets for.

 

It’s important to remember that you are eligible to pre-reigster for 3 separate fast pass ride selections each day. The first three fast passes need to be all at the same park. The fast pass time range is for an hour. For example, if you sign up to ride the Haunted Mansion your fast pass will be valid from 10:00-11:00 so you can return to the ride at anytime during that hour period to ride. When you register for your fast passes you will not be able to book another reservation until 11:00 when your first fast pass ends. Once all the rides selections previously chosen have been used guests are able to sign up for one additional fast pass at a time.

Let’s look at an example:

Peter Pan’s Flight 9:00-10:00

Seven Dwarves Mine Train 10:00-11:00

Little Mermaid 11:00-12:00

Once your party enters the fast pass line for the Little Mermaid you are able to open up your MDE app and register for your next fast pass! This is the key to making the most of your fast passes.

 

If you are using magic bands your fast passes will be linked and stored right on your bands, if you are using your smartphone they will be loaded to your Disney app. Simply scan your band or phone once you enter the fast pass line. If you have a card ticket your rides are linked to your ticket and will need to be scanned upon entering the fast pass line. There are cast members at each line who are able to help if needed. After your first three fast passes are used you are free to make fast pass selections-one at a time-at the park you are currently in or another park. You may also change or cancel fast pass selections on your MDE app.

 

Disney Land-

Disney Land does fast passes a little bit different. Disney Land (we will call it Land from now on) issues paper fast passes. You are able to obtain these paper fast passes outside the selected rides in the park that offer fast pass as an option. I’ll include a link to them here. You may get one fast pass at a time-they last an hour just like World passes for example from 8:00-9:00. Keep your paper fast pass safe because with out it you will have to use the stand by line.

 

Disney Max Pass is a feature you can purchase before entering the Land or California Adventure park. The cost is currently $20 a day and allows you to select fast passes on your mobile device as opposed to using the paper tickets. You will scan your device before entering the ride line.

If you have a Travel Agent like me, simply message your agent and poof your ride wishes come true. I would love to help you book your vacation along with your fast pass ride selections! You can find me at Callie at Wanderkeep Travel  on Facebook or you can email me at callie@wanderkeep.com!

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

By Leave a Comment

Disney World,FL

Our family is a Disney family. We love going, playing and staying. We have been trying to change things up a bit and do something different each time we visit-which honestly isn’t that difficult. Our last stay was at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Caribbean Beach Resort (CBR) is nothing short of magical. Disney does it again by creating a truly Caribbean feel through their magical imagineering. We hopped on board the magical express and were whisked away to CBR . Upon arrival we immediately began to feel that Caribbean feel. The resort is painted in bright colors, plays island music and is surrounded by beaches, a bay area and fun pools.

We checked in and were so excited that we had been chosen to be family of the week. This is something chosen at random and of all the times we have stayed at Disney this is the first, and probably only time this will happen! What a treat! We received a private tour of the resort and were sent to our upgraded room.

 

Our room was just like all rooms in CBR with the exception of location. CBR is broken down into “islands” and each section is named after a Caribbean island. We stayed in North Trinidad-closet to the pools and eating area. Each island has it’s own bus area where you can catch buses to the parks or catch an internal bus to run around the islands and obtain easy access to the eating area. The rooms come with two queen beds and a fold out Murphy bed-so fun!

 

We visited during Christmas and our common area was decorated Caribbean Christmas style with a festive tree full of garland and seashells.

 

The eating area was super cute. CBR looks like small island markets-each one offering a different fair, palm leaf fans and string lights. CBR also has a site down restaurant called Shutters which offers food with a Caribbean twist.

 

There are two separate pool areas at CBR. A large sprawling pool with water cannons, slides and theming. Oh and yes we went swimming in November because the pools are heated. We were also able to see the fireworks from Epcot in the pool at night. CBR also has a sunken ship splash area for the littles. Life vests available if needed. The lifeguards are amazing and vigilant.

We had a blast at CBR. CBR also offers pirate themed rooms for an additional cost. My only issue with CBR was the bus schedule. Each “island” shares a bus system so once you get picked up at your island you had to travel to the others to pick up guests before heading to the park. This made each trip longer and we often had to stand. That being said CBR is a fun and festive resort and is a great value for the money with fun nooks and crannies to play in and an overly accommodating staff.

Top 10 Disney World Snacks

By Leave a Comment

Oh Disney-how I miss thee and thine snacks! People are always talking about food at Disney. In fact I myself am a certified Disney Foodie! Part of the fun of going to WDW is not only the rides, the shows, the hotels, the feeling but the food. People tend to focus on meals but don’t miss out on all the fun snacks.

I will start off by saying there are a ton of snack I still want to try and are on my WDW Bucket List. So far after 14 visits these are my…

TOP TEN FAVORITE WALT DISNEY WORLD SNACK

  1. Mickey Shaped Food-and for me it’s the Mickey Ice cream. My fav is the cookies and cream sandwich but people live for the ice cream bar. I always take home tons of the rice krispy treat and there’s even a Mickey shaped pretzel. I would definitely try all of them!028
  2. Caramel Apples- you can find these in various locations throughout the parks. The best ones are at Dumbo’s Circus Tent in Magic Kingdom. They will also cut them into bite sized pieces if you ask and they are beautiful. You can see them being made at the Main Street Confectionery.IMG_2852
  3. Pastries from France-Hop on over to Epcot and grab my personal fav the palmier-or some people call them elephant ears.
  4. La Fou’s Brew-This one is a drink from Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom. It was on my bucket list this year and I have to admit I was pretty nervous about it-why? It’s an apple juice slushy with a passion fruit whipped marshmallow topping. Kind of weird right-AMAZING~ You can definitely share it. It’s a seasonal drink and they change it to a hot chocolate form in the winter.
  5. Cinnamon Almonds-Hop on over to a kiosk right as you entire the world showcase at Epcot-entering from the left side by Mexico and you’ll find a nut kiosk. They’re made fresh and are awesome.
  6. Cronut-You’ve probably heard of them-ya know-part doughnut part croissant all awesome. These treats are also at the World Showcase in Epcot but they’re in the Refreshment Stand as you enter the showcase from the right by Canada.
  7. The Plaza Ice Cream-pick from so many different flavors ina traditional setting and oh yes you can make a cookie ice cream sandwich to order.IMG_2705
  8. Popcorn-They used to make caramel popcorn at the Sleepy Hollow shop but they now make all caramel popcorn off site and bag it. We take several bags of the caramel stuff found in basically every shop and hotel with Donald Duck on the front home with us!
  9. Cheeseburger Egg Rolls-Sounds weird right? This was a bucket list try this year and I will have one as long as they make them. It literally tastes like a cheeseburger! You get two and they can be found at a kiosk in the Magic Kingdom over by Aladdin’s Carpets.
  10. Last But Not Least-Shaved Ice-In Epcot located at a small kiosk-notice a trend?-next to Japan they sell shaved ice in melon flavors. Get the green honeydew flavor-delicious!

What are some of your fav Disney Treats? I’d love to add them to my bucket list.