TSM Fastpasses?

the1nonlysinger

Active Member
31 days before our trip! I just had a brainstorm about a potential snafu in our current plans though.

We have basic MYW, non-park hopper passes. So we have 2 days assigned to Hollywood Studios. Those two days happen to be the days that we have breakfasts scheduled at Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare (at 9:30 and 10 AM respectively). So we wouldn't be able to make rope drop at HS either day.

Here's my concern-- how fast do the fastpasses for TSM run out each day? I don't want to miss out on the ride, simply because we didn't make it right at the opening of the park. But I'm not keen on waiting in a line for hours just to ride it either...

(I'm currently trying to find openings earlier on those days, but of course they're all booked up! Will keep trying... In the meantime, help on this question is appreciated!!)
 

WDWmazprty

Well-Known Member
Well, if the current trend keeps up the way it is, those FP go really fast!

We were there in Sept. and arrived at 9:30am (the park opened at 9:00 mind you) I ran to TSM to get FP and there was a huge line. I was able to get FP for our crew but they were for 3:00!!! I think I hera that by 10:30 or so the FP were already gone.


Hopefully it'll be different when you go :shrug:.
 
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Mukta

Well-Known Member
Fastpasses have been running out very fast. I'd say by 11:00-11:30 each day.
Is there a way to make those two days MK days? You are already eating at MK resorts.
 
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the1nonlysinger

Active Member
Original Poster
Unfortunately are plans are pretty set in stone at this point. Those two days are the only 2 days that Fantasmic is playing and we have yet to see it- so it's a must-see for us this trip.

My hope is that because we're two adults, we can cruise through the breakfast buffets a lot faster than if we had kids in tow. Here's hoping we can get over to HS in time for that FP.

My other thought was trying to go to HS FIRST to get a fast pass and then hightailing it to the 10 AM ressie at 1900 Park Fare. But I'm pretty sure that's cutting it way too close for comfort.
 
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Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
It is not uncommon for those passes to be gone by noon or earlier even on a slow day. I would really look at switching one of those days to MK or possibly Epcot if you really want to ride TSM. The other option is to bite the bullet and wait in the stand by line.
 
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NYwdwfan

Well-Known Member
I'll be there in 32 days! :D

Are you staying onsite? HS has evening EMH on 12/12 and they re-set the fast passes at the start of evening EMH.

That time of year the stand-by line will probably be about 45 minutes or so early in the week - at least that's what it was last year when we were there a few weeks earlier. Although from what I hear the line is a bit slower since the refurb.
 
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the1nonlysinger

Active Member
Original Poster
I'll be there in 32 days! :D

Are you staying onsite? HS has evening EMH on 12/12 and they re-set the fast passes at the start of evening EMH.

That time of year the stand-by line will probably be about 45 minutes or so early in the week - at least that's what it was last year when we were there a few weeks earlier. Although from what I hear the line is a bit slower since the refurb.


Yay! I've heard it's a good time of year to go- I've never been before- VERY excited!!

We ARE staying on-site, but without the park hopper, we're kind of locked into our plans based on our reservations and the event tickets we already purchased (such as MVMCP).

45 minutes for the wait isn't all that bad, I was thinking it would be closer to like 2 or 3 hours. I could do probably manage that if the fastpasses were all gone.

Thanks everyone for the advice!!
 
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fosse76

Well-Known Member
It is not uncommon for those passes to be gone by noon or earlier even on a slow day. I would really look at switching one of those days to MK or possibly Epcot if you really want to ride TSM. The other option is to bite the bullet and wait in the stand by line.

It's shorter than FP anyway of you do standby. If you get your FP at 11:00am, it will most likey be for a return time in the evening. Get in line and you'll be done within 90 minutes. That's 12:30pm. What would you have done without FP? You'd have gotten in line.
 
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Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
It's shorter than FP anyway of you do standby. If you get your FP at 11:00am, it will most likey be for a return time in the evening. Get in line and you'll be done within 90 minutes. That's 12:30pm. What would you have done without FP? You'd have gotten in line.
If you get a fast pass and then stand in front of the attraction waiting for for the time on your fast pass to come around then standby will be shorter. I however find other things to do during that time and then come back later and only wait 15-20 minutes in line.
 
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slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
Unfortunately are plans are pretty set in stone at this point. Those two days are the only 2 days that Fantasmic is playing and we have yet to see it- so it's a must-see for us this trip.

My hope is that because we're two adults, we can cruise through the breakfast buffets a lot faster than if we had kids in tow. Here's hoping we can get over to HS in time for that FP.

My other thought was trying to go to HS FIRST to get a fast pass and then hightailing it to the 10 AM ressie at 1900 Park Fare. But I'm pretty sure that's cutting it way too close for comfort.

1: Your plans to visit the park are "in stone," but how about your meals? Would you be willing to eat somewhere else if it meant you wouldn't have to worry about missing the chance to get a FP for TSM, or waiting on an inordinately long line?

2: What is opening time for The Studios those days?

3: Are you staying onsite? Any chance either of those days coincides with early morning EMH?

If you have your heart set on a character meal, I'd suggest seeing if there's any slots still open for the breakfast buffet at Cape May Cafe. The food IMHO is quite good. If you're using Disney buses, you can go to the Studios, walk or boat to Beach Club from there for breakfast, then go back to the Studios when you're done. Or if they open DHS early that day, go there first, ride it or get your FP, THEN go to Beach Club. Seems like it would be less of a hassle, IF you can get reservations.

There's also a character breakfast in the Studios at Hollywood & Vine, but with those characters being recent Playhouse Disney characters which, I'd guess for two adults, might not have the appeal of characters I'd assume you grew up loving.
 
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RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
I go every year at that time for a week...and the crowds ARE NOT that small any longer. The last three years, it's been at a crowd level 6/10 the entire week and it feels it. There are lines everywhere.

HS opens at 9 am each morning you will be there. The 12th has evening EMH IF you are staying in a Disney on-property resort.

Fast passes will be gone by 11:00/11:30 at the latest....Fast passes that you get at 11:00 will bring you back to the ride at 6PM or later. There is good chance that if you want to see Fantasmic you will be unable to use your Fastpass return. Fantasmic will run at 6:30 On the 11th, 13th, and 15th. It no longer shows every night.

If you are only there for a couple days and really want to ride TSM, I would make the following suggestion: DONT plan your trip around food. You can get better food elsewhere in the USA, and there is no reason to plan your days in the park based around mealtimes. Either cancel your current dining reservations, or book food reservations inside DH not other parks. If you are going to WDW specifically to eat, that is another story. But I would never plan my times in the parks based on food - that just makes no sense at all.
 
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armyfamilyof5

Well-Known Member
I would cancel Chef Mickey and get a roll at Starring Roles AFTER I rode TSSM once and had a fast pass in hand! :ROFLOL:We think Chef Mickey's is not as good as a Shoney's buffet and better missed, other's love it though!
 
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ShadyLady

Member
skip a breakfast

id also recommend skipping 1900 park fare. weve done breakfast there the past 3 years (with kids) and its "so-so" - and the characters seemed rushed and it just never really is our favorite. weve done it in the past so much bc my daughter is really into alice, but we will be skipping in the future.

IMO, those breakfast buffets are not worth burning your valuable early morning park time (exception of Akerhaus and Ohana - great food and interaction).
 
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the1nonlysinger

Active Member
Original Poster
Thanks everybody for the help!

We're actually on the free DDP so we actually did have to plan around food and the reservations we were able to make. (If we weren't on DDP, I would have totally just ate CS all the time and not relied on the reservations hardly at all).

That being said- here's what we came up with:

PLAN A) I am going to keep checking the reservation system to see if I can grab an earlier time at either or both of the breakfast ressies since we were looking forward to both of them. That way we can get into the parks earlier and try for those FPs!

PLAN B) If we're NOT able to switch our reservations, we'll cancel the one at 1900 Park Fare and head straight to the park that day instead. (We'll use the TS credit for a different meal we were going to pay for out of pocket for on a different day.)


Just curious- but does anyone know- If you show up early for a buffet-style reservation if they'll get you in earlier? I was considering that as a possible Plan C- depending on what you folks say. For example, if we have a 9:30 reservation, and we show up at 8, will they sneak us in? There's comfort in the fact that we can always spend time admiring (and photographing) the Christmas decorations around the resort too.
 
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si23

New Member
Thanks everybody for the help!

We're actually on the free DDP so we actually did have to plan around food and the reservations we were able to make. (If we weren't on DDP, I would have totally just ate CS all the time and not relied on the reservations hardly at all).

That being said- here's what we came up with:

PLAN A) I am going to keep checking the reservation system to see if I can grab an earlier time at either or both of the breakfast ressies since we were looking forward to both of them. That way we can get into the parks earlier and try for those FPs!

PLAN B) If we're NOT able to switch our reservations, we'll cancel the one at 1900 Park Fare and head straight to the park that day instead. (We'll use the TS credit for a different meal we were going to pay for out of pocket for on a different day.)


Just curious- but does anyone know- If you show up early for a buffet-style reservation if they'll get you in earlier? I was considering that as a possible Plan C- depending on what you folks say. For example, if we have a 9:30 reservation, and we show up at 8, will they sneak us in? There's comfort in the fact that we can always spend time admiring (and photographing) the Christmas decorations around the resort too.

i doubt it the whole point in reservations is so its not over booked at once, would you turn up for a haircut an hour and half early and except them to be able to fit you in ?
 
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Phonedave

Well-Known Member
Just curious- but does anyone know- If you show up early for a buffet-style reservation if they'll get you in earlier? I was considering that as a possible Plan C- depending on what you folks say. For example, if we have a 9:30 reservation, and we show up at 8, will they sneak us in? There's comfort in the fact that we can always spend time admiring (and photographing) the Christmas decorations around the resort too.

It happens, but is not something to count on.

How early is early?

I have been seated 30 - 40 minutes early.

I have also been seated when I showed up 45 minutes late (I had to wait another 40 minutes, but they still sat me, and that was at Le Chefs de France)

It just being two of you, your chances are increased.
 
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marcriss

Member
I'll be there in 32 days! :D

Are you staying onsite? HS has evening EMH on 12/12 and they re-set the fast passes at the start of evening EMH.

That time of year the stand-by line will probably be about 45 minutes or so early in the week - at least that's what it was last year when we were there a few weeks earlier. Although from what I hear the line is a bit slower since the refurb.


When did they start doing this?
 
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goonie007

Active Member
Schedule a DVC tour on the morning you eat at 10am. They come pick you up at your hotel and it lasts about 30 - 45 min and you receive a card to get three fastpasses per person at any time just for going through the presentation. And when you are done they will personally drive you right to wherever you need to go. :cool:
 
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