Best Disney World FastPasses for Each Park: Top Rides and Tips

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

As you might know or assume, Disney World wait times can be a major pain and might even put a damper on your trip depending on how many hours you have to wait in the standby line. The new and improved FastPass+ system offered at Disney World is a total life saver when it comes to making the best use of your time and energy. 

If you are staying at a Disney World Resort or Hotel, you are able to reserve your FastPasses 60 days before your trip. For those of you staying anywhere outside of Disney’s property, you can reserve your FastPasses 30 days before your trip. 

Thankfully, the FastPass+ program is completely free. FastPass+ allows those of us who are prepared planners to get ahead without paying extra money on top of prices for tickets, food, and a place to stay. Another bonus of FastPass+ – you should not have to wait more than 20 to 30 minutes in any line. 

  • Editor’s Note: Disney has begun phasing out their popular FastPass system. You can learn more about how to use the replacement for FastPass, which is Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.

The Tiered FastPass+ System

Each park at Disney World has different rules about their FastPass+ program when it comes to tiered rides. Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom all have rides that are ranked as either Tier One or Tier Two. Tier One rides are the newer attractions or ones that are just plain old popular, and the remaining rides and attractions are Tier Two. 

However, some rides or attractions are not applicable to the FastPass+ program, so it’s good to do your research ahead of time. This tiered system is not to say that Tier Two rides are worse than those in Tier One – the tiered system is simply based on popularity. The tiers were designed to reduce long wait times and make sure everyone gets a fair shot at getting on the rides. Magic Kingdom is the only park at Disney World that doesn’t follow the tiered system. 

Each day of your trip, you can reserve three FastPasses at one of the four parks. You can’t pick and choose parks even if you’re planning on park hopping for the day. If you’re going to one of the parks with the tiered system, you have to keep this in mind: you can only select one Tier One ride for the day. You can either choose to pick one Tier One ride along with two Tier Two rides or three Tier Two rides. One nice thing about the FastPass+ program is that once you use up your three allotted FastPasses for the day, you can make an unlimited number of FastPasses for the rest of the day, one at a time. 

Magic Kingdom Fast Passes

As mentioned above, the Magic Kingdom is the only park at Disney World that does not follow the tiered system. The nice thing is that you don’t have to worry about which Tier One ride or attraction you want to pick; but the downside is that you, along with everyone else visiting Disney World that day, can reserve all of your FastPasses for the most popular rides. In order to reserve any FastPasses at the Magic Kingdom, you can go online or utilize Disney’s user friendly My Disney Experience mobile app. 

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

There are twenty-five rides and attractions available for the FastPass+ program at the Magic Kingdom, so make sure you do your Disney World planning homework for this park. I’ll save you the time of reading all twenty-five rides and give you a few of the more popular rides and attractions instead:

Five of these eight rides are even more popular than most: Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. 

Space Mountain is a classic Magic Kingdom ride that has been around since the mid 1970s, and it is still one of the favorite and most popular rides at Disney World. Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster that leaves you in the dark, literally. 

The entire ride, you’re in complete darkness with just a few lights from the “stars” above. The spaceship taking you into Space Mountain allows one person per row, and there are two cars of three passengers connected to each other. The Space Mountain ride is located in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland where there are other futuristic attractions for you to enjoy. 

Space Mountain is a popular classic partly because of it is one of the more thrilling roller coasters located in the Magic Kingdom. Younger children may not be tall enough for the ride as the minimum height is 44 inches. If you and your guests are above the height limit and love a good thrill ride, Space Mountain is definitely the place for you.

Going in the standby line could have you waiting for 40 minutes on average. Getting a FastPass+ for Space Mountain will save you at least 20 minutes if not more depending on how many people choose to get the same FastPass+ you did. 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is an attraction located in the Fantasyland portion of the Magic Kingdom. This newer rollercoaster has been around for only five years, but it is easily one of the favorites at the Magic Kingdom since the lines can still be quite lengthy. 

Being on the tame side as far as rollercoasters go, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has some small drops and twists as you journey through the underground mine where the seven dwarfs work. The darkness combined with the excitement of the ride makes for a great thrill. 

Though the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been open since 2014, it is so popular because of its thrills and scenery. The sights you see going through the underground mine are quite beautiful, and the sudden twists and turns on top of that create the great ride that is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It’s popular with both kids and adults – just make sure everyone who wants to ride is taller than 38 inches. 

The lines for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can be up to 90 minutes long, so getting a FastPass+ is a must if you’re planning on riding this coaster. Using FastPasses will save you anywhere from an hour to an hour and 20 minutes depending on how long the standby line is at that day and time. 

Peter Pan’s Flight is a classic ride that has been at Disney World since 1955 and is one of the few remaining rides that was open on Disney World’s first opening day. This magical attraction is completely based on Walt Disney’s 1953 movie Peter Pan.

As you journey through Peter Pan’s Flight, you’ll encounter beautiful colors and the same thrilling adventure in the movie. This ride is great for kids and adults who want some excitement without the stomach drops of a rollercoaster. 

The average wait time for Peter Pan’s Flight is approximately 45 minutes long. Getting a FastPass+ for this ride will save you between 15 and 20 minutes, if not more, depending on the time of day and standby wait time. If you’re looking for one of Disney World’s class rides, Peter Pan’s Flight is definitely for you and well worth using one of your three FastPasses for the day on.  

Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan’s Flight are undoubtedly three of the most popular rides to use FastPasses on at the Magic Kingdom, but there are so many more that are worth your time and your valuable FastPasses for the day.

Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, along with Space Mountain discussed above, are the three “mountain rides” at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. They are some of the more popular rides at the Magic Kingdom because of the thrilling journeys they offer. 

You will definitely know Splash Mountain when you see it – you definitely can’t miss the huge waterfall drop found in Frontierland. Make sure everyone is 40 inches and taller before you get in line for this hair-raising ride. You will begin your journey in a log boat where you have some smaller drops to fake you out before the huge drop you can view by simply walking past Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland. 

Standby wait times can get as long as an hour depending on the day, time, and season in which you’re visiting. Being someone who loves water rides to cool off on a hot day, Splash Mountain is definitely a favorite and FastPass+ worthy in my mind. Saving 30 to 40 minutes is definitely a better deal than wasting time standing and waiting in the outdoor line. 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also popular because of its thrills and drops offered on a smaller scale. All riders still need to be 40 inches or taller; however, the intensity on this roller coaster is much more scaled back than the thrills offered by Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. You will journey through America’s 1850s Gold Rush Era into abandoned mine shafts and ghost towns. 

Lines for visitors waiting in standby can be as long as 50 minutes, so getting a FastPass+ for the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad can save you 20 to 25 minutes of time where you can explore more of the Magic Kingdom or any other parks you choose to visit on a particular day. 

Disney’s Magic Kingdom has so many great rides and attractions to offer, which makes selecting your FastPasses strategically even more important. Since there are is not a tiered FastPass+ system at the Magic Kingdom, be sure to save your FastPasses for the rides with longer waits, such as the ones mentioned above, and any attractions you and your guests are most excited to visit. 

Animal Kingdom Fast Passes

Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park is one of the three parks at Disney that has a tiered FastPass+ system. Of the two Tier One rides offered at Animal Kingdom, you can only choose a FastPass+ for one of these per day. The two Tier One rides are Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey, both of which are located in the Pandora section of the Animal Kingdom. 

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

Avatar Flight of Passage is one wild ride that will leave you stunned by the amazing visuals and 4D effects Disney is capable of. You get to fly on your own banshee that actually breathes under your legs. On this ride, you are tested as you enter the crucial stage of becoming an official part of the Na’Vi: pairing with your own banshee. 

Avatar Flight of Passage is truly an incredible experience like no other. If you decide to pick a Tier One FastPass+ at the Animal Kingdom and are up for adventure, Avatar Flight of Passage is definitely the way to go. All future Na’Vi riding must be at least 44 inches tall. 

Since this is such a new and unique attraction, standby wait lines can get all the way up to 75 minutes or higher based on the day and time you visit. With a FastPass+, you are able to shave about 45 minutes off of that insanely long wait. Avatar Flight of Passage is well worth using your Tier One FastPass+ on for a day, if not two. 

For those of you looking for a beautiful attraction at a slower pace, the Na’Vi River Journey is the ride for you. This ride is one of the most visually appealing attractions at Disney World. On the Na’Vi River Journey, you will watch the rainforest of Pandora come to life as the legendary Na’Vi Shaman of Songs demonstrates her powerful connection to Pandora’s nature.

The Na’Vi River Journey is located in the Pandora section of the Animal Kingdom – the newest addition to the Animal Kingdom. What makes the Na’Vi River Journey even better is the fact that there is no height limit – everyone is able to ride regardless of age and height. 

Similar to Avatar Flight of Passage, the Na’Vi River Journey is a newer ride that offers an experience like no other. The standby wait time can be up to 60 minutes long depending on the day and time you’re planning on visiting. 

Remember, the Na’Vi River Journey is another FastPass+ Tier One ride in the Animal Kingdom, so you will sadly have to choose between this ride and Avatar Flight of Passage since you can only select one Tier One ride in the Animal Kingdom per day you visit. Using a FastPass+ on the Na’Vi River Journey can save you about 30 to 40 minutes which leaves you much more time to explore the Animal Kingdom rather than waste time standing in line. 

On top of the two Tier One rides, the Animal Kingdom has twelve Tier Two rides for you to choose from for either two or three of your three FastPasses for the day:

While all twelve of these Tier Two rides are great, there are a few that are more worth using one of your three FastPasses for the day on. Three of the more popular Tier Two rides at the Animal Kingdom are Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, and DINOSAUR. 

The Kilimanjaro Safaris ride is a classic attraction found in the Africa portion of the Animal Kingdom that visitors of all ages can enjoy. Get ready for a slightly bumpy ride through the Savannah, wetlands, and forests stimulating East Africa, where many species of animals live on Disney’s property. All animals who live in the Kilimanjaro Safaris have space to explore and enjoy their environment. 

This 18 minute ride gives you great views of animals such as the hippopotamus, zebra, giraffe, lion, hyena, elephant, and so many more. Your expert tour guide will give you plenty of facts about the different animals and their preferred environments as well as some sarcasm, if you’re lucky.

The Kilimanjaro Safaris is beautiful during the day and can even be viewed at night for a special tour after sundown. During this time, you can see nocturnal animals you wouldn’t normally see. Whenever you visit, make sure you have your camera ready to get some great pictures of your favorite animals. 

The wait time for the Kilimanjaro Safaris can get up to a little over an hour long. With a FastPass+, you could shave 30 to 40 minutes off your wait time. The waits for this ride go down in the afternoon, when the heat is the strongest. If you’re going to use a FastPass+ on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, it might be best to use it in the morning or later in the day. 

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain gives thrill seekers a ride they have never experienced before. This roller coaster takes you on an old mining cart through the forbidden mountain of the Yeti where you take sharp turns and drops to avoid the monstrous Yeti. People ready to partake in this adventurous expedition in the Tibetan mountains must be at least 44 inches tall and prepared for big drops in the dark. 

Being a more popular ride at the Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain can have a wait time up to 45 minutes in the standby wait line. Using a FastPass+ on Expedition Everest could save you 15 to 25 minutes of wait time, giving you more time to spend your day exploring the Animal Kingdom or any other Disney park you wish to visit that day. 

The wait time for Expedition Everest gets higher during the day since the wait for the roller coaster is inside, giving everyone in line shade from the hot afternoon sun and shelter from any afternoon thunderstorms. 

Another popular Tier Two ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is DINOSAUR. This ride takes you back in time to just take a look at some harmless dinosaurs . . . or so you think. You find out right before you get on your time rover that the paleontologist sending you back in time to bring a rare dinosaur called the Iguanadon back to the present day in order to be studied. 

The only problem is the Iguanadon can only be found in the time right before the giant meteor that wiped out Earth is about to strike. This ride is full of thrills including small drops, dark spaces, and some frightening dinosaurs. Anyone wanting to ride DINOSAUR must be at least 40 inches tall. 

Wait times for DINOSAUR are not as long as the other rides yet can still get up to 45 minutes long. If you plan to ride DINOSAUR in the afternoon, it is well worth using one of your three FastPasses for the day on to skip the standby wait time and getting on the ride faster. This will save you around 15 to 25 minutes of waiting in line so you can spend more time enjoying Disney’s Animal Kingdom instead of wasting time standing and waiting. 

The tiered system offered at the Animal Kingdom definitely helps with wait times so the most popular Tier One rides cannot both be reserved on the same day. The twelve Tier Two rides are definitely worth using FastPasses on, and it’s important to use your FastPasses for the day strategically so you can make the most out of your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

Hollywood Studios Fast Passses

In a similar fashion as the Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a tiered FastPass+ system to help control wait times and long lines. There are five Tier One rides available as well as eight Tier Two attractions with which you can use your three FastPasses each day you visit Hollywood Studios.

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

You can either choose to reserve FastPasses for one Tier One ride along with two Tier Two rides or three Tier Two rides each day. 

Below are the five Tier One rides that are offered at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Each of these five attractions are quite different, but all of them are worth visiting. Which one you choose as your one Tier One FastPass+ for the day is up to your preference and what you and your guests want to enjoy during your visit to Hollywood Studios. 

The Slinky Dog Dash has only been open since June 2018, so it is one of the newest rides available for a Tier One FastPass+ at Hollywood Studios. Andy, the young boy from the Toy Story movies, loves being creative. This time, he made a roller coaster just for you – ride on slinky dog’s coils down Andy’s roller coaster of tinker toys with some thrilling small drops the whole family can enjoy. Riders must be 38 inches or taller to ride the Slinky Dog Dash. 

Wait times for the Slinky Dog Dash are quite high with it being a newer ride and a roller coaster for people who aren’t tall enough for some of the more thrilling roller coasters. The standby wait time for the Slinky Dog Dash can be as high as 80 minutes long. That’s quite a while to spend your time waiting in line, so getting a FastPass+ for this one is highly recommended if you and your guests are wanting to experience a thrilling new ride. 

Getting FastPasses for the Slinky Dog Dash can cut 40 to 50 minutes off your wait time, depending on the day and time you choose to visit. If you are desperate to ride this new roller coaster, it is well worth using your one Tier One FastPass+ for the day on the Slinky Dog Dash. 

Though the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith has been open for about ten years now, it remains one of the most popular rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This crazy coaster goes from 0 to 57 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. You and your group are seated on a huge stretch limo where the band Aerosmith is rushing you to their concert as fast as they can.

Who knows if you’ll be able to make the concert on time with all of those traffic jams. For this thrilling coaster with huge drops and loud music throughout is only for visitors who are 48 inches tall or taller. Some may say this is the wildest ride in all the Disney World parks. 

Wait times for the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith can be 60 minutes or longer in the standby wait line, so a FastPass+ can definitely help you take off anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes off of your wait time. If you and your guests are big thrill seekers, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is definitely the one Hollywood Studios Tier One FastPass+ you get a day for you to use.

For those of you who are Toy Story lovers, Toy Story Mania! is the ride for you. Hop on this 4D adventure with all of your favorite Toy Story characters where you can compete against your fellow riders for the title of best shooter at the carnival. You’ll get to play different levels such as Hamm & Eggs, Rex & Trixie’s Dino Darts, Green Army Men Shoot Camp, Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers, and Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery. 

The more competitive visitors riding on Toy Story Mania! will enjoy competing with the other riders to see who can get the highest score by the end of the ride. There are plenty of secret “Easter egg” targets that are worth more points than the more obvious ones. 

Since its opening in May 2008, Toy Story Mania! has remained a Hollywood Studios favorite for all guests. Wait times for Toy Story Mania! can reach almost 60 minutes long. Since this ride doesn’t have a height limit, it’s definitely one of the more popular attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you’re planning on taking a ride on Toy Story Mania!, getting a FastPass+ is definitely a good idea since it could save you anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes of waiting in the standby line. 

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a classic attraction based off of an episode of the TV series The Twilight Zone. As you may know, this series was on TV from 1959 until 1964 and focused on strange happenings. Each episode of The Twilight Zone was a stand-alone story. Disney decided to create their own piece of The Twilight Zone through their thrill ride the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. 

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

This 12-story attraction has remained popular since its opening. The ride begins with a spooky story about The Hollywood Tower Hotel and will leave you on edge as you periodically go up and drop down the elevator shaft. 

Wait times can get quite high for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. During peak times of the day, the standby wait line can be up to 75 minutes long. If you’re looking for a ride to put you on the edge of your seat, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is definitely worth using your one Tier One FastPass+ on for the day.

Using a FastPass+ for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror can save you up to 45 minutes of waiting in line giving you all the more time to explore the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the remainder of the day. 

Along with the Slinky Dog Dash, the Alien Swirling Saucers ride opened in June of 2018. It is also a part of Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This spinning ride is available for all guests who are 32 inches and taller – it gives you a fun, fast-paced ride through space with some awesome music to go in the background. Anyone who wants a thrill without going on a roller coaster can find a fun yet somewhat tame ride in the Alien Swirling Saucers. 

Surprisingly with Alien Swirling Saucers being so new, the wait time only reaches about 40 minutes maximum, depending on the day and time you’re visiting the park. Getting a FastPass+ for this ride is a good idea for those wanting to shave 20 minutes or more off of their wait time for the Alien Swirling Saucers. If you’re more into thrill rides, I would suggest using your Tier One FastPass+ for the day on one of the more adventurous rides that have longer wait times. 

Now, you don’t have to only ride Tier One rides to have fun at Hollywood Studios – the eight Tier Two rides offered in this park are still worth riding and using your FastPasses on. The Tier Two rides for Hollywood Studios are listed below:

Most of the eight attractions listed above are not thrill rides but shows and interactive attractions. However, four of these attractions are more popular than the others.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is by far the most popular Tier Two FastPass+ attraction at Hollywood Studios. Wait times can get up to 60 minutes for this 3D Star Wars-based attraction, so using a FastPass+ for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue could save you up to 40 minutes of wait time in the standby line. 

Take off in the flight simulator where C-3PO takes control only to be intercepted by Imperial, or First Order, forces. This ride takes you to a galaxy far, far away where Star Wars fans will feel right at home. Keep in mind that the new area of Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opened in August of 2019. 

There are plenty of Star Wars themed rides and attractions there; however, the wait times for these newer rides are much longer than they are for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and aren’t available in the FastPass+ program. 

As far as shows go, the ones most likely to fill up the fastest are Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Muppet Vision 3D, and Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. Ranging from 17 to 25 minutes, these shows feature your favorite characters from classic Disney movies and the TV show The Muppets.

When choosing FastPasses for the day, you’ll want to prioritize your absolute favorite show out of these three in order to get the most out of your experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

During high times, the wait times for these shows can be up to 50 minutes. If you plan accordingly and choose to go during the slower times of the day, your wait could be as low as 10 minutes, and if you use one of your FastPasses on a show, you could save 20 to 30 minutes on your wait time in the standby line. 

Fantasmic! is a wonderful show filled with water and fire effects, music, special lighting, and plenty of magic. Keep in mind before you reserve a FastPass+ that this show is loud with lots of harsh lighting effects that may not be suitable for young children. You can get to the show as far as 90 minutes in advance to save your seat. 

The downside about using a FastPass+ for Fantasmic! is that you will not be able to add any extra FastPasses for the day. Whenever you’re done using all three of your allotted FastPasses for the day, you can make reservations for FastPasses at any Tier One or Tier Two rides one at a time for the remainder of the day. Since Fantasmic! is a night show, reserving a FastPass+ for it means you won’t get the chance to reserve extra FastPasses for the day. 

However, Fantasmic! is an incredible show that is worth watching from a front row seat – you could easily get a bad view in the almost 10,000 person amphitheater. You will have to pick and choose what you want to prioritize during your visit to Hollywood Studios. 

As with the Animal Kingdom, the tiered FastPass+ system used at Hollywood Studios has helped with some of the extremely long wait times and funnels people through rides and attractions quickly and efficiently. Make sure you figure out what rides and attractions are most important to you and your guests in order to have an exciting and, almost, wait-free visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Epcot Fast Passes

You can definitely spot Disney’s Epcot from over a mile away with the huge golf ball-like globe near its main entrance. Epcot follows suit with the Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios in their tiered FastPass+ system. When you visit Epcot, you can either choose one Tier One FastPass+ along with two Tier Two FastPasses or three Tier Two FastPasses.

Photographed by Michael of Countdown to Magic

The different tiers allow for faster standby wait times as well as crowd control for some of the busiest and most popular rides in Epcot. 

There are four Tier One attractions available at Disney’s Epcot: 

Though Frozen Ever After has been open since June of 2016, it remains one of the most popular rides at Disney’s Epcot. Get in a boat to ride along to songs from Frozen, and travel through the frozen forest where you will get to see Kristoff’s family of trolls in Troll Valley. 

You will even get to peek into Queen Elsa’s castle of ice on the North Mountain – a beautiful view you can’t forget. Frozen Ever After is a slower ride with some small drops and the possibility of getting a little bit wet from the water below your boat. There is no height requirement, so all fans of Frozen the movie are able to experience the Nordic world they have only gotten to see on the TV or big screen. 

The standby wait lines for Frozen Ever After can be as long as 75 minutes, and if you’re visiting with some younger guests, waiting that long in a line might test their patience as well as your own. Getting a FastPass+ for Frozen Ever After can cut your wait time down by 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the day and time you choose to visit Epcot.

Riding Frozen Ever After is a must for fans of the movie, and if your heart is set on journeying through this icy, wintery wonderland, a FastPass+ will definitely get you pass through the long standby wait. 

Test Track is another great Tier One ride at Disney’s Epcot. Located in Future World, you get to design your own dream car and test out the different aspects that make vehicles run well. While you’re waiting in line, you get to create your car in the Chevrolet Design Center.

Once you’ve created your car, you get the chance to test out its features and see how well it stands up compared to the cars other guests have designed. Test Track is full of sharp turns and maneuvers as well as fast, unexpected accelerations. Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride on the Test Track ride in Future World. 

Wait times for Test Track, like Frozen Ever After, can be about 75 minutes long if you wait in the standby line. If you get a FastPass+ for Test Track, you will save about 30 to 40 minutes of wait time.

There’s no better word to describe Test Track other than plain old cool – it’s a futuristic ride where you get to almost make your own adventure based off of the car you design before you get on the ride. Its interactive component along with its sharp turns and competition against other riders makes Test Track one of the favorites at Disney’s Epcot. 

Though it has been around since February of 2001, Soarin’ Around the World remains one of the most popular ride at Epcot. You will get to glide through different countries and beautiful landmarks in the world throughout your journey. 

Soarin’ Around the World takes you through places such as the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and more. As you travel through the world, you get a bird’s eye view of places that are both man-made and natural. You might even catch a whiff of what these locations may smell like. 

Soarin’ Around the World is a Tier One ride at Disney’s Epcot, which means it is always bustling with guests who can’t wait to catch a ride over the world. The average wait time in the standby line for Soarin’ Around the World is approximately 45 minutes long. 

Getting a FastPass+ for Soarin’ Around the World can cut about 15 to 25 minutes off of your wait time, which is a big deal when you have so many attractions and rides to get to during your day at Epcot. If you’re looking for a world class ride you and your guests can all enjoy, getting a Tier One FastPass+ for Soarin’ Around the World is definitely worth it. 

The final Tier One FastPass+ offered at Epcot is Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot. Located in Future World, the Epcot Character Spot has all of your favorite Disney pals – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy.

If you are traveling with younger guests or guests who are kids at heart, this is the spot for you. Lines for Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot can get quite long since this is one of the more kid friendly attractions located in Disney’s Epcot. 

Similarly to Soarin’ Around the World, standby lines for Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot are around 45 minutes long depending on the day and time during which you visit the attraction. As mentioned above, this attraction is geared toward younger guests or guests who are kids at heart looking for a bit of nostalgia and a picture or two with their favorite Disney pals. 

If you’re traveling with these kinds of guests, getting a FastPass+ for Meet Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot is a great idea. It will save you between 15 and 25 minutes of wait time as well as be a nice break from all of the rides and attractions geared more toward adults. 

On top of these four Tier One rides, Epcot offers seven Tier Two rides:

Of these seven Tier Two attractions, Mission: SPACE and Spaceship Earth are the most popular and tend to have the longest lines. If you’re looking for a fast-paced mission or a slower trip around Earth, these two rides are worth getting Tier Two FastPasses for during your visit to Epcot. 

Located in Future World, Mission: SPACE is a thrill ride with a height restriction that riders must be 40 inches or taller. There are two types of journeys you could choose to embark on: the Orange Mission or the Green Mission. The Orange Mission is the more thrilling of the two and is not for the faint of heart, literally. 

Riders wanting to journey on the Orange Mission must be 44 inches or taller. The Orange Mission spins, has a higher G-force, and offers an intense experience. The Green Mission offers a more gentle ride through space with less G-force and no spinning whatsoever. 

As mentioned previously, lines for Mission: SPACE are one of the longest of the Tier Two rides offered at Epcot. At peak days and times, standby wait times for Mission: SPACE can be as high as 80 minutes long. Choosing a FastPass+ for Mission: SPACE can save you 50 to 60 minutes of wait time – that could be a whole other ride you and your guests could enjoy. 

Spaceship Earth is the other more popular Tier Two attraction at Disney’s Epcot. There are no height restrictions on this ride through our planet. Spaceship Earth takes riders on a journey through time to show us how much technology has progressed through the years, and it emphasizes how quickly it has advanced just within the last few decades. 

This 16 minute ride will get you thinking about our planet and what we can do to protect it in the future. Once you return to the present time, you are able to answer questions to see what kind of future you would hope for and dream about. 

Standby wait times for Spaceship Earth can average approximately 60 minutes. If you choose to reserve a FastPass+ for Spaceship Earth, you could save 30 to 40 minutes of waiting in line. For all guests who are interested in history and the future of our planet, Spaceship Earth does a great job of showing us how the past affects our present and, eventually, our future. 

Conclusion

The FastPass+ system Disney created is absolutely brilliant. Not only have they cut down on long wait times, but they have figured out a way to funnel people through rides that used to take hours to get on. 

Take advantage of the FastPass+ program during your next visit to Disney World not only because it’s free but because it will make your visit more efficient and, hopefully, more enjoyable. 

  • Do note that Disney World has removed their FastPass system in favor of a new system (a paid system) called Genie+.

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Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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