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Disneyland giving Fastpasses to on-site hotel guests

By Robert Niles
Published: June 16, 2011 at 9:44 AM
The Disneyland Resort is now offering free Fastpasses to its on-site hotel guests. Each hotel guest gets two one-use passes per stay, so the offer is not as extensive as Universal Orlando's unlimited front-of-the-line pass - the current industry-best in-park perk for on-site hotel guests. And Disneyland's Fastpass perk is only scheduled through Sept. 5.

Disneyland Hotel

But with park guests snapping up the day's allotment of Fastpasses for Star Tours early in the morning each day, I'm certain that many on-site hotel guests will appreciate getting those two extra Fastpasses.

Hotel guests can use the passes on any Fastpass attraction. They don't have to use them on Star Tours or Little Mermaid (*okay, Little Mermaid is in play for the Fastpasses. See comments), but, c'mon. The smart move is to use the "bonus" Fastpasses on the rides for which it is hardest to get Fastpasses. (FYI to Walt Disney World fans, Toy Story Midway Mania is not at Fastpass attraction at the Disneyland Resort.) Grand Californian guests also get first crack at the day's Fastpasses to World of Color, in addition to the two bonus Fastpasses, but hotel guests have to get up early to claim those World of Color tickets. They aren't automatically assigned to you.

The question I'd like to hear your answer to is this: Are two Fastpass tickets enough of a benefit to change your thinking about booking at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian or Paradise Pier? Would you have booked otherwise, making these a nice touch but not an essential benefit? Are they not enough to make your switch from an off-site neighborhood hotel? Or are they just the extra inducement you needed to convince you to make a reservation?


What do you think about Fastpass and on-site Disney hotels?

Readers' Opinions

From Michael Owen on June 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM
The difference in price, for me, between a off-site hotel and a Disney hotel means it's really not worth paying the extra for the sake of a couple of Fastpasses.

With there only being three hotels on-site at Disneyland it would probably have made sense to offer a similar deal to what Universal have as hotel guests shouldn't have too much of an impact on the overall wait times at Fastpass attractions.

From 68.5.89.87 on June 16, 2011 at 3:06 PM
The price of an onsite hotel is soooo much more than you can get otherwise. I don't think 2 fastpasses will make it worth it. If you got unlimited front of line, then maybe so.
From Ted Heumann on June 16, 2011 at 4:12 PM
Robert are you sure that Little Mermaid has FastPasses??
I thought it didn't have them?
From Robert Niles on June 16, 2011 at 7:02 PM
You know, I checked that, and you are right. No Fastpass on Mermaid - the machines next to the ride are for Sky School. My bad.

Still, then, I'd use the first Fastpass for Star Tours, then sell the second FP to someone in the ST line, and use the money to offset the hotel cost.

I kid, I kid.

Maybe.

From Joshua Counsil on June 16, 2011 at 9:55 PM
Wow. Talk about stingy. Two FastPasses? They're readily available and free of charge in the park for those who plan properly. With the money you save staying off-site, you could buy an extra day at the parks and easily, leisurely nail all the rides.
From 216.175.74.29 on June 17, 2011 at 7:08 AM
I was on the Disneyland website, and it said that the Fastpasses can be used for "one (1) entrance to a specially created, limited-time Disney's FASTPASS return line for The Little Mermaid~Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction."
From 174.107.187.21 on June 17, 2011 at 7:53 AM
If it's a first trip maybe, but being a jaded seasoned regular that just comes off as no better than being offered a free bag of roasted peanuts or a cookie at check-in. If it was say unlimited fastpasses for the length of stay then we'd be talking.
From 64.118.8.103 on June 17, 2011 at 2:21 PM
I stayed onsite at USO a couple months ago. Totally appreciated the free express pass and will gladly pay extra to stay onsite for this. But for TWO fastpasses??? Come on Disney. That's hardly a benefit!
From 50.37.4.210 on June 17, 2011 at 3:02 PM
I stay at any of the 3 hotels anyways as a DVC member. The Fastpasses make no difference to me at all. I have always found that Disney is particularly good at presenting an idea, listening to the complaints (and, I guess, compliments) and then either canning the idea or modifying it. My husband is a fanatic about disbanning the Fastpass system anyway as he believes it causes undue wait times and hassles (particularly in WDW). After our latest trip to Orlando, I am beginning to agree with him, but I will probably change my mind when I have to wait next week at Disneyland!
From 64.179.135.190 on June 17, 2011 at 9:23 PM
When Disney switches to a front of the line system like Universal we'll stay onsite - until then we go cheap on hotels and make use of every minute the parks are open. :]
From Anthony J on June 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
The on-site Disney hotels are so outrageously overpriced, it would cost us at least $1,500 more to switch to GCH or DLH for 5 nights than to stay in our walking distance off-site hotel. At $750 per FastPass, no thank you. That's certainly not enough to entice us.

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