Tried to see Disney Gallery today but it seemed to be closed. Not sure if the new exhibits are still in the works.

Fastpasses do not "expire". If your fastpass says return between 10:00 and 11:00, for example, and you don't make it by 11:00, you can still use it any time for the whole rest of the day.

You can collect the next fastpass for another ride as soon as the earliest time on your previous fast-pass has arrived... for example if you are holding a fastpass for Splash Mountain that says to return between 10:00 and 11:00 am, you may then collect a fastpass for Indiana Jones as early as 10:01 am. Doesn't matter whether or not you have used the first fastpass yet.

Apparently most people don't understand how to use fastpasses. There is no additional charge for fastpases. Anyone can use them. Why are all those people insisting on standing in 3-hour lines for Splash mountain when that's not necessary?! I don't get it!!!

We have been using fastpases for disneyland for several years, and we NEVER wait in any lines that are longer than about 10 to 20 minutes for any rides that use fastpasses. Be sure you get in the fastpass line and not in the regular line!

You cannot efficiently do 2 parks in 1 day. The reason is that you must collect your fastpasses for the popular rides in the morning. If you get a fastpass for Splash mountain in the morning it will tell you to return at a reasonable time. But if you try to get a fastpass for splash mountain in the afternoon it will tell you to return at some ridiculous time like 10:00 pm!

There is plenty to do at California adventures all day. 1 day for disneyland. 1 day at California adventures.

Best place to see the fireworks is standing in the middle of Main Street. Do NOT try to stand up closer to the castle...it is insanely crowded up there and the trees block some of your view. Instead go shopping on Main sTreet, and about 15 minutes before the fireworks start walk out of the shop and stand in the middle of Main Street. Enjoy.

Enjoy!

THANK YOU Melissa, for the excellent description and correcting the errors of the other posters.
We're also astounded at the huge number of people who wait in line! Even the posters here who have been there and supposedly used them don't seem to really get it.
As you said Melissa, you do not have to wait in line if you use fast pass CORRECTLY.
And you don't need to get them through *deals* from somewhere as someone said. HUH?
They are there AT THE PARKS, ready and available for anyone! anytime! everytime!
All you have to do is read and follow the directions.

Here is some more information on the Fastpass: Each Fastpass has written at the bottom of the Pass, the time when you can get the next one. It will not be any earlier than the start time of your 1-hour window. According to what I have experienced when trying to get all my Fastpasses in the morning, and have been told by the Castmembers, there is a limit of two FPs you can have at any one time (there are some rides that don't count toward the limit, though). You will find out soon enough when you get a rejection ticket. Most of the time you can use a FP later than the window, but it is up to the Castmember at the Gate. I've never been told no. Some of the popular rides, such as Haunted Mansion and Pirates, do not always give Fastpasses except on Holidays. None of the rides in Fantasyland have ever had them, nor has the Matterhorn. I agree with Melissa on the location of mid Main Street for the fireworks, but for the parade, the top Tomorrowland side of the Plaza is better. I've done both.

While we're on the subject of Fast Passes, AAA has a Disney Resort Magic package that includes hotel, along with the ability to collect Fast Passes to multiple attractions at one time. Disney Travel offered that the last time we went (5 yrs ago) but it's not listed on their website right now. But it is on CSAA's website. With this option we would arrive as soon as the park opened and collect all the Fast Passes for the rides we wanted to go on (of the rides that offered Fast Passes, that is) and then go about our day. Fast Passes are great....multiple Fast Passes -- even better!

The whole fastpass thing wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that it gets you criss-crossing the park to grab the fastpasses for the rides you'd like.

And I had no idea you could still use them after their expired time - doesn't that defeat the purpose?

Yes SFImporter, that is very true (running back and forth).
While it takes time (and energy) its more than compensated by the HOURS saved standing in line.

We have held as many as 3 disney fastpasses at once before using them. (Don't forget the computers don't know when you use your fastpass...they only know when you received them!)

I assure you that fastpasses don't expire all day, we have been going to disneyland twice a year for several years in a row, and they are always accepted when it's "past" your time.

You do have to be organized, to get a park map and figure out how you are going to go about collecting fastpasses without wearing out your feet.

Fastpasses allow you to enjoy the park, maybe shopping or watching a parade, or getting an ice cream, instead of waiting in a line for 3 hours.

Using fastpasses "past" their time doesn't defeat the purpose. It still helps to regulate the lines because, remember, you have to return AFTER a certain time. Also, most people are looking forward to that ride, and they won't wait too long after their time has arrived anyway. So the system works.

It also works because many people just love to wait in 3 hour lines, I guess. I have to thank them for making my fastpass lines shorter. Thanks, folks!

You can get a fastpass for the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion in the afternoon and it will still tell you to return at a reasonable time. But this is NOT true for Splash Mountain or Indiana Jones...don't forget to get your Splash Mountain pass early, and your Indiana Jones pass in the morning as well.

When Space Mountain reopens they will also have fast passes.

The Matterhorn doesn't have fastpasses and we never go on it any more because the line is always long and slow, and it's not that much fun anyway. Thunder Mountain railroad does have fastpasses.

When disneyland lines are really slow, they don't give fastpasses, but then you don't need them! This usually only happens in the winter.

For California adventure get a fastpass for the Soaring over California ride...it's nice and relaxing, you feel like you're flying over a movie of California. Anyone can go on, it doesn't go fast or anything. Gives the illusion that you are flying.

I love disneyland and california adventure is nice too. Enjoy!

I think I have a handle on it ! Great advice, we will be prepurchasing the Park entry packages before we leave Australia. I gather that they allow multiple entries on the day you use it, so you can go back to your hotel for a rest and dive back in later.

Marko, you can certainly return to your hotel for a rest and then re-enter disneyland, but you may need to get your hand stamped before you leave.

(People with southern california resident annual passes don't need to get their hand stamped for re-entry, but I believe that everyone else does need to get their hand stamped for re-entry as they exit.)

Don't make the mistake of leaving your tickets at the hotel...we've done that...You need the tickets for re-entry and also to get fastpasses out of the machines!

Enjoy!