I had four different conversations in MK and Epcot yesterday with families who hit me up with the "Hey, do you know anything about this fastpass stuff? How much does it cost and where can I get them?" Does Disney not tell you the deal when you purchase a vacation with them? I know nothing came with our year passes, but I assumed that they give you the info you need to know to have a shot at a pleasurable experience for the thousands you are spending for a week there. If they don't, that's pretty ####ty IMO.
its easy for me to be like "really, WTF is wrong with you??? How do you NOT know about fastpasses???"
But to try and put myself in the shoes of a nube, I guess there is just sooooo much content out there that I could see how someone whos not really a fanboy could get blinded by it. Mentions of FP are really not that well called out on the WDW home page. Its the 6th item down under the "My Disney Experience" tab, well under "My Magic Bands," "My family and friends," and "View my photos" ...it prob should have more prominence.
Yes, you do get a bunch of packages in the mail leading up to your trip, but as
@themeanmachine said, maybe you don't get them if you stay off site...actually prob not b/c i know its in a booklet that contains all your resort info, magical express, etc—nothing that would apply to anyone staying off site.
Regardless, IDK how someone would go someplace that has never been and NOT google "Vacation tips for a first timer at (insert destination here)."
I just did and there are 161,000,000 results, with the front page literally:
• First Time Disney World Visit Tips - Disney Tourist Blog
• Don't Make These 10 First Time Disney World Visit Mistakes
• Tips for Planning your first time at Disney World: A Step-by-Step Guide
• 10 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My First Disney World Vacation
• 19 Essential Tips for Planning Your First Walt Disney World Vacation
• 26 Tips for Walt Disney World First Timers
• 12 Things Most Walt Disney World First Timers Don't Know
• Heading to Disney World for the First Time?
I didn't click the links, but I'm willing to be at least one of them mentions Fastpasses, so i kinda have a hard time really feeling sorry for these people.
Edit to add....I did click one link and fount this:
5) Fastpass is included in the price of your ticket
Some theme parks charge extra for services similar to Fastpass, Disney however does not. A seasoned Disney fan might actually be surprised at how many first time guests do not use Fastpass+ at all because they assume they’d have to pay extra for it.
lolz