FastPass+ and My Kosher Experience

Photo Courtesy of Disney

So, there is a ton of hullabaloo around about the FastPass+/My Disney Experience/Magic Bands “situation” in Walt Disney World. Some positive. Some negative. I have to say that I have only used the My Disney Experience on the PC so far in preparation for my brief trip next month, but I haven’t used my Magic Band just yet.

There were some things that I thought would get me excited about the new system. I didn’t need a change when it came to attractions, but the idea of having a saved area for parades and nighttime spectaculars was intriguing. However, the idea of possibly FastPass+ing a counter service meal was what really perked me up.

First of all, in case you don’t know, there is one designated counter service location in each of the four parks that you can walk up to and ask for a kosher meal. In the Magic Kingdom, that would be Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. In Epcot, it’s the Liberty Inn at American Adventure. Disney Hollywood Studios has the ABC Commissary, and Animal Kingdom has Pizzafari. There are a standard list of various kosher meals that they keep handy (frozen) for anyone who walks up and asks.

Now, if you have experience of getting this kosher meal at any of these locations like I do, you know the drill. You request the meals, the cast member explains the deal of the “sealed packages,” and then you wait. And wait. And keep waiting. People behind you keep getting their rapidly prepared fast food and slide by you wondering what you are waiting for. Around 10-20 minutes later, your food has arrived, and the last 30 people who were on line behind you have finished their lunches. I’m not really complaining, but the kosher Disney traveler should budget their time accordingly just in case they were expecting the fast food timing at a fast food location.

In comes FastPass+. Whoa, what if you could FastPass+ your kosher meal and just have it ready for you when you arrive? Amazing. That could save time for another ride or two, or a good jump on getting a spot at the parade. And no standing at the counter getting cramps in your ankles waiting. That would totally be worth my while.

Officially, the whole FastPass+/MDE/Magic Bands thing is still in the testing phase, but more experiences and tinkering have been becoming more available as the months go on. And we have the first possibility to book a counter service meal via FastPass+: the much desired Be Our Guest restaurant in Fantasyland.

I was very much looking forward to giving this a try to see if a special meal can be ordered by FP+, even though it is not at the usual kosher counter service site. After giving this a go through, I can tell you that at this point, one is unable to do so. I booked a FP+ lunch… just ordering a soft drink. I figured it would be good to get a look at the place and to see how the counter service FP+ system was working.

Hopefully, at some point in the future, we will be able to book a FastPass+ lunch for a kosher meal – at the usual kosher counter service sites or anywhere – and get a bit closer to the experience the rest of the Disney guests have…

…of course, we will still need to deal with all the double wrapping.