New fastpass strategy

[SD33]

Now that the windows on FP's are being enforced, what's the strategy?? Most of us have entire systems constructed around the old unenforced policy and frankly, I'm not entirely sure how to maximize my productivity anymore. If there's another thread already dedicated to this, please feel free to point me in the right direction. If not, can we get a good list of ideas going here. Knowing these forums, some of you have likely already come up with an entire algorithm for making this change work. If so, please share! Examples of touring plans for high season would be greatly appreciated as well

 

[nikkislaght]

We were there between April 9th and 16th, and really the only impact it had on us, was making us stay within walking distance of the ride. I use a cane and cant travel fast so we spent our waiting times.. just doing things around our next ride... which in turn was a good thing, as we had not done some of the rides we got to do this trip... or we sat and ate..and people watched.. for us we did 5 days and just took our time and had a rather relaxing time...

It did make it a bit worrying when we had two fast passes that over lapped..but we just plotted out which ride to do first and everytime we made it..I think in the summer it will be a bit more hard to do (have two fastpasses) but in the off season it is doable..

 

[HydroGuy]

I have not visited since FP enforcement but here would be my general thoughts...

1. If you get FPs in the morning then plan to stay in the area of that ride. In this case it may be better to ride standby than use FP.

2. If you get FPs late morning or early afternoon for the popular rides (Indy/Space/ToT etc.) then the return time will be far away so you can almost use them like you did before - just paying more attention to the window.

3. If you like to take afternoon breaks you will need to be more selective about which FP to get based on whether the return windows fall in the afternoon. You may have to get Space FP with a 7-8PM return window rather than the Indy FP you really want which has a window of 3-4PM - which conflicts with your planned break.

Having a smart phone app that shows you all the current windows will make this much more manageable.

After I visit WDW next month and DLR in August I may take a crack at a FP advice thread with window enforcement after I test out my ideas.

 

[Cinderpamela]

After I visit WDW next month and DLR in August I may take a crack at a FP advice thread with window enforcement after I test out my ideas.

Yippeee!! That would be great! Happy to help with it if you need extra eyes!

 

[Freesia123]

Here's my plan, which very specific for my situation. Ill be traveling with my dad (who can't ride the etickets) dd 4, my mom and dd1.

Upon entering ill be the runner and get one fast pass for each of space mountain, star tours, splash and Indy. If the times are too close ill double back or skip one for another day (I'm there for five days) then ill use the fast pass alone and get a rider swap for my dd4 Nd mom to ride later.

Does this sound good?

 

[MommyLove]

Having a smart phone app that shows you all the current windows will make this much more manageable.

Which apps do this? (I have an android, dh has an iPhone)

 

[HydroGuy]

Which apps do this? (I have an android, dh has an iPhone)

I use Lines from www.touringplans.com

 

[Carolynleanne]

We have always used our fast passes during the scheduled time. It wasn't a big deal.
For example, first thing in the morning we'd head to Adventureland. Grand an Indie fastpass, then check out tarzans treehouse, wander the shops and walk in Pirates. Then we'd go back and use our passes.
If we were in Tomorrowland, we'd grab a fast pass for space mountain, go do buzz lightyear and ride monorail or something else, then go back to space.

We always picked one or two 'headliners' for the day so that we were sure to get fast passes early in the morning.

 

[MommyLove]

I use Lines from www.touringplans.com

Thank you!!

 

[KPetty725]

Like the PP, we've always used the Fastpasses within the window and haven't had any trouble. Our strategy is to plan them around meals and/or rides with shorter wait times. For example, at MK we got a FP for Little Mermaid and waited in line for Belle (first thing in the morning and the line was 45 minutes). By the time we were done with Belle, our window for LM had just started so before riding, I ran and got FP for Dumbo. After LM, we had time so we saw Mickey's Philharmagic and rode the carousel. Then, before riding Dumbo, we got FP for Goofy's Barnstormer. We rode Dumbo and headed to Cosmic Ray's for lunch. By the time we were done, it was time to ride Barnstormer. We did this throughout the entire day and never waited more than 30 minutes (with the exception of Belle in the morning). It was fantastic! 15 rides (including multiple on the carousel b/c DD3 LOVES it) and the park was packed.

I think the biggest thing is to designate one "FP runner" for the family so you don't have to worry about keeping the kids together and you can go faster. It generally took me 5-10 minutes to leave, get the FP, and be back. My DH and kids would spend the time looking around and eating a snack or getting sunscreen reapplied. It worked really well!

 

[tdhickey]

You basically get a FP for one ride and ride the other rides in the same land until your window, unless the timeframe is really late in which you make a judgement call...not much more to do than that.

 

[SD33]

I definitely look forward to a Hydroguy "new fastpass strategy" thread

Until then, I think at least one positive thing about the enforcement of windows is that it will keep us in the various lands longer without backtracking so much to snag passes in other lands. I like the idea of grabbing a FP for SM and then hanging around in Tomorrow Land, riding other rides while the FP window approaches.

Kinda makes me wonder if something was lost in terms of the overall immersive experience with all that pass grabbing before? Ya know? Us FP pros don't tend to linger in one area for very long. Trying to look on the bright side here and think of a new way to do Disney lol.

Still, I'd be open to hear if anyone else has adopted a new frantic strategy I think I'll sorta miss running all over the park, getting ahead of the game in the morning.

 

[CanadianPaco]

I definitely look forward to a Hydroguy "new fastpass strategy" thread

Until then, I think at least one positive thing about the enforcement of windows is that it will keep us in the various lands longer without backtracking so much to snag passes in other lands. I like the idea of grabbing a FP for SM and then hanging around in Tomorrow Land, riding other rides while the FP window approaches.

Kinda makes me wonder if something was lost in terms of the overall immersive experience with all that pass grabbing before? Ya know? Us FP pros don't tend to linger in one area for very long. Trying to look on the bright side here and think of a new way to do Disney lol.

Still, I'd be open to hear if anyone else has adopted a new frantic strategy I think I'll sorta miss running all over the park, getting ahead of the game in the morning.

Well said! I couldn't agree more!

 

[Misskitty3]

Great thread! I have been feeling uneasy about our upcoming trip and not having a plan formulated to go along with the updated FP rules.

But I tend to over think things......

 

[smiles33]

I ended up with a dozen or more FP I never used during our 2.5 day trip in mid-April. I loved the old FP strategy and think it was critical for someone trying to cram in as much as possible into a short 2.5 day trip while traveling with young kids. I'd collect and save them up to use when DH took our young girls back to nap.

This visit, I'd grab FP but often missed the FP return times due to having to detour elsewhere (e.g., character meals, BBB appointments, parades, shows). Once our girls are older, I think it will be easier to stay in one land until FP return times. Right now, my 3 year old just can't do as much in certain lands. I think I have at least 8 Star Tours FP sitting on my desk....

 

[TheChapman6]

I definitely look forward to a Hydroguy "new fastpass strategy" thread

Until then, I think at least one positive thing about the enforcement of windows is that it will keep us in the various lands longer without backtracking so much to snag passes in other lands. I like the idea of grabbing a FP for SM and then hanging around in Tomorrow Land, riding other rides while the FP window approaches.

Kinda makes me wonder if something was lost in terms of the overall immersive experience with all that pass grabbing before? Ya know? Us FP pros don't tend to linger in one area for very long. Trying to look on the bright side here and think of a new way to do Disney lol.

Still, I'd be open to hear if anyone else has adopted a new frantic strategy I think I'll sorta miss running all over the park, getting ahead of the game in the morning.

Yes, I posted in the other thread about fast pass order but I'm just hoping we can see and do it all in 3 days. I'm worried about the order they run out.

 

[HydroGuy]

Yes, I posted in the other thread about fast pass order but I'm just hoping we can see and do it all in 3 days. I'm worried about the order they run out.

The order they run out does not necessarily dictate which you should get first. I think FP order has more to do with when the windows are falling. When the windows were not enforced it had to with FP popularity. Not anymore.

 

[mkarizona]

For our trip in March we didn't collect as many fastpasses as we have in the past. We used the android apps to see which rides had the shortest wait times instead.

 

[starlightbh8]

For our trip in March we didn't collect as many fastpasses as we have in the past. We used the android apps to see which rides had the shortest wait times instead.

What is the name of the android apps you used? Was it very accurate? Thanks!

 

[TheChapman6]

The order they run out does not necessarily dictate which you should get first. I think FP order has more to do with when the windows are falling. When the windows were not enforced it had to with FP popularity. Not anymore.

Well, my head is spinning as I lay in bed at night planning out our 3 days. I want to see and do it all with my 9 and 10 year old boys. I want to make sure they don't miss out but the OCD in me wants a schedule. A schedule that will for sure fall to the wayside at times LOL However, I waiver between touring plans and have like 6 of them saved on the site LOL