What do you wish you knew the first time you reserved FP+?

momto2 · Mar 28, 2015

So although we have been to WDW many times, this will be our first time with the FP+ To those who have reserved FP+ for more than one trip, what do you wish you knew the first time you booked that would have helped? What have you learned since then? Do you make a first choice list, second choice list, etc.? Thanks!

DisneyPeachNJ · Mar 28, 2015

Get them early for the early AM! (If you're morning people...)
You can always get more later.

sharona · Mar 28, 2015

I've only reserved once but after reading a lot of info on this board, the best tip I saw was that if you don't see what you want, try splitting up your group and getting overlapping windows. You can still all ride together. It worked for me in getting 7DMT for the time we wanted at 30 days out. The other thing I did that was helpful was to play around in the system a bit before the date that I really wanted to book for opened up. Not sure if this will be an option if you have a package and are booking 60 days out with specific dates already locked in??? For us we were staying off site so the app had no idea what our actual park dates would be. Having "practiced" already, I was able to quickly change times and experiences to manipulate the FPs that were offered into the FPs that I wanted.

CarolynFH · Mar 28, 2015

Keep in mind that there are other attractions and things to do besides the ones you get FP+ for! And also remember you have an hour - you don't have to get in line the minute your window opens. Make sure you allow enough time between FP+ to do other things in the area. Otherwise you'll find yourself focusing on running from one place to another without enjoying your visit!

momto2 · Mar 28, 2015

Thanks Sharona! I thought you requested the FP on the hour. Is it more staggered times? Also when you mentioned you 'practiced', are you able to enter info just to try and not reserve completely until the 60 day mark?

minniemous · Mar 28, 2015

For the hard to get fast passes try booking from the end of your trip forward. Most likely your first couple days will be out of fast passes for the hard to get rides so start at the end of your trip to be sure to get them.

sharona · Mar 28, 2015

In the days leading up to my booking date, I did a lot of dummy FPs for dates within the 30 day window. Yes, staggered. As an exampke, the earliest FP time for 2 riders on 7DMT was after 5pm. I changed it up to select just for me and got 1105am-1205pm then got 1110am-1210pm for DD.

DisneySOS · Mar 28, 2015

First timer with FP+, can someone tell me how you are able to practice on the system? I can't book for over a month, but just wanted to practice and couldn't figure out a way to do this. When I hit the FP option it just tells me how many days I have until I can make them. What am I missing?

momto2 · Mar 28, 2015

Thanks everyone. Just don't want to have any regrets. Also have been a super planner and this is such a new concept. I want to do it right :teeth:

IrishNYC · Mar 28, 2015

DisneySOS said:
First timer with FP+, can someone tell me how you are able to practice on the system? I can't book for over a month, but just wanted to practice and couldn't figure out a way to do this. When I hit the FP option it just tells me how many days I have until I can make them. What am I missing?

If you have a package you can't do a "practice" run because the window will not open up until 12:01am 60 days before. If you have your tickets booked separate from your room you can do a practice run within a 30 day window. Just do not confirm anything!

minniemous · Mar 28, 2015

Also if you get your fast passes do not waste time debating times. Grab what you can around the time you want it and then after you have all of your fast pass selections done for every day go right back in the system and start adjusting the times. Someone on the boards mentioned that and I found that invaluable information. Just be sure to go back in to the system and start adjusting as soon as you are done.

PeasandCarrots · Mar 28, 2015

The first time I made my FP+ reservations I was wishing I had a printed out list of my ADRs since you want to leave a buffer before and after dining reservations!

Mikie · Mar 28, 2015

DisneySOS said:
First timer with FP+, can someone tell me how you are able to practice on the system? I can't book for over a month, but just wanted to practice and couldn't figure out a way to do this. When I hit the FP option it just tells me how many days I have until I can make them. What am I missing?

A PP explained wha's happening and I was also frustrated about not being able to practice. You can search youtube for some good walkthroughs so you have an idea what the process looks like. It's not actually hard at all, but I hated going in completely blind.

momto2 · Mar 28, 2015

Mikie said:
A PP explained wha's happening and I was also frustrated about not being able to practice. You can search youtube for some good walkthroughs so you have an idea what the process looks like. It's not actually hard at all, but I hated going in completely blind.

Great idea!

Mickey&Mouse · Mar 28, 2015

I just scheduled our FP's a couple of weeks ago. One tip I read on here that proved very useful was to pick the FP times that are at the opposite time of day from when you want them (if none of the options have the times you want). For instance, if you want attractions earlier in the day- pick the option that has them grouped in the later part of the day. Then go back in individually to change the times to what you really want. Otherwise, it won't show you any times that may conflict with what you have chosen.

Example:
You want SDMT for 10:30-11:30, BTMR for 11:30-12:30, and SM for 12:30-1:30

MDE does not present this scenario as an option.

If you pick one of MDE's options with similar times, then try to go back in and change to what you really want- it won't show times that conflict with what you have just chosen.

If you pick one of MDE's options with times that are in the evening, then you can go back in individually and switch to your desired times in the AM since all the available AM times will be visible (since they don't conflict).

Hope that's not confusing!

ETA:

Looked on Mesaboy's thread and found a link to the easywdw forum for this topic:

http://www.easywdw.com/forums/showthread.php?21568-New-Examples-of-Booking-and-Modifying-FP

AriesAriel · Mar 28, 2015

Well don't make my mistake. Don't cancel ONE child off of one FP by himself. You can't just make ONE fast pass, you have to pick 3 at a time. So if you pick three FP and then decide to cancel 1 person off of one, it really really complicates things. Just know that ahead of time

Choose which groups you want wisely in the beginning!

I had to cancel my sister's passes in order to add him to their group for the whole day to get it fixed. Thankfully, there was plenty of times for 7DMT otherwise I'd have been in t.r.o.u.b.l.e!!

IrishNYC · Mar 28, 2015

Aries brings up a good point.... NEVER CANCEL an FP once you make it. If you don't want what you've chosen, whether it's time or attraction, choose to CHANGE the experience.

mesaboy2 · Mar 28, 2015

You may find the green link in my signature helpful.

Miskey · Mar 28, 2015

I wish I had known that the fastpass viewing area for the Festival of Fantasy parade was in the blazing sun. Not a place I wanted to be in July in the middle of the afternoon. Only fastpass selection I regretted.

I learned to keep tinkering if you don't have the passes you want at the times you want. They do open up, and you will get lucky

prudence64 · Mar 28, 2015

When you get a 4th or more fp at the park, book something even if it's not what you want. Once it's booked, you can change it from your phone to a different experience or different time.

What do you wish you knew the first time you reserved FP+?

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