***1st Week of December Thread ADR Plans, Park Hours, and dealing with Pop Warner***

[rasadkowski]

The tier 1 rides have been very available, especially early in the morning.

What I would do is FP+ 7DMT as early as possible in the day (during first or second hour of park opening) and then when you scan through I would book a tier 1 and 2 at HS and SDFP everything else at MK.

right now (1:33pm) at HS I can get the following SDFP

RNR 1:45 3:00 4:00
GMR 1:45 3:15 4:40
TSMM 1:55 3:40 4:40
F!
the popular tier 2's have good availability too

basically everything. Earlier in the morning there are even more times available. it's crazy how many SDFP are available!

THEN when you go to HS you have a tier 1, a tier 2, (prebooked from the app while you are MK) and I would get a SDFP for a second Tier 1 when you get there. I think this works especially well since you WANT later in the day FP+ at HS - there will be anything you want available from the app at 10 in the morning, trust me


At Epcot FEA is sold out but Soarin has 2:35 3:35 4:35
TT has 3:00 4:00 5:00
TONS

Thank you so much for this info!

 

[Lisa F]

Touring plans has a great chart too that shows when SDFP availability is sold out based on crowd levels typically. I believe these numbers to be ultra conservative because i was definitely checking during times when it was a 5-6 crowd level (during summer but summer was quiet) and there was availability well beyond the times it shows there. but Tier 1 Epcot and HS are only unavailable in the morning basically during 9 and 10 crowd times. First week of december will not be that. That is like the week between christmas and new year's, thanksgiving weekend, spring break.

http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/05/06/fastpass-plus-availability/

I think if as I said that you get an early in the day 7DMT FP+ and scan in at least by 10am you should have no trouble at all getting any Tier 1 you want, especially if you want it later in the day. but I guess time will tell

 

[rasadkowski]

I've been watching for about a month so some of the time I was watching was during the busier season. There was never lack of late day tier 1FP availability for HS. Things that tended to sell out later in the day on busier days were soarin' and peter pan (though there was usually one lone close to closing PP FP available). There are actually MORE FP's done distributing today in the MK than I have seen at any other time, even checking at around 9pm for an 11pm close. I have always seen PP and Splash and the character M&Gs (though not all of them but right now NONE of them have anything) with availability.

Wow! That's interesting! For sept! No fp left in mk!

 

[Lisa F]

Wow! That's interesting! For sept! No fp left in mk!

no there are TONS left in MK. I posted the list

there are no FP+ in MK for 7DMT (never are) PP (sometimes aren't) splash mountain (sometimes aren't) character M&G (usually are at least some of them).

 

[rasadkowski]

@Mintycake im generally going to repeat only Mickey and friends depending on DS... My only priority regarding character right now is talking Mickey, Joy and Sadness, Baymax and Olaf! If there's time, I'd probably want to go for Dug and Russell (DH's fav Disney movie must be UP).

I really wish there was a fp for joy sadness and baymax. I know this sounds horrible, but the only ride I think I'm really interested in at Epcot is fea

 

[rasadkowski]

no there are TONS left in MK. I posted the list

there are no FP+ in MK for 7DMT (never are) PP (sometimes aren't) splash mountain (sometimes aren't) character M&G (usually are at least some of them).

Ohhhh gotcha

 

[Talby]

RE: Holiday Dessert Party @ Tomorrowland Terrace

I have spoken to THREE CMs at various points today about whether or not we can move about the dessert tables/fireworks viewing area. All three said yes...we can go to the railing, we can stand up, we can go to the hub and find a spot, we can come and go as we wish as we will have the identification bracelet...whatever we choose. So that's 3:1 now; 3 CMs saying we CAN, 1 saying we CAN'T go to the railings. Just passing it on.

 

[Lisa F]

RE: Holiday Dessert Party @ Tomorrowland Terrace

I have spoken to THREE CMs at various points today about whether or not we can move about the dessert tables/fireworks viewing area. All three said yes...we can go to the railing, we can stand up, we can go to the hub and find a spot, we can come and go as we wish as we will have the identification bracelet...whatever we choose. So that's 3:1 now; 3 CMs saying we CAN, 1 saying we CAN'T go to the railings. Just passing it on.

I think they can't stop you from leaving once you've paid. the question is if it is worth it to have desserts and then go out to the hub for the fireworks. Will you find a spot if you do that 15 minutes before? I don't know!

 

[Talby]

I think they can't stop you from leaving once you've paid. the question is if it is worth it to have desserts and then go out to the hub for the fireworks. Will you find a spot if you do that 15 minutes before? I don't know!

lol...I think you nailed the million dollar question; is it worth it for the parade spot/desserts? How much railing room are we talking about, I wonder? Just gotta laugh at all the unknowns sometimes (knowing it IS all going to ultimately work out) or I'd lose my mind. Looking forward to upcoming reviews, that's for sure. Our date is sold out also, so I guess I'll just let it be for now until those reviews do start coming in.

 

[Lisa F]

also realize that I am checking for a party of 2 for SDFP. The larger your party, the less availability there is. I can only check for 2 because I only have 2 linked tickets.

 

[Lisa F]

lol...I think you nailed the million dollar question; is it worth it for the parade spot/desserts? How much railing room are we talking about, I wonder? Just gotta laugh at all the unknowns sometimes (knowing it IS all going to ultimately work out) or I'd lose my mind. Looking forward to upcoming reviews, that's for sure. Our date is sold out also, so I guess I'll just let it be for now until those reviews do start coming in.

by the way you still have to show up very early if you want curbside parade viewing. there is a small area and they will be packing people in 4 deep. if you show up later it would be no different than being behind 3 rows of people on main street. When I was asking about MSEP FP+ when they used to have them people recommended you show up an hour early before the parade if you want curbside viewing (and I do, hate being behind people) even in the reserved viewing area. That's not all that different than showing up anyplace else on main street. The only difference is if you show up 10 minutes before they will pack you into that section I'd guess whereas you may not be able to get anywhere on main street at that time without being in a travel lane where they will keep you moving through.

 

[Candycane83]

by the way you still have to show up very early if you want curbside parade viewing. there is a small area and they will be packing people in 4 deep. if you show up later it would be no different than being behind 3 rows of people on main street. When I was asking about MSEP FP+ when they used to have them people recommended you show up an hour early before the parade if you want curbside viewing (and I do, hate being behind people) even in the reserved viewing area. That's not all that different than showing up anyplace else on main street. The only difference is if you show up 10 minutes before they will pack you into that section I'd guess whereas you may not be able to get anywhere on main street at that time without being in a travel lane where they will keep you moving through.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/i-...lowishes-dessert-party.3542778/#post-56424263

Someone in this thread said they did the dessert party last year and the parade viewing had plenty of room. I believe Kenny the Pirate's review pretty much said that there's room too right? I'm guessing that you need to go early but not that early for the parade?? I'm guessing it also depends on how busy the party is.

 

[Lisa F]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/i-...lowishes-dessert-party.3542778/#post-56424263

Someone in this thread said they did the dessert party last year and the parade viewing had plenty of room. I believe Kenny the Pirate's review pretty much said that there's room too right? I'm guessing that you need to go early but not that early for the parade?? I'm guessing it also depends on how busy the party is.

Following that thread now. They said around 7:30 was ok for the parade so it saves a half hour. still not sure if it is worth it but waiting to see.

 

[Candycane83]

Following that thread now. They said around 7:30 was ok for the parade so it saves a half hour. still not sure if it is worth it but waiting to see.

yup, waiting along as well...

 

[Candycane83]

Oh and I just booked our flights!!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

But first thing in the morning I haven't seen a single Tier 1 at epcot or HS besides FEA that did not have plenty of availability especially early in the morning if you want something for later in the day.

We have booked our fastpasses for our October trip and I could not get a fp for FEA any earlier than 7:30pm on our arrival day, 4;30 on our day 2 and finally, on day four, I was able to get a fp for FEA at 1:15pm.

When we were there in June Buzz Lightyear was sold out of fastpasses. Can you believe it? I couldn't. I've never seen Buzz sold out like that before.

 

[Talby]

Sorry by hub, I really meant closer to Casey's or the Plaza. I think that's ideal for these fireworks. DH and I watched it from Casey's last time and we had the hedges/ plants in front of us so it was perfect.

So for the parade, if you want a side view of it, it would have to be either in front of Main Street Confectionery or the Emporium? I think the dessert party may have the head on view? possible you think?

View attachment 193123

We got a spot right on the corner in front of the Confectionery in 2013 without even trying about 10-15 minutes before the parade started. Ignorance was bliss back then for me as I had no idea you had to stake out a spot. We literally just stumbled upon it. I attribute it to Disney Magic! lol Someone must have left I guess? Nothing to compare it to as it's the only time I've seen the Holiday parade, but it really was a PREM-O spot! We watched the fireworks from Main Street and it was incredible and we were not jam-packed at all. I remember taking pictures of my kids' reactions and I could move all around them easily to get different shots. Just recalling the memories and talking about the holiday parade/fireworks is jacking up the excitement level so much!! AHHHHH!!! CAN'T WAIT!! lol

 

[Lisa F]

We have booked our fastpasses for our October trip and I could not get a fp for FEA any earlier than 7:30pm on our arrival day, 4;30 on our day 2 and finally, on day four, I was able to get a fp for FEA at 1:15pm.

When we were there in June Buzz Lightyear was sold out of fastpasses. Can you believe it? I couldn't. I've never seen Buzz sold out like that before.

yes I've said both FEA and 7DMT need to be booked in advance definitely. In fact I am planning to do FEA later in the day because I am not confident enough that I'll get an early FP+ even 60 days out that I can build the rest of my plan around. If i book it for after dinner that should have more availability at 60 days out as it will probably book later than morning ones. But maybe not given that people tend to move to WS later in the day since it opens later. I guess we'll see. I was planning to book it for the 7:30-8:30pm timeframe.

But Soarin' (with third theater) and TSMM (with third track) both had good availability for Tier 1 and both have significantly reduced wait times on standby since upping capacity.

I would never advocate a SDFP for FEA and I'm sorry if that wasn't clear! I just checked 30 days out and there is no availability for that or 7DMT. Also on saturday october 8th Illuminations FP+ are sold out as well - saturdays during F&W are PACKED though so it makes sense. People who go regularly probably are there more for WS stuff and less for future world rides.

 

[Lisa F]

Oh and I just booked our flights!!!

FINALLY!

 

[Lisa F]

We got a spot right on the corner in front of the Confectionery in 2013 without even trying about 10-15 minutes before the parade started. Ignorance was bliss back then for me as I had no idea you had to stake out a spot. We literally just stumbled upon it. I attribute it to Disney Magic! lol Someone must have left I guess? Nothing to compare it to as it's the only time I've seen the Holiday parade, but it really was a PREM-O spot! We watched the fireworks from Main Street and it was incredible and we were not jam-packed at all. I remember taking pictures of my kids' reactions and I could move all around them easily to get different shots. Just recalling the memories and talking about the holiday parade/fireworks is jacking up the excitement level so much!! AHHHHH!!! CAN'T WAIT!! lol

you were one lucky duck. I so would not plan it that way, lol! But I am glad you had some disney magic!