MichelleinMaine
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2008
- Messages
- 2,401
Just back from WDW and have to say we were spoiled with our GAD FP! Cheapie me had debated whether to do the budget thing and use them to upgrade our tickets. SO glad we opted to use them for FP. (Ok the military ticket deal didn't hurt either. 
) But the FP made for a VERY different, much more enjoyable trip. We weren't having to rush in at opening to get in line for Soarin' or run across a park to get a FP the minute we were able and then kill time til the FP opening came up. We more or less could walk through the park and do things as we came to them. No plan- which was a crisis in and of itself at some points, lol, we're used to being slaves to how the crowds move! When I added up the hours we saved waiting in line/running around for FP, I think we came out well ahead in any sort of "hourly rate"/frustrations saved over taking the upgrade option. (We surely saved more time than we spent volunteering. And considering we didn't have to volunteer in 90 degrees and glaring sun, was definately a fair trade!! 
)
There were 6 in my family who all had vouchers. We met up with friends, a family of 8. We had no problems using 2 vouchers in a day in order to cover our whole group. (One was under 3, so we redeemed one voucher for 6 people and they let us do the other for 7 people. No problem at all, did have to call a supervisor over for an override code.)
I didn't look on our dates, but the crowd calendar predicted most of our days to be 7-9's. Obviously, the FP option wouldn't be as good if you were going at a low time. It was a wierd feeling to see all the people and know we didn't really have to worry about it. (Though we got spoiled, we went to Blizzard Beach and my DD wanted to know why we had to stand in line, lol.)
I wish we had thought ahead of time about a strategy. As said, we are so trained to rush for Soarin' or Splash Mountain or whatever the hot ride of the park is. Take a look at what other popular attractions you want to do, ones that don't have FP. (Eg, Dumbo, character lines, maybe a particular show...) Plan around THOSE. As said, we were pretty leisurely going around. It didn't hit me til after that we could have been #1 in lines in Toontown Fair since we weren't scrambling for FP at opening. You really have to rethink your typical park touring strategies. (That said, just winging it was it's own specialness this trip as well!)
Remember the MK Will Call Window is at the TTC! We almost got on the monorail without turning in our vouchers! I don't know if there was a way to do it at the park itself or now, but MK is that tricky one.
Also tricky at MK- there are 4 options for the "Donald" level rides (and you get three FP so obviously won't get to do one with it. The other parks were either 2 or 3 options for Donald level.) The really wierd thing is that Peter Pan is a Donald option (which for everything else was basically the E-ticket rides). We used PP and I didn't realize that kept us off instant FP for Space Mountain. (We used them for Splash Mtn and Big Thunder Mtn RR.)
The person who got the FP card doesn't have to use it for himself. If you have a younger child who can't go on Space Mountain, that is another ride for mom or dad! We passed along our not-completely used cards to another family in AK. It's kind of confusing to explain to someone else- be sure to hold onto the FP paper to give to. A side note, we had to ask 3 families before anyone would take them. Hello- free instant FP onto EE, someone take these!
You will get a second card (besides your park ticket) to use for the instant FP. You can also use your park ticket for regular FP. Double them up! You can also still use baby swap (which would cover 3 people going back on- extra rides if you have older children who will ride and a younger child who cannot.)
) But the FP made for a VERY different, much more enjoyable trip. We weren't having to rush in at opening to get in line for Soarin' or run across a park to get a FP the minute we were able and then kill time til the FP opening came up. We more or less could walk through the park and do things as we came to them. No plan- which was a crisis in and of itself at some points, lol, we're used to being slaves to how the crowds move! When I added up the hours we saved waiting in line/running around for FP, I think we came out well ahead in any sort of "hourly rate"/frustrations saved over taking the upgrade option. (We surely saved more time than we spent volunteering. And considering we didn't have to volunteer in 90 degrees and glaring sun, was definately a fair trade!! )There were 6 in my family who all had vouchers. We met up with friends, a family of 8. We had no problems using 2 vouchers in a day in order to cover our whole group. (One was under 3, so we redeemed one voucher for 6 people and they let us do the other for 7 people. No problem at all, did have to call a supervisor over for an override code.)
I didn't look on our dates, but the crowd calendar predicted most of our days to be 7-9's. Obviously, the FP option wouldn't be as good if you were going at a low time. It was a wierd feeling to see all the people and know we didn't really have to worry about it. (Though we got spoiled, we went to Blizzard Beach and my DD wanted to know why we had to stand in line, lol.)
I wish we had thought ahead of time about a strategy. As said, we are so trained to rush for Soarin' or Splash Mountain or whatever the hot ride of the park is. Take a look at what other popular attractions you want to do, ones that don't have FP. (Eg, Dumbo, character lines, maybe a particular show...) Plan around THOSE. As said, we were pretty leisurely going around. It didn't hit me til after that we could have been #1 in lines in Toontown Fair since we weren't scrambling for FP at opening. You really have to rethink your typical park touring strategies. (That said, just winging it was it's own specialness this trip as well!)
Remember the MK Will Call Window is at the TTC! We almost got on the monorail without turning in our vouchers! I don't know if there was a way to do it at the park itself or now, but MK is that tricky one.
Also tricky at MK- there are 4 options for the "Donald" level rides (and you get three FP so obviously won't get to do one with it. The other parks were either 2 or 3 options for Donald level.) The really wierd thing is that Peter Pan is a Donald option (which for everything else was basically the E-ticket rides). We used PP and I didn't realize that kept us off instant FP for Space Mountain. (We used them for Splash Mtn and Big Thunder Mtn RR.)
The person who got the FP card doesn't have to use it for himself. If you have a younger child who can't go on Space Mountain, that is another ride for mom or dad! We passed along our not-completely used cards to another family in AK. It's kind of confusing to explain to someone else- be sure to hold onto the FP paper to give to. A side note, we had to ask 3 families before anyone would take them. Hello- free instant FP onto EE, someone take these!
You will get a second card (besides your park ticket) to use for the instant FP. You can also use your park ticket for regular FP. Double them up! You can also still use baby swap (which would cover 3 people going back on- extra rides if you have older children who will ride and a younger child who cannot.)
