30-day Offsite FP+ Window - Good enough?

[ffugitive]

Debating onsite vs. offsite for an upcoming stay. Would actually prefer offsite for a variety of reasons and wondering what the options are like come the opening of the 30-day window? Apart from Elsa M&G, have there been any problems getting preferred rides at decent times?

Also, other than the 30-day / 60-day difference, are there any other FP+ disadvantages to staying offsite?

 

[kidd_freeper]

We are staying offsite.
We are going the first two weeks of July (very crowded days at the parks)

First: I don't go to meet & greet things. I've heard Anna & Elsa are insanely popular. I could care less.

Having said that, I waited to do my FP+ reservations until I could do all of them a once. So I waited until 22 days prior.

I got everything I wanted, at the times that I wanted, including Toy Story Mania. And there was lots of availability for any time for all rides.

The only exception was the Seven Dwarves Mine Ride. It was not available at all on our first planned day at MK (July 2), but it was available on our second planned day at the MK (July 8) - but only for after 5pm.

July 8 would have been 28 days prior.

 

[mm1971]

Debating onsite vs. offsite for an upcoming stay. Would actually prefer offsite for a variety of reasons and wondering what the options are like come the opening of the 30-day window? Apart from Elsa M&G, have there been any problems getting preferred rides at decent times?

Also, other than the 30-day / 60-day difference, are there any other FP+ disadvantages to staying offsite?

I would think the only issues may be Elsa and the 7DMT. All others would be easy to get at 30 days. I only question the others as they are new and popular right now. There are no disadvantages to staying off site as far as FP+ is concerned. We stay on site for the EMH times. I know a lot of people do not care or think the parks are busier on those days, but we have found the EMH to be very useful and we love being out late at the parks.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

I would say at this point the only attractions you may have an issue securing FPs for at the 30 day mark would be the Anna and Elsa M&G and SDMT. We booked at 60 days out and Anna and Elsa were only available two of our ten days.

 

[ffugitive]

Thanks for the replies - this is very helpful.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I can't comment about June but we went in early May and it was VERY busy and it was just prior to the SWW. We got great times everytime, had to shuffle a bit and try a few times to link up with our friends, but we got early ones and what we wanted no problem, only a week out. We had to cancel EP for epic rain storms and moved them to the following week, again no problems. We were staying off site both times. (11 of us so we got a fabulous vacation villa house the first 3 nights, went out our 4 day DCL and then got 2 suites at Royal Parc Suites for the last two nights. Can't beat it for that many people to stay on site with Disney would have been unreal. Maybe if its just one or two families, but not 5...)

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Debating onsite vs. offsite for an upcoming stay. Would actually prefer offsite for a variety of reasons and wondering what the options are like come the opening of the 30-day window? Apart from Elsa M&G, have there been any problems getting preferred rides at decent times?

Also, other than the 30-day / 60-day difference, are there any other FP+ disadvantages to staying offsite?

I have friends staying off-site too. I've made the Fast Pass+ reservations. Can I ask how do they use them with no wrist bands??

Thanks!!!

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I have friends staying off-site too. I've made the Fast Pass+ reservations. Can I ask how do they use them with no wrist bands??

Thanks!!!

I used MDE on my phone, flipped each ticket card over on the back and the app scans the barcode on the back of the ticket/card. It is assigned on per person. After that, you can assign your FP just like you would.

 

[sequoia 14]

Im in the midst of planning a spontaneous trip in july and wasnt able to make fastpass picks until exactly the 30 day range event though we are staying on site. We are a party of 2 and i was able to snag anna/elsa and sdmt with times after 4pm. I suspect if we had been a bigger party it would have locked us out though. The hardest one has been for Wishes. I was able to get 1 but i am still waiting on an additional cancellation so we can see the show. The other days of our trip are also grayed out for Wishes. Beyond that everything had lots of availability.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I used MDE on my phone, flipped each ticket card over on the back and the app scans the barcode on the back of the ticket/card. It is assigned on per person. After that, you can assign your FP just like you would.

So when all the reservation are made, she scans her tickets and it will put the reservations on her tickets??

 

[mossy1]

So when all the reservation are made, she scans her tickets and it will put the reservations on her tickets??

You have to have the ticket numbers first to book the FP+. You can scan with the app or enter in MDE website. Most seem to trust the website more than the app, especially when making changes etc. HTH