60day opens tonight - booking strategy: A, B or C?

[Sydnerella]

Thanks BUNCHES to sooooo many DIS people and their FP+ insights and experiences, I have a pretty good plan for parks/rides/days and know some FP+ tricks.

Having not used the system since 2013 testing and only practicing a little due to not having a package (but not practicing at midnight, or 11pm as it will be here) I am curious about the best/preferred booking strategy for a few biggies.

I have 6 bands to book. I am assuming I book the highest priority attractions for which we will use FP in this order: Anna/Elsa, 7DMT, TSM, TT, FF parade, Wishes (any comments on the order for these are appreciated - esp TT and TSM, which is first over Pres Day wknd?).

I am a bit confused about booking high priority attractions for less than the full party. I only want Anna and Elsa for 2 of the group of 6. So as soon as the window opens tonight, do I initially still have to select all 6 guests or should I just pick the two who want A and E and then add the other guests after that. See my options below - Strategy A, B or C? Or D - something different?

A. Should I start booking right off the bat as follows:

Day 3 of on-site stay
2 FP-Anna/Elsa
2 FP-7DMT
2 FP-Buzz

Then since 7DMT is next highest FP priority, after I have secured Anna and Elsa for 2, then add:
4 more FP-7DMT
4 more FP-Buzz
4 FP-BTMRR (while the 2 are at A/E)

B. Or do I have to start with 6 and then should try modifying from there?

Day 3 of on-site stay
6 FP-Anna/Elsa
6 FP-7DMT
6 FP-Buzz

Then modify to try to get only 2 for Anna and Elsa - I assume at this point 6FP wont be available for A/E and it will substitute another attraction... but then I would try to modify from there for 2 FP to A/E.

C. Or do I still have to start with 6, but try NOT selecting Anna and Elsa, and then try to change the BTMRR attraction to Anna and Elsa for 2 from there?

Day 3 of on-site stay
6 FP-BTMRR
6 FP-7DMT
6 FP-Buzz

Then modify 2 BTMRR FP to 2FP for Anna and Elsa????

???? Thoughts welcome and appreciated!

Thank you!
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[g-dad66]

You don't have to select everyone in the party, so I would go with Option A. Looks to me like a good plan.

 

[tonya george]

Thanks BUNCHES to sooooo many DIS people and their FP+ insights and experiences, I have a pretty good plan for parks/rides/days and know some FP+ tricks.

Having not used the system since 2013 testing and only practicing a little due to not having a package (but not practicing at midnight, or 11pm as it will be here) I am curious about the best/preferred booking strategy for a few biggies.

I have 6 bands to book. I am assuming I book the highest priority attractions for which we will use FP in this order: Anna/Elsa, 7DMT, TSM, TT, FF parade, Wishes (any comments on the order for these are appreciated - esp TT and TSM, which is first over Pres Day wknd?).

I am a bit confused about booking high priority attractions for less than the full party. I only want Anna and Elsa for 2 of the group of 6. So as soon as the window opens tonight, do I initially still have to select all 6 guests or should I just pick the two who want A and E and then add the other guests after that. See my options below - Strategy A, B or C? Or D - something different?

A. Should I start booking right off the bat as follows:

Day 3 of on-site stay
2 FP-Anna/Elsa
2 FP-7DMT
2 FP-Buzz

Then since 7DMT is next highest FP priority, after I have secured Anna and Elsa for 2, then add:
4 more FP-7DMT
4 more FP-Buzz
4 FP-BTMRR (while the 2 are at A/E)

B. Or do I have to start with 6 and then should try modifying from there?

Day 3 of on-site stay
6 FP-Anna/Elsa
6 FP-7DMT
6 FP-Buzz

Then modify to try to get only 2 for Anna and Elsa - I assume at this point 6FP wont be available for A/E and it will substitute another attraction... but then I would try to modify from there for 2 FP to A/E.

C. Or do I still have to start with 6, but try NOT selecting Anna and Elsa, and then try to change the BTMRR attraction to Anna and Elsa for 2 from there?

Day 3 of on-site stay
6 FP-BTMRR
6 FP-7DMT
6 FP-Buzz

Then modify 2 BTMRR FP to 2FP for Anna and Elsa????

???? Thoughts welcome and appreciated!

Thank you!
Sydnerella's Mama

WOW, mine opens tomorrow and I don't even understand your abbreviations Good luck!!! and if you get a chance will you post back tomorrow how it worked out? I'm brand new and have been trying to cram info in, but I will be doing the same tomorrow night

 

[wisblue]

As a PP said, you don't have to do all 6 at the same time.

I have never had to split up a group like that, but if I did, and if part of the group wanted A&E, I would go with your option A. It might require a few more clicks than booking all 6 first, but some people have reported that A&E can be available for a smaller group even when it is not available for a larger group. Once you get the group of 2 set, it shouldn't be difficult to get the other 4 booked for the same times with BTMRR in place of A&E.

If it weren't for A&E, I think it would be easier to book for all 6 and then just change the one attraction for the subgroup of 4.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Sydnerella]

Sorry for the delay in responding - I had not checked this thread the day after booking! So overall FP booking was good - getting the times and attractions I wanted and starting at 12 EST. Though my laptop screen (on which I was working) is smaller than my home computer screen where I had been "practicing" and that meant I missed the 4 options at the top for my first 3 days of booking! I was wondering where they were.... why were they not giving me 4 options... but of course I did not scroll up to see them in my rush and mini "panic" to get what I wanted booked quickly.... so I just accepted what I could see (option 1 apparently and modified as needed.

For the A/E question - Day 3 above: I started with Day 3 and I did book for all 6 MBs at once and got offered far later times than I wanted for A/E, but good 7DMT and BTMRR times. But I just booked it for all 6 and changed 4 of theA/E FPs to other attractions (2 Splash, 2 SM). After booking several other days (but not all) of my 7 day trip, I tried to make an earlier time for the two A/E FPs - I should have done this sooner I think, but I didnt. I was able to move it up an hour, to 7pm - but that was still later than I preferred. After checking for earlier times unsuccesfully that night and the next day, I then realized that I could play around with 2 different FPs to test ability to get A/E at better times by changing them individually - without risking my secured 2 FPs for A/E (what if I could only change one to a better time, yikes!). So I played with two Splash FPs that were not a critical booking, switching each one-by-one to A/E FPs. So said differently, I checked one-by one for better times to change one at a time to A/E. And as a result, I was able to get an earlier time for each person to see A/E with a good overlap: 5:50 to 6:50 and 6:00 to 7:00. Then once these A/E FPs with the better times were safely secured, I changed the original A/E FPs that I booked to another attraction and time all together.

Outside of A/E taking more time and trickery to book, Star Tours was the only other "challenge" for me - and that was a challenge only in getting my preferred time for 6 FPs together. Instead of after lunch when I know for certain that DH will be at DHS after his conference duties, I had to do it 11:10 to 12:10. Hopefully he can get done working/setting up his booth and to the park quickly! Maybe he will be best off borrowing FILs car and parking pass (AP holders) for fastest arrival from the CS conference center. The inlaws are also staying at CSR with us for the last 4 days of the trip, so it should be easy enough for him to borrow their wheels if faster than waiting for a disney bus.

Hopefully this is helpful info to those booking FPs. Thanks for the help everyone!

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[Sydnerella]

WOW, mine opens tomorrow and I don't even understand your abbreviations Good luck!!! and if you get a chance will you post back tomorrow how it worked out? I'm brand new and have been trying to cram info in, but I will be doing the same tomorrow night

As a PP said, you don't have to do all 6 at the same time.

I have never had to split up a group like that, but if I did, and if part of the group wanted A&E, I would go with your option A. It might require a few more clicks than booking all 6 first, but some people have reported that A&E can be available for a smaller group even when it is not available for a larger group. Once you get the group of 2 set, it shouldn't be difficult to get the other 4 booked for the same times with BTMRR in place of A&E.

If it weren't for A&E, I think it would be easier to book for all 6 and then just change the one attraction for the subgroup of 4.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

I meant to quote you both with my reply above in case you get notices about replies!

 

[tonya george]

I meant to quote you both with my reply above in case you get notices about replies!

thank you!!! So glad it all worked out for you. We are on property night, so I was able to grab A&E too, but it was at 9:10 pm I immediately changed them one by one and was able to get overlapping times for 4 out of 5 of my family with the other being off only 30 minutes (so I can just have my hubby miss if needed). Have a great trip!