A&E FP Booking strategy?

[lily2521]

I really want a FP for A&E for our 1st MK day, but I've read on these boards I might be better off trying to get it for our 2nd MK day - 5 days after check in - because it's further out in our trip, since they're so hard to get?

We are going to be at MK 1 day after we check in, so is it unrealistic to think we can get A&E FP for day 2 of our trip, based on the time our FP window opens 60 days out?

Or should I forget it and just try to book it for day 5 of our trip, when we'll be back at MK? I'd obviously prefer day 2, but worry that by the time our 60 day window opens they'll already be gone, and from what I've read online, when my booking window opens at midnight, if I wait too long, or take too much time looking for FP's for day 2, the ones for the 5th day might be gone as well?

FWIW I do plan on being online right when my 60 day window opens.

Trying to figure out my best strategy here...

 

[Robo]

I really want a FP for A&E for our 1st MK day, but I've read on these boards I might be better off trying to get it for our 2nd MK day - 5 days after check in - because it's further out in our trip, since they're so hard to get?

We are going to be at MK 1 day after we check in, so is it unrealistic to think we can get A&E FP for day 2 of our trip, based on the time our FP window opens 60 days out?

Or should I forget it and just try to book it for day 5 of our trip, when we'll be back at MK? I'd obviously prefer day 2, but worry that by the time our 60 day window opens they'll already be gone, and from what I've read online, when my booking window opens at midnight, if I wait too long, or take too much time looking for FP's for day 2, the ones for the 5th day might be gone as well?

FWIW I do plan on being online right when my 60 day window opens.

Trying to figure out my best strategy here...

Book FIRST for the farthest MK day of your trip. (The later in the trip, the better.)
Then, work your way back day-by-day to see if you can get anything earlier in your trip.

Why?
Because there are guests who have 10 day trips that will have already booked on your days... up to 5 days BEFORE you even started.

Many more details, logistics, and FP+ priorities found HERE.

 

[lily2521]

Book FIRST for the farthest MK day of your trip. (The later in the trip, the better.)
Then, work your way back day-by-day to see if you can get anything earlier in your trip.

Why?
Because there are guests who have 10 day trips that will have already booked on your days... up to 5 days BEFORE you even started.

Many more details, logistics, and FP+ priorities found HERE.

Thanks - I did see that post about FP's, but couldn't find the info I was looking for specific to booking A&E, unless I'm blind and didn't see it?

So even though we'd rather do A&E on day 2 of our trip, right when our window opens at midnight, I'm better off just going right to day 5 of our trip to make sure we get it? If I book for the 5th day, just to reserve the spots, and then go look at day 2, can I book them on that day as well?

Also, with a FP, what should we expect as far as wait times once we get in line?

 

[Robo]

Thanks - I did see that post about FP's, but couldn't find the info I was looking for specific to booking A&E, unless I'm blind and didn't see it?

So even though we'd rather do A&E on day 2 of our trip, right when our window opens at midnight, I'm better off just going right to day 5 of our trip to make sure we get it?

1. If I book for the 5th day, just to reserve the spots, and then go look at day 2, can I book them on that day as well?

2. Also, with a FP, what should we expect as far as wait times once we get in line?

1. Yes.

2. Varies with crowd level and attraction.
Rule of Thumb: "10-15 minutes, plus or minus 10-15 minutes."

What do you know.
My 80,000th post was about FP+.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

I think it also factors in on what time of year you are going. I stayed up until 12 on our 60 day out mark and we had a three week stay in Jan/Feb. I started booking from the last day forward and snagged several A&E until I got to day 1/2 and lucked out there too. Then I went back and tweaked our schedule and kept a couple A&E FP for what I like to call FP+ insurance. You never know when it is going to rain, a child gets sick, etc and you can always drop an A&E and pick up something else but not the other way around. Book 2 if you can and good luck!

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks - I did see that post about FP's, but couldn't find the info I was looking for specific to booking A&E, unless I'm blind and didn't see it?

So even though we'd rather do A&E on day 2 of our trip, right when our window opens at midnight, I'm better off just going right to day 5 of our trip to make sure we get it? If I book for the 5th day, just to reserve the spots, and then go look at day 2, can I book them on that day as well?

Also, with a FP, what should we expect as far as wait times once we get in line?

From the second post in the referenced thread:

1. The Anna/Elsa M&G in Magic Kingdom is by far the most difficult FP+ to get. Onsite guests with longer stays have the best chance of acquiring them, but even then can still be shut out. For those onsite guests who want them, the best chance of getting them is by booking them as soon as your window opens at 12:00a ET and starting your FP+ selections immediately for the days at the end of your trip, working backwards. They disappear very quickly. All other guests are advised to check as soon as possible (at the 30-day mark) and as often as possible, and consider splitting your group into smaller parties to maximize chances of finding an available FP+.

 

[KEPE]

I would do it at midnight for sure. We're there for spring break and I REALLY wanted them on DD Bday and went for that specific day as soon as I logged in. I got it and by the time I was done with the full week I went back and was able to adjust it. Also, was on about an hour and went back to go over all of them and still could have snagged them almost every day of our trip at multiple times. I'm sure they were sold out shortly after that.

Best of luck!!

 

[NYEmomma]

Thanks - I did see that post about FP's, but couldn't find the info I was looking for specific to booking A&E, unless I'm blind and didn't see it?

So even though we'd rather do A&E on day 2 of our trip, right when our window opens at midnight, I'm better off just going right to day 5 of our trip to make sure we get it? If I book for the 5th day, just to reserve the spots, and then go look at day 2, can I book them on that day as well?

Also, with a FP, what should we expect as far as wait times once we get in line?

Exactly this. I was on right at 1 a.m. when the booking opened, went and grabbed my A&E FP for our 2nd MK day (the 6th day of our trip) and had plenty of times to choose from and no problems getting passes for all us. Then I went back and looked at our first MK day (day 2 of our trip) and there was absolutely, positively nothing.

Though I'd periodically check back closer to your trip. I looked just yesterday for friends that are overlapping our trip a couple days. She's not as "obsessed" with it all as I am and didn't go online immediately to get her FP's so she didn't get one for A&E. Our trip is in 2 weeks and there were A&E times available when I checked.

 

[lily2521]

Exactly this. I was on right at 1 a.m. when the booking opened, went and grabbed my A&E FP for our 2nd MK day (the 6th day of our trip) and had plenty of times to choose from and no problems getting passes for all us. Then I went back and looked at our first MK day (day 2 of our trip) and there was absolutely, positively nothing.

Though I'd periodically check back closer to your trip. I looked just yesterday for friends that are overlapping our trip a couple days. She's not as "obsessed" with it all as I am and didn't go online immediately to get her FP's so she didn't get one for A&E. Our trip is in 2 weeks and there were A&E times available when I checked.

Thanks for the advice here (to everyone!) I'll book our 2nd MK day first, just to be on the safe side, and then if I can go back and get them for our 1st day, even better, but if not, at least I'll (hopefully!) have the FP's for day 2

 

[angel23321]

Yep. Our TA booked the hard to gets (A&E and Mine Train) for our second MK day without a problem.

 

[lily2521]

Yep. Our TA booked the hard to gets (A&E and Mine Train) for our second MK day without a problem.

I've booked through a TA, do they usually book FP's for you, or am I better off doing it myself?