A spontaneous trip in the FP+ and ADR era

[JanaDee]

We live 20mins away from the world and we go on spontaneous day trips about 2-3xper week. We often will book our FP+ the night before or even the morning of and we typically get what we want. We've even had luck getting A&E and 7DMT on relatively short notice too! We find the best thing is to get there at rope drop! If we do that, we always get to do everything we want, regardless of whatever fp+'s we have/don't have. Your trip is TOTALLY do-able!

When you live 20 minutes away, you can always do something the next time you come. Visitors that travel long distances don't have that luxury.

 

[Jennasis]

I have no desire to stalk MDE whether 60 days out, 180 days out or a week out. It's nonsense, IMO, the whole idea of booking FP+ in advance. I hate it. I really do. I didn't enjoy a single second of it. Stalking MDE (one of the worst websites/apps I've ever had the misfortune of needing to use) sound like something the CIA may want to try instead of waterboarding.

"Tell us where the WMD's are or we'll make you find a FP+ reservation for A&E for 6 people during Spring Break!"

 

[jade1]

There has been a great deal of discussion here over the last few months if trips can be booked inside of 60 days. We leave tomorrow, and booked our trip at 39 days out. I figured we were doomed as far as getting any desired FPs or ADRs and this trip was all about Disney at Christmas. Disclaimer: I stalk the heck out of MDE when I get a notion in my head. The night we booked we had a few priorities: Pre-opening CRT, CM, CP dinner on our party day around 4pm, SciFi, SDMT for everyday at the MK, A&E once, TSMM.

The day we booked I landed TSMM right off the bat, nothing else was available that we wanted. I was really discouraged and figured the spontaneous Disney trip was dead. Then I got my pre-opening CRT and Disney changed the operating hours and I was even more defeated. However through constant checking of the site and a FB group of fellow December travelers I leave tomorrow with 100% of the things I desired on my itinerary. I can see how someone who doesn't like having to constantly try to plan their vacation on a daily basis would hate it. But for those ultra planners out there, or those using a TA, I'd say the spontaneous trip is still viable.

Now if only the crowd calendars are correct, I think we'll have an awesome trip, fingers crossed.

Awesome.

We did many "night before" FP+ selections Thanksgiving week, even 1AM for the next day with great success-not CP/A&E type stuff (although we didn't even check for those) but nice selections each time. Even 2 weeks out for Thanksgiving Day including 7DMT.

How did you land BLT though that late-pretty sweet spot to be.

 

[BrianL]

You say you were constantly checking the site...

How many hours do you think you spent doing that? Just curious.

I do think spontaneous trips are still possible as long as you don't care about specific, high-demand ADRs. FPs seems to be easier as long as you aren't looking for A&E or 7DMT.

For me, I just logged into MDE once every morning and checked availability. I was only stalking the 7DMT, but I spent no more than 1 or 2 minutes each day checking until I actually found it.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

You say you were constantly checking the site...

How many hours do you think you spent doing that? Just curious.

I do think spontaneous trips are still possible as long as you don't care about specific, high-demand ADRs. FPs seems to be easier as long as you aren't looking for A&E or 7DMT.

Wow, that's a great question! I really have no idea, but I'd guess 2-3 hours per week for 5 weeks.

Like others have pointed out, there was nothing spontaneous about your trip. Stalking and checking a website constantly are not how I want to plan/spend my vacation.

Having no plans on going to WDW, making a joke with my wife about going, which turned into us booking 10 minutes later, and changing resorts at the 30 hour point, feels very spontaneous to us.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Awesome.

We did many "night before" FP+ selections Thanksgiving week, even 1AM for the next day with great success-not CP/A&E type stuff (although we didn't even check for those) but nice selections each time. Even 2 weeks out for Thanksgiving Day including 7DMT.

How did you land BLT though that late-pretty sweet spot to be.

Whoops, that was out August trip, I never updated to include this one. Although I did switch from POFQ to CR at 30 hours till check in.

 

[nighttowll]

I understand what you are saying.

For a Displanner, anything booked under 180 days is spontaneous.

Also, I think there was a lot of fear on the boards last year when they were testing the new system out that in the future we would all need to book our FP exactly 60 days in advance or forget about experiencing any popular attractions because they would all be picked over. This fear combined with the longer standby lines being reported, made many people a little nervous to try (what would be for a dis-planner a last minute trip) after the 60 day mark had passed. There were just so many reports of not being able to get FP for rides even in the off-season, that I think it really made people nervous. I believe this is what you were referring to more than true spontaneity.

I myself wasn't sure that last minute trips were really doable anymore either. However, I was in the middle of planning two upcoming trips one for next Fall and one for next Christmas when my mother sighed, looked at me all sad, and said how nice it would be if we could take a Disney trip just the two of us together. So now, here I am going in January, less than 2 months away which is very spontaneous for me, and I didn't have any trouble getting anything I wanted. How much of that is because of crowd levels, though, I'm not sure.

It seems like most of the people who have commented so far have reported success with under 60 day reservations for off-season stays or true last minutes bookings the day of or before, where they pick up someone's cancellation. I'd be interested to know if anyone has had luck booking 1. under 30 days out, and 2. for a trip during a peak season, 3. not stalking every day for 30 days in a row. I don't think checking a few times is too much, but as others have said if you need to check every day or more than once every day. It isn't really an easy booking. The average person wouldn't get what they wanted. This information would give a better indication of how plausible last minute trips will be in the future.

 

[jade1]

Wow, that's a great question! I really have no idea, but I'd guess 2-3 hours per week for 5 weeks.
.

You probably meant on the dis....only 2-3 hours per day.....forever.

 

[jade1]

Whoops, that was out August trip, I never updated to include this one. Although I did switch from POFQ to CR at 30 hours till check in.

Such a great location, liking your style.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Wow, that's a great question! I really have no idea, but I'd guess 2-3 hours per week for 5 weeks.

That's not bad.

I have no patience when it comes to ADR stalking (and now FP stalking). I just give up lol.

 

[rebeccam31]

There has been a great deal of discussion here over the last few months if trips can be booked inside of 60 days. We leave tomorrow, and booked our trip at 39 days out. I figured we were doomed as far as getting any desired FPs or ADRs and this trip was all about Disney at Christmas. Disclaimer: I stalk the heck out of MDE when I get a notion in my head. The night we booked we had a few priorities: Pre-opening CRT, CM, CP dinner on our party day around 4pm, SciFi, SDMT for everyday at the MK, A&E once, TSMM.

The day we booked I landed TSMM right off the bat, nothing else was available that we wanted. I was really discouraged and figured the spontaneous Disney trip was dead. Then I got my pre-opening CRT and Disney changed the operating hours and I was even more defeated. However through constant checking of the site and a FB group of fellow December travelers I leave tomorrow with 100% of the things I desired on my itinerary. I can see how someone who doesn't like having to constantly try to plan their vacation on a daily basis would hate it. But for those ultra planners out there, or those using a TA, I'd say the spontaneous trip is still viable.

Now if only the crowd calendars are correct, I think we'll have an awesome trip, fingers crossed.

I hope it's going well. Last year we booked a trip 3 days (yes, you're reading that correctly) before leaving for Mothers' Day weekend. We got FP+ for Toy Story Mania (and picked up a second the night before when our plans had to change due to illness, could have booked and Anna and Elsa (we chose not to, but there was one available), and got a reservation for BOG for our second night there. I don't know if we got lucky or what (I usually am booked WELL in advance), but that was our experience.

 

[staylor]

So glad to find this post. We usually plan our WDW vacations w/ plenty of time in advance. However, decided yesterday that we have time and $ to go so why not. Now, I'm in a mad panic to plan Jan 1st - 5th. I'll be stalking MDE!

 

[robinb]

So glad to find this post. We usually plan our WDW vacations w/ plenty of time in advance. However, decided yesterday that we have time and $ to go so why not. Now, I'm in a mad panic to plan Jan 1st - 5th. I'll be stalking MDE!

You will also want to start the "Disney Dining Tool" (use google, I can't post the link).

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

Just booked today for December 26th...I was lucky that we have non-expiring tickets so I booked FP+ at 30 days (just in case my husband decided he would appease me). At 30 days I wasn't able to book SDMT but I was when they opened up more slots and got everything that I wanted for the times I wanted, but that's with 2 people. I know we're crazy and it's going to be a mad house but you only turn 30 once right?! Our parents live in the Orlando area which is why we were going to be in Florida anyways...

 

[Shaden]

We planned our September trip at 16 days out. With relentless MDE stalking, we got A&E. We struck out with TSMM, which was a disappointment. We ended up not going to HS and went back to the hotel to swim instead.

We had really good luck with ADRs inside the 24 hour cancellation window. I managed to snag CRT for breakfast the day prior. We also got Garden Grill and CP.

It can be done, but it was a lot of work. It was way more work than a pre-FP+ trip. We had a great time, so it was worth it in that respect, but I did kind of resent the time I had to spend to save time in line later. Blah.

That was my thought too . Plus, at 39 days the OP is still ahead of all those poor offsite folks who are trying to get FP+.

Ummmm yes, this sounds like anything BUT a spontaneous trip ...

 

[famy27]

Ummmm yes, this sounds like anything BUT a spontaneous trip ...

I'll go with "spur of the moment" decision to go on a trip. You're right. It wasn't spontaneous. And I was very bitter that 16 days out, I wasn't able to get FPs for two people for any time over a three-day period for a six year old ride.

 

[Marthasor]

We only take "spur of the moment" trips and I have always been able to eventually get the FP+ and ADR's we want. Yes, it takes stalking, but I like doing that! In fact, reading this thread reminded me to look, yet again, to see if a BOG dinner reservation had miraculously opened up for our trip mid-Feb. and . . . it did!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

That's not bad.

I have no patience when it comes to ADR stalking (and now FP stalking). I just give up lol.

Yeah, the DVC resale dining tool helped. Allowed me to check my most desired ones in about 3 minutes, I'd do that pretty much once an hour from work. Just kept it minimized on my desktop.

 

[Shaden]

I'll go with "spur of the moment" decision to go on a trip. You're right. It wasn't spontaneous. And I was very bitter that 16 days out, I wasn't able to get FPs for two people for any time over a three-day period for a six year old ride.

Crap I actually didn't mean to quote you there, but yes, this neither the OP nor your trips are really spontaneous, but both highlight some of the not so grand realities of the new system.

The OP ends up seeming happy that they were able to do this "spontaneous" trip and still get the FPs they wanted, starting at ... 36 days out ? But from the sounds of it had to do a ton of work and FP stalking, that's not spontaneous, and that doesn't sound fun.

I have seen a few of these threads where people talk about how much effort they put into their FPs and ADRs and trying to get that all figured out ... then the same person in another post will say something like FP+ was so stress free while we were in the parks, its great. Um, ok, but did you forget that part where you spent weeks poping online every day, several times a day trying to snag those FPs ? (now to be fair, lots of people booking at the 60 day mark, esp for non high season, get the FPs they want without much effort)

But the idea that this system in anyway allows for spontaneous trips (or rather, facilitates or enhances them) ... ugh. There is nothing spontaneous about planning what you are going to ride, when you are going to ride it, days or weeks before you arrive at the park, all while fighting others for the finite number of positions on those rides and for the most coveted times.

 

[BJC15]

You can absolutely make a spontaneous, unplanned, last minute trip to DW and have fun. First, a FP for every ride is not requirement. But it is easy to jump on MDE the night before and grab FP's for Space, Splash, and Mansion which are all far more fun than Mine Train in my opinion. If the Train is so important to you that not riding it makes going to the Magic Kingdom a total waste of time, you should know that they do now allow people without a FP to stand in a longer line and still get on the ride. And they also have places now that let you walk up and grab food without a reservation! Some are even pretty darn good.

Sorry for my sarcasm, but I'm still trying to figure out how anybody enjoyed Magic Kingdom before the two minutes that are Mine Train came along, place must have been dead the first 40+ years.