Am I crazy? Waiting to deal with FP+

[wrighter]

We are DVC owners who travel to WDW at least once per year. We know the parks, how to maximize our time, etc. We are usually Rope Droppers, who do the rides all morning, have lunch at the parks, maybe do another ride or two and then head back to the resort for pool time. Sometimes we head back in the evenings, sometimes we don't. We let the spirit move us.

Our last visit was this past year, the week after Christmas. MDE was up and running at all parks, and we used it. But we also used the legacy FP machines at MK, HS, and Epcot. (At that time, AK was the only park with no FP-) So we had a brief taste of what was to come. And we hated it. FP+ will severely affect how we "do" the parks. But this thread isn't about that debate. There are at least 85 million of those threads.

Our next visit is Easter week. And for the first time in nine years, I am not looking forward to our WDW vacation. We've never had a huge issue with the crowds, because we could work around them. Now it will be almost impossible to do so, because we'll be standing in many more Stand-by lines than we ever have before. (Unless we decide to ditch and just spend much more time at the pool - which is a distinct possibility.)

We are in the window where we are able to reserve FP+, but I just don't want to. I just don't want to schedule our park days two months in advance. It's ludicrous. So my question is: Am I crazy to wait until the day or so before to schedule FP+? When we were there are Christmas, we changed our FP+ every day. And there was always availability. We like to pick our parks based on weather, our energy level, and desire for specific rides. Will I be shut out if I wait until then?

 

[Robo]

Am I crazy to wait until the day or so before to schedule FP+? Will I be shut out if I wait until then?

Nobody knows.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would schedule them. You don't have to use them and if you want to change them that day, you can try to change them.

 

[PrincessJo]

If for the first time in nine years you're not looking forward to your WDW vacation... then why are you going?

There are a million other places to visit. It's sad that you aren't looking forward to a vacation!!

Our next vacation starts on Sept. 17 and I can't wait!

 

[wiigirl]

I would schedule them. You don't have to use them and if you want to change them that day, you can try to change them.

 

[prudence64]

There's no sense in not scheduling them. Most have reported no problems changing them even at the last minute.

 

[goofy4tink]

Schedule them now. When you get to WDW, you can change them to better suit your plans each day. You may not be able to get 'perfect' times at the attractions you want, but at least you'll have something in hand. No reason not to book them now.

 

[jade1]

Agreed, do late afternoon early eve FP+'s ahead of time.

As a RD fam-even that busy week you will get a lot done.

Let the "spirit move you" on where you RD in the am,knowing you are set for the evening.

We skip RD that week and arrive after pool time, and rarely ever find a decent FP still available, so to have 3 walking into any park late afternoon Easter week will be awesome IMO.

For example, if you schedule the MK mountains for your wednesday eve now-and you wake up then and knock out AK at RD, hit the pool, I would doubt anyone would say "crap now we have to go to MK for the 3 mountains, a few standby's, the parade and Wishes:-I know my fam wouldn't anyway.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I would schedule them. You don't have to use them and if you want to change them that day, you can try to change them.

We are going the end of May and this too will be our first trip using both MBs and FP+. I plan on doing this for our trip. Our window to start reserving FP+ is at the end of March and I have been doing a lot of thinking about this, I was contemplating the same thing whether to wait until we get there or just do it early. I decided that I will just go ahead and reserve them at the 60 days so that I have something for each day, and once we get there, if we do decide that that FP+ is not going to work out for us, we will change it....at least we will have a base and starting point per se to go by. Good luck, and as far as looking forward to our trip, I was (and in some cases still) a little nervous about this whole new system, but I am educating myself on it quite a bit and I am ready to tackle it head on. DH and I are excited to see what this whole hoopla is all about, whether it is good or bad. Like the OP, we too are DVC members and if this vacation turns out to be one where we spend a lot more time at our resort or doing things outside of the parks, then so be it, at least we are still in our Happy Place .

 

[kay1864]

We've never had a huge issue with the crowds, because we could work around them. Now it will be almost impossible to do so, because we'll be standing in many more Stand-by lines than we ever have before.

I would use RideMax if you're going Easter week. Even during busy summer months, we never spent more than 15-20 min in line. The web app has been updated to include FP+.

I just don't want to schedule our park days two months in advance. It's ludicrous. So my question is: Am I crazy to wait until the day or so before to schedule FP+?

IMHO I think you'll be okay, since you'll still be ahead of the vast crowds of offsite guests on park day. Right now I can make FP for TSM, ToT and Star Tours for tomorrow, and my choices are wide open. Still, I would make some "placeholder" choices at least a week or so in advance, since it's Easter week.

When we were there at Christmas, we changed our FP+ every day. And there was always availability.

FP+ was still fairly new then, not to mention still restricted to onsite guests. I wouldn't count on much flexibility on day-of FP changes.