Am I understanding FP system with park hoppers correctly?

[yorkieteacher]

I read the FP thread on this and I want to make sure I am understanding correctly before I pass along wrong information to my adult daughter-On our next trip we will be park hopping for the first time other than for dinner or shows. As I understand it, if we make only ONE fast pass for the first park we go to, as soon as we tap in we can make two more at the park we plan to hop to? Or if we make TWO, we can still make a third in another park after we tap in the first FP in our current park without waiting to use the second? Seems almost too good to be true! Cluelyss, I confess I did not read all 44 pages of this thread, but just the information you posted about this particular topic! Thank you for creating this topic!

 

[gharter]

That is how it has worked for us.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yes that is how it works.

 

[Undavolt]

Yes that is how it works.

Really? I thought that wether you make one, two or three FP’s in one park that you have to use those FP’s before you can switch to another park.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Really? I thought that wether you make one, two or three FP’s in one park that you have to use those FP’s before you can switch to another park.

I must have missed something. Once you tap into the 2nd, you can then pick a 3rd at the next park.

ETA I stand corrected. Just read the FAQ again:

When_2 or less FP are booked for Park #1:
If you book fewer than three FP and once you scan the first FP from within the first park, you can at that point make FP selections for a different park, even if you still have a FP remaining in the first park.

This can be especially helpful for Tiered parks – if for example you wish to hit Epcot at rope drop, use only a Tier 1 FP and then still have 2 more FP for another park later in the day.

Additionally, there is no restriction on Tier requirements BETWEEN PARKS during one day. So if you use a Tier 1 at Epcot you can then book a second Tier 1 at HS immediately upon scanning – Also, you can even book your remaining two FP at two different parks if you would like!

NOTE: Splitting FP between parks or booking for another park CANNOT be done until the same day, AFTER you have already scanned your card/MB at the first FP Mickey head to “prove” to the system that you’re in a park.

You cannot book for 2 different parks in advance or even on the same day until you have scanned your first FP (not just entered the park).

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The key phrase in that blurb from the FP sticky is “once you scan the first FP from within the first park...”.

 

[disneygirlsng]

I must have missed something. Once you tap into the 2nd, you can then pick a 3rd at the next park.

ETA I stand corrected. Just read the FAQ again:

When_2 or less FP are booked for Park #1:
If you book fewer than three FP and once you scan the first FP from within the first park, you can at that point make FP selections for a different park, even if you still have a FP remaining in the first park.

This can be especially helpful for Tiered parks – if for example you wish to hit Epcot at rope drop, use only a Tier 1 FP and then still have 2 more FP for another park later in the day.

Additionally, there is no restriction on Tier requirements BETWEEN PARKS during one day. So if you use a Tier 1 at Epcot you can then book a second Tier 1 at HS immediately upon scanning – Also, you can even book your remaining two FP at two different parks if you would like!

NOTE: Splitting FP between parks or booking for another park CANNOT be done until the same day, AFTER you have already scanned your card/MB at the first FP Mickey head to “prove” to the system that you’re in a park.

You cannot book for 2 different parks in advance or even on the same day until you have scanned your first FP (not just entered the park).

You don't really need to even wait til you use the 2nd FP. Once you scan into the 1st one, you can go ahead and make your 3rd for the next park, before using the 2nd one.

 

[Undavolt]

Okay I just learned something about FP’s. I usually book all three FP’s for one park so I have never had this situation.

 

[Miffy]

OK. I didn't know this either and I park hop all the time. Just to get this clear, if I have booked and used only 1 FP+ at the first park, then I can book 2 additional FP+ at another park(s)? At the same time? I thought I had to wait until I'd used FP+ #2 before I booked #3. Of course I understand that tiers apply.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OK. I didn't know this either and I park hop all the time. Just to get this clear, if I have booked and used only 1 FP+ at the first park, then I can book 2 additional FP+ at another park(s)? At the same time? I thought I had to wait until I'd used FP+ #2 before I booked #3. Of course I understand that tiers apply.

No, if you pre-book 1 FP, as soon as you tap it you can then book FP 2 & 3 either in the same or different park.

 

[Miffy]

No, if you pre-book 1 FP, as soon as you tap it you can then book FP 2 & 3 either in the same or different park.

Thanks, GADisneyDad14! I hope I can remember this in December!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks, GADisneyDad14! I hope I can remember this in December!

Yeah, the key is the pre-booking part. So hard to resist the urge to pre-book all 3. If you don’t and will be hopping later and are reasonably knowledgable about refreshing (and don’t have some exceptionally large group), it can be a decent strategy.

 

[SaintsManiac]

You don't really need to even wait til you use the 2nd FP. Once you scan into the 1st one, you can go ahead and make your 3rd for the next park, before using the 2nd one.

Yes, which is why I edited my post.

 

[DavidNYC]

Actually learned something too! I knew you could book at another park right after you tap in the first but always thought as soon as you "hopped" it's basically as if you're now on your 4th and just do 1 at a time.

So - my question is if you only pre-book one, is tiering still in place for the second park ONLY. I know if I use a tier 1 in park #1 I can get a tier 1 in park #2. But I'm asking if available can you get two Tier 1 as #2 and #3 in the second park.

Also - if you do pre-book three and decide after tapping into your first one that you want to hop instead, will this still work. (Would it automatically cancel your last two, or would you manually have to cancel them or if you have 3 that day does it preclude this from working at all).

[I've never considered this since it's hard to take the gamble on day of availability but with Epcot and DHS tiering being what it is, really considering doing just a Tier 1 at Epcot (or maybe adding Spaceship Earth) and then trying for Tier 1 at DHS. Have to play around with FP this week and see what availability looks like same day at about 10:00 or so].

 

[yorkieteacher]

In March, we are going to HS for the first half of a day -going to MK that afternoon. Depending on the Tier system in place in HS, we plan one rope dropping one ride and fast passing another-then just go to a show or two before our 11 am Sci Fi lunch and leaving. After our initial FP in HS, we hope to get fast passes for a couple of (usually) less difficult rides in Fantasyland for later that afternoon like Under the Sea and Pooh, then going for 4th and 5th in Fantasyland for Barnstormer and Small World before/after our BOG at 5 until Happily Ever After. I know people bad mouth crowd calendars, but the first week in March could have crowds where we couldn't count on shorter waits at these rides without fast passes. I am not sold on park hopping for rides, but my daughter is in charge of this trip and wants to do this since she booked the ADR's this way. I "study" these boards on ALL things Disney and learn so much!

 

[hiroMYhero]

But I'm asking if available can you get two Tier 1 as #2 and #3 in the second park.

No; Tiering rules apply for the specific park where you are booking.

You can use a Tier 1 in Park#1 and book a Tier 1 for Park#2 and a Tier 1 for Park#3...but you can’t have more than 1 Tier 1 in a park if you are still within your ‘initial 3 FPs’ for the day.

 

[babydoll65]

I do this a lot when booking my fps at Hs. I only book one advanced fp for Tower of terror and once I scanned, I booked Soarin and Spaceship Earth at Epcot.