Anyone ever "hop" in for a FP?

[MischaOz]

So, we fall into the afternoon break camp and we're getting park hoppers for the first time. Since we're going during party season the plan is to go to MK several mornings and hop to EP or HS after our break.

Does anyone ever hop to those to parks to pick up a 4th FP? If so, what has your experience been in doing so? Also, we will be driving our own car - is there any place at EP and/or HS where DH could drop me close to the gate so I can run in for FP as opposed to just parking in the main lot?

I'm figuring this would all be more trouble than it's worth, but thought I'd just ask.

*Editing to clarify, yes, the intent would be to hop in just to grab the 4th FP, then drive back to hotel for our break, and return to the park later in the evening. Sorry I wasn't more clear!

 

[JennyDrake]

I'm not 100% sure I understand your question, but here goes!

I always hop to a different park after a morning at MK. As soon as I arrive, I check out a 4th FP+, but then I *stay* in that park.

 

[Fueledbycoffee]

I was thinking the plan was to hop for a 4th FP before the break... Curious to see if others have had luck with it because it might fit our style on some days?

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes you can do exactly what you want. I'm not 100% sure if everyone's band needs to be scanned at entry though to make it to where you can get the 4th at that park or if it just recognizes that you are there because your band is there.

I think most parks have a close drop off area but not 100% sure to be honest. For Epcot you could drive all the way to the front of the parking lot. and have her make a big loop there. It isn't much further than the walk would be for the tram. Just ask the CM when you going in where you should go for a drop off. At MK drop off is at TTC.

 

[bc7ate9]

We are major Park Hoppers - we rarely do just one park a day. We were there last week and started our days with FP in our first park. We were able to pick up 3-4 more for minor attractions each day. I don't think hopping would be worth it just to run in and grab a FP. There's no quick and easy way to do that, really (in my opinion).

 

[JimmyV]

I'm figuring this would all be more trouble than it's worth, but thoight I's just ask.

In all likelihood, yes, it will be more trouble than it is worth. If I understand your question, you are wondering if you could pop into park #2 before heading back to your resort for your break for the sole purpose of booking FP+4 to use later in the day when you eventually do return to that park. Certainly you will increase your chances of getting FP+4, but at what cost? For example, if you are at DHS and you plan to go to Epcot at night, would it make sense to leave DHS after you are through there, take the boat over to Epcot, go to the FP machine at the International Gateway, search for and book FP+4, then head back to your resort, and then go back to Epcot later in the day. If I have that right, consider that you probably won't get a FP for the major rides at Epcot as those will all be gone. So you will have burned 30 minutes going from park to park to get a FP for a ride that might have a 30 minute Standby line when you return later that day. And this does not include whatever extra time it might take you to get back from your resort from the IG. Unless you staying at an Epcot area resort, you would have to either walk to the front of Epcot to take a bus, or go back o DHS to catch a bus. That would kill even more time. Unless I was guaranteed a FP+4 for a major headliner, I wouldn't waste the time of the travel.

 

[GreatLakes]

Yes, we have done that. Sometimes we don't set up any FP+'s in the first park at all and set them all up in advance for the second park. Other times we hit a kiosk in the second park and get our additional FP+s then. What will be available will depend on the crowds and time of year. If you are going when crowds are low you'll have a much better shot at a decent 4th FP+.

 

[Karl66]

We hopped from MK to Epcot this past Saturday at about 1:30PM. We did get a 4th FP there for LWTL but there wasn't much of anything else left to choose from. All the headliner FPs were gone.

 

[LATJLP]

So, we fall into the afternoon break camp and we're getting park hoppers for the first time. Since we're going during party season the plan is to go to MK several mornings and hop to EP or HS after our break.

Does anyone ever hop to those to parks to pick up a 4th FP? If so, what has your experience been in doing so? Also, we will be driving our own car - is there any place at EP and/or HS where DD could drop me close to the gate so I can run in for FP as opposed to just parking in the main lot?

I'm figuring this would all be more trouble than it's worth, but thoight I's just ask.

I drop off my teens at the park quite often. It's really pretty easy to do.

At both EP and DHS you simply tell the parking attendant that you just need to drop someone off and they will point you in the correct direction. You DD may not be able to sit and wait for you, so if she is shooed away by parking attendants, just have her circle back around and tell the entrance attendant she's picking you up, lol.

In both parks they will direct you towards the entrance, same at AK. At MK they direct you to the area where the buses pull in which is just on the other side of the little shop that is next to the ticket booths and Monorail entrance.

Remember that you could also park at MK, go to that park and then use Monorail to ride over to EPCOT, enjoy the afternoon there and Monorail back to TTC to get your car at the end of the evening. Would save having to deal with tram to your car, drive to other park, find parking and tram to the entrance.

 

[thr33boys]

I don't want to give out misinformation, but I thought I've read on these boards that your hotel concierge can help you with add'l fp's. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Lucius Best]

*Editing to clarify, yes, the intent would be to hop in just to grab the 4th FP, then drive back to hotel for our break, and return to the park later in the evening. Sorry I wasn't more clear!

I think it's going to be an inefficient use of your time, although if you have a car, your travel time won't be too bad. Most people hopping are saving their FP+ for the second park in the afternoon. I would think if you were hopping into HS, you'd want to have 3 FP instead of just 1 FP, because all the headliners are going to have longer lines in the afternoon. And if you are hopping into Epcot, more likely than not Soarin and TestTrack are going to be long gone and you won't really need FP for other rides.

As far as what's available for a 4th FP at kiosks, it depends greatly on the crowd level. We had good luck getting 4th FPs at MK/AK/HS on our trip in April, but crowd levels were around 4-6 typically, and we had our FPs in the morning to get a 4th as soon as possible, usually around noon.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

I have done that. The only parks I had major success with doing it were at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. I am not sure if you will find FP for anything much that really needs it at Epcot with that strategy but there will probably be some at Hollywood Studios depending on the time of year you are going (probably not Toy Story though). There are probably only a few of us obsessive fastpassers who would be willing to do that. Having my husband drop me off to run in and get a FP for later is definitely something you would find me doing (even if I know chances are slim of getting something). However, with your plans, I think I would rope drop and ride standby in the early morning hours at Magic Kingdom and then make my FP for the afternoon/evening at Epcot or HS. MK party days are supposed to be good days to visit MK earlier in the day although I can't attest to that (first party trip this November).

 

[bc7ate9]

If you really want to rush in and rush back out, just choose whatever the first option on the screen is. You can change the attraction and time from your phone. Last week, the kiosks at MK would only let me choose things like the Little Mermaid. I was able to switch to Big Thunder from my phone.

 

[hakepb]

I don't want to give out misinformation, but I thought I've read on these boards that your hotel concierge can help you with add'l fp's. Can anyone confirm this?

I heard about that at one point, too. But no one at WL said they could do that this summer.