Back to Newbie stage re: fast pass+/Magic bands/ 1st time off-site

[FINFAN]

So, it's been a few years since we have gone and a LOT has changed. DD moved to Orlando and we are planning (if no work issues pop) going to visit her first week of September. We will be driving down staying off-site at WH in the $199 a week special and only doing 2 park days, but they will be over the Labor Day weekend.
She is a FL AP holder, we will be on a 2 day pass that we are not purchasing until we get there (in case plans change) From what I am gathering since we will not have tix ahead of time we cannot use any of the MB, FP+ programs out there. We will be off-site to boot so no EMH.
Pretty sure we will be doing our 2 park days over Labor day weekend, for sure at least on of them then and the other the following weekend. I read that crowds are historically not an issue then so I wasn't too concerned with not having access all the new hoops to jump through, but now FD has opened up during that time so I am getting concerned.
Do you think I should bite the bullet and get our tix (I would wait until 30 days out) so we have the option of adding MB/FP+ or just wing it? I would be getting 3/2 day passes basically $670 that I really don't want to spend until I know our trip is concrete~but will if I have to.
Any of you off-site/MB/FP+ guru's able to direct to better research or advice?

Thanks so much!

eta: the 2 parks we would go to are MK and most likely Epcot

 

[TreeSapp]

So, it's been a few years since we have gone and a LOT has changed. DD moved to Orlando and we are planning (if no work issues pop) going to visit her first week of September. We will be driving down staying off-site at WH in the $199 a week special and only doing 2 park days, but they will be over the Labor Day weekend.
She is a FL AP holder, we will be on a 2 day pass that we are not purchasing until we get there (in case plans change) From what I am gathering since we will not have tix ahead of time we cannot use any of the MB, FP+ programs out there. We will be off-site to boot so no EMH.
Pretty sure we will be doing our 2 park days over Labor day weekend, for sure at least on of them then and the other the following weekend. I read that crowds are historically not an issue then so I wasn't too concerned with not having access all the new hoops to jump through, but now FD has opened up during that time so I am getting concerned.
Do you think I should bite the bullet and get our tix (I would wait until 30 days out) so we have the option of adding MB/FP+ or just wing it? I would be getting 3/2 day passes basically $670 that I really don't want to spend until I know our trip is concrete~but will if I have to.
Any of you off-site/MB/FP+ guru's able to direct to better research or advice?

Thanks so much!

eta: the 2 parks we would go to are MK and most likely Epcot

If you plan to rope drop for Soarin' and ok skipping Anna & Elsa or doing the Dwarfs Mine Coaster standby, it should be OK to wait Labor Day weekend is very quiet. And Epcot really only even has two rides worth FP (and test track stand by is often very short)

 

[FINFAN]

Thanks! Yeah no need for A&E for us...now the step sisters is a different story Dwarve's coaster is pretty much on the must -do list as is Space Mountain, but just seeing the new Fantasyland will be fun. We may even switch our choice of day 2 to AK...so I guess EE would be the tricky thing there. The short hours make that kinda hard tho (but we will be closest to that park)It just seems so odd to not be in the throws of all the uber planning..more so just not being eliible. Oh well, I prefer to wing it on things as you never know what special thing you may come across..guess we will see! I'm glad you agreed that Labor Day weekend is very quiet..but it does have a MK EMH so that may affect us/crowds as well.

 

[TreeSapp]

Thanks! Yeah no need for A&E for us...now the step sisters is a different story Dwarve's coaster is pretty much on the must -do list as is Space Mountain, but just seeing the new Fantasyland will be fun. We may even switch our choice of day 2 to AK...so I guess EE would be the tricky thing there. The short hours make that kinda hard tho (but we will be closest to that park)It just seems so odd to not be in the throws of all the uber planning..more so just not being eliible. Oh well, I prefer to wing it on things as you never know what special thing you may come across..guess we will see! I'm glad you agreed that Labor Day weekend is very quiet..but it does have a MK EMH so that may affect us/crowds as well.

EE also has a nice short single rider line. Safari is a better bet there. We've often had 20mun or less EE wait even by 10am

 

[Punzie]

Op what hotel is WH? That's a good deal

 

[FINFAN]

Op what hotel is WH? That's a good deal

Windsor Hills, off-site.