Best time to schedule FP?

[klk77]

Am thinking ahead for a mid to late August trip, staying off resort, so only the 30 day booking window.

If planning a full day at MK, which is best scheduling option?

1. schedule FP in the morning (if possible)

OR

2. in afternoon when it's busier (and go standby in morning)

Thanks!

 

[shyjade]

Another thing to consider...if you book them all earlier in the day that will open up the option to book additional FP+'s (one at a time via park kiosk) for the remainder of the day. You likely won't get big ticket rides, but there should be other rides available with FP+ the rest of the day.

Last year we used FP+ for later in the day when crowds were heavier but with the new add'l FP+ procedure I'm reconsidering that plan. Not sure yet which direction I'll go.

 

[nkereina]

Am thinking ahead for a mid to late August trip, staying off resort, so only the 30 day booking window.

If planning a full day at MK, which is best scheduling option?

1. schedule FP in the morning (if possible)

OR

2. in afternoon when it's busier (and go standby in morning)

Thanks!

#2, IMO. Many people are currently of the mnidset that you should book FP+ in the morning to use them all up and then take advantage of the 4th, 5th, etc at the kiosks for later in the day. However, recent reports I've been reading say that availability sucks at the kiosks. Plus, you don't know until you walk up to the kiosks what time you'll get. I'd rather have 3 FPs scheduled for the afternoon/evening that are times that work for me and take my chances on stand-by in the morning.

 

[LadyRayado]

Last year we used FP+ for later in the day when crowds were heavier but with the new add'l FP+ procedure I'm reconsidering that plan. Not sure yet which direction I'll go.

Ditto. In March I scheduled everything in the afternoon and used RD to accomplish a lot in the morning. I still plan on RDing, but am considering starting my FPs at 10 and booking more in the afternoon. I don't have to book my FPs until August, so I'm waiting on 4th FP feedback over the summer to see how it really works out.

Edit to add: I think it also depends on your schedule. Do you have lunch or dinner ADRs? Little ones who will need a nap or might need to leave the park before close? I'd consider those things when thinking about the 4th, 5th, etc options, as you might not be able to get anything that fits your schedule. It might be better for you to schedule three in the afternoon or at times when you know you'll be in the park and active (ie not napping) rather than chance the 4th FP options.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

For the teens I my group we booked afternoons so they can sleep in. For the tots we did am as they won't last till afternoon. Just go with your touring style.

 

[klk77]

We are going all day, no breaks. I have two 5 year olds. My sister's family has a 9, 6 and 4 year old.

Last year we went non-stop from opening to about 9:00 at night. No lunch or dinner reservations, we just stopped for fast meals.

We got a lot accomplished last year with old fast pass system, so am hoping we can pull off something similar this year, even though it's new system.

 

[Ninja Mom]

I'd start with booking your first FP+ at around 10:30 as that's when the waits really become long. I'd do 10:30, 11:30 and then maybe a 1 Pm to leave time for lunch somewhere in there. I'd definitely plan to use the FP+ for can't miss stuff and then I would understand that you will do some waiting for other attractions after that unless you can get a 4th FP+ that suits your needs.

Remember that if that 4th FP+ isn't scheduled time wise until later at night you will be blocking yourself out of any additional FP+ until that time window opens.... SO you might want to save the 4th FP+ for the first thing available in the afternoon and then try again later for a 5th, 6th etc all while traipsing back and forth to the kiosks to make that additional FP+ reservation.

Keep in mind that you will probably have to stand in line at the FP+ kiosks BUT that is way less time that you would be standing in line as a standby rider on any attraction during the rush hours so it is actually worth it time wise.

The down side to the 4th FP is that you may very well be getting the dog's breakfast as far as choices are concerned. Josh from Easy WDW says that during the summer months the 4th FP+ availability for the desirable rides pretty much dries up after 11:30 am. The good news is that with that 4th FP+ you will be cruising past all the other people waiting in line on that ride.

With the age groups that you are touring with, running on to the Dog's Breakfast rides without waiting may be more fun then waiting an hour to go on Pirates or some other must see that you didn't make the cut in the first 3 FP+ choices.

Before you go make sure you know Where the FP+ Kiosks are located and which ones are crowded and which ones have smaller lines. (For example the easily seen Stitch FP kiosk is crowded but the one around the corner at Buzz Light Year is less so.)

Here is a list of the MK FP+ Kiosks:
1.Fantasyland:Storybook Circus in the very back tent near Pete’s Silly Sideshow
2.Adventureland: Jungle Cruise old FASTPASS machines to the left of the entrance
3.Adventureland Breezeway to the right of Diamond Horseshoe, across from Treehouse
4.Fantasyland:To the right of Mickey’s PhilharMagic
5.Tomorrowland:To the left of the Stitch’s Great Escape entrance
6.Tomorrowland:Buzz Lightyear’s old FASTPASS machines to the right of the entrance
7.Main Street:Town Square Theater just inside the entrance on the right

This Kiosk list may change or it may even be incomplete. You will have to keep posted as to all the latest developments because things could change at any minute when it come to Disney.

I'm no genius and I did NOT in fact stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I just get all my info from the Easy WDW site http://www.easywdw.com/ so that's how I am figuring things out, keeping up to date with all the changes and sharpening my touring teeth on all the latest strategies. You'd be well served to do the same with Josh's site.

Here is another link to a page on that site that gives you Disney World Summer Wait Time Trends. It's broken down by each park and then each ride has data for each hour so you can see the rise and fall of wait times at various attractions. http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/disney-world-summer-wait-time-trends-june-3-2014/#more-13581

This will give you an estimate of what your wait times will be like for that ride that you didn't choose for the FP+ but you still have to go on. At least with that information you will be able to plan realistically and not go in to it blindly. These wait times are why I'm thinking that with your young group it may be better to keep moving with that additional 4 FP+, 5th FP+, 6th FP+ etc.... Because really when you think about it there is a lot of stuff, Except for that Stitch attraction that is still good i.e. better than you remembered, and you will walk out of saying you were glad you did that.

(Please Dear God do not even consider going on that Stitch thing as you will never ever be able to get those 20 minutes or so back in your life and the kids will probably get scared!) Still not convinced? then read THIS: http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_sge.htm

So that is a lot to think about but also there is a lot of really great information out there on that Easy WDW site to help you make informed choices that will help with touring for your group. Have a great trip and above all, save your money and do not stay at a Holiday Inn Express because it probably won't help anything you do at WDW.

In case you are wondering what THAT is about here is a Video showing a person much like yourself cracking the equation for the perfect Disney Touring plan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jo_x7ecIFg

~NM

 

[illinidp]

We like using them at 10, 11, and 12. That gives you until 11:15 to scan in at the first one. Then we can start using the extras or have lunch and go to another park and start using them there.

 

[Delirium]

I would book mine in the afternoon, or even the evening. Touring in the morning can still be very successful without using for fast pass. As far as getting additional ones, I have no desire to wait in line at kiosks to get fastpasses for second tier rides.

 

[MattRyan]

IMO, do them all in the morning. This is what we did a few weeks, and we got additional FP+ after that.

The lines to the kiosks aren't long, maybe 5 minutes at the most, and you have to keep in mind that you would be waiting MUCH longer waiting standby than at the kiosks. The limited availability in the evenings is just for very popular rides, so as long as you book your first 3 for those in the morning you should be fine.

Often times you will find FP+ that you can use immediately. We went to Hollywood Studios on a not recommended day with PM EMH. We used all our FP before noon. As we walked to the kiosk we saw a 30 minute wait for The Great Movie Ride. We got to the kiosk, after a 1-2 minute wait, and got a FP+ for the great movie ride that we could redeem immediately, it was awesome!

Thus, I HIGHLY recommend booking them all in the morning. For tiered rides like Epcot, hit the one you don't reserve first thing in the morning.

 

[MattRyan]

I would book mine in the afternoon, or even the evening. Touring in the morning can still be very successful without using for fast pass. As far as getting additional ones, I have no desire to wait in line at kiosks to get fastpasses for second tier rides.

When I went in June, crowd levels 8+, FP+ kiosk lines were 2-5 minutes max, while lower tier standby lines were 30+ minutes.

 

[klk77]

Thanks for the suggestions!