Booking FP+ next week, what's the best strategy?

[KellyHonos]

Hey all, I wanted to ask you guys what you all do when it's finally time to pick your fast passes? Do you call and speak to an agent, or do you book them on the app? My concerns with the app is that it will glitch out and not book things correctly, but then at the same time, I'm pretty sure when you call an agent, they are booking with the same software, correct? I need some veteran feedback here, I want to make sure I get my first choices!!!

Sometimes I get comfort by actually being able to speak to a human being regarding reservations and plans, but then again, I think you have to wait for the call center to open up versus just going right on the app in the AM and booking, so as you can see I'm torn down the middle.

 

[disneyvoice]

I don't use the App - I do it directly on the website from my laptop. I've never called to book FPs, that would be WAY too time consuming. The best strategy is NOT to get frustrated if the site is down (that is happening more and more lately) and don't panic. Some people get way bent out of shape if they can't get exactly what they want at the exact day/time they want it.

I always book the hard to get FPs first and then will often change/adjust my itinerary based on what I am able to get. To me it's much easier to change my AK day to the day I am able to get a FPs for FoP as opposed to refusing to budge on my plans and having to keep checking for availability for the next 2 months. But we are extremely flexible in our plans and don't really care about things like park hours. We are also willing to cancel ADRs to make a FP work if necessary. The more flexible you are wth your plans, the easier your FP day will be.

 

[cmsb]

I book mine through the website on my computer. I like being able to see all of my options and fiddle with my selections until they are just right. I am a type A planner, so I prefer being able to see what's available myself instead of relying on someone else. I have never had any issues in the past and have been able to get the fastpasses that I wanted. This year may be different with the popularity of FOP and the opening of Toy Story Land, though. I have only used the app to book additional fastpasses once we are on vacation. I have never had any issues doing it that way, either.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

It's easy to do online. I prefer using my laptop over the app. Start with the hardest ones to get (FOP, SDMT, FEA, SDD, AS2) then go back and do the rest. Good luck!

 

[Klayfish]

I can't imagine calling and speaking to a CM to do it. It would take FOREVER. I use my phone or computer. Personally, I much prefer my phone...which ironically enough I'm not an app user at all outside of MDE. Easy peasy.

 

[holden]

I book on my laptop but always have the app ready just in case.

 

[KellyHonos]

To me it's much easier to change my AK day to the day I am able to get a FPs for FoP as opposed to refusing to budge on my plans and having to keep checking for availability for the next 2 months. But we are extremely flexible in our plans and don't really care about things like park hours.

Agreed. I don't get too upset, maybe more flustered , if anything. We pick our ADR's first, since you can book those much more in advance, so that's how we pick our park days. We used to get park hopper but found it was WAY too time consuming to park hop, so we skipped that this year. I've already made an outline of what we'd like to get in each park in terms of FP+, so I think I'll do what you said on and log in online, that would probably be better.

I am a type A planner, so I prefer being able to see what's available myself instead of relying on someone else.

Definitely!! The one thing I enjoy about Disney services though, is that if in the event something is glitching, you can at least speak to a human being versus being prompted by a robot on this that and that and the other. It can definitely take up some time, but it is nice to hear a human voice at the end of the other line. I'll use the computer I think

 

[vicb]

I book on my laptop but always have the app ready just in case.

Same for me. And this time I was so determined to get FoP and 7DMT that I had my DH book one day on his phone, my DD booked another day on her phone and I booked the other three days. Both my DH and DD thought it was silly until they were actually trying to book FP at 7am and then they were like "this is so stressful".

Just to emphasize what others have said... Prioritize. Book the hardest FP's first even if it means skipping around on your days then go back and fill in. Once I had a basic outline of FP's I went back and was able to tinker time wise with some of them (not FoP or 7DMT). At the 31 day mark we made some changes to our itinerary and I was able to tinker again (before the 30 day window opens for offsite guests) and even got a FP for FEA.

 

[DSLRuser]

I use the web site.

I have all my days mapped out and what my perfect FP+ line up would be. I go though each day when the time opens up and try and grab FP+ for the times I have mapped out. But I am also flexible. If I want Space mountain between 4-5pm, but it shows up as 7-8pm, i grab the 7-8pm just so i can be quick about it.

When I have all my days filled, i then go back day by day and adjust the times so they are on the hour. FP+ is 1 2-3pm and FP+ is 2 3:20 to 4:20....i try and adjust FP+ to be 3 to 4 to get rid of the 20 minute gap in FP+ times.

after i am all said and done, I go back and review at mid day....next I review my dinning reservations and make any adjustments as needed to account for any change in plans from FP+ flexibility.................................make sure everything is good...then dont worry about it until we arrive at the park.

 

[BlueSuitDonald]

I booked this morning. Got everything I wanted. Had to switch my HS days to the end of the trip to get SSD but I got it for 2 different days. Also got FOP for 2 different days. Booked on app while my daughter booked on website on iPad. Just try to be a little flexible. I had to rearrange some ADRs but it all worked out!

 

[Elsaspiritanimal]

My SIL and I both login and split the hard fastpasses. We use the laptop but I also have the app up in case the website is "Stiching" out. We go in this order of priority: FOP, SDMT, TSMM, FEA, then adjust the rest of our touring plan to accommodate those times. Toy story land will obviously throw a wrench in that and likely Slinky Dog will be come our new #1 or 2 priority to get.

 

[emmabelle]

I booked this morning. Got everything I wanted. Had to switch my HS days to the end of the trip to get SSD but I got it for 2 different days. Also got FOP for 2 different days. Booked on app while my daughter booked on website on iPad. Just try to be a little flexible. I had to rearrange some ADRs but it all worked out!

we still haven't made a hard decision on whether to do Disney or Universal. There are 5 of us and we have plane tickets though. Is there any availability for July 3rd, 4th, or 5th, for SSD or AS2? If I can't get either of those, then Universal it is!

 

[thegales]

When our 60 day window opened up, my wife and I were working out of town, and needed to be at our location (that did not have reliable internet, and in a building that caused all cell signal to disappear) between 7:00 and 7:30 am. We sat in the lobby of our hotel at 7:00 am, each on our phones, to get the hard to get FP+ (7DMT and FoP), and were successful. We left the hotel, and arrived at our location at 7:30. Through out the day, when the internet was cooperating, I made additional FP+ reservations. That evening, back at the hotel, we were able to finish booking, and rearrange as necessary. We had no issues getting FP+ for all the things we were looking for, even though we didn't book until late in the day.

The other thing is to try to get those harder to book FP+ later in your trip. You may not be able to get FoP for your first day, since you are exactly 60 days out, but you would be able to get it on day 4 of your trip, since it is 64 days out.

 

[BlueSuitDonald]

There was none for the 3rd, not sure about the 4th but there was several for the 5th and 6th as of this morning

 

[emmabelle]

There was none for the 3rd, not sure about the 4th but there was several for the 5th and 6th as of this morning

hmmm... the plot thickens.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I booked this morning. Got everything I wanted. Had to switch my HS days to the end of the trip to get SSD but I got it for 2 different days. Also got FOP for 2 different days. Booked on app while my daughter booked on website on iPad. Just try to be a little flexible. I had to rearrange some ADRs but it all worked out!

Also booked this morning (for four - two youngest are too young for tickets yet). We got Slinky Dog twice (toward the end of our 9 day trip), and Alien Saucers on day 3. FOP on day 6 (the only day we tried for). I used my laptop; prioritized the new TS rides, then FOP, 7DMT, FEA. After we booked everything around our ADRs, I moved some times around (had no trouble moving the TS ride times).

 

[Kai Rose]

We have a trip planned in 28 days, but there is a possibility we may have to postpone because of a family illness. I had a difficult time getting FOP fastpasses and had to rearrange our days to get a 7pm fastpass on our last day. If we have to move our trip up 30 days, am I going to have any chance of getting another FOP fastpass? I am hoping that the trouble was because we are going Memorial Day week. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[DSLRuser]

I have to be in Tampa Tuesday and Wednesday after memorial day, so I decided to fly down early memorial day for a solo day. I was able to book @ 27 days anything I wanted expect (7 dwarfs, toy story MM, and Avatar FOP).....everything else had spots open at various times.