Conclusion-FP+ reserving ahead is not necessary.

[lugnut33]

My plan for our August trip is to be on at midnight right at 60 days out and reserve 7DMT every day, as that really is the only one you need to worry about 60 days out. My teenagers aren't that interested in A&E.

 

[itchin2go]

Yep-and I also think it's just as important to get "positive" last minute (day of, night before, days before, even a week before) FP+ Success results posted for folks in those situations.

Well, I have to agree with this. All the gloom and doom posts worry people to death (me, most of all!).

However, if I'm handing out advice to someone who is planning their first FP+ eligible trip, it would be this: Go ahead and look at what's available at the first (reasonable) chance that's convenient for you. Midnight isn't (necessarily) necessary, provided you're not trying for one of those hard to book experiences (Anna & Elsa chiefly comes to mind at the moment). But get on MDE and take a look at the first (reasonable) chance, and decide what you want to do from there. You're not wedded to those plans, but why not go ahead and plan *something*?

It's different if you've gone a number of times under this "new regime". I would hate for a first-timer to forego the chance to book in advance because they simply think it's not necessary ... and then look at their choices the night before and be disappointed.

This thread certainly gives an optimistic report for offsiters worried about booking 30 days out, and those planning last minute trips.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I get the point of the OP, but I don't see any disadvantage in going ahead and getting the FP+ times in advance. If you have them and use them that's great; if you happen to miss the FP+ because you are off having big fun elsewhere then so what.

I am pretty sure oP's point is this...

Folks wonder if there will be anything left at 30 days out at midnight. Some say they we worried and even panicked because they are concerned nothing would be left.

So to me, OP's point is that there is no need to panic.

Surely when you can book ahead, then do so. But often, much is available less than 30 days out.

So we are a little like the OP. Now, we don't go during Christmas or Easter. But many times we have booked things well less than 30 days out.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I think we need to rename the thread concussion because I had to reserve as soon as I got my window as when I looked now their all gone for the time periods I wanted...if you don't in advance just like anything else you get stuck with the leftovers.

I want to continue to choose more fast passes so I get mine for early times!

 

[jade1]

Now sure if you happen to plan a trip with less then 60 or 30 days notice, it doesn't mean you will be shut out of everything.

Yep-my point exactly-except "shut out of everything" is far too strong for what we have seen. We have not been shut out of anything, all under 1 week out, and most the night before or day of..

 

[jade1]

I am pretty sure oP's point is this...

Folks wonder if there will be anything left at 30 days out at midnight. Some say they we worried and even panicked because they are concerned nothing would be left.

So to me, OP's point is that there is no need to panic.

Surely when you can book ahead, then do so. But often, much is available less than 30 days out.

So we are a little like the OP. Now, we don't go during Christmas or Easter. But many times we have booked things well less than 30 days out.

Yes this thanks.

That and even a week out last minute trip we did was plenty left.

 

[jade1]

I think we need to rename the thread concussion because I had to reserve as soon as I got my window as when I looked now their all gone for the time periods I wanted...if you don't in advance just like anything else you get stuck with the leftovers.

I want to continue to choose more fast passes so I get mine for early times!

You fall out the "for us anyway" scenario, indeed.

 

[loves to dive]

I do the same thing as OP, we normally don't book until the night before and more often than not change what we have booked on the fly while in the parks. Caveat, "we" are three adults (me, my DS and my DIL) so the hard to get things like Character meet and greats aren't even on our radar. We take TSM and soarin whenever we can get it, no big deal what time of day it is for us. Just about everything else we either book FP the night before or just wait in line. We have a trip coming up in May that was originally going to be a solo trip for me so I sort of kinda booked some FPs knowing I was probably going to change them. Now my DS and DIL are going to be able to go but won't get their tickets until the day we get there because they need military discounts so no FPs for them until they get their tickets activated. (I've tried to convince my DIL she can call and buy the discounted tickets from Disney and get the number which she can plug into MDE even if they aren't activated but she is being stubborn). No big deal, we are there for 5 nights 6 days, we'll hit what we want at some point. By the way, the only time we've ever done rope drop was by accident, just so happened we were all awake and went ahead to the park, not even knowing we were doing rope drop. I don't like the whole stampede of rope drop so we try to avoid it but we love EMH at night.

 

[JenLynn]

This is one of the things that many people don't seem to realize about planning Disney trips - there is no 1 right way to do it. Some people go once every 3 years and want to "hit the highlights" on that one special trip. Some people go every year and want to do what is new. Some people are able to go several times a year and aren't desperate to ride any particular ride. Some people go on their once in a lifetime trip during Christmas week - and aren't prepared for the fact that it will be very busy. Some people go the third week in September for their once in a lifetime trip and wonder why they had to plan so thoroughly since the crowds weren't monstrous.

 

[jade1]

This is one of the things that many people don't seem to realize about planning Disney trips - there is no 1 right way to do it.

Exactly-and the biggest change arguably in history of WDW theme park touring (esp regarding headliners/popular attractions) is FP+.

Therefore the more feedback anybody can give the better. Education/feedback/results/experiences is the key to planning any type of touring-including last minute trips.

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

My plan for our August trip is to be on at midnight right at 60 days out and reserve 7DMT every day, as that really is the only one you need to worry about 60 days out. My teenagers aren't that interested in A&E.

I actually had more problems getting TSMM when I wanted it (60 days out), all the mornings were gone. Same with Soarin'.

 

[Planogirl]

I booked at 30 days out and there were virtually no Mine Train FP+ left. Also there were none left for A&E of course and the reserved areas for specials such as fireworks. We only reserved otherwise at AK and had no trouble there.

 

[Texas Mickey]

What I haven't seen discussed in this thread is the fact that some of us just enjoy the planning. I don't stress it but I like doing it! Currently we are now 176 days out. ADRs are done, Tour has been booked, the next thing we look forward to is getting our Fps selected. Its just a way for us to keep the excitement of our upcoming vacation alive. Each of us are different and thats great. If the OP wants to wing it and it works for them, go for it. If someone wants to get up at midnight to schedule a ride or meet & greet thats important to them, thats cool too!

 

[itchin2go]

The whole "Conclusion" title thing reminds me of Dwight Schrute from the Office, when he would say, "FACT".

 

[WillAustin]

The whole "Conclusion" title thing reminds me of Dwight Schrute from the Office, when he would say, "FACT".

Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica.

 

[Hokie2000]

While the title of this thread could benefit with an "in my experience" or "for us" or other obviously totes necessary qualifiers, I appreciate that the OP is drawing from her experience to reach a conclusion.

 

[jade1]

While the title of this thread could benefit with an "in my experience" or "for us" or other obviously totes necessary qualifiers, I appreciate that the OP is drawing from her experience to reach a conclusion.

Thanks. Really had no choice since we did the last 2 trips last minute. Now we could have reserved close to a week out, and certainly a day or 2 before-but wanted to actually try "in park" experiences to see what non planners, folks without computers and phones etc would encounter just walking up to a kiosk.

If we had reserved a day or a few days before-I would be reporting pretty much the same thing-long term planning was/is not necessary for us.

 

[Hokie2000]

Thanks. Really had no choice since we did the last 2 trips last minute. Now we could have reserved close to a week out, and certainly a day or 2 before-but wanted to actually try "in park" experiences to see what non planners, folks without computers and phones etc would encounter just walking up to a kiosk.

And I hope people can derive some peace of mind from your experiences. I love planning so I'll be online 60 days ahead of time (but not at midnight), but anyway it is nice to be reminded that if I want to make changes closer to/during the trip the world will not end, lol.

I've always appreciated your pictures too, and my point still stands that it is important to note that you have drawn your conclusion from your real-life experiences, regardless of who disagrees with your thread title.

 

[cakebaker]

Thanks. Really had no choice since we did the last 2 trips last minute. Now we could have reserved close to a week out, and certainly a day or 2 before-but wanted to actually try "in park" experiences to see what non planners, folks without computers and phones etc would encounter just walking up to a kiosk.

If we had reserved a day or a few days before-I would be reporting pretty much the same thing-long term planning was/is not necessary for us.

I for one appreciate the reading the first hand experience of going in with no fp+. There are a lot of people who worry that those who are unaware of fp+ or people who don't buy tickets ahead of time or don't have computers and smart phones are destined to have a horrible time and not be able to do "anything". Your experience shows that it's certainly possible to go in unplanned and have a great time and it should put their minds at ease.

 

[jade1]

I've always appreciated your pictures too, and my point still stands that it is important to note that you have drawn your conclusion from your real-life experiences, regardless of who disagrees with your thread title.

Oh thanks-here is an example from Monday for 4 of us, as we know EPCOT is hurting but it is what it is.

Did Soarin SB, then could pick Soarin or TT, went with TT, after selecting we had many times to choose from afternoon into the evening.