Conclusion-FP+ reserving ahead is not necessary.

[prudence64]

Won't be losing any sleep staying up late or getting up early to book FP. When I have a few free moments, that's when I'll do it. Not that I'm going anytime soon though.

 

[starsweeper]

I agree that unless you want A&E you can probably skip the stress of reserving at 60 days. We planned a trip 3 weeks before Easter week and were able to get everything we wanted at least once for a party of 5 if flexible on days in parks. The Frozen sing-a-long was only available on one day for us but it was available, and we made ADRs after selecting FP+ since our days were dictated by FP+ availability in a couple parks.

We hit RD all but one day. We knocked out MK Fantasyland, Circus and Tomorrowland from 7-11am 3 times that week, rode HM with small wait (20 min), had lunch and then had FP+ for Adventureland/Frontierland to finish the day without long lines by 4-5pm (also walked up to front row FoF parade in Frontierland 5 minutes before 3pm).

 

[itchin2go]

DS texted me just tried to change a FP+ in the MK and he was offered Anna & Elsa for a decent time. Last week they booked FP+ for today and got Wishes and 7DMT - one week out.

I have to admit since we go often I'm not one that books at 60 days even if I'm staying onsite. And I have usually been pretty successful at getting all the hard ones. I think maybe one trip we didn't get TSMM. We booked hard ones for MLK weekend a week out.

There really are so many variables, when you travel, are you rope drop people, are you evening people, do you like EMH? Last month DS and I went to the MK at 10:30 pm and stayed until 2:45 am and we did practically everything and some twice.

I think we all know this CAN happen. But the truth is, it's probably a result of equal parts luck and diligence .... because everyone is not getting those results.

 

[itchin2go]

And I have to say - as another variable - not everyone goes to WDW as regularly as the OP.

For some, it's a once in a lifetime trip, or they won't be back for another 3 years. The stakes are different.

 

[mom2rtk]

And I have to say - as another variable - not everyone goes to WDW as regularly as the OP.

For some, it's a once in a lifetime trip, or they won't be back for another 3 years. The stakes are different.

For some, if they miss doing TSMM on their day at DHS, it's just not a big deal. They'll be back next week (local AP holders) or in a few months (for the frequent traveler).

If your kid gets sick on the one day you had scheduled for DHS but you won't be back for years, it's a whole other ballgame. With legacy FP, you could regroup and decide to add in another day at DHS later in the week. Now with people having booked FPs for that ride for 60+ days already, it really complicates things.

 

[lauradis]

A piece of it that isn't mentioned often enough is party size. As a family of 8, plus grandma and aunt, nabbing 10 FP+ will likely cause me a lot more grief than walking to FP- with our tickets...

I do think party size plays a big factor into FP+ availability. which is sucky.

If you think about Disney as a whole, I think they are geared to party size of 3-5. So that is how they set up FP+ too.

 

[lauradis]

OP - totally get what your saying as in Stop freaking out.

I personally will be staying up or getting up early to book fast passes, because I find it fun to plan and Im crazy lol

I will tweak them before we leave, then when we are at disney more then likely I will change them again.

Be see im an uber planner, a recovering commando addict with spreadsheets.

Thank you for the information, its nice to see the changes in the new system, love it or hate it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I do think party size plays a big factor into FP+ availability. which is sucky.

If you think about Disney as a whole, I think they are geared to party size of 3-5. So that is how they set up FP+ too.

But legacy FP was not. That's a big loss for some, especially when you consider the big push Disney made for "Grand Gatherings" just a few short years ago.

 

[momof2n2]

OP - totally get what your saying as in Stop freaking out.

I personally will be staying up or getting up early to book fast passes, because I find it fun to plan and Im crazy lol

I will tweak them before we leave, then when we are at disney more then likely I will change them again.

Be see im an uber planner, a recovering commando addict with spreadsheets.

Thank you for the information, its nice to see the changes in the new system, love it or hate it.

Ok. We, too, were separated at birth.

 

[lauradis]

But legacy FP was not. That's a big loss for some, especially when you consider the big push Disney made for "Grand Gatherings" just a few short years ago.

Yep, but their data must be showing 3-5 groups are their sweet spot.

I have been reading on this board and other sites that if you have a large group it is better to split them into groups of 3-5 and then get over lapping FP+

 

[lauradis]

Ok. We, too, were separated at birth.

Woo hoo Im not the only crazy planner in the world

i have been outlawed by my touring members to carry a spreadsheet into the park on a clip board, but it is on my phone.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yep, but their data must be showing 3-5 groups are their sweet spot.

I have been reading on this board and other sites that if you have a large group it is better to split them into groups of 3-5 and then get over lapping FP+

Thats because the legacy machines would just go ahead and issue the overlapping times if you had a big group.

Now you have to know enough about the system to think to even do that. It's one of the secret handshakes many guests know nothing about

 

[JanaDee]

And I have to say - as another variable - not everyone goes to WDW as regularly as the OP.

For some, it's a once in a lifetime trip, or they won't be back for another 3 years. The stakes are different.

That is pointed out repeatedly (by me, at least) when these type of threads come up.

 

[IBFW]

So here we are on the first Saturday after this thread was started and had you followed OP's advice you'd be pretty upset right now.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So here we are on the first Saturday after this thread was started and had you followed OP's advice you'd be pretty upset right now.

Given fast passes are not being honored--following OP's advice would have been no harm/no foul.

 

[IBFW]

Not sure what you mean. FP's for both Test Track and Soarin were all gone before Epcot even opened.

 

[lauradis]

So here we are on the first Saturday after this thread was started and had you followed OP's advice you'd be pretty upset right now.

Your missing the op point, she is say to most of the regular visitors stop freaking out, its not the end of the world.

If I really wanted to know about disney planning for fp+ all I have to do is a simple google search.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bes...chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=fast pass planning

Or simply make an acct here and ask what ever you want to know.

Everyone has a different style of touring and there is no right answer, except for your own party.

OP cant help it if people don't simply take the time to info them selves on all aspects of FP+.

I commend the OP for going against the current freak out to give us information oh how their FP+ went. So again op thank you.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not sure what you mean. FP's for both Test Track and Soarin were all gone before Epcot even opened.

I think she's talking about MDE being down in the parks right now.

I assume they are honoring previous FPs though (as I have heard they have done when this happened previously, sort of on an "honor" system).

But if you had waited to schedule until "day of" you really would have been out of luck. So I don't really see it as "no harm".

 

[Planogirl]

For some, if they miss doing TSMM on their day at DHS, it's just not a big deal. They'll be back next week (local AP holders) or in a few months (for the frequent traveler).

If your kid gets sick on the one day you had scheduled for DHS but you won't be back for years, it's a whole other ballgame. With legacy FP, you could regroup and decide to add in another day at DHS later in the week. Now with people having booked FPs for that ride for 60+ days already, it really complicates things.

Exactly. We've changed schedules on the fly due to weather and other factors over the years. I doubt that it would be as easy with FP+.

 

[IBFW]

Your missing the op point

I don't think so:

"Conclusion-FP+ reserving ahead is not necessary."