Coordinating ADRs and Fastpasses

[Andrea Wright]

We have a short trip planned in October. We originally planned specific days for specific parks based on expected crowd calculators (hubby is likely to have a fit the first 25+minute wait we have... I am trying minimize that!).

Anyway, when we went to make our ADRs, there wasn't a lot left, and so I've been checking daily for cancellations. We've gotten a lot of what we wanted, but very few are the days/times we wanted. For instance, I recently picked up an Akershus lunch, but on a day we didn't plan to be in Epcot because the crowd levels are high. (Plus we planned to save Epcot for late afternoons/evenings, and use the majority of our mornings/days at MK and DHS).

Our fast pass date is coming up soon. Should we book fastpasses based on our ADRs, and just deal with bigger crowds/seeing less attractions, or should we still book our fastpasses based on the days we originally wanted, and assume that dining availability will open up as our trip gets closer?

 

[Calee]

I, personally, would hands down pick the park and how I want to tour FIRST, and then fit the ADR's into that. I don't know your family of course, and everyone is different, but I will fit our eating into the big picture as opposed to running to another park I didn't want to be in, just for a meal.

I made my ADR's ON the day I could, and have changed my mind a number of times, and have found what I wanted, on the day and time I wanted (either on my own or with the touring plans reservation finder). This has included Chef Mickey, Ohana, Via Napoli, and Sci Fi. My trip is in September and I just this week secured two of those. And I think even more will come open as it gets to the final days for people to cancel.

So all that to say, I would make your decisions on parks and watch for the exact ADR's you want (you can always make another ADR for the park/close to the park you choose and if your top choice become available, switch out)

 

[IrishNYC]

I would pick FP based on where you want to be, not based on your ADRs. Maybe you won't eat where want, or when you want, but there will still be good dining options available. I wouldn't bother looking at things like Akershus on a day you don't want to be there, because you'll only be disappointed that it's available when you don't want it.

 

[Praying Colonel]

We have a short trip planned in October. We originally planned specific days for specific parks based on expected crowd calculators (hubby is likely to have a fit the first 25+minute wait we have... I am trying minimize that!).

Anyway, when we went to make our ADRs, there wasn't a lot left, and so I've been checking daily for cancellations. We've gotten a lot of what we wanted, but very few are the days/times we wanted. For instance, I recently picked up an Akershus lunch, but on a day we didn't plan to be in Epcot because the crowd levels are high. (Plus we planned to save Epcot for late afternoons/evenings, and use the majority of our mornings/days at MK and DHS).

Our fast pass date is coming up soon. Should we book fastpasses based on our ADRs, and just deal with bigger crowds/seeing less attractions, or should we still book our fastpasses based on the days we originally wanted, and assume that dining availability will open up as our trip gets closer?

For us the parks are the attraction, not the restaurants. We figure out what parks we want to be in on what days and then plan our ADRs around that. Lots of options available in and around the parks so if we can't get our top ADR, no biggee.

We might make an exception if we were looking to do a restaurant to gain a touring advantage (e.g. PPO BOG), but it would be just that, an exception. YMMV.

 

[Cynthiab]

I did the opposite of almost everyone here -- I booked my fast passes around my ADRs. Specifically, I wanted to do BOG for dinner, so I booked that first. And this is how I planned my prior trips too.

Even going in August, we never waited more than 30 min for anything -- we used fast passes for things with a long wait (7 dwarfs) and targeted rides with lower times.

I would suggest touring plans as you can tell it you want to minimize waiting and the iPhone app tells you if lines will be going down.

 

[maxiesmom]

I did the opposite of almost everyone here -- I booked my fast passes around my ADRs. Specifically, I wanted to do BOG for dinner, so I booked that first. And this is how I planned my prior trips too.

Even going in August, we never waited more than 30 min for anything -- we used fast passes for things with a long wait (7 dwarfs) and targeted rides with lower times.

I would suggest touring plans as you can tell it you want to minimize waiting and the iPhone app tells you if lines will be going down.

Me too. I look at EasyWDW to pick which park on what day. Then I book my ADRs. Before my FP window opens I make a list of which FP to book first, and then have a note on the side if I have an ADR that day.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think the answer to this lies in what is most important to you - the ADR's or the predicted lower crowds. If you stick with the ADR's you have, I would work FP+ around them. If you make FP+ on the days you originally planned, be prepared to ditch the ADR's. I think you'll have more chances switching ADR's around than FP+ as people are more apt to cancel ADR's than FP+.