Curious how FP+ has changed your touring style, if at all?

[PirateD]

We usually try to go during low crowd periods, but our old strategy during busy times (not Christmas) was rope drop at a park, then stockpile paper FP for use later in day/evening after pool/resort break. Or hit a morning EMH park for a few hours, and hop to a different park before noon. I think if I was going at Christmas time now with FP+, I would plan on rope drop every day, with midday breaks on many days, park hoppers, and take advantage of late park hours and morning EMH. I probably wouldn't count on availability of additional FPs at kiosks. Basically be at the parks early, and avoid being in the parks like MK and HS when they are most busy 1pm-5pm. Use the long midday breaks to relax/snooze at the resort/pool before hitting a park for the evening.

I'd recommend poking around on the boards, see if you can find any posts detailing experiences at Christmas or Easter. Or start your own post if you're looking for feedback specifically from Christmas veterans.

Thanks! Those are great tips! I know I need to tackle mesaboy's FP thread as well. I've read the introduction but not any of the follow up Q and A and tips.

We are currently thinking placing most FP between 11-2. Does that sound like a good strategy or is there a more recommended timeframe?

 

[Lucius Best]

We are currently thinking placing most FP between 11-2. Does that sound like a good strategy or is there a more recommended timeframe?

There's no "best" time, it depends on the park, whether you are hopping, if you're taking midday breaks, etc. On our first FP+ trip (low-medium crowds), our strategy was to avoid morning EMH, do rope drop, no park hoppers, few midday breaks, use first 3 FP+ early so as to get more at kiosks. So we booked FP+ 10am/11am/12pm, then start getting more FP+ at kiosks, afternoons were "winging it" depending on crowds/weather/additional FP availability.

But if we were going Christmas-time, it would be a lot more busy, when we booked FP+ would depend on a lot of things. I wouldn't expect to get as many additional FP at kiosks. We'd definitely rope drop, do morning EMH, take more/longer midday breaks, then back to parks in evening until close. And day-to-day might change depending on the park.

For example, HS we view as 1/2 day park, so we'd go there for a few hours, and then maybe hop to Epcot, so maybe have FP+ at Epcot 11am-2pm. AK we might stay all day, so we'd have FP+ earlier 10am-1pm to maybe get more at kiosks. MK we'd go early and then midday break, so maybe FP+ 6-9pm. Or since MK has more rides, maybe FP+ 10am-1pm, then try to get a 4th for later (8pm), take a later break and dinner at monorail resort somewhere. There's tons of options.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We are currently thinking placing most FP between 11-2. Does that sound like a good strategy or is there a more recommended timeframe?

Those sounds like great times to me, though we made exceptions on arrival and departure days. If possible, give your self a healthy allowances for delays (on arrival), and leave the parks plenty early on departure day.

In summer, there's also often an afternoon storm, so avoiding FP during thunderstorm O'clock is wise. In winter. early mornings can be chilly, so maybe not a FP before 10:30am.

Also, I agree much with Lucius Best. if you know you only like say, two rides in a given park, you could FP back to back early and be done...or do your FP back to back late in the day.

As things currently stand, FP in three of the parks is easy. It's only MK that has extra choices for FP. When all the new attractions open, things will change a bit.

 

[PirateD]

There's no "best" time, it depends on the park, whether you are hopping, if you're taking midday breaks, etc. On our first FP+ trip (low-medium crowds), our strategy was to avoid morning EMH, do rope drop, no park hoppers, few midday breaks, use first 3 FP+ early so as to get more at kiosks. So we booked FP+ 10am/11am/12pm, then start getting more FP+ at kiosks, afternoons were "winging it" depending on crowds/weather/additional FP availability.

But if we were going Christmas-time, it would be a lot more busy, when we booked FP+ would depend on a lot of things. I wouldn't expect to get as many additional FP at kiosks. We'd definitely rope drop, do morning EMH, take more/longer midday breaks, then back to parks in evening until close. And day-to-day might change depending on the park.

For example, HS we view as 1/2 day park, so we'd go there for a few hours, and then maybe hop to Epcot, so maybe have FP+ at Epcot 11am-2pm. AK we might stay all day, so we'd have FP+ earlier 10am-1pm to maybe get more at kiosks. MK we'd go early and then midday break, so maybe FP+ 6-9pm. Or since MK has more rides, maybe FP+ 10am-1pm, then try to get a 4th for later (8pm), take a later break and dinner at monorail resort somewhere. There's tons of options.

Those sounds like great times to me, though we made exceptions on arrival and departure days. If possible, give your self a healthy allowances for delays (on arrival), and leave the parks plenty early on departure day.

In summer, there's also often an afternoon storm, so avoiding FP during thunderstorm O'clock is wise. In winter. early mornings can be chilly, so maybe not a FP before 10:30am.

Also, I agree much with Lucius Best. if you know you only like say, two rides in a given park, you could FP back to back early and be done...or do your FP back to back late in the day.

As things currently stand, FP in three of the parks is easy. It's only MK that has extra choices for FP. When all the new attractions open, things will change a bit.

Thank you! I appreciate all of the feedback and advice! It's very helpful as our FP reservations will be coming up soon!