Do we need fp+ in February?

[diamondcharl]

We are going the first week in February. This whole fp+ thing is making me a little bit crazy and stressed out lol! Do you think we will need to book a bunch of fp+ or will the wait times be doable that time of year?

 

[ariane37]

I agree with you, it can stressful! Especially if it's your first time going with FP+. I haven't looked at Feb. hours/crowd predictions recently but off-hand I can't think of anything going on the first week-don't think Mardi-Gras is that early. However, there are very few slow times left at Disney anymore, unfortunately. Since all it costs you is time to make your FP selections, my advice is to make them. Try not to stress too much lol. You don't have to use them and you don't have to go to the park you've made FP's for on a particular day if you decide once there that you want to go to a different park. FP's can be changed the night before and day of, however sometimes what you want may not be available at that point regardless of crowd levels (think A&E, 7DMT, possibly TSMM TT and Soarin). I think it's better to have them, get to down there and say "wow, we really don't need these, crowds are SO low!" than to find large crowds and wish you'd made some beforehand

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I agree with the pp, better safe than sorry. Make them and don't use them if you don't need them. I would not stress a ton over what to book when. Just pick three things you definitely want to do, and even let the system pick the times. Just adjust them while you go, if you do find you need them.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

A common strategy is to rope drop the park to get things done before the crowds get bad and make your FP+ for later for things that you might want to do again or if you park hop to get into the headliners at a second park in the afternoon or evening. It is nice to be able to go to EPCOT in the early evening for dinner and be able to ride Soarin' or Test Track without having to wait in the stand by line. The Soarin' line always seems to be long. As the PP said you can always change the attraction and times on the fly with your smart phone. Cheers!!!!!

 

[rslagle224]

Our last trip was late Jan. I made FP for the things we really wanted to do. Once in the parks if those rides had short waits, I switched things around on the MDE ap. even though the parks were not crowded and we walked on many rides, there were still 45 min waits for things like TOT, Soarin, TSM, Peter Pan etc.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would just make them the best you can and then see how it goes. It does look like lower crowds that week so you should be able to move things around a little easier than during a high-crowd week.

 

[diamondcharl]

Great advice! Thanks so much

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Mardi Gras week begins Feb 6th, which is when we are arriving. That weekend is predicted to be high crowd, so if you are staying that long, I would definitely book fast passes.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Mardi Gras week begins Feb 6th, which is when we are arriving. That weekend is predicted to be high crowd, so if you are staying that long, I would definitely book fast passes.

Hmm, I wonder if the crowd calendars are off then. We went last year during Presidents Week and it was CRAZY crowded. Apparently a combo of Presidents Day weekend and Mardi Gras that week. The year before we had also gone Presidents Week but I don't think Mardi Gras fell in that time period and it was so much better in terms of crowds.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Most of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana have the whole week off this year. In the past many school districts only gave Monday and Tuesday off. That's going to increase crowds. I have been many times at Mardi Gras, when it overlaps Presidents' Day and when it doesn't, and the first weekend of Mardi Gras week has always been fairly crowded. Not has bad as Christmas or Easter, but on par with crowd levels during the summer. Most people who are off are within driving distance so more likely to take advantage of the long weekend/ week off. It is probably the most popular "Mardi Gras escape" destination for people with school aged kids.

 

[ZoZo]

Definitely book your initial 3 FPs per day. You don't "need" to, but why wouldn't you? They're free, it's easy to book them, and they're definitely a time-saver, even at relatively slow time of the year. But there's no need to stress about it, unless you're going for a really sought-after FP like A&E (sounds like you probably aren't). It's only stressful if you let it be!

As another poster suggested, a good strategy is to hit rope drop, ride standby for the first few hours to maximize your time, then schedule your FPs for later in the day. Or if you don't wnt to rope drop. sleep in a little and schedule your FPs for later. Isn't it worth it to know you have three guaranteed rides per day with very short waits?

FWIW, I went the last week of February last year. It was a "slow" week (crowd levels were a 4 most days) but we were very happy to have our FPs. By rope dropping and using FP, we were able to get tons done!

 

[diamondcharl]

OOOH NOOOO! I thought we picked a pefect week. Maybe I'll change to the week before. I purposely picked a non-vacation week for that reason. It seems like there is no good time to go anymore