Early Fast Passes Truly Optimal?

[J Cannon Kellerman]

I know everyone says that you should schedule your 3 fast passes for the first three hours of the day, so you can get that fourth fast passes as soon as possible. But is this truly optimal?

So I went to Disney World in the first week of May(non-peek season), and we did schedule most of our fast passes for the first three hours. What would happen most days is that when we got to the ride to use our first fast pass, the stand by line was a walk-on so we were using a fast pass and gaining really nothing. Plus the fourth fast pass we were ending up with was always for B or C level attraction.

So I am wondering if it is optimal to schedule the fast passes for the early afternoon when lines are the longest, so that you get the most bang your fast pass, and use the first few hours to ride attractions before the lines get to long.

What are other people experiences and strategies for use fast passes. I am sure things vary depending on the season you go to Disney, but I was just wondering peoples thoughts.

 

[IrishNYC]

It really depends on what you want to do. When we get to a ride we have FP for and find a short standby, we ride standby, and re-evaluate if a different FP fits our touring plan for that day, particularly in MK. We either switch it for something we planned to ride later in the day if it's possible, or take advantage of riding again right away.

 

[BrianL]

Personally, I like to schedule mine for mid-day. You just don't need them for the first hour or so and the availability for same day FPs is hit and miss. I usually start mine in the 11:20 window and try to have them all done before 3 PM. I don't usually even bother with a 4th though.

 

[Marthasor]

I agree with you. We never make FP+ for the first hour of opening. It's just not worth it. We typically do mid-morning, early afternoon and then add from there.

 

[gap2368]

I know everyone says that you should schedule your 3 fast passes for the first three hours of the day, so you can get that fourth fast passes as soon as possible. But is this truly optimal?

So I went to Disney World in the first week of May(non-peek season), and we did schedule most of our fast passes for the first three hours. What would happen most days is that when we got to the ride to use our first fast pass, the stand by line was a walk-on so we were using a fast pass and gaining really nothing. Plus the fourth fast pass we were ending up with was always for B or C level attraction.

So I am wondering if it is optimal to schedule the fast passes for the early afternoon when lines are the longest, so that you get the most bang your fast pass, and use the first few hours to ride attractions before the lines get to long.

What are other people experiences and strategies for use fast passes. I am sure things vary depending on the season you go to Disney, but I was just wondering peoples thoughts.

I never book at FP for the first 60 to 90 minutes after park opening ( unless I get one for a ride that just opens) you can get so much done it the that time frame and you do not need a FP for.

 

[pitpat]

I know everyone says that you should schedule your 3 fast passes for the first three hours of the day,

I don't think everyone says that at all. You can get a ton of rides done in the first two hours without FP, then have some scheduled.

 

[mamamelody2]

Hmmm. I did tons of research for our trip last September and I don't think I ever saw or heard anybody say to schedule fast passes first thing. Most seem to think around 11 AM is good for the first one, and we did that or close to it most days. Worked well for us. We had 13 people in our group, so I didn't expect to get many 4th+ FPs.

I am hoping to go with DH next November just the 2 of us, so I hope to get many 4th+ FPs, but I still won't do earlier than maybe 10 AM. They're just not needed!

 

[scard192]

we are RD people and did not schedule our first FP+ until 10:30-11AM during our trip last November; got SO much done riding standby at park opening and the first 1.5 - hrs after. We did mostly the "B" group of FP+ attractions as we had the headliners booked for FP+.