Elsa & Anna FP - am I wasting my time?

[Onceuponadream2]

We are staying off site in Jan and my 30 day FP+ booking window is this week. Obviously I'm not surprised that Elsa & Anna were already long gone when my moment to book opened. I have 4 & 6 year old girls... We've got to make this happen (without wasting 3 hrs in a standby line)! My backup plan is 8AM ADR at Crystal Palace and then rushing to standby line the second we get out (rope drop is 9, so even this is a stretch).

It seems like everyone says to just keep checking MDE closer to the trip, but honestly - am I wasting my time for this most coveted FP? Is there any other way? Does anyone have one they want to sell me for 1/20 or 1/23?! Just kidding (Um, sort of). Ha.

 

[Ronda93]

No, you're not wasting your time. There have been some recent A&E FP sightings
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3360560

You can also keep an eye on the cancellation thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3337212

If you were driving to the next town looking for Furby, that would be wasting time. This is just a couple minute of MDE time, with lottery payoff.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

In early summer, the A&E line was open until 11:30 pm. Right before they closed the line the posted wait time was 90 minutes but the actual wait was less than 10.

That may be another option for you.

 

[kirasmom]

I took my girls to the Frozen Sing a long at Hollywood Studios... they both liked that a lot better than the meet and greet. HTH Have fun!

 

[Bellanota]

I was able to change my fp for a&e well into my 30 window. Don't give up hope. Also like people have said at park close is good time to see them. Be behind the castle for wishes ... It's an amazing unique view btw... And when they open the line back up for A&E you can be first in line. The close the entrance during wishes because of how close it is to where the shoot off fireworks.

 

[superD3]

Saw some good advise on another thread about asking for ur check and paying at crystal palace as soon as you sit down then eat and enjoy characters.U should be able to eat an see all characters in max40 minutes and be towards front of the line with pre opening adr.. This should put u at no more then 30 min wait for a&eCheck the boards to get ideas to maximize ur place in line with pre adr and possibly getting ahead of rope drop or at least in with the lead crowd...also found advise that says go on path slight left of castle to get there quickest.. Good luck

 

[Onceuponadream2]

I got some seriously great advice here! Thank you guys! I didn't even realize there was a cancelation thread, so I will be stalking that and then following the other great advice I got if the elusive FP never happens for us. THANK YOU!

 

[smuzza]

Keep checking.we are here now, had no FP for A&E. but just went to review some for later in the week, and there are some available now.

Think for high demand they must hold some back, there are also people who change plans.

Like us we've just released 3x 7dwarfs train FP for 1st Jan.

 

[staceyeileen]

How many are in your party? We have had some luck searching for fp for just 1 person at a time.

 

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

Keep stalking cancellations on MDE. The odds are good you'll get a cancellation if you just keep at it.

 

[Jimsig]

One hint that a CM gave me is that if the line starts inside the building the wait is usually under 30min, regard less what the sign says.

Also as a PP poster said try for a FP for 1 person at a time, with the overlap time sometimes you can get everyone in at the same time, might be easier to call up for that one.

 

[AndiSlamberg]

When we were there in October we were able to get a FP the morning of! It was for later on in the evening but it was awesome!! Just keep checking and following the threads on here. You'll most likely get one, or maybe hit RD, if you're really set on meeting them!
Good luck.

 

[gratefulfred]

Check back a few times everyday, that's how I got them, it can work if you don't give up.

 

[Cloudless Nights]

Just made my FP+ for when I'm there solo in January (24 days away), and there was only one day where I didn't have my choice of times for A+E. Like a PP said, if you are unable to find FP+ together, you have a good chance of finding single FP+ with overlapping times.

 

[Queuing4Disney]

One thing I would suggest is to keep a bookmark for your browser for:

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=10123554&postcount=1

That website has done the "leg work" for checking on availability on most of the "E ticket" level of rides/attractions. Now as that page states, the automated checking function is set for a party of 4 so if you are looking for opening for just a single person (or even for 2 or 3 people) it may not show availability for that. I check several times a day on that page just because I am curious about openings and have seen random availability for not only A&E, but Wishes and the Parades on previously "sold out" days. For example, at this very minute, there are A&E availability on January 2 and 12, so don't give up hope that your dates may also open up for you. Good luck!!!

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

I canceled a fast pass for A&E the morning of. Our DGD (age 2) was sick and it was for 4pm. We knew she wouldn't be up to it and I wanted someone to use it. Keep checking. Plans change all the time.

 

[OKWJan]

Keep checking. A friend check for today and found them available to later today.

You just never know

 

[Onceuponadream2]

Thank you everyone for the great tips & giving me hope! We are a party of 5, could live with 4 FPs, and I havd been mainly checking for singles. Thank you!

 

[jennygirlmt]

I stalked and got a group Of 7 in for last week. Though it was probably more in the 45 day range.

Or maybe you'll get pixie dust! We were given 5 super fastpasses ( good for a group of 5 for any ride) that we couldn't use all of (between getting there early, fastpass and DAS we didn't need the last two.) So on our way out of magic kingdom I gave them to the two last families in the 2 hour line. I thought their eyes were going to pop out of their heads

Also, we ate a slow lunch at CP and it took about an hour. If you pay first I'd imagine bfast would be even faster.


Good luck!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

How many are in your party? We have had some luck searching for fp for just 1 person at a time.

That can work but you won't be able to book for a child under age 7 unless you can also book one for somebody 14 or older, because kids under 7 won't be allowed in by themselves and if you don't have a FP you can't go with them.