Epcot FP strategy for busy time

[GPC0321]

Day in question: December 21st.
Which would likely be easier to get as a 4th FP: FEA or Soarin'? Or is it just a matter of luck?

 

[BebopBaloo]

Soarin is definitely easier to get a fourth FP for. You may have to refresh and check a couple times, but the odds are in your favor more for Soarin' than for FEA.

 

[DWillowBay]

Soarin' , for sure! Not to say you couldn't score a FP for FEA, but that's less likely, give the time of year.

 

[gharter]

Ever since Soarin' added the 3rd theater, FPs have been easier to get there. And the standby lines have been shorter.
Another vote for Soarin' being the easier FP to get.

 

[Ariel620]

Yes. I agree with above. Soaring is easier

 

[SaintsManiac]

I agree with everyone about Soarin. Snagged it as a 4th Thanksgiving week. Easy.

 

[MarkS2112]

Soarin you can usually get or do standby as the line later in the day or in evening dies down. Frozen not so much. In December not likely frozen could even get a regular fp.

 

[Disneypro1]

Frozen will be a FP must for a long time coming. TT we always use single rider. It’s pretty darn quick. The Land ride is a must. That’s one classic attraction. We usually have like no wait there. 10 min max.

 

[disneyguy87]

Another vote for Soarin'

 

[CastAStone]

Soarin you can usually get or do standby as the line later in the day or in evening dies down. Frozen not so much. In December not likely frozen could even get a regular fp.

This. Even in busy times lines are usually relatively short by like 8:15PM and a lot of people drop FPs after dinner for Soarin because they don’t fee like trekking all the way from WS to the Land pavilion.

 

[CastAStone]

Don’t forget that there’s a decent chance Ratatouille will be open by then and it’s quite possible that they will change the tiers when that happens - then all of this advice is subject to change!

 

[GPC0321]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful!

Ratatouille is a major priority, though we're staying at Boardwalk and might try to rope drop it from the Int'l Gateway.
Soarin' is my mother's favorite, so I want to make sure she gets to ride it (celebrating her 78th birthday on this trip!)
I've been to WDW twice since FEA opened and still haven't ridden the darn thing, so I'm going to try to get that done this trip! I'll set aside a FP for it to be sure.

 

[gharter]

Don’t forget that there’s a decent chance Ratatouille will be open by then and it’s quite possible that they will change the tiers when that happens - then all of this advice is subject to change!

I agree that the tiers will change. I expect Ratatouille will be a tier 1. Once Guardians of the Galaxy opens, I wouldn't be surprised to see the tiers redone.

 

[savemycamera]

I agree with everyone, absolutely Soarin' is easier. Just keep hitting refresh though, you might get lucky!!

 

[MomOTwins]

Thanks everyone! Very helpful!

Ratatouille is a major priority, though we're staying at Boardwalk and might try to rope drop it from the Int'l Gateway.
Soarin' is my mother's favorite, so I want to make sure she gets to ride it (celebrating her 78th birthday on this trip!)
I've been to WDW twice since FEA opened and still haven't ridden the darn thing, so I'm going to try to get that done this trip! I'll set aside a FP for it to be sure.

With FEA, they always timed the rope drops so that they "meet up" at the same time/location for FEA and then merge the lines so that neither IG or future world rope drop crowds have an advance. I expect they will do the same for Ratatouille--holding the IG group at the bridge to France until the future world guests arrive.

 

[SL6827]

FEA was a one and done for me. Now Ratatouille is what I think is going to be awesome.

 

[GPC0321]

FEA was a one and done for me. Now Ratatouille is what I think is going to be awesome.

I have a feeling it will be for me too, but maybe it'll be better than I think. Frozen isn't my favorite (though I kinda liked Frozen II for some reason...probably because of more Olaf). I'm really excited about Ratatouille. That just looks like it's going to be amazing.

With FEA, they always timed the rope drops so that they "meet up" at the same time/location for FEA and then merge the lines so that neither IG or future world rope drop crowds have an advance. I expect they will do the same for Ratatouille--holding the IG group at the bridge to France until the future world guests arrive.

Ah, well that's fair, I guess. We're going to be there enough days that I might wind up setting aside a Ratatouille FP for another day.

 

[SL6827]

I have a feeling it will be for me too, but maybe it'll be better than I think. Frozen isn't my favorite (though I kinda liked Frozen II for some reason...probably because of more Olaf). I'm really excited about Ratatouille. That just looks like it's going to be amazing.

Ah, well that's fair, I guess. We're going to be there enough days that I might wind up setting aside a Ratatouille FP for another day.

A Ratatouille FP will be one that will most likely be gotten on a very late day in a trip. I wonder if one will need to plan at least a five or six night stay just to have a chance at it.

 

[MomOTwins]

A Ratatouille FP will be one that will most likely be gotten on a very late day in a trip. I wonder if one will need to plan at least a five or six night stay just to have a chance at it.

If they don’t redo the tiers it might not be. A lot of people love test track and soarin and might rather keep a FP for those.

I definitely plan to rope drop FEA and get FP for Rat id I can (and I am putting it at the end of my trip). I have a feeling Rat at rope drop will be wayyy worse than FEA.

 

[GPC0321]

A Ratatouille FP will be one that will most likely be gotten on a very late day in a trip. I wonder if one will need to plan at least a five or six night stay just to have a chance at it.

I would guess it's going to follow in the vein of other new rides and be a very hard-to-get FP. We have 5-day park-hoppers and our fifth day is Christmas Day. I can imagine it's going to be a challenge, but I'm game to try!