Epcot FP+: will this work? UPDATE, November 15: Robo was right

[g-dad66]

OK, here's my plan now:

1 - Rope Drop: Ride Test Track
2 - 9:30-ish, use our 9:05-10:05 FP+ for Soarin
3 - Cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s
4 - Eligible for "4th" FP+ at 10:00-ish.
5 - Try to get "4th" FP+ for Test Track in the late afternoon (so we can ride after we leave World Showcase and are on our way out of the park)

What think ye?

UPDATE, November 15, 2014:
Answer to this question is "No, it doesn't work." Tried this strategy on November 13. Was unable to cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s. Was told by CM at kiosk that the time must expire for the two FP+s (or the two FP+s actually be used) before being able to make a 4th FP+ reservation.

So, alas, for the first time in the past 13 trips, we did Test Track only once.
Dear Paper FPs: we miss ye.

 

[Robo]

OK, here's my plan now:

1 - Rope Drop: Ride Test Track
2 - 9:30-ish, use our 9:05-10:05 FP+ for Soarin
3 - Cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s
4 - Eligible for "4th" FP+ at 10:00-ish.
5 - Try to get "4th" FP+ for Test Track in the late afternoon (so we can ride after we leave World Showcase and are on our way out of the park)

What think ye?

AFAIK, you can't cancel two of your 3 FP+ and at that point book a "4th" FP.

The way I understand it is that you must book all 3 original FP+ and either use them or let them expire
(reach their Return Time, used or unused) and THEN be eligible for a "4th" FP.

 

[Mrsjvb]

the other day we got TT and Soarin in under 90 minutes at rope drop going standby. ( the second time we got TT and MtM in under 45) the lines at the kiosks were very long from the beginning

you cannot cancel a FP+ and then get a 4th immediately. you are not eligible for the 4th until 3 have been used or expired.

 

[g-dad66]

AFAIK, you can't cancel two of your 3 FP+ and at that point book a "4th" FP.

The way I understand it is that you must book all 3 original FP+ and either use them or let them expire
(reach their Return Time, used or unused) and THEN be eligible for a "4th" FP.

the other day we got TT and Soarin in under 90 minutes at rope drop going standby. ( the second time we got TT and MtM in under 45) the lines at the kiosks were very long from the beginning

you cannot cancel a FP+ and then get a 4th immediately. you are not eligible for the 4th until 3 have been used or expired.

Thanks for the help.

But I've read two postings which indicate that you are eligible for a 4th if you cancel 2 of your 3 FP+s:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52328754&postcount=18

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52329439&postcount=22


Can anyone else confirm (or deny) that this is do-able?

 

[lions1995]

Give it a try. Worst case, you end up,having to wait until then third FP expires ANC there are no TT FPs left. But you would have already rode it, so no a huge loss. Leg us known if it definitely worked.

 

[wareagle57]

Sounds like it's worked for a few people. I'd like to know the answer to this.

The problem I have with it is it seems you'd need to use the first one by or at the latest 11. If you're there at Rope Drop anyway, it seems like kind of a waste to use one that early. Even if it works, you don't know how late your return time will be. We have park hoppers and are normally out of the first park by at least 3 and make FPs for the PM park.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

OK, here's my plan now:

1 - Rope Drop: Ride Test Track
2 - 9:30-ish, use our 9:05-10:05 FP+ for Soarin
3 - Cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s
4 - Eligible for "4th" FP+ at 10:00-ish.
5 - Try to get "4th" FP+ for Test Track in the late afternoon (so we can ride after we leave World Showcase and are on our way out of the park)

What think ye?

If you cannot cancel the two tier 2 FP+, simple reschedule them after you use your first FP+ for an earlier time than originally scheduled. Example - 2nd FP scheduled for Living with the Land. Once your first is used the second can be rescheduled. Simply bump the time up to when you think you will get out of Soarin' and then use the second one. Once the second is used the third can be rescheduled. With any luck your 4th would be open for scheduling by the 10 to 10:30 timeframe.

 

[g-dad66]

Give it a try. Worst case, you end up,having to wait until then third FP expires ANC there are no TT FPs left. But you would have already rode it, so no a huge loss. Leg us known if it definitely worked.

Will be glad to report back on our experience (which should be on November 13).

Sounds like it's worked for a few people. I'd like to know the answer to this.

The problem I have with it is it seems you'd need to use the first one by or at the latest 11. If you're there at Rope Drop anyway, it seems like kind of a waste to use one that early. Even if it works, you don't know how late your return time will be. We have park hoppers and are normally out of the first park by at least 3 and make FPs for the PM park.

I'm thinking that Soarin FP+ won't be too much of a waste by 9:30, because the wait can get long pretty fast.

But yes, I can see that this wouldn't work well for your situation. We usually do a park until the kids drop (which is usually around 3-4:00), and then we're done for the day. So would like to do a second Test Track in the late afternoon on our way out of the park.

If you cannot cancel the two tier 2 FP+, simple reschedule them after you use your first FP+ for an earlier time than originally scheduled. Example - 2nd FP scheduled for Living with the Land. Once your first is used the second can be rescheduled. Simply bump the time up to when you think you will get out of Soarin' and then use the second one. Once the second is used the third can be rescheduled. With any luck your 4th would be open for scheduling by the 10 to 10:30 timeframe.

Good suggestion if the cancel-the-FP+ route doesn't work. It will definitely be our Plan B. Thanks!

 

[geaux_half]

OK, here's my plan now:

1 - Rope Drop: Ride Test Track
2 - 9:30-ish, use our 9:05-10:05 FP+ for Soarin
3 - Cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s
4 - Eligible for "4th" FP+ at 10:00-ish.
5 - Try to get "4th" FP+ for Test Track in the late afternoon (so we can ride after we leave World Showcase and are on our way out of the park)

What think ye?

You can cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s as soon as they are scheduled. You don't need to wait until you are in the park.

 

[eticketride]

Here's an idea that could possibly save 15 to 20 minutes in the rush to get that 4th FP. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong (I considered myself an expert on the old system, but I'm still trying to figure out how to work the new system).

This assumes that you are not able to cancel the 2nd and 3rd FP+ before you go, which seems to good to be true but has apparently worked for some people. If it is currently possible to do that, I imagine that may get shut down when the FP+ visionaries get wind of it.

If you schedule Soarin as the last of the 3 fastpasses, you should be able to book a 4th one as soon as you clear the second checkpoint where the lines merge. It can sometimes be 20 minutes from the time you clear that point and when you get off the ride. IF there's a wifi signal down there, the system should show that you have "used" your third pass even though you haven't actually been on the ride. Am I missing something? Or is that so obvious that it was posted 8 months ago already?

 

[ScottOKW2K]

If you schedule Soarin as the last of the 3 fastpasses, you should be able to book a 4th one as soon as you clear the second checkpoint where the lines merge. It can sometimes be 20 minutes from the time you clear that point and when you get off the ride. IF there's a wifi signal down there, the system should show that you have "used" your third pass even though you haven't actually been on the ride. Am I missing something? Or is that so obvious that it was posted 8 months ago already?

The only catch with this is that the Soarin' FP+ cannot be any earlier that 11:00 am in the morning. You can only schedule in advance for one hour FP+ windows, and they cannot overlap. Since Soarin' is the most popular attraction in Epcot it would be unlikely that you would be able to move it to an earlier time after you have used FP+ #1 and #2.

I remember on my last trip getting an getting a 4th FP+ at the MK for Buzz for a time about 30 minutes from when we got it. I then got on MDE and looked at what else was available. Changed it for a FP+ for Jungle Cruise with a return window 5 minutes away. Since we were in Adventure-land we walked right on. I could have gotten another right after we exited the ride but we had other plans.

 

[ghtx]

If you schedule Soarin as the last of the 3 fastpasses, you should be able to book a 4th one as soon as you clear the second checkpoint where the lines merge. It can sometimes be 20 minutes from the time you clear that point and when you get off the ride. IF there's a wifi signal down there, the system should show that you have "used" your third pass even though you haven't actually been on the ride. Am I missing something? Or is that so obvious that it was posted 8 months ago already?

You can't book a 4th FP on your smartphone app; you have to book them at the in-park kiosks (and I doubt there is a kiosk in the Soarin queue).

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

Just FYI, I was at EPCOT on Monday and we went to get our 4th FP hoping to get Soarin (we had hopped over from DHS). When we got to the kiosk, only FP showing were Maelstrom, Nemo, etc....no Soarin, no Test Track. We took Maelstrom for 5pm (it was around 1pm at this point)...as soon as I walked away from the FP person, I grabbed my smartphone and went to see if anything else was available that I could switch it to. Lo and behold both Test Track and Soarin came up. We took the Soarin FP, it was for later in the evening but it worked perfectly for us. So if there's something not available that you want at the kiosk, make sure you check the APP too once that 4th one is booked.

 

[ghtx]

Just FYI, I was at EPCOT on Monday and we went to get our 4th FP hoping to get Soarin (we had hopped over from DHS). When we got to the kiosk, only FP showing were Maelstrom, Nemo, etc....no Soarin, no Test Track. We took Maelstrom for 5pm (it was around 1pm at this point)...as soon as I walked away from the FP person, I grabbed my smartphone and went to see if anything else was available that I could switch it to. Lo and behold both Test Track and Soarin came up. We took the Soarin FP, it was for later in the evening but it worked perfectly for us. So if there's something not available that you want at the kiosk, make sure you check the APP too once that 4th one is booked.

That's weird.

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

That's weird.

I thought so too but there was a person in front of me at the FP+ line and when he did it (I think he was just selecting his FP for the day...he hadn't done it prior), everything came up including Soarin and TT so that clued me in a bit that there could be something out there for me (and well, there was ) just had to get past the FP kiosk first

 

[Missyrose]

Wouldn't OP be better off riding Soarin and TT first thing at rope drop, you can easily get both done by 10 and then use the Tier 1 FP+ reservation on whichever of those two rides they would like to ride again?

It just seems a little bizarre to blow the Tier 1 FP+ reservation early in the morning, when you don't really need a FP+ yet in the hopes of being able to get another one?

Standby at RD plus a later FP+ seems like a more likely way to ride them each once and one of them twice.

Am I missing something? And yes, I know the lines builder a little quicker than they used to because the FP+ queues are in use from the minute the parks open. But it's still an option to ride both rides in the span of an hour when the park opens.

 

[g-dad66]

I thought so too but there was a person in front of me at the FP+ line and when he did it (I think he was just selecting his FP for the day...he hadn't done it prior), everything came up including Soarin and TT so that clued me in a bit that there could be something out there for me (and well, there was ) just had to get past the FP kiosk first

Wow, that's really unexpected. We'll have to check that out for ourselves! Many thanks.

Wouldn't OP be better off riding Soarin and TT first thing at rope drop, you can easily get both done by 10 and then use the Tier 1 FP+ reservation on whichever of those two rides they would like to ride again?

It just seems a little bizarre to blow the Tier 1 FP+ reservation early in the morning, when you don't really need a FP+ yet in the hopes of being able to get another one?

Standby at RD plus a later FP+ seems like a more likely way to ride them each once and one of them twice.

Am I missing something? And yes, I know the lines builder a little quicker than they used to because the FP+ queues are in use from the minute the parks open. But it's still an option to ride both rides in the span of an hour when the park opens.

Good point.

EasyWDW has our day rated as a 4, and it lists the average wait time for Soarin and Test Track at 9:30 am as being 30 minutes (a bit longer than we like to wait). On a day rated as 5, the average wait time at 9:30 is 45 minutes (definitely longer than we want to wait).

Since the second Test Track ride isn't a "must-do" for us, we'll probably go the 9:30-FP+ route, and take our chances.

But you're right that your suggestion would achieve three Tier 1 rides probably without any no-good horribly terribly bad gruesome waits.

 

[sparkle3horn]

DH and DD were at park at RD last week and went straight to Soarin. They still had a 40 min wait! I don't think an early FP is a waste.

 

[g-dad66]

DH and DD were at park at RD last week and went straight to Soarin. They still had a 40 min wait! I don't think an early FP is a waste.

Yikes! Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[g-dad66]

UPDATE, November 15, 2014:
Answer to this question is "No, it doesn't work." Tried this strategy on November 13. Was unable to cancel the two Tier 2 FP+s. Was told by CM at kiosk that the time must expire for the two FP+s (or the two FP+s actually be used) before being able to make a 4th FP+ reservation.

So, alas, for the first time in the past 13 trips, we did Test Track only once.
Dear Paper FPs: we miss ye.