fast pass frustration

[JimmyV]

You are locked into just 3 in every practical sense. You don't need fastpasses in the first hour or so the park opens except for super headliners so getting them early is out. If you start your faspasses at any time after 11, you cannot get more fastpasses for any rides you actually need a fastpass on even moderate crowd days. Sure, I can get a fastpass for the teacups or figment, but the standby line is only 15 min max anyway, so it is pointless.

I have been looking at Touring Plans lately to gauge what FPs might be available later in the day. This will help me plan and decide if I should burn through my FPs early in the day in hopes of getting more, or book my FPs for later in the day, knowing that I will be limited to just three. So far, for AK, DHS and Epcot, there seems to be no advantage whatsoever to burning through your FPs early as by 1:00 p.m., there is nothing left of interest. At best, it is a gamble. So as much as I used to love being a FP hound, I am pretty much resigned to getting three and three only. I haven't studied MK yet. Things might be better there.

 

[Robo]

The only day I was unable to book three was on our Christmas Party day. Couldn't squeeze in three FPs in the two hour period we'll be there before the party starts.

The system works if you book your first FP to a window that ends by, say, 4:20-4:30PM.
Then, you will have two hours left between 4:30 and 6:30 in which to book two more FP+.

If you won't arrive in time for the first hour (guests may enter MK using their party tickets as early as 4PM on the day of their party,) you can still book three FP+ and just let first one expire, unused.)

 

[AngiTN]

The only day I was unable to book three was on our Christmas Party day. Couldn't squeeze in three FPs in the two hour period we'll be there before the party starts.

The key to making this work is starting the first FP at 3:30. You'll have till 4:45 to use it, typically enough time to get to any ride at MK

 

[mjallemand]

The key to making this work is starting the first FP at 3:30. You'll have till 4:45 to use it, typically enough time to get to any ride at MK

Eh, I have 3pm dinner reservation at Raglan Road, so I figure with a 45 minute eating time and roughly an hour to get to Magic Kingdom from there, I won't set foot into the park until almost 5 anyway.

 

[Eastern]

Since this is my first time doing fastpass like this and so far not a big fan. Now it could be that since i am new and don't fully get everything that I feel frustrated.

But I like the idea of being able to choose up to 3 if wanted or 1.

I agree, go read MesaBoy's FP thread.

Hint: put in 3 choices and then choose the option where you have nothing going on, like early morning. Then, go in and change the time on each FP to the time you want. This makes it easy to avoid conflicts. If you pick the option that puts your 3 FPs in your preferred time, then if you want to change individual times, things will be getting in your way, like other FPs, dinner, parades, etc.

If you don't want a particular FP, just leave it where it is; ignore it. You don't even have to use it. You can then change it later if you want to. If you delete it, you will have to phone Disney to get it reinstated.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

But with the old system, someone in your party had to run over to the ride to get the fast passes, and you had absolutely no control over what the return time would be, or if there would be a FP available at all.

And you aren't locked into just 3. After you use all three, you can go to the kiosk and get another one (and another, and another, if you choose).

true, but in our experience over the years, taking many trips at different times of year, we were always able to get in 8-10 fastpasses for headliners in MK and 6 or so in Epcot or HS. We could ALWAYS ride anything except toy story or soarin' multiple times in a day if we wanted. It was totally worth the time it took to actually get the fastpasses because we saved so much time in line.

With the new system, it is rare that there will be a fasstpass left for anything you actually need one for once you use 3, especially if you are smart about rope drop and don't use fastpass the first 2 hours or so.

 

[tsme]

I don't care for the new system either. But not so much with picking the 3. I don't like having to stay up until midnight, just to book a FP, nor do I like having to decided months in advance what time I want to ride a ride, & I don't like having to keep an eye on my phone just to be sure we get to the FP ride on time (last trip, my DD fussed that I was spending too much time looking at my phone cause I was checking for times, etc.). Yes, I know I don't have to get any FPs, but really you do need to for popular rides.

 

[Robo]

Eh, I have 3pm dinner reservation at Raglan Road, so I figure with a 45 minute eating time and roughly an hour to get to Magic Kingdom from there, I won't set foot into the park until almost 5 anyway.

If you won't arrive in time for the first hour of the pre-party time, you can still book three FP+ and just let first one expire, unused.