fast pass + opinions please?

[marymaya]

My 3 year old is still a bit fearful, and possibly too short, for some rides. I've used up all of our fast pass + reservations on easy things- Meet and Greets, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, fireworks, parades, stuff like that. Am I wasting all of our FP+ reservations? I half way want to go back and change them AGAIN, but I'm so sick of fooling around with it. My five year old is fearless so usually at amusement parks, we just take turns with each kid, depending on what they want at the moment. That's why I didn't make FP+ reservations for some of us at certain times. (if that makes sense)
I just want to be finished planning and be more vacation bound...opinions on my FP+ reservations?

 

[g-dad66]

See this thread for rides which will have long waits (unless you have FP+ or unless you do the ride first thing in the morning):
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3143281

If you think your 5-year-old will ride some of those, I would select FP+ for them if I were you.

 

[marymaya]

Thanks- I actually do have fast pass + for several of those. I'll go back and see what I can change around without messing with our current plans.

 

[ArwenMarie]

My 3 year old is still a bit fearful, and possibly too short, for some rides. I've used up all of our fast pass + reservations on easy things- Meet and Greets, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, fireworks, parades, stuff like that. Am I wasting all of our FP+ reservations? I half way want to go back and change them AGAIN, but I'm so sick of fooling around with it. My five year old is fearless so usually at amusement parks, we just take turns with each kid, depending on what they want at the moment. That's why I didn't make FP+ reservations for some of us at certain times. (if that makes sense)
I just want to be finished planning and be more vacation bound...opinions on my FP+ reservations?

I think meet and greets are a good use...those waits can be long and for some reason very annoying and boring

Fireworks and parades can be helpful too.

I say use them on the stuff your family is going to be doing!

 

[mesaboy2]

I think meet and greets are a good use...those waits can be long and for some reason very annoying and boring

Fireworks and parades can be helpful too.

I say use them on the stuff your family is going to be doing!

Groundbreaking advice there.

Just a note. The list g-dad66 linked to is a comprehensive list of all available options that is meant to be picked over and chosen from depending on the guest's individual preferences. It is not meant to be the be-all end-all of how to use FP+. I hope I make that clear in the post--if not, I need to work on it some more.

 

[marymaya]

Groundbreaking advice there.

Just a note. The list g-dad66 linked to is a comprehensive list of all available options that is meant to be picked over and chosen from depending on the guest's individual preferences. It is not meant to be the be-all end-all of how to use FP+. I hope I make that clear in the post--if not, I need to work on it some more.

Thanks! This is our first trip so we are totally inexperienced anyway. I just know how my kids are, and how the slightest problem or nervous feeling can ruin something for them. The info about timing is helpful for us. Thanks!

 

[linznjody]

We just got back from our first trip with a hesitant 4 yr old, and I wondered the same thing.

We did a mix, and it helped. The meet and greets that she wanted to do were the first things I picked. Then, I picked the rides I knew would have the longest waits, like Peter Pan. We used regular fastpass for the mountains and such. Between fp+, regular fastpass, and low September lines, our longest wait was 20 min for the Great Movie Ride (right when it started to downpour).

I'm not an expert, but that's what worked for us!

 

[marymaya]

We just got back from our first trip with a hesitant 4 yr old, and I wondered the same thing.

We did a mix, and it helped. The meet and greets that she wanted to do were the first things I picked. Then, I picked the rides I knew would have the longest waits, like Peter Pan. We used regular fastpass for the mountains and such. Between fp+, regular fastpass, and low September lines, our longest wait was 20 min for the Great Movie Ride (right when it started to downpour).

I'm not an expert, but that's what worked for us!

Thanks for sharing! I think I did the same thing. I'm so confused right now, I can't remember what I've booked or cancelled! We definitely have meet and greets with Ariel, Cinderella and Rapunzel. I planned them on the same day to avoid having to bring out the dresses multiple times, and that we're eating at CRT anyway, so that day will be all about princesses. I used a list from my TA to choose the other rides, and I tried to do the ones that usually have long waits, but if they were scary or for tall kids, then I didn't do it. My girls are 22 months apart in age, but close to the same size- like 39 and 40 inches. I feel like it would be a waste to book something and not be able to use it due to a meltdown, than to go the easy route and pick things that I know every one will enjoy. Happy kids = happy parents on a trip like this.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Groundbreaking advice there.

Just a note. The list g-dad66 linked to is a comprehensive list of all available options that is meant to be picked over and chosen from depending on the guest's individual preferences. It is not meant to be the be-all end-all of how to use FP+. I hope I make that clear in the post--if not, I need to work on it some more.

I think the list is great. I do think the most of the "Chump" attractions you don't want to use a FP for, even if your family wants to see it. But there are a few in the "Chump" category that I still think can be useful for families with little kids, like the M&Gs and the spinners like Dumbo and Magic Carpets.