FastPass+ Basic Info, Suggested Priorities, And Strategies--Part II

[SnowChaser]

You can do one of two things:
1. Book FPs for a group that includes one resort guest and the party ticket holders - this will open the 60-day window for the Paety ticket holders.

2. Book for the complete group: those on reservation and the Party people. Then modify FPs as necessary.

At least one person on the resort reservation must be included when booking for the party guests to open the 60-day window for them.

Looks like I will need to wait for the 30-day window, since I already booked the resort guests' FPs. No one wants to lose their 7DMT. Thanks so much for clarifying that!

 

[mesaboy2]

What I did was book my Tier 1 and my two for Tier 2 at 60 days out (you HAVE to book THREE fast passes - for whatever reason, Disney will not allow you to only book 2...). I then went in and cancelled my third fast pass so now I only have 2. Once I use both of those at the park, I will be able to book a "3rd" at the kiosk for a Tier 1 (if any are still available same day).

Looking for confirmation: do you know this from personal experience, or are you repeating what you've heard? I know there's some kind of obscure hack dealing with these, but I can't remember what it is or even if it works.... @Robo?

 

[Jenna319]

What a bummer! Disney just emailed me that they cancelled my Fastpass for MSEP on 11/3 due to a change in operating schedule. Does anyone know the schedule for MSEP that week? We are only doing MK on 11/1 (a party day), 11/3 and 11/5 so 11/5 will now be the only day we can see the MSEP.

 

[Cluelyss]

What a bummer! Disney just emailed me that they cancelled my Fastpass for MSEP on 11/3 due to a change in operating schedule. Does anyone know the schedule for MSEP that week? We are only doing MK on 11/1 (a party day), 11/3 and 11/5 so 11/5 will now be the only day we can see the MSEP.

Looks like MK is closing at 8 Tues-Fri that week, so may not be having the MSEP?

 

[threeboysmom]

Looking for confirmation: do you know this from personal experience, or are you repeating what you've heard? I know there's some kind of obscure hack dealing with these, but I can't remember what it is or even if it works.... @Robo?

No idea about an obscure hack, lol, but no this is not from personal experience. It's from advice I've received on the DIS. I have no interest in a 3rd FP+ at Hollywood Studios for both of my days so after booking a "throwaway" FP+, I went ahead and cancelled my 3rd so that I can book at the kiosk sooner than just sitting around waiting for my 3rd to expire....

The logic being....

Once you've used your 3 FP+, you can book at a kiosk for ANY tier (I'm assuming this is true).

Well, since I've cancelled my 3rd FP+ (and the ability to book a 3rd FP), I now only have 2 FP+ for that day, so I *should* be able to book at a kiosk for ANY tier just like normal once my fast passes have been used.

 

[doconeill]

No idea about an obscure hack, lol, but no this is not from personal experience. It's from advice I've received on the DIS. I have no interest in a 3rd FP+ at Hollywood Studios for both of my days so after booking a "throwaway" FP+, I went ahead and cancelled my 3rd so that I can book at the kiosk sooner than just sitting around waiting for my 3rd to expire....

The logic being....

Once you've used your 3 FP+, you can book at a kiosk for ANY tier (I'm assuming this is true).

Well, since I've cancelled my 3rd FP+ (and the ability to book a 3rd FP), I now only have 2 FP+ for that day, so I *should* be able to book at a kiosk for ANY tier just like normal once my fast passes have been used.

I'm not convinced that will work. From my understanding, since you've canceled your third, you still have an outstanding third that can be booked. That third can still be booked at a kiosk, but it still has to follow the booking rules on the tiers, etc.

The common advice has been to book a "throwaway" FP+ (selected at a tier 2 attraction that doesn't really need one so as to not take away from other guests) as early as possible, and let it expire.

It would be interesting to see what happens if you go ahead with your plan though.

 

[briggscreek]

Nevermind, figured it out!

 

[epalm]

Awesome to know that you can book from first night of split stay. Like you, I have a room only on our first night.

I was doubtful since MDE showed the later date, but was so glad when the window opened at midnight based on my room only!! Just as a heads up, I did find that I couldn't make FastPasses on that first day. The window opened for the rest of my dates, but strangely my room only reservation arrival day was closed. Curious to hear if the same happens to you. Good luck!

 

[hiroMYhero]

I was doubtful since MDE showed the later date, but was so glad when the window opened at midnight based on my room only!! Just as a heads up, I did find that I couldn't make FastPasses on that first day. The window opened for the rest of my dates, but strangely my room only reservation arrival day was closed. Curious to hear if the same happens to you. Good luck!

epalm, some have said that completing online check-in for your package stay will immediately "early activate" your tickets to include that first offsite day within your FP booking window.

Not sure if that is true because I don't have a package, but, if you wanted to check it out it may open up that day for you. Probably would be good to complete online check-in for both stays.

 

[threeboysmom]

I'm not convinced that will work. From my understanding, since you've canceled your third, you still have an outstanding third that can be booked. That third can still be booked at a kiosk, but it still has to follow the booking rules on the tiers, etc.

The common advice has been to book a "throwaway" FP+ (selected at a tier 2 attraction that doesn't really need one so as to not take away from other guests) as early as possible, and let it expire.

It would be interesting to see what happens if you go ahead with your plan though.

Yeah, we'll see, lol. Technically, I don't think I can book a "third" now that I've cancelled. I only have 2 fast pass slots available for two of my days.

I'm really hoping to get a duplicate which is why I did what I did. Have a FP+ for RNRC and TOT. I want to book another for TOT as soon as I get off. Now you have me worried! LOL!

 

[SaintsManiac]

I didn't buy my tickets through a package, so I hope I don't have any trouble about that, either. They're linked to my account, but I got them third party.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I didn't buy my tickets through a package, so I hope I don't have any trouble about that, either. They're linked to my account, but I got them third party.

It's actually easier without a package. With your 1st onsite stay, the FP booking window opens for that first day and remains open until check-out day of your second stay.

Without a package, you have two room-only stays and can use the separately linked tickets as soon as you need to.

 

[SaintsManiac]

It's actually easier without a package. With your 1st onsite stay, the FP booking window opens for that first day and remains open until check-out day of your second stay.

Without a package, you have two room-only stays and can use the separately linked tickets as soon as you need to.

Thank you! I was hoping that was the case!

 

[ougrad86]

It didn't work for me. I had party tickets linked to MDE but it still wouldn't let me book until my 60 day window opened. I think because it's a 30 day window for party tickets, not 60 days. It's really easy though! You'll have no troubles doing your FP!! Good luck!

You can practice in that 30 day window

 

[Bev J]

We are going in December with our inlaws, so 2 groups of 2. Separate but linked reservations. I am the in charge person making the res and the other 3 are listed as friends or family. When I go to do the FP will I be able to make them for all of us or will these have to be done under each res number? (2 + 2) with me trying to get the same times on 2 different devices? This seems harder than it should be.
thankyou!

 

[bluecruiser]

Thanks to mesaboy2 and everyone else who has posted on this thread. It's been a great help in my first use of the FastPass+ system.

Are there any attractions that can only be experienced with a FP? I thought I heard that one of the meet&greets (Anna & Elsa?) eliminated the standby line and you couldn't meet the characters unless you had a FP.

 

[oj01]

We are going in December with our inlaws, so 2 groups of 2. Separate but linked reservations. I am the in charge person making the res and the other 3 are listed as friends or family. When I go to do the FP will I be able to make them for all of us or will these have to be done under each res number? (2 + 2) with me trying to get the same times on 2 different devices? This seems harder than it should be.
thankyou!

My booking was the same as yours and all was fine. I was able to do all FP+ for the 5 (3+2) of us.

 

[SJDisneyFanatic]

A huge thanks to @Robo @mesaboy2 and @hiroMYhero for your help on these threads! My 60 day opened last night and thanks to your tips I was able to get everything I wanted. A couple of things that were particularly helpful:

1. Despite MDE saying otherwise, my 60 day window DID open from the first night of our split stay even though the first night is a room only reservation. If I hadn't read here that the window should open last night, I would have assumed MDE and the CM I talked to on the phone were correct and it wouldn't open until my package stay.

2. Copying FastPass+ reservations is THE best tip, hands down. It's not very clear to a newbie how to do it, so I wouldn't have known it was an option if I hadn't read about it here. Anna and Elsa was only available on our last day and the only times it gave me were after we have to leave to catch the Magic Express back home. My sister-in-law is linked in my family and friends though and she had gotten an earlier time. Going one at a time, I was able to copy their reservation to each of my family and it allowed us to get the earlier Anna and Elsa time too!!

3. Checking http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=835236 and start making hard to get FastPasses on our latest day. By checking Dibb I knew that the only availability for A&E was our last day. So instead of going chronologically through our trip, I started on our last day to snag those last available A&E fastpasses.

Thank you for taking the time to share all these great tips and advice!

Can you please share more about the "copying FastPass + reservations? I totally don't understand and this thread is huge so not sure I will be able to read through it all! Thank you from one newbie to another!

 

[Robo]

1. Are there any attractions that can only be experienced with a FP?
2. I thought I heard that one of the meet&greets (Anna & Elsa?) eliminated the standby line
3. and you couldn't meet the characters unless you had a FP.

1. Nope.
2. Not true.
3. But, the wait can be very, very long.

 

[Cluelyss]

Thanks to mesaboy2 and everyone else who has posted on this thread. It's been a great help in my first use of the FastPass+ system.

Are there any attractions that can only be experienced with a FP? I thought I heard that one of the meet&greets (Anna & Elsa?) eliminated the standby line and you couldn't meet the characters unless you had a FP.

They have tested this on several attractions in the recent past, but nothing has become permanent. All of the tests were basically a nightmare.