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

[ConnecticutNonna]

Hi... I can't seem to find the answer to this question anywhere. Sorry... My FP+ window says it begins on October 14. Does that mean at the END of October 13 (0001 military time 10/14) I can book? Or do I need to wait until the END of October 14 (immediately after hour 2359)? Not sure I'm explaining my question well. Thank you

 

[hiroMYhero]

Hi... I can't seem to find the answer to this question anywhere. Sorry... My FP+ window says it begins on October 14. Does that mean at the END of October 13 (0001 military time 10/14) I can book? Or do I need to wait until the END of October 14 (immediately after hour 2359)? Not sure I'm explaining my question well. Thank you

End of October 13th exactly at 12:00.

 

[MataHari22]

Hi... I can't seem to find the answer to this question anywhere. Sorry... My FP+ window says it begins on October 14. Does that mean at the END of October 13 (0001 military time 10/14) I can book? Or do I need to wait until the END of October 14 (immediately after hour 2359)? Not sure I'm explaining my question well. Thank you

If you can book on the 14th, then you want to stay up on the night of the 13th and you will be able to book at 12:00am eastcoast time.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

End of October 13th exactly at 12:00.

@hiroMYhero, YOU'RE my hero! So fast, Sparkle on!

 

[hiroMYhero]

@hiroMYhero, YOU'RE my hero! So fast, Sparkle on!

And refresh exactly at 12:00 or you'll be behind all the others vying for A&E! Good luck to you!

 

[Planogirl]

I know BigMommaMouse answered your question, but just as an FYI, this is addressed in bullet point #3 under Booking Windows and Scheduling in the first post.

I saw that but thought that none of us would show up so I was surprised to see only me. Just a misinterpretation and besides it was late.

 

[phillymummer]

How do I search for a FP+ for just one person? I am trying to follow the directions but I am not seeing the same options on my screen. Have they changed it? I want to try for the elusive 7DMT but I cant figure out how to search for one just me and I don't want to screw anything up.

 

[mesaboy2]

How do I search for a FP+ for just one person? I am trying to follow the directions but I am not seeing the same options on my screen. Have they changed it? I want to try for the elusive 7DMT but I cant figure out how to search for one just me and I don't want to screw anything up.

Sounds like you may accessing MDX via the website. Try the app instead, they work differently.

 

[phillymummer]

Oh!! Yup. That is it. I am on my laptop. Thanks!!

 

[rjmaple]

Are you saying you can't book fastpasses on the website?. The website MDX is the only place my whole group of 6 shows up. On my tablet and smartphone there are only 5. I needed to contact WDW to fix this on the website but for some reason it is not reflected on the app on my devices.

 

[mesaboy2]

Are you saying you can't book fastpasses on the website?. The website MDX is the only place my whole group of 6 shows up. On my tablet and smartphone there are only 5. I needed to contact WDW to fix this on the website but for some reason it is not reflected on the app on my devices.

No. However, certain functionalities--like the one the PP asked about--work differently on the site and app.

When is your trip, and did you book a package?

 

[rjmaple]

End of January. Yes, package for 6 in 2 rooms. MDX does not seem to handle the situstion well so I worry about the fastpass booking when the time comes.

 

[phillymummer]

How far apart or close together do you suggest booking your FP+? This is my first time doing it and I am wondering if I picked good times.

Here is an example of my day at Epcot-

Dancing Workshop 9-11ish.
Biergarten- Noon
Soaring 12:50-1:50
Nemo 1:50- 2:50
Spaceship Earth 3:15-4:15

Leave for 6:15 Show at HDDR

When in there can I do TT and Journey into Imagination? Should I try to overlap my FP+? Can I even do that? Should I do TT after the workshop (if time)? Think I can do Journey after lunch and then head to soarin at the end of the FP window? Will there even be time for that? OR think I should do Journey between Nemo and Spaceship earth? Then I could see some countries between lunch a soaring. I don't know how to tour with per-arranged times!

 

[mesaboy2]

End of January. Yes, package for 6 in 2 rooms. MDX does not seem to handle the situstion well so I worry about the fastpass booking when the time comes.

Probably normal. See the bolded red text in Post #1.

 

[mesaboy2]

How far apart or close together do you suggest booking your FP+? This is my first time doing it and I am wondering if I picked good times.

Here is an example of my day at Epcot-

Dancing Workshop 9-11ish.
Biergarten- Noon
Soaring 12:50-1:50
Nemo 1:50- 2:50
Spaceship Earth 3:15-4:15

Leave for 6:15 Show at HDDR

When in there can I do TT and Journey into Imagination? Should I try to overlap my FP+? Can I even do that? Should I do TT after the workshop (if time)? Think I can do Journey after lunch and then head to soarin at the end of the FP window? Will there even be time for that? OR think I should do Journey between Nemo and Spaceship earth? Then I could see some countries between lunch a soaring. I don't know how to tour with per-arranged times!

You can't overlap FP, you should have time to do a couple of other attractions during your FP windows.

 

[senadler]

Officially, if they are tall enough, you are not eligible for the Rider Switch pass. However, if the CMs feel it would be the easiest way to accommodate a situation such as yours, they can give the pass, or offer some other alternative.

This has not been our experience. There are a number of thrill rides that my DS does not go on, even though he is tall enough, and we have not had a problem using rider switch. This is the information directly from the Disney site:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

 

[mesaboy2]

This has not been our experience. There are a number of thrill rides that my DS does not go on, even though he is tall enough, and we have not had a problem using rider switch. This is the information directly from the Disney site:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

The site's verbiage is well-known and often cited. Sadly, it is also not correct in practice.

Please know I am not at all disputing your experience, I read about this frequently. My point is that the CMs cannot be counted on to adhere to this website passage, their training is not completely consistent with it. As with anything, if you have issues with how rider switch is applied you should discuss it with Guest Relations while at WDW or with Guest Communications after returning home.

 

[jojomoore]

We will be in WDW the week after Christmas. This will be our 5th trip to WDW. However, it will be our first trip using FP+ and Magic Bands as our last trip was in the summer 2013. This is also the first trip we that I have used travel agency to book my WDW package. We were able to get a discount by booking this way. We are staying at BC in a standard view room for 7 nights and have 7 day base tickets which I intend to upgrade to park hoppers upon arrival. Because a new Special Offer was available from Disney on our last night (Jan 1), our travel agent booked our reservation as a split stay - 6 nights at BC and 1 night at BC in order to maximize our savings. I was able to link both of my reservations to my MDE account and set up 2 sets of magic bands for both stays for all four of us. But I have a concern regarding our booking window for our FP+. When I look at my reservations in my MDE account it is showing 2 hotel reservations. - one for the first 6 nights and 1 for our last night. The first reservation says "room only" even though I was under the impression that I was booking a package since the down payment was $200. The second one night reservation does not say "room only" and has a number below it. Is our 60 day window going to be the first night of our trip or our last night of our stay or are the FP+ options linked to our Magic Bands/Package instead of our room.? so confused... Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[hiroMYhero]

.

We will be in WDW the week after Christmas. This will be our 5th trip to WDW. However, it will be our first trip using FP+ and Magic Bands as our last trip was in the summer 2013. This is also the first trip we that I have used travel agency to book my WDW package. We were able to get a discount by booking this way. We are staying at BC in a standard view room for 7 nights and have 7 day base tickets which I intend to upgrade to park hoppers upon arrival. Because a new Special Offer was available from Disney on our last night (Jan 1), our travel agent booked our reservation as a split stay - 6 nights at BC and 1 night at BC in order to maximize our savings. I was able to link both of my reservations to my MDE account and set up 2 sets of magic bands for both stays for all four of us. But I have a concern regarding our booking window for our FP+. When I look at my reservations in my MDE account it is showing 2 hotel reservations. - one for the first 6 nights and 1 for our last night. The first reservation says "room only" even though I was under the impression that I was booking a package since the down payment was $200. The second one night reservation does not say "room only" and has a number below it. Is our 60 day window going to be the first night of our trip or our last night of our stay or are the FP+ options linked to our Magic Bands/Package instead of our room.? so confused... Thanks in advance for any help.

Your FP booking window will open 60 days prior to your check-in day of Stay #1. BUT, if the tickets are included as a package with Stay #2, you can only book for check-in day through check-out day of Stay #2.

Packaged tickets with Stay #2 means your tickets are not active until your package actually begins. You will be blocked out of booking FPs for Stay #1. Your TA must not understand this huge failure on Disney's packaging of tickets and how they relate to split stays.

With split stays, ideally the package should be attached to Stay #1 or the rooms should be booked as room-only and tickets should be purchased and linked separately. The way your vacation is set up, you won't be able to book FPs for Stay #1 until you arrive at WDW and "early activate" the tickets that are attached to Stay #2.

 

[doconeill]

This has not been our experience. There are a number of thrill rides that my DS does not go on, even though he is tall enough, and we have not had a problem using rider switch. This is the information directly from the Disney site:

What Is Rider Switch and How Does It Work?
If Guests in your party don’t want to board an attraction, you don’t have to miss out. One adult can wait with the non-rider while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. The waiting adult can then board the attraction without having to wait in the regular line again when another adult in the party returns to supervise the child or children who do not ride—either because they do not meet the height requirement or simply do not wish to ride.

Your is not uncommon, but it is interesting that you quote the web site ad an experienced user ad you can probably tell that other paragraphs on that page actually contradict actual in park operations. It has never been accurate.

But I also said "officially" as far as getting a rider switch pass...and I said they may give one anyways, or accommodate through alternate means.