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

[ValarDisneyus]

Does anyone have experience booking FP+ with their Military Salute to the Troops ticket vouchers? I know I'm supposed to be able to do it, I'm also staying on site.

Here's the deal: there's three of us. Since I qualify for six tickets, I bought all six so that my family of 3 could stay 8 days instead of the normal four when military members buy those. I have linked them to my account, but they don't have dates. MY RESORT STAY, though, obviously does.

When can I book my FP+? Will I only be able to book in four day increments? (Four days on my first 60 days out and then four days later again for the second round of vouchers?)

Land's sakes I might just need to call the travel line with this one.

 

[etoiles]

When was your last trip?

Our last trip was in 2012 but every time we have gone in the past it has been during high season and always things like the character spot and nemo and friends have had much longer lines than things like turtle talk and spaceship earth.

I guess things are the opposite of what I would have expected but so that is why I don't understand the ratings unless the character spot is no longer popular but I find that hard to believe.

 

[jcarwash]

Our last trip was in 2012 but every time we have gone in the past it has been during high season and always things like the character spot and nemo and friends have had much longer lines than things like turtle talk and spaceship earth.

I guess things are the opposite of what I would have expected but so that is why I don't understand the ratings unless the character spot is no longer popular but I find that hard to believe.

The Character Spot went through a redesign that opened in 2013 that's affected the traffic flow. One factor (or maybe *the* factor) is one no longer sees the characters through the large windows (the meet area is behind walls now) so you have fewer people spontaneously getting into the standby line. This and the addition of FP+ (with a separate entrance and perhaps some, er, extra magic) has greatly changed the flow of the Character Spot.

With the addition of FP+, lines for Spaceship Earth have changed too. It's not impossible to have a short standby (or walkon) line for SE, but now with FP+ added it's also more possible there will be a longer standby line. I skipped SE for the first time during my last visit (with two separate days at Epcot) due to a longer standby line than I'd prefer.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Isn't the character spot only for Disney Visa holders? Did I dream that up somewhere?

 

[jcarwash]

Isn't the character spot only for Disney Visa holders? Did I dream that up somewhere?

Both meets are in Innoventions West, but in separate areas. The Epcot Character Spot is open to all guests and also has FP+.

The other, separate meet is open only for Disney Rewards Visa card holders, currently from 1pm to 7pm.

 

[BStew]

Both meets are in Innoventions West, but in separate areas. The Epcot Character Spot is open to all guests and also has FP+.

The other, separate meet is open only for Disney Rewards Visa card holders, currently from 1pm to 7pm.

Any idea who is at the character spot for DVRC holders? I currently have a FP for the Character spot and didn't even consider the other one...

 

[My2Kidzmom]

Isn't the character spot only for Disney Visa holders? Did I dream that up somewhere?

The Character Spot is for everyone. Disney Visa holders get a special meet & greet inside Innoventions West.

 

[geaux_half]

The tiering at Epcot is difficult when you have a little one. Me and DD1 will be riding Test Track but the only thing available for DD2 to do is Living With the Land. While I like that ride, I don't think any of us plan on doing it more than once. So, can I schedule this for DH and DD2 just as a "throwaway" and they can do something else? After the time of all three FP's have expired they will be able to try for the 4th FP right?

If DH and DD2 won't be using the FP+ for LWTL why not get TT for all of you and you and DD1 can swap MBs with DH and DD2 for a second ride? Or schedule MS for DH and DD2 for you and DD1 to ride with their MBs. Or just cancel DH and DD2's TT FP+ on the MDX website. Once cancelled you will have to call IT to add back if you change your mind.

 

[mesaboy2]

Our last trip was in 2012 but every time we have gone in the past it has been during high season and always things like the character spot and nemo and friends have had much longer lines than things like turtle talk and spaceship earth.

I guess things are the opposite of what I would have expected but so that is why I don't understand the ratings unless the character spot is no longer popular but I find that hard to believe.

2012 may as well have been an eternity ago in this case--your experience is out-of-date.

The Character Spot went through a redesign that opened in 2013 that's affected the traffic flow. One factor (or maybe *the* factor) is one no longer sees the characters through the large windows (the meet area is behind walls now) so you have fewer people spontaneously getting into the standby line. This and the addition of FP+ (with a separate entrance and perhaps some, er, extra magic) has greatly changed the flow of the Character Spot.

With the addition of FP+, lines for Spaceship Earth have changed too. It's not impossible to have a short standby (or walkon) line for SE, but now with FP+ added it's also more possible there will be a longer standby line. I skipped SE for the first time during my last visit (with two separate days at Epcot) due to a longer standby line than I'd prefer.

Two other things I would add to this. ECS now offers only 3 characters instead of 5, and most importantly has doubled its capacity. This attraction has changed quite a bit just these last two years.

Bottom line, ECS is no longer the long wait it used to be. If it is long, it's because crowds are heavy (but then everything else goes up too).

Any idea who is at the character spot for DVRC holders? I currently have a FP for the Character spot and didn't even consider the other one...

Usually some combination of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and/or Pluto. I believe it is normal for it to be 2 of those simultaneously.

 

[mandis77]

If DH and DD2 won't be using the FP+ for LWTL why not get TT for all of you and you and DD1 can swap MBs with DH and DD2 for a second ride? Or schedule MS for DH and DD2 for you and DD1 to ride with their MBs. Or just cancel DH and DD2's TT FP+ on the MDX website. Once cancelled you will have to call IT to add back if you change your mind.

When I first reserved the FP's at 60 days, all 4 of us were on Test Track. I swapped DH and DD2 out - but I have to chose a Tier 1 ride. So that only leaves me with LWTL because she is too short to ride anything else. Is there another way around this? The rest of us want the Tier 1 attractions and planning on doing rider swap. But it looks like I'm forced to chose another Tier 1 ride to replace it.

 

[mommakrispix]

So I see this new feature. on the app it says copy your fastpasses to other people in your party (on the website it says add friend and family to your fastpasses). Thought this was a great feature since my in-laws decided to join our trip after we already got our FP for SDMT and to meet Ana and Elsa and they were gone by the time i added them to the plan. However, after going through all of it, it still says they're not available and tries to give you other attractions. What's the point of it then if they're not guaranteeing the same attractions and/or times?

 

[Gryhndmom]

Does anyone have experience booking FP+ with their Military Salute to the Troops ticket vouchers? I know I'm supposed to be able to do it, I'm also staying on site.

Here's the deal: there's three of us. Since I qualify for six tickets, I bought all six so that my family of 3 could stay 8 days instead of the normal four when military members buy those. I have linked them to my account, but they don't have dates. MY RESORT STAY, though, obviously does.

When can I book my FP+? Will I only be able to book in four day increments? (Four days on my first 60 days out and then four days later again for the second round of vouchers?)

Land's sakes I might just need to call the travel line with this one.

If you are staying at a disney resort and not shades of green you can book your FP 60 days out with your military tickets. I believe shades of green can book 30 days out. If you don't have a MDE account you will need to set one up and link your resort reservation and then type in the numbers from your vouchers to link tickets to your travel party.I missed the 60 day window since the new military tickets were late getting issued but did get them at about the 45 day mark and had no problems linking them to my MDE . Feel free to PM me if you have any questions !

 

[geaux_half]

When I first reserved the FP's at 60 days, all 4 of us were on Test Track. I swapped DH and DD2 out - but I have to chose a Tier 1 ride. So that only leaves me with LWTL because she is too short to ride anything else. Is there another way around this? The rest of us want the Tier 1 attractions and planning on doing rider swap. But it looks like I'm forced to chose another Tier 1 ride to replace it.

Correct. You are forced to have 1 Tier 1 and 2 Tier 2's. My suggestion was if DH and DD2 were going to "throw away" the Tier 1 FP+ to book something you and DD1 could use in Tier 1. You can just swap MagicBands to access the Tier 1 FP+ and that way all are used.

 

[jcarwash]

Usually some combination of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and/or Pluto. I believe it is normal for it to be 2 of those simultaneously.

Right, in the past couple of years the Epcot Visa character meet has been two characters at a time. In previous years it was three at a time.

 

[Cluelyss]

So I see this new feature. on the app it says copy your fastpasses to other people in your party (on the website it says add friend and family to your fastpasses). Thought this was a great feature since my in-laws decided to join our trip after we already got our FP for SDMT and to meet Ana and Elsa and they were gone by the time i added them to the plan. However, after going through all of it, it still says they're not available and tries to give you other attractions. What's the point of it then if they're not guaranteeing the same attractions and/or times?

The copy feature will allow you to match existing FP+ options from one party to another SUBJECT TO availability. This would save you the time of having to try and exactly match FPs for your in-laws to your plans, but will only work if the same attractions/times are available. Also, be careful using this feature as I've heard reports that people have completely lost their existing A&E, for example, when it wasn't available for the party they were trying to copy to. The system put everyone into something that had availability for all. Best bet is to keep searching for singles for your in-laws that overlap with your existing times. Good luck!

 

[etoiles]

The Character Spot went through a redesign that opened in 2013 that's affected the traffic flow. One factor (or maybe *the* factor) is one no longer sees the characters through the large windows (the meet area is behind walls now) so you have fewer people spontaneously getting into the standby line. This and the addition of FP+ (with a separate entrance and perhaps some, er, extra magic) has greatly changed the flow of the Character Spot.

With the addition of FP+, lines for Spaceship Earth have changed too. It's not impossible to have a short standby (or walkon) line for SE, but now with FP+ added it's also more possible there will be a longer standby line. I skipped SE for the first time during my last visit (with two separate days at Epcot) due to a longer standby line than I'd prefer.

Thank you for explaining why the character spot is no longer a huge line issue! I did not realize it was renovated in the last two years. I have heard that previous walk on rides like pirates have gotten longer lines and so maybe that is the case for spaceship earth. I guess I will make a FP+ for it since I definitely want to ride it!

Has the line for Nemo in Epcot also gone down? Or maybe more people are drawn to other things thus making the line shorter?

 

[mandis77]

Correct. You are forced to have 1 Tier 1 and 2 Tier 2's. My suggestion was if DH and DD2 were going to "throw away" the Tier 1 FP+ to book something you and DD1 could use in Tier 1. You can just swap MagicBands to access the Tier 1 FP+ and that way all are used.

Aha yes! I will do that. Thanks

 

[publica]

We have selected following FP+ for 4 of us:

Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue 9:00 - 10:00 am
Toy Story Midway Mania!10:00 - 11:00 am
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration11:05 - 11:20am

My question is if my daughter decides that she does not want to do Star Tours and missed that FP+, can we still select a Tier 1 FP+ once we finished using the other initial selection? I know that we can modify it but would prefer to do the attractions together and hence rather wait for hubby and son while they are doing Star Tours.

Thanks!

 

[Cluelyss]

We have selected following FP+ for 4 of us: Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue 9:00 - 10:00 am Toy Story Midway Mania!10:00 - 11:00 am For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration11:05 - 11:20am My question is if my daughter decides that she does not want to do Star Tours and missed that FP+, can we still select a Tier 1 FP+ once we finished using the other initial selection? I know that we can modify it but would prefer to do the attractions together and hence rather wait for hubby and son while they are doing Star Tours. Thanks!

Yes. In order to schedule your 4th FP+, the original 3 must be used OR expired.

 

[publica]

Yes. In order to schedule your 4th FP+, the original 3 must be used OR expired.

Thanks Cluelyss!