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

[mesaboy2]

Mesaboy- Thought I'd get an expert opinion! I chose our fast passes last night, and used one for the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Do you think that's a good use of a FP? We have a 3 year old, and unless she grows 2" in two months, we won't be able to do Splash. We like to sit on the curb as close to the action as possible because we've found the characters really interact with our daughter. Does the FP make this easier, or are we better off just lining up early for a spot on our own? TIA

Getting a curbside spot with FP is probably easier, but isn't particularly difficult without. Judging from reading many reports, I think it's possible characters favor the FP area a bit when they go past also--but that's just a guess on my part.

 

[Aurora0427]

Getting a curbside spot with FP is probably easier, but isn't particularly difficult without. Judging from reading many reports, I think it's possible characters favor the FP area a bit when they go past also--but that's just a guess on my part.

I will plan on keeping it then. We RD anyway and will be there for so long that we will have plenty of time to ride everything multiple times. Using FP for a parade will be a new experience for us! Thank you!

 

[KimBean]

Big old hugo idiot here...

So my window opens up tonight at midnight (or is it 5am? - from last nights experience, lol - laughing at the ridiculousness of MDE not those sufferers!) and I just realized that even though I intended to have a 10 day ticket for months, I still only have a 9 day ticket. It has been one of those.. Oh I can add on that extra day whenever and since it is a surprise for the kids just been waiting to call when they aren't around. HUGE NEVER since we homeschool. LOL!

So this morning I'm like OMG how you can make 10 days worth of FP with only a 9 day ticket. So I call, (whispering)... CM added the day and Memory Maker which I needed to add as well. Said it should update within 10 minutes. Big surprise, an hour and still not updated. But, shockingly (sarcasm) my balance has updated quite nicely.

So, now I'll be stalking my ressie all day hoping that the 9 changes to a 10. I guess I also better figure out which day of FP will be easiest to get not at 12a-5a tonight.

 

[mesaboy2]

Big old hugo idiot here...

So my window opens up tonight at midnight (or is it 5am? - from last nights experience, lol - laughing at the ridiculousness of MDE not those sufferers!) and I just realized that even though I intended to have a 10 day ticket for months, I still only have a 9 day ticket. It has been one of those.. Oh I can add on that extra day whenever and since it is a surprise for the kids just been waiting to call when they aren't around. HUGE NEVER since we homeschool. LOL!

So this morning I'm like OMG how you can make 10 days worth of FP with only a 9 day ticket. So I call, (whispering)... CM added the day and Memory Maker which I needed to add as well. Said it should update within 10 minutes. Big surprise, an hour and still not updated. But, shockingly (sarcasm) my balance has updated quite nicely.

So, now I'll be stalking my ressie all day hoping that the 9 changes to a 10. I guess I also better figure out which day of FP will be easiest to get not at 12a-5a tonight.

From what I gather, last night's window opened at 1:00a instead of midnight. That used to be very common, but this was the first one I know of for weeks now. Hopefully that unknown is not coming back.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Ok, so I managed to score 1 A&E FP+ for my friends on 11/15...need at least 1 more (so the child who is 5 can go with a parent), but to do so I had to cancel their Epcot FP+ that day. Originally I'd gotten them the following FP+

Spaceship Earth: overlapping times from 9:00-10:00am
Soarin' -10:00-11:00
Journey into Imagination - 11:00-12:00

With the intent that they could use them early then get more FP+.

They were spending the day at Epcot, heading to DTD at 5pm for dinner @ Portobello, and then a DTD BBB reservation at 6:50.

Now, my thought for them is to encourage getting to epcot at RD and riding Soarin' right away, thinking they shouldn't need a FP+ for SE/Journey into Imagination or really anything else there. Her DH has medical concerns, so the adults likely won't ride TT (and likely not MS either). So they can spend the morning/afternoon exploring Epcot, doing Agent P in WS, Living Seas, etc..

Then head to DTD for their dinner reservation and BBB reservation. Then head to MK. Their FP+ I have right now are this:

7:40-8:40 - Winnie the Pooh
8:50-9:50 - A&E (1 person), Cinderella & Rapunzel (2 people) - will try to get Cindy and Rapunzel to be A&E
10:40-11:00 - MSEP

Assuming I can get 2 more A&E FP+ before their trip, my thought is I'd change MSEP to Rapunzel/Cindy (I'm guessing the late MSEP will be too late for them, but not sure), and then either keep Winnie the Pooh or change Winnie to another M&G (maybe Mickey or Tink). I'd keep whatever was in that time slot something they don't care about, as I know they may miss the window. A&E is more important. I was thinking it would be cute for them to go from BBB to a bunch of meet and greets, and then head home for the night.

Thoughts on this?

(FTR - they have MK FP+ for Sunday and Monday as well, where they will hit up ETWB, SDMT, PP, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Buzz)

 

[KimBean]

From what I gather, last night's window opened at 1:00a instead of midnight. That used to be very common, but this was the first one I know of for weeks now. Hopefully that unknown is not coming back.

Oh 1am isn't too bad. I thought I read it went on a lot longer. Fortunately I'm a night owl anyway. I'm never asleep until about 1. 5am scared me though.

My tickets just updated. So far the disney gods are cooperating.

 

[weschmom]

OK, I'm totally new to the scheduling FP+ thing.

Question -- The only FP+ we are interested in at EPCOT (at least at the moment) are Soarin and Test Track. I realize I cannot get both of these because of the tiering. BUT...if I got Soarin, could I then get FP+ for Test Track when we arrive at the park? What would you recommend?

Also -- my FP+ day is tomorrow.
We are interested in things like:
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Soarin

Is it necessary to get up at midnight to book? Or will I be OK at 5:45am?

Also, only two of us will want to ride Seven Dwarfs. Can I get 2 FP+ for those, or must I get all 4?

THANKS for your help!

 

[itchin2go]

RE: 4th FP (and beyond!)

I read this "Only one person in a party is necessary at the kiosk to schedule additional FP+," and it's pretty clear, but I want to double check.

I can take my MB to a kiosk and book 4th FP for my entire party (that are linked in my account), without having their MBs?

Also, is it correct that once I book those 4th FPs, I can change them on my phone?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

On this subject... "If an FP+ return window has passed without being used, that FP+ can be rescheduled to later in the day (subject to availability)." I'm pretty sure I read this at some point, but didn't see it in the first post -- does it have to be rescheduled for the same park as the original? E.g. I have 3 scheduled for MK, miss my last one, then hop to AK -- can I reschedule that unused MK one for AK? AND/OR can I pull a 4th FP+ from AK, even if I didn't use my 3rd pre-booked one?

Ok -- thanks! So a no-go on rescheduling that expired one to another park, probably...

Kind of a grey area in the system. Whether you can book a 4th or reschedule the one that has passed should effectively be the same thing, unless you can't reschedule that expired one to a different park--and I could see that being a problem. Not enough reports back on these more unusual situations to answer for sure in my opinion.

Gotcha'. Maybe I'll engineer this situation and test it out in 5 days!!

Here now! On this subject...

- We had 3 FP for AK. Didn't use any of them.
- I logged onto the app after: 1) one had expired, 2) two others were still upcoming.
- From the app, I did NOT have an option to reschedule the expired one AT ALL. Not even within AK. This was from the app. Perhaps different at a kiosk??
- The remaining (active) two could have been rescheduled for other attraction in AK ONLY -- could not try to switch them to MK, which I suspected.
- I had the option to CANCEL the remaining two, but didn't chance it, as I have NO IDEA whether this will mess with my ability to pull a 4th FP after these active two expire. With MK open until 1am today and the last pre-booked FP expiring at 3:30, I figure I'll try for a 4th at a kiosk.
- What I DID NOT try -- and should have (!!) -- was rescheduling the remaining two FROM A KIOSK. Darn.

 

[tripleup05]

OK, I'm totally new to the scheduling FP+ thing.
I realize I cannot get both of these because of the tiering.
!

My booking window is opening soon, and I already had my picks listed out so that I would be ready at 12:01am on Oct 21st.

With that said, your post is the first I have heard of "tiering" and now my plan is out the window! I tried looking on Disney's website but didn't see anything about the different tiers. From searching here on Dis, it looks like only Epcot and Hollywood Studios use the tiering system. Is that correct?

 

[itchin2go]

OK, I'm totally new to the scheduling FP+ thing.

Question -- The only FP+ we are interested in at EPCOT (at least at the moment) are Soarin and Test Track. I realize I cannot get both of these because of the tiering. BUT...if I got Soarin, could I then get FP+ for Test Track when we arrive at the park? What would you recommend?

Also -- my FP+ day is tomorrow.
We are interested in things like:
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Soarin

Is it necessary to get up at midnight to book? Or will I be OK at 5:45am?

Also, only two of us will want to ride Seven Dwarfs. Can I get 2 FP+ for those, or must I get all 4?

THANKS for your help!

People's experiences are going to differ, but here's mine.

I'm going Thanksgiving week.

At midnight 60 days out, I was unable to schedule SDMT for any of my MK days. I was not interested in A&E, but it was blacked out too. Other than parades, everything else was available.

Several days later, I was able to find and book SDMT. It took lots of checking and certain strategies, but I booked it.

Today, I'm probably 40-45 days out and I was able to move SDMT to a better time on one of my days, and I actually found LOADS of availability. On the other MK day, the only availability was late at night.

Again, EVERYTHING other than A&E, SDMT and the parades/fireworks were available the minute my 60 days opened. I had no trouble moving things around today.

I DO know that you can book different FPs for different people in your party ... so just booking 2 SDMT FPs is fine. I did this over and over in our itinerary.

Hope that helps in some way!

 

[itchin2go]

My booking window is opening soon, and I already had my picks listed out so that I would be ready at 12:01am on Oct 21st.

With that said, your post is the first I have heard of "tiering" and now my plan is out the window! I tried looking on Disney's website but didn't see anything about the different tiers. From searching here on Dis, it looks like only Epcot and Hollywood Studios use the tiering system. Is that correct?

Yes, EP and DHS have tiering.

 

[Cluelyss]

My booking window is opening soon, and I already had my picks listed out so that I would be ready at 12:01am on Oct 21st. With that said, your post is the first I have heard of "tiering" and now my plan is out the window! I tried looking on Disney's website but didn't see anything about the different tiers. From searching here on Dis, it looks like only Epcot and Hollywood Studios use the tiering system. Is that correct?

Yes, that's correct. OP lists the attractions that fall into each tier.

 

[mesaboy2]

OK, I'm totally new to the scheduling FP+ thing.

Question -- The only FP+ we are interested in at EPCOT (at least at the moment) are Soarin and Test Track. I realize I cannot get both of these because of the tiering. BUT...if I got Soarin, could I then get FP+ for Test Track when we arrive at the park? What would you recommend?

Also -- my FP+ day is tomorrow.
We are interested in things like:
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Soarin

Is it necessary to get up at midnight to book? Or will I be OK at 5:45am?

Also, only two of us will want to ride Seven Dwarfs. Can I get 2 FP+ for those, or must I get all 4?

THANKS for your help!

Best info I have is in the first post.

RE: 4th FP (and beyond!)

I read this "Only one person in a party is necessary at the kiosk to schedule additional FP+," and it's pretty clear, but I want to double check.

I can take my MB to a kiosk and book 4th FP for my entire party (that are linked in my account), without having their MBs?

Also, is it correct that once I book those 4th FPs, I can change them on my phone?

Best info I have is in the first post.

My booking window is opening soon, and I already had my picks listed out so that I would be ready at 12:01am on Oct 21st.

With that said, your post is the first I have heard of "tiering" and now my plan is out the window! I tried looking on Disney's website but didn't see anything about the different tiers. From searching here on Dis, it looks like only Epcot and Hollywood Studios use the tiering system. Is that correct?

Best info I have is in the first post.

 

[siskaren]

Question -- The only FP+ we are interested in at EPCOT (at least at the moment) are Soarin and Test Track. I realize I cannot get both of these because of the tiering.

1. BUT...if I got Soarin, could I then get FP+ for Test Track when we arrive at the park? What would you recommend?

2. Also -- my FP+ day is tomorrow.
We are interested in things like:
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Soarin

Is it necessary to get up at midnight to book? Or will I be OK at 5:45am?

3. Also, only two of us will want to ride Seven Dwarfs. Can I get 2 FP+ for those, or must I get all 4?

THANKS for your help!

1. You wouldn't be able to get a FP for Test Track until you've used the three you booked or they've expired. I would do Test Track standby first thing (single rider, if possible).

2. SDMT and A&E are the only ones that really need to be booked at midnight.

3. You can book SDMT for just the two who want it.

From searching here on Dis, it looks like only Epcot and Hollywood Studios use the tiering system. Is that correct?

Yes. If you haven't already, read the first post in this thread for everything you need to know about FP+.

 

[tripleup05]

Yes, EP and DHS have tiering.

Yes, that's correct. OP lists the attractions that fall into each tier.

Best info I have is in the first post.

Yes. If you haven't already, read the first post in this thread for everything you need to know about FP+.

I guess I should have checked the first post first

That's some good info. Now, time to rethink my touring plan!

 

[disneyholic family]

i apologize if this has already been repeated multiple times in the thread..

a few things..

so if we're in the park, and we pass the FP return window without using the FP, we can then get a different FP to replace it?
can we do this on our smartphone while we're in the park?
or do we need to go to the kiosk?

also, if i'm in the park, and i want to change/modify one of our 3 original FPs, can i do that on my smartphone, even though i'm already in the park...

 

[Networth]

i apologize if this has already been repeated multiple times in the thread.. a few things.. so if we're in the park, and we pass the FP return window without using the FP, we can then get a different FP to replace it? can we do this on our smartphone while we're in the park? or do we need to go to the kiosk? also, if i'm in the park, and i want to change/modify one of our 3 original FPs, can i do that on my smartphone, even though i'm already in the park...

Yes. On your phone. Only time a Kiosk is needed is for your 4FP and beyond.

 

[mesaboy2]

i apologize if this has already been repeated multiple times in the thread..

a few things..

so if we're in the park, and we pass the FP return window without using the FP, we can then get a different FP to replace it?
can we do this on our smartphone while we're in the park?
or do we need to go to the kiosk?

also, if i'm in the park, and i want to change/modify one of our 3 original FPs, can i do that on my smartphone, even though i'm already in the park...

It's in the first post. I wrote it in hopes that people would read it, but alas....

 

[Networth]

It's in the first post. I wrote it in hopes that people would read it, but alas....

If it makes yeah feel any better Mesa most the info I have about FP is from you lol, just gets past on.