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

[Stefecatzz]

On our last trip this past March, I had so many problems with the app on my iPhone that I ended up just pulling up the website on my phone for the last half of my trip when I needed to make changes in the parks.

Thanks! I guess not being able to get the app doesn't matter after all.

That's why I orgiinally mentioned that the web page was still available to Windows Phone users.

On my Android phone last April, I switched to using the web page instead of the app because the app is atrociously slow to start, even if I've already run it once.

I also typically turn wi-fi off while in the parks and just use mobile data. Although it has gotten better over the last couple years, it is fairly problematic keeping a reliable connection while moving around the park and drains the battery pretty fast - smartphones tend to use more power seeking wi-fi signals when enabled but having difficulty with them. My battery life doubled without using wi-fi.

I think we'll just see about using the kiosks if they're not too crowded. It seems like more of a hassle than it's worth to use a phone in the parks. Thanks for your input!

Did the ppl that you used the fast pass from ever enter the park or did they just give you the MB and you used it at the entrance of the ride?
TIA

On one occasion, they were in the park & gave me their band to borrow. On another, they chose to stay at the room last minute b/c they weren't feeling well so I used it at the attraction.

 

[bhyer]

I was able to make fast pass reservations for everything I needed for end of January & beginning of February but I don't see a fast pass selection available for MSEP. If it doesn't show then does that mean it won't be offered? Or it just hasn't been added yet? And if it hasn't been added yet how do we know when know when it will be? Or do you just have to sign on to MDE every day and check?

 

[mesaboy2]

I was able to make fast pass reservations for everything I needed for end of January & beginning of February but I don't see a fast pass selection available for MSEP. If it doesn't show then does that mean it won't be offered? Or it just hasn't been added yet? And if it hasn't been added yet how do we know when know when it will be? Or do you just have to sign on to MDE every day and check?

As far as I've been able to determine, everything is normally released at the 60-day point anymore--including parades and fireworks. There may be occasional exceptions to this, but not enough of them to be predictable or expected.

Bottom line is there are certain things--because of high demand, short supply, or both--that disappear very fast and require almost daily checks to have much hope of getting FP for them. These attractions include all MK parades, Wishes, A&E, and often 7DMT.

 

[Bree]

I was able to make fast pass reservations for everything I needed for end of January & beginning of February but I don't see a fast pass selection available for MSEP. If it doesn't show then does that mean it won't be offered? Or it just hasn't been added yet? And if it hasn't been added yet how do we know when know when it will be? Or do you just have to sign on to MDE every day and check?

I wasn't able to get MSEP either. It either shows as "Closed for Refurbishment" or that all FP+ are gone for the day.

 

[Cluelyss]

I've searched this thread & no results for the following question. My adult niece may join me at the last minute for an upcoming onsite stay. I have long since made my own FP+ choices. Once I add her to MDX, is there any way to also "add" her to my existing fastpass plus choices - eg somehow mirroring or duplicating my existing FP+ selections for this new guest - so that we can ride at the same time? Or, must I change my existing times, search for new overlapping times for her and potentially lose my FP for headliner attractions like 7DMT? I think I could swap magic bands with her to allow her to ride the hottest tickets by herself but ideally we would like to ride together. Basically, I made FP+ selections at 60 days out for only 1 guest (me) and now need the same selections for a 2nd guest (niece). Any helpful suggestions appreciated.

You can try the "copy" function, however I would recommend doing this online instead of the app. I've read too many reports of the app canceling existing FPs if there is not additional availability. The website at least warns you that there is no availability, or so I've heard. In order to guarantee not losing any existing selections, I would advise searching for single FPs for your niece that overlap your existing return windows. Good luck!!

 

[davegins]

Our tickets are for February 1, and I refreshed the FP+ page exactly at midnight tonight and logged on. A&E and MSEP were already gone! Did I do something wrong? We have a party of 4, hopefully I didn't make a mistake by booking them all together. Do they release more or are we out of luck?

 

[CableKC]

What does A&E stand for?

Also.....you can arrange for FastPass tickets for parades like the Main Street Electric Parade?

Where do you end up sitting and how does it work?

 

[cel_disney]

Our tickets are for February 1, and I refreshed the FP+ page exactly at midnight tonight and logged on. A&E and MSEP were already gone! Did I do something wrong? We have a party of 4, hopefully I didn't make a mistake by booking them all together. Do they release more or are we out of luck?

How long is your trip? Those are 2 of the most popular FP - most likely only available to those staying 4+ day trips. For my October trip they were not available until I was booking my 60+7 day. That means for the first 6 days there was no FP available when I started booking at midnight. It's very common for them to be booked 60-64 days out so you likely did nothing wrong except maybe have a short trip with MK early in your trip?

In my experience - you should continue trying to get A&E FPs one at a time if your party is under 5 people. You will have a good chance of getting groups of them together.

 

[cel_disney]

What does A&E stand for? Also.....you can arrange for FastPass tickets for parades like the Main Street Electric Parade? Where do you end up sitting and how does it work?

A&E stands for Anna and Elsa.

MSEP stands for Main Street Electrical Parade. Seating for the parade is limited to ~300 people and is reserved at the top of the hub near the castle. With small numbers in that area there are plenty of places to sit/stand without a blocked view and entrance is 15 minutes before parade start time. We did this for the Festival of Fantasy parade (FoF) and it surpassed my expectations for convenience and enjoyment. These FP are very hard to get.

 

[siskaren]

Our tickets are for February 1, and I refreshed the FP+ page exactly at midnight tonight and logged on. A&E and MSEP were already gone! Did I do something wrong? We have a party of 4, hopefully I didn't make a mistake by booking them all together. Do they release more or are we out of luck?

I'm curious as to how you were able to book on December 2 for a trip starting February 1, when that's 61 days, not 60.

 

[hcox31]

I'm curious as to how you were able to book on December 2 for a trip starting February 1, when that's 61 days, not 60.

Maybe they get there the day before?

 

[siskaren]

Maybe they get there the day before?

He said his tickets were for February 1, which I took to mean that his trip starts on February 1, since tickets don't have dates on them.

 

[jeffmw]

Our trip begins Feb. 8 and we're going to be going to MK Feb. 9. Our window opens next week. I know going on our second day isn't helpful as far as getting FastPasses, but due to some other scheduling that's when we need to go.

It seems like people here are having success getting A&E FastPasses with little problem lately but it sounds like some of that may be people scheduling for the latter portions of their trip.

Does anyone have a sense of our chances booking A+E 61 days out? Is that a significant difference rather than 63 or 64 days, etc.? There are only 2 of us (both kids are under 3) and we are pretty flexible in terms of time.

Thanks!

 

[Cluelyss]

Our trip begins Feb. 8 and we're going to be going to MK Feb. 9. Our window opens next week. I know going on our second day isn't helpful as far as getting FastPasses, but due to some other scheduling that's when we need to go. It seems like people here are having success getting A&E FastPasses with little problem lately but it sounds like some of that may be people scheduling for the latter portions of their trip. Does anyone have a sense of our chances booking A+E 61 days out? Is that a significant difference rather than 63 or 64 days, etc.? There are only 2 of us (both kids are under 3) and we are pretty flexible in terms of time. Thanks!

Yes, it is a significant difference, but your chances are better with only 2. You will want to be logged in right at midnight for the best chance of success, and if you cannot get 2 together, try for 2 overlapping singles. And if at first you don't succeed, keep trying!! On many occasions people will book A&E for every available date of their trip during initial booking, then drop the ones that don't fit their schedule. Also, not sure if there is a February cancellation thread yet, but if you aren't able to get FPs at midnight, make sure you subscribe to and follow that thread. Good luck!!

 

[bhyer]

When we were planning our trip we knew that we were going to be there for 16 nights and we weren't sure where to put in the 3 nights for Universal. We decided on the middle of our trip and what a mistake that was! Resulted in having to book fast passes on two different dates and because the first part of our stay at a WDW is 7 nights - we missed out on getting a chance at things that get snapped up at the 10 day mark (like MSEP) and the second part of our stay is 5 nights so we missed out there too.
It's something that I would have never thought of when planning the trip a year ago but wish I had known. I'm learning!!

 

[gzmtlock]

Hi Mesaboy,

We're at WDW Dec. 26-Jan 2, onsite. I forget exactly when our 60 day window opened, but I was able to book all FP+ starting at midnight, including MK on Dec 30. I don't remember the exact order which I booked, but I am sure MK was near the beginning, so I'm sure it was before 1 am.

HTH!

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi Mesaboy,

We're at WDW Dec. 26-Jan 2, onsite. I forget exactly when our 60 day window opened, but I was able to book all FP+ starting at midnight, including MK on Dec 30. I don't remember the exact order which I booked, but I am sure MK was near the beginning, so I'm sure it was before 1 am.

HTH!

If my math is correct, your 60-day window opened in late October when there were no 1:00a MK closures so you should have been able to book at 12:00a that night like normal. Once your window opens, there is no time of day where you can't book FPs.

Thanks for reporting your experience!

 

[hcox31]

Thanks for all of the information and tips in this thread! I was able to successfully (mostly) schedule our FP last night. Was able to get SDMT no problem at all. Could have had it for both of our MK days. Even got a wishes one when I went to modify one. Woohoo! Will be looking for a FOF if I can find it and of course the ever elusive A and E. You know, if you're willing to give up 4 spots in feb for me, that'd be grrrrrreat. ::rofl::

I need to look into how to get individual ones to maybe get some that overlap for A and E.

 

[Gabriel&Nana]

Thank you ! This thread was essential for me and I got the FP+ we want EXCEPT for Splash Mountain on Feb 1st (The refurshment is scheduled until Jan 30).

Anybody did ?

 

[hcox31]

I was unsuccessful at getting A&E last night at my window opening. I was playing on the app this morning and was able to score a single. Then I was able to get an overlapping second one. Then after some more playing around a third and fourth! WOOHOO!

3:40-4:40
4:20-5:20
4:40-5:40
4:50-5:50

They almost all overlap around 4:40/4:50, except the first and last which are off by 5 minutes on each end, but I'm going to keep them for now and hope some times open up so I can get them all to overlap.

So all is definitely not lost when booking A&E!