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

[tjlamphere]

Our group will have 5 people. Of those 5, we are going with a few 4 day hopper passes and a few 7 day hopper passes...the 4 day pass expire 14 days after use and the 7 day passes will be non expiring.

To complicate matters, we are having a Cast Member get 3 of our group in on a few days.

So here is my question: As I am staying offsite, we can't book until 30 days out. In looking at Danny K.'s explanation: "Onsite guests can make FP ressies for their entire length of stay." Our offsite stay will be 10 days, and of those days, we are going to WDW for 6 days, with a CM getting us in 4 days and us using tics 2 days. So on the first day that we are using our own tickets, can I do FP ressies for our "entire stay" (spread out over 10 days), or do I have to go in, day by day, and do FP ressies as the 30 day window comes up for each day of our stay?

Does this question make sense? I don't want to wait until the 30th day before our last day at WDW and make the FP ressies all at once, as I am losing out on about 9 days of earlier FP ressie ability.

Please help...this FP planning has me dazed and confused. I need guidance on how to maximize our FP acquisition to get the attractions/rides we want.

Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

 

[mesaboy2]

Our group will have 5 people. Of those 5, we are going with a few 4 day hopper passes and a few 7 day hopper passes...the 4 day pass expire 14 days after use and the 7 day passes will be non expiring.

To complicate matters, we are having a Cast Member get 3 of our group in on a few days.

So here is my question: As I am staying offsite, we can't book until 30 days out. In looking at Danny K.'s explanation: "Onsite guests can make FP ressies for their entire length of stay." Our offsite stay will be 10 days, and of those days, we are going to WDW for 6 days, with a CM getting us in 4 days and us using tics 2 days. So on the first day that we are using our own tickets, can I do FP ressies for our "entire stay" (spread out over 10 days), or do I have to go in, day by day, and do FP ressies as the 30 day window comes up for each day of our stay?

Does this question make sense? I don't want to wait until the 30th day before our last day at WDW and make the FP ressies all at once, as I am losing out on about 9 days of earlier FP ressie ability.

Please help...this FP planning has me dazed and confused. I need guidance on how to maximize our FP acquisition to get the attractions/rides we want.

Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Offsite guests must do FPs day-by-day if you want maximum availability.

 

[tjlamphere]

So not only can onsite guests get their FP ressies in at the 60 day mark, but they ALSO can do all of their FP ressies at one sitting, while offsite guests must do it day by day??? :-(

 

[Cluelyss]

Our group will have 5 people. Of those 5, we are going with a few 4 day hopper passes and a few 7 day hopper passes...the 4 day pass expire 14 days after use and the 7 day passes will be non expiring. To complicate matters, we are having a Cast Member get 3 of our group in on a few days. So here is my question: As I am staying offsite, we can't book until 30 days out. In looking at Danny K.'s explanation: "Onsite guests can make FP ressies for their entire length of stay." Our offsite stay will be 10 days, and of those days, we are going to WDW for 6 days, with a CM getting us in 4 days and us using tics 2 days. So on the first day that we are using our own tickets, can I do FP ressies for our "entire stay" (spread out over 10 days), or do I have to go in, day by day, and do FP ressies as the 30 day window comes up for each day of our stay? Does this question make sense? I don't want to wait until the 30th day before our last day at WDW and make the FP ressies all at once, as I am losing out on about 9 days of earlier FP ressie ability. Please help...this FP planning has me dazed and confused. I need guidance on how to maximize our FP acquisition to get the attractions/rides we want. Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

As Mesaboy already said, you will need to schedule your FPs one day at a time if you are staying offsite. I also wanted to point out that you must have park tickets linked in MDX to schedule FPs for any given day, so will not be able to pre-schedule those days that you are using a CM to gain access. This means you will only be able to schedule 2 of your 6 days, 30 days in advance of the date you plan to be in the park. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. Happy planning!

 

[tjlamphere]

Thanks Cluelyss...yes, I knew that I have to buy my tics, then set up a MDE account online, then link my tickets to that account....then and only then can I start reserving FP...30 days prior to our trip. And to complicate things, we have two people that will set up FP 30 days in advance, and then we somehow have to hope that the 3 people the CMs are getting in can book their FP somewhat close to the attractions and times the other 2 people did. Holy Cats, this is so difficult!!!!! Guess I need to buy my tickets ASAP, huh?????

 

[frozenfan5]

I found it surprisingly easy to secure FP+ for A&E (for my DNiece and my SIL) and SDMT (for 15 people, on two different dates) for the days we wanted the last week of February. There are still available slots showing even now. Maybe I didn't need to spend two nights (6 families arriving two different days) getting up at 1am to book them. Still tired.

Me too, I don't think I had to get up at 1am! But at least we have them! We are going pres weekend/ Mardi gras

 

[D&DDisney]

Last minute Jan 6-9 trip. Staying offsite. Crowd calendar gives these days a 2/10. Should we worry about FP+ or just take a chance? Going to MK & EP.

 

[ckelly14]

Last minute Jan 6-9 trip. Staying offsite. Crowd calendar gives these days a 2/10. Should we worry about FP+ or just take a chance? Going to MK & EP.

I don't think I'd "worry about" FP+, but I would consider making reservations for your "must do's". Make sure you look at which rides are down for rehab.

 

[Cluelyss]

I don't think I'd "worry about" FP+, but I would consider making reservations for your "must do's". Make sure you look at which rides are down for rehab.

Agree that there is no need to stress over the scheduling, but I'd definitely take advantage of making your 3 selections, especially for rides that historically have longer lines.

 

[maburke]

Thanks Cluelyss...yes, I knew that I have to buy my tics, then set up a MDE account online, then link my tickets to that account....then and only then can I start reserving FP...30 days prior to our trip. And to complicate things, we have two people that will set up FP 30 days in advance, and then we somehow have to hope that the 3 people the CMs are getting in can book their FP somewhat close to the attractions and times the other 2 people did. Holy Cats, this is so difficult!!!!! Guess I need to buy my tickets ASAP, huh?????

Just to be clear, I think Cluelyss is saying that you can't book FP for the CM entry people at all for those CM entry days, since they won't have entry media for those days. Is that right? I've never done it.

 

[Sharpdisney]

Just wanted to post a thank you to Mesaboy, and others who have pitched in with tips and tricks here. It helped me greatly. I stayed up till 1 am as predicted, and it worked just as was described here. A couple tips I will pass to others, to pay it forward:

1) A couple weeks ago, I did call Disney IT to be sure everything in MDX looked the way it should. I knew it was 50/50 that I'd even get a CM that could help, but she did help me. Turns out when I first created my account I did something I shouldn't have, or that didn't work, by trying to send an invitation to my MIL to join my account or something like that. The CM I talked to put me on hold, cleared it all up, and returned to ask me to log out and in again, to be sure that it looked the way it should.

2) As described, at 12:59, MDX looked useless/fishy. It only showed me for FP+, and stated I could make my reservations on my check in date. Right on cue, all members of my party appeared and I could easily select all and go right to experiences.

3) I will reiterate what others told me here. Just pick your three choices first. It will give you 4 options for time frames. Just pick a close-ish one. In about 4 seconds, you can modify those times easily. Remember that you cannot overlap, so if your pre-assigned FP+ for one experience is during a time you really want a different experience, move that first one to a time far away first.

Otherwise, pretty easy for me. I did spend 19 minutes with it just b/c I am a little sleepy since we were up at 8 am opening Christmas presents and then hosting a ton of family all day. So I triple checked my work to be sure I didn't goof. But if I had been totally clear headed, I'd be in and out in 6 minutes.

Good luck all.

 

[goldwest]

Mesaboy2 - can't thank you enough for all of the planning advice. It is very much appreciated.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

Just wanted to post a thank you to Mesaboy, and others who have pitched in with tips and tricks here. It helped me greatly. I stayed up till 1 am as predicted, and it worked just as was described here. A couple tips I will pass to others, to pay it forward:

1) A couple weeks ago, I did call Disney IT to be sure everything in MDX looked the way it should. I knew it was 50/50 that I'd even get a CM that could help, but she did help me. Turns out when I first created my account I did something I shouldn't have, or that didn't work, by trying to send an invitation to my MIL to join my account or something like that. The CM I talked to put me on hold, cleared it all up, and returned to ask me to log out and in again, to be sure that it looked the way it should.

2) As described, at 12:59, MDX looked useless/fishy. It only showed me for FP+, and stated I could make my reservations on my check in date. Right on cue, all members of my party appeared and I could easily select all and go right to experiences.

3) I will reiterate what others told me here. Just pick your three choices first. It will give you 4 options for time frames. Just pick a close-ish one. In about 4 seconds, you can modify those times easily. Remember that you cannot overlap, so if your pre-assigned FP+ for one experience is during a time you really want a different experience, move that first one to a time far away first.

Otherwise, pretty easy for me. I did spend 19 minutes with it just b/c I am a little sleepy since we were up at 8 am opening Christmas presents and then hosting a ton of family all day. So I triple checked my work to be sure I didn't goof. But if I had been totally clear headed, I'd be in and out in 6 minutes.

Good luck all.

Thank you for this...mine is currently looking as you described! Hopefully it clears up at 1am!

 

[Jeniie]

This thread was incredibly helpful! My FP+ window opened tonight and I got everything I wanted in the time slots I was hoping for with no hiccups in the system. This trip is going to be great!

 

[Jfsag123]

We have added an extra day to our trip due to the stars aligning and the fates smiling on us. We were originally going to skip AK, but now with the added day, we're thinking of going. The problem is that my pre-purchased tickets no longer have enough days on them. Planning to add the extra day once were down there (after visiting at least one park on them, of course!), but this means I won't be able to make FP+ reservations for the AK day until the day before. What do you think my chances are of being able to get Kilimanjaro, dinosaur, and the LK show for mid-morning/early afternoon the day before during a busy mid-March week? If we don't think we can get the fastpasses, we probably will just stick with our current ticket length and have a resort day.

Thanks so much for all the helpfulness on this thread!

 

[mesaboy2]

We have added an extra day to our trip due to the stars aligning and the fates smiling on us. We were originally going to skip AK, but now with the added day, we're thinking of going. The problem is that my pre-purchased tickets no longer have enough days on them. Planning to add the extra day once were down there (after visiting at least one park on them, of course!), but this means I won't be able to make FP+ reservations for the AK day until the day before. What do you think my chances are of being able to get Kilimanjaro, dinosaur, and the LK show for mid-morning/early afternoon the day before during a busy mid-March week? If we don't think we can get the fastpasses, we probably will just stick with our current ticket length and have a resort day.

Thanks so much for all the helpfulness on this thread!

No guarantees from me, but I think you will likely be able to get FPs for those without any issues.

 

[Icarus3000]

Apologies in advance, but I didn't read all 102+ pages, and my search skillz may not be sufficient as I couldn't find a clear answer to this.

If your stay at a Disney Resort Hotel is shorter than your entire visit to the parks (e.g. Stay at Disney Resort Hotel one night, but buy 5 day pass to the parks), can you still book ALL your park ticket days 60 days in advance or only the 1 day you are staying at the resort hotel?

Thanks!

I still haven't been able to find an answer to this... Can anyone help me out?

 

[cel_disney]

I still haven't been able to find an answer to this... Can anyone help me out?

All of those people that were booking the throw away camp site were able to do this....it seems likely you should be able to book for the entire duration of your tickets.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I still haven't been able to find an answer to this... Can anyone help me out?

You can book for the days beyond your resort stay at 60 days prior to each day as long as you have enough ticket entitlements for each of those days.

 

[Jfsag123]

No guarantees from me, but I think you will likely be able to get FPs for those without any issues.

Thanks!