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

[doconeill]

OK, I consider myself a Disney vet but haven't been to the parks since FP+ has started. After being initially overwhelmed, I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Our party of 5 will be off site, we already have tickets in hand (bought from UT) but, because of different arrival dates, some will be 10 day, some 5 day etc. We don't have Magicbands (is this a mistake? I think we'd only use them for FP). My question is: if I arrange our FP+ on MDX, and we don't have Magicbands, what gets us on the attraction in the FP line? I spoke to someone at Disney and they explained that we'd be issued a card "at the turnstile that would be linked into MDX and our tickets" which we would then use for access to the FP line. The person helping me was very informative but seemed less than confident on this point. Does this sound accurate?

Also, would you suggest I do all of our FP+ on my MDX for our entire party (select all)? It will be me, DW, DS21, DD18 and DD11 and some of us our coaster types and others not.

Thanks in advance for any help. This has been a bit overwhelming but I'm a planner so I'm starting to buy in (although I have no CLUE how this is going to impact my touring plans).

You don't need MagicBands...if you don't have them, you simply use your tickets. The tickets themselves are RFID cards.

Where are you getting your tickets from? You need to get them in advance in order to link them in to MDX and make FP+ selections.

 

[coachb]

we got our tickets from UndercoverTourist

 

[doconeill]

we got our tickets from UndercoverTourist

Then the cards you received you will use to enter the parks and redeem your Fastpasses.

 

[mesaboy2]

Then the cards you received you will use to enter the parks and redeem your Fastpasses.

PP, see Bullet #2 under General in the OP.

 

[Cluelyss]

Yes. I always start my FPs at MK around 11. There is very little need for them on most attractions before that. I was in MK last Saturday (not August crowd levels, I realize!) but we had about 15 minute waits for both Splash and Big Thunder between 9:30 and 10:30. In October we did both with about 20 minute waits each between 10 and 11.

 

[Cluelyss]

I am going to visit WDW, August 9-12...high capacity time. We are a group of 5.
Is it safe to say we could walk on Splash Mtn and BTMR both before 10am without fast passes with little to no waits...and start booking fastpasses at 10am, 11am, 12 noon .Or should we play it safe and get a fast pass for one of these . I value your opinion...thanks

My reply above was to this question!

 

[disneyjr77]

Honestly, in September the only rides you'll really need FP+ for at Epcot is Soarin' and TT. Pick one of those for each day; I would recommend afternoon on day 1 and late morning/early afternoon day 2.

Thanks!

 

[MissMaryQC]

I've never used a FP for a show and we are considering using one for Wishes during our trip in September. I say considering because I know if we book that FP+ we have to do it at our 60 day (July 15th) which means it is one of our original three, thus not allowing the option for more than three FP+ selections.

Here are my questions, to anyone willing to answer:

1. Where is the FP+ viewing area for Wishes?
2. Can we be in that area for the parade before and the castle show?
3. How necessary will possible extra FP+ be in mid-September?

Thank you in advance. None of us has ever used FP+, that combined with all the changes coming to the hub we are at a loss.

 

[Cluelyss]

I've never used a FP for a show and we are considering using one for Wishes during our trip in September. I say considering because I know if we book that FP+ we have to do it at our 60 day (July 15th) which means it is one of our original three, thus not allowing the option for more than three FP+ selections.

Here are my questions, to anyone willing to answer:

1. Where is the FP+ viewing area for Wishes?
2. Can we be in that area for the parade before and the castle show?
3. How necessary will possible extra FP+ be in mid-September?

Thank you in advance. None of us has ever used FP+, that combined with all the changes coming to the hub we are at a loss.

There are 2 areas for the Wishes FP, one in front of Casey's and the other in front of The Plaza. I've read that you can enter the area up to 2 hours before the fireworks begin, but you will not have a good view of the parade from there. You will be able to see the castle production show perfectly though. My family hits the park at rope drop, breaks after lunch then returns for dinner and evening entertainment. I almost always plan my FPs for the evening as we can get so much done before lunch just riding standby. So I would not hesitate using one of my original FPs for the fireworks and would not feel that I was missing out on additional FP opportunities at all. In fact, after being crushed on Main Street last Saturday, we've already decided we will FP Wishes on our next trip!

 

[MissMaryQC]

There are 2 areas for the Wishes FP, one in front of Casey's and the other in front of The Plaza. I've read that you can enter the area up to 2 hours before the fireworks begin, but you will not have a good view of the parade from there. You will be able to see the castle production show perfectly though. My family hits the park at rope drop, breaks after lunch then returns for dinner and evening entertainment. I almost always plan my FPs for the evening as we can get so much done before lunch just riding standby. So I would not hesitate using one of my original FPs for the fireworks and would not feel that I was missing out on additional FP opportunities at all. In fact, after being crushed on Main Street last Saturday, we've already decided we will FP Wishes on our next trip!

Thanks so much!

 

[Hunterr]

Long story short:
Is reserving a fast pass for certain popular attractions (Soarin & Test Track) 4 to 5 days prior to going to the park likely to happen, or would the passes be gone by then?

Specifically, we are going to Epcot on July 13th, but I would have the actual tickets to link to the app and reserve the passes either Wednesday or Thursday the 8th/9th of July (a few days before).

 

[BagOLaughs]

I must admit I feel all this FP+ stuff is really confusing. Its going to be my 1st time using it in September. Its good in the fact that we can book our FP and not have to worry about being at park opening to run around and get FP tickets anymore (as we'll be staying in Cabana bay we get a bit more sleep yey)

However Its going to be a bit confusing when I do get round to booking the FP. We're planning on having our 1st day visiting Disney on the 18th September and then 21st, 22nd and 28th. We've got 4 day part hopper tickets from Undercover tourists which are valid for 14 days so we can use them non consecutively.

So, quick question, if I've read all the information on here correctly I can book my FP+ for all my 4 days on the 19th of August?

Thanks

 

[anorman]

OK, I consider myself a Disney vet but haven't been to the parks since FP+ has started. After being initially overwhelmed, I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Our party of 5 will be off site, we already have tickets in hand (bought from UT) but, because of different arrival dates, some will be 10 day, some 5 day etc. We don't have Magicbands (is this a mistake? I think we'd only use them for FP). My question is: if I arrange our FP+ on MDX, and we don't have Magicbands, what gets us on the attraction in the FP line? I spoke to someone at Disney and they explained that we'd be issued a card "at the turnstile that would be linked into MDX and our tickets" which we would then use for access to the FP line. The person helping me was very informative but seemed less than confident on this point. Does this sound accurate?

Also, would you suggest I do all of our FP+ on my MDX for our entire party (select all)? It will be me, DW, DS21, DD18 and DD11 and some of us our coaster types and others not.

Thanks in advance for any help. This has been a bit overwhelming but I'm a planner so I'm starting to buy in (although I have no CLUE how this is going to impact my touring plans).

Thank you for posting this. Your situation is an exact description of mine; Disney vet, UT tickets, first FP+ experience. It is great to see the replies!

 

[mesaboy2]

Long story short:
Is reserving a fast pass for certain popular attractions (Soarin & Test Track) 4 to 5 days prior to going to the park likely to happen, or would the passes be gone by then?

Specifically, we are going to Epcot on July 13th, but I would have the actual tickets to link to the app and reserve the passes either Wednesday or Thursday the 8th/9th of July (a few days before).

You will probably be fine. Note you will not be able to select both TT and Soarin' on the same day, since they are in the same tier. You can book one of them per day.

I must admit I feel all this FP+ stuff is really confusing. Its going to be my 1st time using it in September. Its good in the fact that we can book our FP and not have to worry about being at park opening to run around and get FP tickets anymore (as we'll be staying in Cabana bay we get a bit more sleep yey)

However Its going to be a bit confusing when I do get round to booking the FP. We're planning on having our 1st day visiting Disney on the 18th September and then 21st, 22nd and 28th. We've got 4 day part hopper tickets from Undercover tourists which are valid for 14 days so we can use them non consecutively.

So, quick question, if I've read all the information on here correctly I can book my FP+ for all my 4 days on the 19th of August?

Thanks

Since you are staying offsite (Cabana Bay), you can book each day at 30 days before. You cannot book all of them on 8/19.

 

[anorman]

I must admit I feel all this FP+ stuff is really confusing. Its going to be my 1st time using it in September. Its good in the fact that we can book our FP and not have to worry about being at park opening to run around and get FP tickets anymore (as we'll be staying in Cabana bay we get a bit more sleep yey)

However Its going to be a bit confusing when I do get round to booking the FP. We're planning on having our 1st day visiting Disney on the 18th September and then 21st, 22nd and 28th. We've got 4 day part hopper tickets from Undercover tourists which are valid for 14 days so we can use them non consecutively.

So, quick question, if I've read all the information on here correctly I can book my FP+ for all my 4 days on the 19th of August?

Thanks

Someone correct me if I am wrong, if you are staying off site, you have to book each day individually. I think the booking of fastpasses from the date of your first visit including all park days is reserved for onsite guests only. I am offsite at a vacation villa and plan 3 park days at Disney which means I will have to get up early 30 days in advance of each of my scheduled days in order to book FP+ selections for that park day. So for you this would mean making your FP+ bookings on August 19th and 22nd and 23rd and 29th for each of your planned days.

 

[mesaboy2]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, if you are staying off site, you have to book each day individually. I think the booking of fastpasses from the date of your first visit including all park days is reserved for onsite guests only. I am offsite at a vacation villa and plan 3 park days at Disney which means I will have to get up early 30 days in advance of each of my scheduled days in order to book FP+ selections for that park day. So for you this would mean making your FP+ bookings on August 19th and 22nd and 23rd and 29th for each of your planned days.

You got it.

 

[BagOLaughs]

Thank you all for your replies, you're all very sweet !

That makes planning so much easier know i know what i'm doing! i'm excited to use the app (hopefully it will work for me so I'll stay excited) I've got it already downloaded on my phone and ipad in anticipation.

 

[dbramer]

Question for the undisputed master of FP+. I made my FP's for my upcoming August trip. On one day, we are doing DTD with family in Orlando. I scheduled three fp's because it made me, even though we are not going to be in the park except the morning for BBB/CRT and in the evening for Wishes. I needed an A&E and something for me and DS to do while DW and DD are in BBB. I got 7DT for 9:05 even though we will be right there at RD for us. Got A&E for DD and DW after CRT. I also got wishes for us all that night. We were given two other FP's for when we weren't going to be there, so I canceled them so someone else could get them. Now, I wanted to go back in and add an EWTB for DD and DW for the time between BBB and our CRT ADR. When I go in to add an FP, it tells me that it will cancel the existing FP's. Not what I want to do, those two still have an FP available. Why is trying to cancel my others? What do I need to do to add a single FP for a day?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Question for the undisputed master of FP+. I made my FP's for my upcoming August trip. On one day, we are doing DTD with family in Orlando. I scheduled three fp's because it made me, even though we are not going to be in the park except the morning for BBB/CRT and in the evening for Wishes. I needed an A&E and something for me and DS to do while DW and DD are in BBB. I got 7DT for 9:05 even though we will be right there at RD for us. Got A&E for DD and DW after CRT. I also got wishes for us all that night. We were given two other FP's for when we weren't going to be there, so I canceled them so someone else could get them. Now, I wanted to go back in and add an EWTB for DD and DW for the time between BBB and our CRT ADR. When I go in to add an FP, it tells me that it will cancel the existing FP's. Not what I want to do, those two still have an FP available. Why is trying to cancel my others? What do I need to do to add a single FP for a day?

It's because you 'canceled' those two FP entitlements rather than leaving them in your MDE account. Mesa always recommends 'modifying' and never 'canceling.'

It's now too late to choose a 3rd FP for them.

 

[Cluelyss]

Question for the undisputed master of FP+. I made my FP's for my upcoming August trip. On one day, we are doing DTD with family in Orlando. I scheduled three fp's because it made me, even though we are not going to be in the park except the morning for BBB/CRT and in the evening for Wishes. I needed an A&E and something for me and DS to do while DW and DD are in BBB. I got 7DT for 9:05 even though we will be right there at RD for us. Got A&E for DD and DW after CRT. I also got wishes for us all that night. We were given two other FP's for when we weren't going to be there, so I canceled them so someone else could get them. Now, I wanted to go back in and add an EWTB for DD and DW for the time between BBB and our CRT ADR. When I go in to add an FP, it tells me that it will cancel the existing FP's. Not what I want to do, those two still have an FP available. Why is trying to cancel my others? What do I need to do to add a single FP for a day?

Call Disney tech support and see if they can add back the FP for you. Otherwise you will have to cancel and start over to get all 3 back (which I would not recommend if you have A&E scheduled that day!).

A note of caution for you and everyone else....when you CANCEL you are canceling the option to have a FP, you are not just canceling that particular choice. Always modify if you need to make a change to an existing selection.