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

[larryz]

We are headed back to WDW this summer (June 10) with four days military tickets. When we went last time (Spring Break 2014) FP+ was just being rolled out and we had military tickets, so I had to make all of our FP reservations in the park.

This year we are taking DH, myself, my cousin (22-first time guest!), DD8, DS4, and a newborn. We wil have four days of park hopper tickets. I love Dis planning, but I am a tangled mess of nerves with trying to decide what to book for FP and how to work out dining reservations. If anyone has tips, especially on how to be utilize rider swap, I would really appreciate it.

Here is what I have planned for park days based on recommended park calendars and our dining reservations. My husband and cousin both picked an Epcot restaurant for their picks of the week.

We are rope drop people, and usually head back for a few hours around 12-4. Then we stay out until the parks close. We will be driving and we are staying at SSR.

Sunday, June 12- Animal Kingdom opening, Epcot dinner at Teppen Edo at 5.
Monday- HS morning, Epcot Beirgarten reservation 5:15
Tuesday, June 14- MK day - before park opening breakfast CRT at 8:20, lunch at BOG
Thursday, June 16- MK day, reservations at Ohana at 5 pm

Looks like a plan. As long as you have your Salute ticket voucher (from a base) or ticket (from SOG), you'll be able to load the ticket number against a person in your itinerary, and will be able to make FP+ selections 60 days in advance on your MDE account.

 

[chekhovgirl]

We did the reserved Wishes area one year and liked it a lot. Liked the location and liked not having to stake out a spot. Otherwise, we are not really parade/firework/event people, but we love Wishes.

Question: Now that you can get additional FP after the initial three are used, if you reserve the Wishes area and won't be "using" it until 10PM, Does that mean you can't get any additional FP that day before Wishes? We'll be going at a time in April that should have shorter wait times in general, but still want to take advantage of FP if possible. Thansk!

 

[siskaren]

Question: Now that you can get additional FP after the initial three are used, if you reserve the Wishes area and won't be "using" it until 10PM, Does that mean you can't get any additional FP that day before Wishes?

Correct.

 

[chekhovgirl]

Correct.

Drat. Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[hodad]

Onsite guests (which includes those staying at the Swan and Dolphin but not at Shades of Green nor any Downtown Disney-area hotels) can prebook attractions up to 60 days in advance of the beginning of an on-site stay and for their entire trip.

Apologies if this has been answered before, but if I am only attending a park the day after I have checked out of an on-site resort, can I still book fastpass+ reservations 60 days in advance for that day's park visit? (In other words: day 1, check in. day 2, check out. day 3, visit park)

 

[hiroMYhero]

Apologies if this has been answered before, but if I am only attending a park the day after I have checked out of an on-site resort, can I still book fastpass+ reservations 60 days in advance for that day's park visit? (In other words: day 1, check in. day 2, check out. day 3, visit park)

Yes. Exactly 60 days prior to that park day you can book your FPs. The 60-day window rolls forward each day.

 

[hodad]

Thanks for the response, hiroMYhero. Just to clarify, I can do this even if I don't visit any parks while I'm staying on-site?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks for the response, hiroMYhero. Just to clarify, I can do this even if I don't visit any parks while I'm staying on-site?

Correct. As long as you have tickets linked, your window opens 60 days prior to check-in... the rolling window continues forward. The FP system doesn't care if/when you visit a park, as long as you have a ticket entitlement linked you can book FPs.

 

[hodad]

Thank you!

 

[2nd Time Bride]

Question on an on-site split stay..currently I have OKW booked (via DVC) June 12-17th. I have 3 reservations due to my room category not being available for 1 day, which I have waitlisted. I have an AP but am bringing my niece, who will have tickets for all 6 days.

When I look at my reservations, I see April 13th as my date for FP+ for the first reservation (June 12-13th), April 14th for the second (June 13-14th) and April 15th for the last (June 14-17th). Am I reading this correctly that, unless my wait list comes thru and I combine my reservations into one, I will need to get online 3 nights in a row to get my FP+?

I know it's a ways out but my second choice room category is still available now so I could drop the waitlist and combine the reservation into one. I would sacrifice the room to get the FP+ we want! TIA!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Question on an on-site split stay..currently I have OKW booked (via DVC) June 12-17th. I have 3 reservations due to my room category not being available for 1 day, which I have waitlisted. I have an AP but am bringing my niece, who will have tickets for all 6 days.

When I look at my reservations, I see April 13th as my date for FP+ for the first reservation (June 12-13th), April 14th for the second (June 13-14th) and April 15th for the last (June 14-17th). Am I reading this correctly that, unless my wait list comes thru and I combine my reservations into one, I will need to get online 3 nights in a row to get my FP+?

I know it's a ways out but my second choice room category is still available now so I could drop the waitlist and combine the reservation into one. I would sacrifice the room to get the FP+ we want! TIA!

Onsite stay > onsite stay > onsite stay keeps the FP booking open. You'll be able to book for all nights when your 60-day booking window opens based on your first onsite stay.

 

[2nd Time Bride]

Onsite stay > onsite stay > onsite stay keeps the FP booking open. You'll be able to book for all nights when your 60-day booking window opens based on your first onsite stay.

Thanks!

 

[wed100105]

Have people had luck getting 4th FPs at MK around noon? I was thinking of booking three FP in the morning 9, 10, and 11, and then trying for a 4th.

 

[subtchr]

Have people had luck getting 4th FPs at MK around noon? I was thinking of booking three FP in the morning 9, 10, and 11, and then trying for a 4th.

Absolutely! There will always be SOMETHING available, even very late in the day. At noon, almost anything other than parades and Wishes, or A&E and 7DMT will likely be available, and even those pop up occasionally.

Also, remember that once you have a 4th or subsequent FP in your MDE, it can be modified (time or attraction) in the app, limited of course by what is available.

 

[dwheaton]

What are the best kiosks to use for extra day-of FastPasses at the Magic Kingdom? I'm curious if some are a lot more crowded than others.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If you are in the City Hall area, there are two kiosks inside City Hall to the right of the main entrance. They aren't listed on the app but they are there and usually no line at all.

 

[Babydreamz]

I discovered something new - hadn't seen it discussed, though I don't follow the thread regularly. I did read the first few posts and the last eight or so pages.

The rule (insofar as I was aware) is no overlapping FPs. However, I discovered a small loophole of limited usefulness. Once you have redeemed a FP+, you can move your next reservation into that time slot.

Example: we had an 8:30A Everest, 9:30A Dino, and 10:30A Primeval Whirl. We did Safari at rope drop, hit Everest around 9 and made it to Dino about 9:25. Waited for that window to open, and then as soon as we tapped our bands at the checkpoint, I went to the app and was able to move PW to 9:55.

It was around 9:40 at this time, so we were able to go to PW immediately upon finishing, and were leaving the park by 10:20 (instead of standing around waiting for our window to open.)

Obviously this will only work with lower-level FPs that are likely to have immediate availability, but it saved us a good 45m of waiting around. (We also looked at making a similar change at DHS one night so it's a repeatable phenomenon.)

Is this a known feature?

I didn't even think about doing that. That is good to know. Thanks.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I know this has been asked before. We are going to stay onsite for 5 days then move offsite. I know you can book a fastpass for the check out day, but we are checking out on a Monday and going to AK on a Tuesday. Will that be a 60 day or revert back to a 30 day? I purposely scheduled AK for that day because it isn't hard to get reservations for most of the attractions, but I was just wondering. I'm trying to rearrange our schedule so we have more down time. (late on Wednesday, half park Thurs. rope drop Friday, no park Saturday, etc. I would love to trade my Epcot Thursday for AK, then make EP Tuesday, but not if the fp bookings are 30 days out.
Thanks!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Will that be a 60 day or revert back to a 30 day?

60 days out. Your 60 day window rolls forward each day after your check-out date.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Hopefully you guys can help me. We bought our tickets (through Disney) separate from the room. Now we want to add a day. I'm aware we can upgrade once we get to the park but that won't help with the fps. Is there any number I can call to add a 6th day? I figure if not, the best strategy is to skip booking AK in advance as their fps seem to be more available a few days out. We are arriving an May 4th and originally weren't going to do a park that day, but since its EMH we figured we'd head over for dinner and see a few evening attractions.