FastPass+ Discoveries!

[herewego1]

4) Be wary when trying to CHANGE FP+ experiences on the MDE app. You have a choice to change the time OR change the experience. I tried to change our 3:05 PoC to BTMR, as it said it was available. What the app does not tell you is what the available time is (I assumed it was the same time). So my 3:05 FP+ changed to 8:00pm for BTMR! I went to a kiosk location, and the CM there educated me that the app puts you through a 2-step process - change the experience, then the time. So you may not get the time you want, and once you commit to changing the experience, your previous FP+ is gone. I was able to get a time very close to my original back for PoC, but this mystery time factor makes me very wary of changing any experiences on my app going forward. If your 4th FP+ is too far out, you really reduce your chance of getting a 5th, so look for the closest time available to the current time, unless, it is an attraction you just have to ride at the expense of additional FP+.


1) You have FP+ windows, but once you use the first FP+ in your list, you can start to change the times of the other ones to compress your schedule further and get more FP+ later on. We had TestTrack FP+ for 9:10am. We used the FP+ at 9:15. Walked over to Spaceship Earth at 9:30 and the wait was 15 minutes, but our FP+ did not start until 10:10, so we were contemplating waiting in line. I went on the app, and was able to change our FP+ start time from 10:10am to 9:40am, and the changes were picked up immediately at the FP+ entrance, and we walked in at 9:35am. Then changed our last FP+ for Mission Space from 11:10am to 10:10am once we had used the SE FP+. Repeated this at HS with ToT (9:15 FP+) and Great Movie Ride (10:20am changed to 9:50am). We could not change our last one (TSMM-12:10pm) as there were no earlier times available (shocker!). So if you have a smartphone and can multi-task while walking, you can move your schedule around to maximize your FP+ experience and get more FP+. I wish I had figured this out on Day 1 rather than Day 3. You do have to go to a kiosk to add the 4th-?th FP+.

THANKS for this great information. Quick question based on these two points above. Your PoC/BTMR mishap happened because you weren't able to see the times beforehand AND you were changing the experience, correct?

Were you able to see the times available before changing in your second point because you were keeping the experience and only changing the time? For example, if at Spaceship Earth you said you wanted to change the time, were you given times available before committing to the switch?

Just want to be sure I have it straight! TIA!!

 

[leebee]

That is exactly what happened. I was so proud that I got BTMR, then I actually looked at my plans and saw the time was 5 hours later than my PoC FP+. And this issue only applies to your existing 3 FP+. Once you go to the kiosks for your 4th or greater, you can see the times available before you commit, much like when you book your originals on the website.

Even at the kiosk with a CM trying to change my mistake back to an earlier time, he told me that I had to commit to change the attraction before seeing what times are available. There were no 3pm FP+ for BTMR (this was at 2pm), so we flipped back to PoC and got a FP+ 30 minutes later than my previous one.

So how does this work if you are changing FP+#2 and FP+#3? I understand that once you use your first FP+ you can move your others up, but… on the 2nd fp+ if I have to pick the experience first and then change the time, what if the times available are later than the time I already have booked? Haven't I just shot myself in the foot regarding moving my FP+s earlier? (because if I understand correctly, once you choose an experience, you lose the one you already have booked.. yes?).

Maybe I am just dense. I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around all of this.

 

[neutie88]

THANKS for this great information. Quick question based on these two points above. Your PoC/BTMR mishap happened because you weren't able to see the times beforehand AND you were changing the experience, correct?

Were you able to see the times available before changing in your second point because you were keeping the experience and only changing the time? For example, if at Spaceship Earth you said you wanted to change the time, were you given times available before committing to the switch?

The MDE app on Android may function differently than an iPhone, but yes, my issue was with changing the EXPERIENCE. I changed times for a FP+ several times, and was always given a lengthy list of times to choose from. They were never in order by time though, the list was very random. I wonder if Disney is putting the times in order based on availability (most open slots)?

When I chose the experience, the app made it look like it was for the same time as my original FP+. It wasn't until I clicked DONE and refreshed my plans that I saw the time change.

 

[neutie88]

So how does this work if you are changing FP+#2 and FP+#3? I understand that once you use your first FP+ you can move your others up, but… on the 2nd fp+ if I have to pick the experience first and then change the time, what if the times available are later than the time I already have booked? Haven't I just shot myself in the foot regarding moving my FP+s earlier? (because if I understand correctly, once you choose an experience, you lose the one you already have booked.. yes?).

Maybe I am just dense. I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around all of this.

You only have to choose the experience if you want to change it. The app has two choices - CHANGE THE TIME or CHANGE THE EXPERIENCE. If you are just bumping your times, you will always get a list of times that are available for that FP+ experience you already had booked. But if you use your first FP+ at 9:05, and you want to change your second FP+ that was scheduled at 10:00 for a different EXPERIENCE, you may get a very late time, you just don't know until you commit to the change.

Another thing I observed was that in the tiering parks (HS, Epcot) you cannot change an experience to one from a different tier. I could not change Spaceship Earth to Maelstrom, for example. Either on my first three or even when we got a 4th one. Once you choose an attraction, you are locked into that tier until you use it or it lapses.

 

[disneydoodlebug]

Another thing I observed was that in the tiering parks (HS, Epcot) you cannot change an experience to one from a different tier. I could not change Spaceship Earth to Maelstrom, for example. Either on my first three or even when we got a 4th one. Once you choose an attraction, you are locked into that tier until you use it or it lapses.[/QUOTE]

Are you saying that your 4th or 5th, etc. fp+ can't be for a tier one attraction, even if you already used your original 3 attractions?

Maybe I am confused but I thought we couldn't make a 4th fp+ until we had used all our first 3 fp+, or the last window of time had elapsed. Am I wrong? What exactly is the earliest time you can get your 4th fp?

 

[MightyGitis]

Are you saying that your 4th or 5th, etc. fp+ can't be for a tier one attraction, even if you already used your original 3 attractions? Maybe I am confused but I thought we couldn't make a 4th fp+ until we had used all our first 3 fp+, or the last window of time had elapsed. Am I wrong? What exactly is the earliest time you can get your 4th fp?

What they mean is if you make a fourth for a tier 2 you can't change it to a tier 1. But if there are tier 1 slots available you can make your fourth tier 1. But after you make a tier 1 you can't change it to tier 2.

 

[g-dad66]

As a dedicated FP- SuperUser, my thanks to the OP for these great FP+ tips for becoming a FP+ SuperUser.

 

[disneydoodlebug]

Yes, thank you! We leave in 5 days and I'm so glad to have all these tips beforehand!

 

[PAL_1]

Neutie, thanks for the tremendous post. During your avid park hopping, did you always book your FP+ for your first park? When you hopped, how successful were you at pulling a 4th FP for a premium ride?

We'll be there on a July Saturday (trade show), going from AK to Epcot. I'm leaning toward holding our FP for Epcot to make sure TT is available. Thanks!

 

[scoobydooby]

Great post. I leave in 5 days and this will really help me

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Very helpful information OP. This is exactly the kind of thing I've been watching and waiting for. Actual strategies for FP+ and first hand information on the impact on standby lines.

As a dedicated FP- SuperUser, my thanks to the OP for these great FP+ tips for becoming a FP+ SuperUser.

I agree an excellent post!!

This might make me a FP+

We waited outside the Great Movie Ride for 20 minutes waiting for the FP+ return line. We walked in and the SB line was 12 people and FP+ 20.

If we knew we could have moved it to an earlier spot I wouldn't have been so aggravated to have wasted that time.

 

[Bellabully]

"So if you have a smartphone and can multi-task while walking." Thank you Michelle for the wonderful tips, all but this one. Please be careful and DON'T use your phone while walking through the parks, stop and move over to the side. I saw 2 people fall doing this on my trip in April and several others bumping into people around them. Please be careful and considerate of those around you.

 

[Corey127]

So I'm confused...if you want to move the time up and want to see what times are available on your phone, do I pick change the TIME or change the EXPERIENCE?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

"So if you have a smartphone and can multi-task while walking." Thank you Michelle for the wonderful tips, all but this one. Please be careful and DON'T use your phone while walking through the parks, stop and move over to the side. I saw 2 people fall doing this on my trip in April and several others bumping into people around them. Please be careful and considerate of those around you.

Yes to this!

I was in the Tequila Bar in Mexico and the girl at the next table at the very back of the room had her nose in the phone and didn't notice I was sitting next to her and I bumped into her because she was sitting between the tables. I am always telling my daughters they need to be aware of what is around them. She never saw me and I'm not small.

 

[MightyGitis]

So I'm confused...if you want to move the time up and want to see what times are available on your phone, do I pick change the TIME or change the EXPERIENCE?

To change the time you would pick change time. Changing the experience is for if you want to change which ride you have a FP for

 

[dawnmichele]

About this new rushing into the parks at ropedrop business - does this mean you can no longer leisurely stroll along Main Street taking it all in first thing? Can you step off to the side once you're through the tunnels and just wait for the crazed hordes to pass and then go along your way?

 

[HatboxHaint]

About this new rushing into the parks at ropedrop business - does this mean you can no longer leisurely stroll along Main Street taking it all in first thing? Can you step off to the side once you're through the tunnels and just wait for the crazed hordes to pass and then go along your way?

I am pretty sure it's mandatory to run down Main Street now. It's the new ultra mini main street marathon sponsored by rundisney.

 

[BlueFairy]

About this new rushing into the parks at ropedrop business - does this mean you can no longer leisurely stroll along Main Street taking it all in first thing? Can you step off to the side once you're through the tunnels and just wait for the crazed hordes to pass and then go along your way?

The way I understand it, if you are not interested in Fantasyland then you should hang back near the turnstiles (outside of the tunnels!) until the horde moves along. Then you'll be fine. If you are interested in Fantasyland (but not A&E) you should follow along closely so as not to be too far behind all those disappointed Frozen fans clogging up the standby lines in Fantasyland.

 

[Eldon_Brasche]

Interesting. We booked FP+ last September and used them in November and it wouldn't allow us to overlap by a half hour then, which is what people are describing now. I wonder if you experienced a glitch?

I was there in Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr & May and no overlapping was occurring during any of those trips. I did get in on the one day glitch at Epcot where we could get 2 tier one FP+'s in Feb though.

 

[noname70]

Regarding the unusable FP scenario when a ride is down, is it correct that the OP was able to simply tell the CM that their fast pass was unusable due to technical difficulties and ride the new attraction (with a blue Mickey)? If so, it seems there would be no way to track this and you could use this loophole to FP several rides the rest of the day due to the original "down" attraction.