FastPass+ Discoveries!

[DHSbutcher]

Was in the park today for a couple hours, didn't get any fast passes but checked the kiosks around 1:30. Everything was available except Anna and Elsa, wishes, MSEP, and FOF parade. Just an update

 

[TedMosby]

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.

If you're not above lying to CMs you could technically just do this all day without any reservations at all, but I would not recommend it. As a CM myself I will almost always give you the benefit of the doubt, but I am in no way required accommodate you and if I think you're lying to me I have no problem sending you to Guest Relations or a FP+ kiosk to get your "issues" sorted out.

edit: Sorry if that came off as rude, wasn't trying to be a jerk

 

[Day-Day]

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.

I learned this the hard way. I changed the time on a FP using my wife's iphone app to bump it up to an earlier time and didn't realize they were in random-like order. The first time listed was 10-11 PM with an obvious afternoon time listed 2nd. I picked the first time thinking it was 10-11 AM...oops; my eyes aren't so good or my mind just didn't pay attention since I was going with a logical time sequence order.

I mentioned this to a CM at a kiosk. He said that the times used to be listed in order and they realize that the current method is a problem [for us lesser minded folk] and that the plan is to go back to listing the times in sequence again.

 

[dawnmichele]

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.

Count me out!

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.

Thanks. That makes sense, to just wait to the hordes clear and then wander in like normal.

 

[mello]

"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.

I think you're right about this. I've been picturing hordes of people wandering around with their heads down, bumping into everything. LOL, but not LOL, kwim?

And yes, OP, this was a really, really helpful post about FP+ use. Most helpful one I've seen.

 

[disnut1149]

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.

to the Dis! Great first post. Too funny!

 

[disneybliss2]

Was in the park today for a couple hours, didn't get any fast passes but checked the kiosks around 1:30. Everything was available except Anna and Elsa, wishes, MSEP, and FOF parade. Just an update

Did you happen to notice what return times looked like? Any decent return times or all they several hours out?

 

[maryj11]

We were going to arrive at rope drop but decided to sleep in and arrive around 10:00 on our MK day. Which the day we plan to go to MK is SDMT opening day so I think we will stay out of the hoards of people trying to get in at rope drop I'm thinking with A& E and SDMT opening it is going to be crazy.

 

[audrey2580]

thanks for taking the time to post! great tips.

 

[neutie88]

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!

We made the decision when the announcement was made that additional FP+ would be available to move our FP+ to the morning park, so we had the opportunity for FP+ in the evening. So we moved FP+ to AK the morning we were going there, and hoped for the best for MK in the evening. To be honest, we did not have great luck with the premier FP attractions in the evening, but there were always plenty of attractions available. We did Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and Winnie the Pooh in the evening we were in MK.

 

[neutie88]

"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.

LOL! My husband acted as my designated guide the couple of times I did this. We were standing under Spaceship Earth when I made the time change on that one.

I will also say that the WiFi was MUCH improved over our October trip. I think Disney has done a great job of beefing up their system. Only in the deepest recesses of certain rides could I not get a signal. So that is great as standing in line after you have gone through the last Magic Band checkin (there are always 2) is a great time to update your FP+.

 

[neutie88]

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.

Yes, I was able to go to a nearby attraction and the CM there did know about the closed attraction, so it is not like you can lie and say something is closed that is not. And there was a point where MDE caught up with the closure and gave me a credit which was then used as whatever attraction we went into (Primeval Whirl on AK day). So the timeframe is limited, but I am not sure what the lag is, or how consistent it is. Disney would never force someone to lose a FP+ because a ride is down. Both times the CM let us in without question even though we were blue on the Magic Band scanner. If you are even in line close to one of the scanners, take a look at what pops up on the kiosk screen there. It identifies you by name, and has some other information under it, which I think includes your current FP. The CM can see you have a FP for a closed attraction and can allow you in. I know at BTMR, they were specific that we could not use our FP credit in Fantasyland, only AdventureLand or FrontierLand.

 

[Day-Day]

LOL! My husband acted as my designated guide the couple of times I did this. We were standing under Spaceship Earth when I made the time change on that one.

I will also say that the WiFi was MUCH improved over our October trip. I think Disney has done a great job of beefing up their system. Only in the deepest recesses of certain rides could I not get a signal. So that is great as standing in line after you have gone through the last Magic Band checkin (there are always 2) is a great time to update your FP+.

I follow my wife when I’m making FP changes using her phone. That way, I only crash into her. I’m bigger than her so she flies out into other people or objects and I come out unscathed.

 

[rcklein5269]

Can anyone confirm that with the FP for TT you still get to design your car where in the single rider line you bypass that? Have a son who wouldn't want to miss the designing part?

 

[mesaboy2]

Can anyone confirm that with the FP for TT you still get to design your car where in the single rider line you bypass that? Have a son who wouldn't want to miss the designing part?

Correct as of my experience 3 weeks ago.

 

[scottmel]

Can you clarify this for me? We are in the park early for breakfast. I want to be done with breakfast by 8:40. I plan on Seven Mine Train as my first ride and want to line up near teacups pathway. Can I do this since I am in the park early and ahead of the people who are being led down main street? I won't be stuck at the Merry Go Round right? That is where the Elsa people line up...I want to be over by the tea cups to cut around that way to 7 dwarf. Can I do this? thanks!

 

[MightyGitis]

Can you clarify this for me? We are in the park early for breakfast. I want to be done with breakfast by 8:40. I plan on Seven Mine Train as my first ride and want to line up near teacups pathway. Can I do this since I am in the park early and ahead of the people who are being led down main street? I won't be stuck at the Merry Go Round right? That is where the Elsa people line up...I want to be over by the tea cups to cut around that way to 7 dwarf. Can I do this? thanks!

Hopefully someone can give you a definitive answer. But normally you are corralled so as not to give you a head start ahead of the people at rope drop an then you are fed into that group. But the mine trains only been officially open a day so they might be doing something different now.

 

[scottmel]

Hopefully someone can give you a definitive answer. But normally you are corralled so as not to give you a head start ahead of the people at rope drop an then you are fed into that group. But the mine trains only been officially open a day so they might be doing something different now.

In prior years I always lined up on the little bridge by tomorrowland for the internal rope drop there going for Space Mountain. But now I want to be lined up for 7 dwarfs. I am such a bad visualizer I can't SEE where the elsa crowd would veer off...but I would think there is an internal rope near the tea cups...
thanks!

 

[Virtucomp]

Thanks for doing all that "research" for us. I realize it is a grueling task to wonder the park testing the FP+ and you performed admirably!

 

[wareagle57]

Correct as of my experience 3 weeks ago.

Someone told me on here yesterday single riders get to design as well. I'm thinking they are mistaken and it is an abbreviated version of the design process with pre-made cars to choose from. Guess I'll find out in 2 days!