Fastpass need in September????

[DCWarrior]

We are a group of nine people, ages 3,8,10, four 30-somethings and two 60-something grandmas, heading to the World in September. We are staying offsite. I seem to be the planner of it all. Maybe the others will be more interested in some input as we get closer, but now I am the one thinking about the details. I know I have time until I can think about booking fast passes, but it seems like a difficult thing to think about doing for a big group with a age range like this, too.

So, I'm just wondering what you experienced DISers think about the need for fast passes at the different parks on low crowd level times such as our dates of Sept. 3-10???? My wife and I went in September like 14 years ago and remember little to no wait times. But, that was 14 years ago. Hmm...

 

[TreeSapp]

We are a group of nine people, ages 3,8,10, four 30-somethings and two 60-something grandmas, heading to the World in September. We are staying offsite. I seem to be the planner of it all. Maybe the others will be more interested in some input as we get closer, but now I am the one thinking about the details. I know I have time until I can think about booking fast passes, but it seems like a difficult thing to think about doing for a big group with a age range like this, too.

So, I'm just wondering what you experienced DISers think about the need for fast passes at the different parks on low crowd level times such as our dates of Sept. 3-10???? My wife and I went in September like 14 years ago and remember little to no wait times. But, that was 14 years ago. Hmm...

I would say: go ahead and book the biggest attractions (Soarin, Toy Story, Mine Train, Safari etc) for everyone at a non-meal kind of time. Just to have them held. Then if they want to change their minds and such on the day of, let them. But this way no one is crying that they didn't even have a chance at the 'good stuff'

 

[wdw4rfam]

I definitely would. We go every September and it gets busier every year. We saw some pretty decent crowds last couple years. People are booking free dining, and its driving September crowds up.

 

[crazymomof4]

I definitely would. We go every September and it gets busier every year. We saw some pretty decent crowds last couple years. People are booking free dining, and its driving September crowds up.

I agree. Years and years ago Sept (and Oct for that matter) was DEAD! Now the various promos and special events are drawing the guests in (as WDW intended they would). We are going this Sept and I've noted that since FD was offered, several additions have been made to the EMHs for our time period. This would seem to indicate that FD was effective and the resorts are filling up.

To the OP, yes, I would book the FP+s.

 

[DCWarrior]

Thanks for the thoughts everybody!!! It definitely won't hurt to just book some for big stuff once we have an idea of what days in what parks. But, I am kind of confused about something. I've read two different things, I think. We are staying offsite and have bought park tickets through Orbitz. Will we even be able to book fast passes before we get to the parks??? I've read only 30 days in advance and I've read off site people can't before arriving. How will this work for us???

 

[DisneyWisher]

You need to link the tickets to your MDE acct. once you do you will be able to book 30 days in advance. Compared to any other time of the year you are going during the slowest week. (We'll be there 9/7-9/11). If there are more than 1 family you might want to have them make their own MDE acct but you can still link and have control over their FPs. In March it was me, DD30, her 2 kids, DD28, SIL and their daughter, my Niece, her husband and their kids. My daughter could make and changes all the FPs but when we split up we still had the ability to change and book on our own.

 

[skier_pete]

I would say for rides like TSMM, Soarin', Test Track, Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, the answer is yes. Even in September, these rides will get 60 minute+ waits by 10 AM. Where you probably don't need them is for the 2nd tier rides at Epcot and DHS, these rides probably won't ever have a wait, but I would still use the TSMM and Soarin' / Test Track ones on those park days.

At MK, I would definitely say you will want a Seven Dwarfs Mine Car Ride, and maybe Peter Pan since you have young kids, and probably a Splash Mountain and or Space Mountain. Again, those are all rides that will have hour+ waits by mid-day. I realize with different ages represented you may not want to book all the same rides, but I would still recommend booking SOMETHING. Maybe the Seniors would book them for Dumbo or Peter Pan or Winnie the Pooh, and they could take the 2 year old with them, since the 2-year old wouldn't require a ticket/FP+ anyways.

In the end, here's a key fact: you are better off booking the FP+ and NOT using them than not booking them and wishing that you did.