Fastpass strategies for HS with JTA

[Arden01]

Our FPP date is coming up in two weeks and I'm mapping out a plan. It's our first visit to WDW, but I've been doing a ton of research and talking to everyone I know who has been for months. What is throwing me for a loop is HS. Traveling w us are my DH, twin DDs (age 9), BIL and SIL in late August. My daughters aren't interested in the stunt shows or most of the thrill rides. What they want to do is JTA, Animation Academy, TSMM, Beauty and the Beast, Muppets, maybe VOTLM. One DD want to do ST, the other doesn't. I figure I'll let her go with her dad while my other daughter I do something else. It seems like JTA is the X factor and we'll have to work our day around it. We plan to be there for RP nice and early, like around 8.

Will the JTA signup take more than 20-30 min? Will I have a choice of time slots if I arrive super early or is it hit or miss as to when? I'm hoping for anything between 10-2.

How would you plan FPP?
I was thinking 9-10 or 10-11 for TSMM.

I have no idea when to schedule the other FPP bc of JTA. Thinking Star Tours, VOTLM, Muppets. I've heard most of them don't have long waits in the morning, Should I just schedule the FPP and let them expire if we don't get to them? I am thinking 11:30-12:30 for ST and later in the day for VOTLM. In the other hand, JTA is right next to ST and it seems like we could just go there right after sign ups for JTA.

We would like to leave the park between 2-3.

We are going to EP that evening so hoping to get a 4th FP for anything that evening.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

What ever time you choose to do Jedi training remember that you have to check in 20 mins before your start time and the show takes about 30 mins. SO leave an hour to do it.

 

[Arden01]

Good advice. Thanks. Do you think I should book the earlier FPP for TSMM (9-10), try for the 10 and later JTA times? and let the rest ofmthemday just unfold as it will? I wonder how easy it is to change FPP times for ST or VOTLM when I'm in the park?

 

[Arden01]

Sorry for the ipad typos.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

Good advice. Thanks. Do you think I should book the earlier FPP for TSMM (9-10), try for the 10 and later JTA times? and let the rest ofmthemday just unfold as it will? I wonder how easy it is to change FPP times for ST or VOTLM when I'm in the park?

Unless people ask for a certain time they fill up jta from the earlier times first"
We went may 4th did fp tsmm 9-10 jta at 10.10am and had fp star tours 10-11 and did this straight after jta. You could do this then watch 1pmish batb show.
Jta gets cancelled if it rains so look at the weather forecast and book a time slot when there is less chance of rain.

 

[Arden01]

Unless people ask for a certain time they fill up jta from the earlier times first" We went may 4th did fp tsmm 9-10 jta at 10.10am and had fp star tours 10-11 and did this straight after jta. You could do this then watch 1pmish batb show. Jta gets cancelled if it rains so look at the weather forecast and book a time slot when there is less chance of rain.

Perfect! This is exactly the advice I was looking for. Thank you so much. One more question - what time did you arrive pre-rd to secure that slot? We were thinking of getting to HS at 8. We are going end of Aug, low crowds predicted, and on a recommended day (Fri). Obviously, we will have to change our plans if it rains. TIA.

 

[1 DISNEY FAN]

We went Sunday non EMH and most recomended day, although it was busy as it was Star Wars day" I think we got there before 8.15 and queued at the far right at the turn stiles for the shortest queue. Then we ran to Jedi training sign up and took about 15 mins to sign up. We was planning on going straight to meet buzz and woody after sign up then do tsmm after but my family thought it would be a great idea to wonder off without telling me where they were going" so I spent a while looking for them then had only time for tsmm before Jedi training.

 

[Arden01]

We went Sunday non EMH and most recomended day, although it was busy as it was Star Wars day" I think we got there before 8.15 and queued at the far right at the turn stiles for the shortest queue. Then we ran to Jedi training sign up and took about 15 mins to sign up. We was planning on going straight to meet buzz and woody after sign up then do tsmm after but my family thought it would be a great idea to wonder off without telling me where they were going" so I spent a while looking for them then had only time for tsmm before Jedi training.

Thanks!

 

[shan2321]

When you sign up for JTA, they'll ask if you have any FP+ and will work around it as best as they can. We didn't get in line for JTA until 8:30a on a SW weekends day and waited about 30 minutes, got a show time of 2:30.