Fastpass Strategy

[karpy111]

I am curious to hear how many people use the new Fastpass system. We always get to the parks at rope drop so I was wondering if we should ride as many rides possible in the morning while parks arent as busy and schedule my fastpasses for later in the day.

OR

Correct me if i am wrong but I heard you can get a 4th, 5th... fastpass if you use all of your scheduled 3. So I am wondering then is it better to use all of your fastpasses early so you can schedule a couple extra later in the day.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[slappy1974]

Our strategy is to schedule FP+ for the top 3 headliners starting around 11am. We arrive at RD and ride everything else we want to do early, then use the 3 scheduled FP's.

After the third, we've also had good luck adding more FP's the same day.

We usually go home for a break after lunch, then will use more FP's at night when we go to a different park.

We've had good luck with the 4th, 5th, 6th, etc. FP+, they have all had return times of 1 hour or less, usually around 30 minutes.
But don't expect Anna & Elsa, Everest, or Test Track.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I am curious to hear how many people use the new Fastpass system. We always get to the parks at rope drop so I was wondering if we should ride as many rides possible in the morning while parks arent as busy and schedule my fastpasses for later in the day.

Yes. From a general standpoint, this will be the most effective use.

Correct me if i am wrong but I heard you can get a 4th, 5th... fastpass if you use all of your scheduled 3. So I am wondering then is it better to use all of your fastpasses early so you can schedule a couple extra later in the day.
Thanks for the advice.

No, because you don't know what will be available later in the day or what times it will be available. The goal should not be to accumulate the most FP+, but rather to wait as little as possible for the rides you do want to do.




For the most part our goal is to hit rope drop and headliners for the first two hours of a non EMH park. Then sometime around lunch time either have lunch at that park or head to the park/resort we are having lunch. If we are heading to another park for lunch, we try and hit one FP+ before lunch, then two back to back after lunch so if those two back to back are say from 1:30 - 2:30 and 2:30 - 3:30, we can hit one at 2:20 and the other at 2:50 and not have alot of dead time in the middle. Then, we can hit a few lower tier attractions either standby or with additional FP+.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Personally I will book FP+ first thing for Epcot and HS so I am able to pull a 4th sooner and hopefully have a chance at getting a headliner. At MK, I'll ride what I can first thing at RD and start FP+ closer to 10:30/11 b/c there has been decent availability left (this is according to some posters that have listed out what they were able to do). For AK, I'll put them when I think it'll work best with our plans. I am planning on staying at AK all day but not as concerned with rerides there. Kids will be all about the Wilderness Explorer program so that will take up most of our time.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

No, because you don't know what will be available later in the day or what times it will be available. The goal should not be to accumulate the most FP+, but rather to wait as little as possible for the rides you do want to do.

I do think the exception to this is the tiered parks especially if you want to ride 2 tier 1s or re ride a tier 1 and you are unable to ride single rider. The sooner you are done with the first 3 the sooner you can pick a 4th. I am hoping to get a 2nd run on Soarin' and figure if I have them booked 9-12 (I'll be moving up the 2nd and 3rd ones if availability exists). Figure I can be getting a 4th by 10:30 or so. I don't really care what the return time is either...just want a 2nd ride on Soarin'.

 

[kmv]

We just got back from our trip Tuesday morning.
This worked for us:
RD, rode walking on or with less than 5 minute waits for a few hours. Started FP+ at 11am, ate lunch, did our 2 other FP+ attractions and went back to hotel for a few hours to swim and relax while the parks were crowded.
Went back around dinner and used 4th FP+, rode a few rides standby with less than 20 minute waits only and then watched parades, shows, fireworks.

Basically the same thing we did with the old FP system.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I do think the exception to this is the tiered parks especially if you want to ride 2 tier 1s or re ride a tier 1 and you are unable to ride single rider. The sooner you are done with the first 3 the sooner you can pick a 4th.

There are always exceptions. The OP hits rope drop; by using that strategy you do not need a FP+ for the other Tier 1s you could not FP, because those are the ones you will hit immediately at RD.

I am hoping to get a 2nd run on Soarin' and figure if I have them booked 9-12 (I'll be moving up the 2nd and 3rd ones if availability exists). Figure I can be getting a 4th by 10:30 or so. I don't really care what the return time is either...just want a 2nd ride on Soarin'.

Rope drop works here as well. Rather than using a FP+ for something from 9:30 - 10:30 when you likely won't need it, you can schedule then after lunch, say from 1-2 and 2-3.

For example...
-Soarin standby - 8:50 - 9:10
-Then check the wait time (either app or times board) and make a decision to ride standby at 9:15 am. By 9:30 with crowd levels between a 5-8 the wait will be 30-40 minutes. So the earlier and least crowded here the better. On many recommended days the wait will be about 20 minutes at 9:15 am. If you decide to ride Test Track, do so. If not, now would be the time to do Mission Space and Spaceship Earth.
-After Spaceship Earth head to do Sum of All Thrills
-Then you can do Nemo, Turtle Talk, Living with the Land (all standby)
-The sometime maybe 11:45 ish (11 am - 12 pm FP+) you can hit your Soarin FP+, then Living with the Land at 12:15 (12 pm - 1 pm FP+).
-Then use your last FP+ on Figment or Captain EO (if you didn't need to use it for Nemo or Turtle Talk) then grab some lunch. Before you eat lunch you can head over to a kiosk and choose to either book Maelstrom or Test Track if you didn't do it earlier in the day.

The key here is rope drop. It really opens things up.

 

[JimmyV]

The park where strategy is most important is Epcot. This is because the attractions take longer to complete, because there are so few of them and because they are tiered. As a result, the “Rope Drop Effect” wears off quickly there. If you go to Soarin’ at RD, by the time you complete that ride, the line at Test Track might have grown to 40+ minutes. Hardly the RD advantage that you are looking for. Whereas at the Magic Kingdom, you can arrive at RD and hit a whole circuit of 3 minute rides in the first hour. So what I would do is choose between Soarin’ and Test Track and RD one and FP the other. Whichever one you elect to FP, book the 9:00-10:00 time slot. By the time you finish your RD ride, there will still be plenty of time left in your window to use your FP+ for the other.

Next, you should book your other FPs for 10:00-11:00 and 11:00-12:00 respectively. After you use your first FP, whatever time that is, try to move your next FP up to as soon as possible. So if you use your first FP at 9:40, try to move your second FP up to 9:45-10:45. And then use it as soon as you can. If you book something like Spaceship Earth or Figment, there should be relatively low demand so moving the time should be possible. Use that FP at the earliest possible time, and once you do, try to move your third FP up to as soon as possible. Again, if you used your second FP at 9:55, try to bump your third up to 10:00-11:00. If you booked a marginally popular attraction, moving the time should be possible. Even if the Stand By lines are small at these attractions, use your FPs anyway. This way, by 10:30 or 11:00, you should be through your first three FPs and will be eligible to get more, without the constraint of tiering. At this hour, every attraction should still have availability. And at any time in the first two hours, if you find that you have time to kill waiting for another FP to kick in, go to Sum of All Thrills and do that before the lines build.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Oh RD is absolutely key. We won't do mission space. But my plan for Epcot is ride TT and RD. Go ride Soarin' with FP+ 9-10. Granted I'm going off wait times via the app, but they seem much more than 15 mins even first thing in the morning. We'll ride living with the land right after Soarin' and then Nemo right after and then grab my 4th (hopefully a 2nd ride on Soarin'). Like I said I plan on moving up my 2nd and 3rd FP+ as soon as I go thru the 2nd tap point on the 1st and 2nd rides. I don't think this should be a problem. We can then hit crush and then off to World Showcase...I have a later breakfast ressie at Akershus at 11. World showcase for the rest of the day (agent P adventure) and use the 4th FP+ for whatever time we get. Just wanted to offer OP another point of view. I don't by any means think this will work for everyone....I don't think there is one plan that does.

 

[LSUfan4444]

If you go to Soarin’ at RD, by the time you complete that ride, the line at Test Track might have grown to 40+ minutes. Hardly the RD advantage that you are looking for.

It might, but it also might be at 20 minutes. All depends on how fast you get to Test Track, the day you are at the park and the crowd level on that day. A 20 minute wait for Test Track at 9:15 am on a 5/6 crowd day where Epcot is a recommended park is much more common than a 40 minute wait at 9:15.

But, add in 8/9 crowd levels and things might change....there are always exceptions.

Today, on a 8/10 touring plans predicted a 29 minute wait at 9:20 am.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times#

If you can get there by 9:15, which is possible if you are towards the front of the line and head directly to Soarin, you will likely wait much closer to 20 minutes than 40 minutes.

Tomorrow at 9:20 am, Touring Plans predicts a wait of 16 minutes.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times/date/2014-06-06

 

[practicallyperfect77]

The park where strategy is most important is Epcot. This is because the attractions take longer to complete, because there are so few of them and because they are tiered. As a result, the “Rope Drop Effect” wears off quickly there. If you go to Soarin’ at RD, by the time you complete that ride, the line at Test Track might have grown to 40+ minutes. Hardly the RD advantage that you are looking for. Whereas at the Magic Kingdom, you can arrive at RD and hit a whole circuit of 3 minute rides in the first hour. So what I would do is choose between Soarin’ and Test Track and RD one and FP the other. Whichever one you elect to FP, book the 9:00-10:00 time slot. By the time you finish your RD ride, there will still be plenty of time left in your window to use your FP+ for the other.

Next, you should book your other FPs for 10:00-11:00 and 11:00-12:00 respectively. After you use your first FP, whatever time that is, try to move your next FP up to as soon as possible. So if you use your first FP at 9:40, try to move your second FP up to 9:45-10:45. And then use it as soon as you can. If you book something like Spaceship Earth or Figment, there should be relatively low demand so moving the time should be possible. Use that FP at the earliest possible time, and once you do, try to move your third FP up to as soon as possible. Again, if you used your second FP at 9:55, try to bump your third up to 10:00-11:00. If you booked a marginally popular attraction, moving the time should be possible. Even if the Stand By lines are small at these attractions, use your FPs anyway. This way, by 10:30 or 11:00, you should be through your first three FPs and will be eligible to get more, without the constraint of tiering. At this hour, every attraction should still have availability. And at any time in the first two hours, if you find that you have time to kill waiting for another FP to kick in, go to Sum of All Thrills and do that before the lines build.

Thanks JimmyV. Exactly my plan but you explained it much better.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

It might, but it also might be at 20 minutes. All depends on how fast you get to Test Track, the day you are at the park and the crowd level on that day. A 20 minute wait for Test Track at 9:15 am on a 5/6 crowd day where Epcot is a recommended park is much more common than a 40 minute wait at 9:15.

But, add in 8/9 crowd levels and things might change....there are always exceptions.

Today, on a 8/10 touring plans predicted a 29 minute wait at 9:20 am.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times#

If you can get there by 9:15, which is possible if you are towards the front of the line and head directly to Soarin, you will likely wait much closer to 20 minutes than 40 minutes.

Tomorrow at 9:20 am, Touring Plans predicts a wait of 16 minutes.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times/date/2014-06-06

I have not used TP before. Do they come back and say what the actual wait times really are?

My main goal is to ride Soarin' twice with FP+ and TT once at RD. My concern is if I use FP+ later in the day, Soarin' won't be available. Guess I'm willing to "waste" my FP+ on rides that have short times anyway to get a 2nd ride. B/c really I have no clue what Soarin' will be like at 9:20ish on the day I'm there.

 

[JimmyV]

It might, but it also might be at 20 minutes. All depends on how fast you get to Test Track, the day you are at the park and the crowd level on that day. A 20 minute wait for Test Track at 9:15 am on a 5/6 crowd day where Epcot is a recommended park is much more common than a 40 minute wait at 9:15.

But, add in 8/9 crowd levels and things might change....there are always exceptions.

Today, on a 8/10 touring plans predicted a 29 minute wait at 9:20 am.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times#

If you can get there by 9:15, which is possible if you are towards the front of the line and head directly to Soarin, you will likely wait much closer to 20 minutes than 40 minutes.

Tomorrow at 9:20 am, Touring Plans predicts a wait of 16 minutes.

http://touringplans.com/epcot/attractions/test-track/wait-times/date/2014-06-06

One would have to be among the very, very first people to get to and ride Soarin' in order to make it to TT by 9:20. Possible, sure. But in answering questions such as this, I assume that everyone is more an "average RD'er" and not the "first RD'er". In February, we were in the second flight of the day, hustled immediately to TT afterwards, and waited 70 minutes in the SB line. The posted wait was 20 minutes when we entered the line (way outside the building) and rolled over to 30 minutes when we got to the sign where the wait time is posted. Despite the 20-30 minute estimate, we timed our wait and it was 70 minutes. Rope Drop advantage evaporated after just one ride.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I have not used TP before. Do they come back and say what the actual wait times really are?

They do, but you have to have a membership and I do not feel it would be fair to them to publish paid information.

Easy WDW has very similar predictions on the wait times in the Epcot cheat sheets.


http://www.easywdw.com/cheatsheets/ep_cheatsheet_easyguide.pdf

My main goal is to ride Soarin' twice with FP+ and TT once at RD. My concern is if I use FP+ later in the day, Soarin' won't be available. Guess I'm willing to "waste" my FP+ on rides that have short times anyway to get a 2nd ride. B/c really I have no clue what Soarin' will be like at 9:20ish on the day I'm there.

Which is one of the main reasons I think riding it at RD, then again via FP+ is the route to go. Even if Test Track has a wait built in at 9:20 more than you are willing to wait, the FP+ availabulity from the kiosk will be better than that of Soarin most of the time.

One would have to be among the very, very first people to get to and ride Soarin' in order to make it to TT by 9:20.

An arrival to the turnstiles between 8:15 - 8:25 should be sufficient.

Depending on where you are staying, driving or not, etc. the International gateway is always an option as well to enter and typically looks like this at 8:35/8:40 am. The walk from the International Gateway is almost twice as far (.5 mi compared to .3 miles), but you might save time entering the park. It may end up being a wash all together, but it is an option nonetheless.

In February, we were in the second flight of the day, hustled immediately to TT afterwards, and waited 70 minutes in the SB line. The posted wait was 20 minutes when we entered the line (way outside the building) and rolled over to 30 minutes when we go to the sign where the wait time is posted. Despite the 20-30 minute estimate, we timed our wait and it was 70 minutes. Rope Drop advantage evaporated after just one ride.

A 70 minute (real time) wait for Test Track at 9:30 am is definitely an exception and not the norm. Again, there are always exceptions.

 

[karpy111]

All great info. Thanks.

Whats your plan for DHS? They have a tier system also?

 

[practicallyperfect77]

All great info. Thanks.

Whats your plan for DHS? They have a tier system also?

My plan is to hit RD (by this I mean be in line for the bus at 8 so I'm there 8:15/8:25 ish). Head straight to TSM and rude standby. Get in line to meet woody n buzz. Have a FP+ for ToT 9:30-10:30 and ride after MTG woody n buzz. Then I have a late breakfast at H&V at 10:25. After breakfast have a FP+ for TSM and not sure about the 3rd one...maybe muppets. Get a 4th FP for ToT (as long as my niece and nephews like it). See shows for rest of the afternoon or go back to resort for pool time. I do hope to go back to HS and see Fantasmic. I probably won't have a FP+ but figure we'll get there an hour before it starts...get seated and then grab concession food for dinner. If we miss RD, it won't be the end of the world, but I do think kiddos will enjoy TSM and want to.go on it again. I hope to somehow ride RnRC single rider. Or maybe standby will be short enough in the morning that we can ride then and get a rider swap pass. (I'm going with my sis, bil, 1 niece and 2 nephews). Kiddos aren't tall enough for RnRC.

ETA: kids aren't into star wars either. So Jedi Academy isn't a must do. Might try for a ToT at night or FP+ for fantasmic as well.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

This time since all 4 of us went and 2 were teenagers who I knew would not be getting out of bed before 11am, I went with the strategy of booking our FP's for the afternoons.

It worked ok but then there were not headliner fp's left for later in the evening when we wanted to book them for Epcot (Test Track) and DHS (Rock n roller Coaster). We were able to get late evening 4th and 5th FP's at MK but the kiosks were swamped with people and that got annoying.

I still prefer getting up for rope drop and taking a break during the hottest part of the day. In that case, I would just ride standby in the morning and book my FP's for the evening when I go back into a park.