Feeling like I need an advanced degree...

[3smithboys]

I book my FP's on Tuesday, and I have to be honest... this is the part of all of the planning that is giving me the most feeling of "dread.."

I've read... and re-read.. and I feel like I need an advanced degree in how to book these blasted things! Maybe it won't be as bad as I think, but I can't seem to wrap my head around it. I must have read through Mesaboy's info 6-7 times over the past month!

I'm worried that when I get online, I won't be able to book for "whatever" reason... (like my package won't be there even though I was able to book ADR's - I know crazy...)

I just read over Kenny the Pirate's directions, and I'm not sure if I feel better or worse!

 

[Shanti]

Don't exaggerate. No need for an advanced degree in FP. A bachelor's is fine.

It really isn't complicated. Just book the popular rides that you want to ride the most. If one is unavailable, choose something else and standby the other ride. Everything will be fine, and fun.

 

[3smithboys]

Phew, as long as I only need a bachelor's! I feel loads better!!!! Great!!! I have all of the times and rides picked.... I just hope I can figure the blasted thing out.... I guess would feel better if I could look at it ahead of time... I'm a "show me" person.... I guess it's the teacher in me. I like to be prepared ahead of time.... lol... I'm sure it will be fine!!!

 

[ArielSRL]

I booked mine a few weeks ago and it was the first time as our last trip was 2012 with paper FP. I'll admit I went slow bc I wanted to make sure I wasn't messing up. The system also bugged out after about an hour so it took me a bit to finish. I also ran into problems with the last few days (maybe bc of the system, maybe bc it took me so long) but I was eventually able to get all workable times, however it took me 2 hours! Fortunately I'm a teacher and it was Spring Break! Eventually I got almost all the exact times I wanted but it probably took me 1.5 weeks of modifying before I did.

 

[3smithboys]

I booked mine a few weeks ago and it was the first time as our last trip was 2012 with paper FP. I'll admit I went slow bc I wanted to make sure I wasn't messing up. The system also bugged out after about an hour so it took me a bit to finish. I also ran into problems with the last few days (maybe bc of the system, maybe bc it took me so long) but I was eventually able to get all workable times, however it took me 2 hours! Fortunately I'm a teacher and it was Spring Break! Eventually I got almost all the exact times I wanted but it probably took me 1.5 weeks of modifying before I did.

I wish it was Spring Break! I may be going into school on 3 hrs of sleep and lots of coffee!! Hopefully, DH and I can figure this out in an hour.... We only jab to get FPs for the 2 of us, so that makes it less stressful than if we had to get it for all 5! Since this is our first time back since FP+ too, it just adds another new thing learn...

 

[ArielSRL]

I wish it was Spring Break! I may be going into school on 3 hrs of sleep and lots of coffee!! Hopefully, DH and I can figure this out in an hour.... We only jab to get FPs for the 2 of us, so that makes it less stressful than if we had to get it for all 5! Since this is our first time back since FP+ too, it just adds another new thing learn...

Good luck!

 

[cdnjason]

I booked mine a few weeks ago and it was the first time as our last trip was 2012 with paper FP. I'll admit I went slow bc I wanted to make sure I wasn't messing up. The system also bugged out after about an hour so it took me a bit to finish. I also ran into problems with the last few days (maybe bc of the system, maybe bc it took me so long) but I was eventually able to get all workable times, however it took me 2 hours! Fortunately I'm a teacher and it was Spring Break! Eventually I got almost all the exact times I wanted but it probably took me 1.5 weeks of modifying before I did.

And...You loved every minute of it!

 

[ArielSRL]

And...You loved every minute of it!

Well, of course I did!

 

[3smithboys]

And...You loved every minute of it!

Oh, I have a feeling I will too.... Once I figure out how to do it!!!

 

[tiggergal15]

I was really nervous and stressing too...but I was happily surprised when I actually did it that things were easier than I had anticipated...took me about 40 mins and I got the times and ones we wanted!...
I don't even have a bachelor's!...

 

[cdnjason]

Oh, I have a feeling I will too.... Once I figure out how to do it!!!

Don't worry. It's simple. Pick your 3 preferred FP+ for a park on a given day. You'll be offered several options (for times). Just pick the option that best fits your plans. Then go back and modify the ones you wish to fit exact FP+ times you want.

Remember, planning is part of the fun!

 

[Mikie]

Phew, as long as I only need a bachelor's! I feel loads better!!!! Great!!! I have all of the times and rides picked.... I just hope I can figure the blasted thing out.... I guess would feel better if I could look at it ahead of time... I'm a "show me" person.... I guess it's the teacher in me. I like to be prepared ahead of time.... lol... I'm sure it will be fine!!!

The system has changed recently and I haven't used it yet, but I definitely had the same problem on my first trip with FP+. I'm also a show me person (from the right state and everything ) and i was very nervous about how well I'd be able to navigate at the crucial midnight. . . . It's very frustrating that with pkg tix, you can't play around in Advance, but you have done all the research, you know what you're looking for, the actual screens are a snap - it won't take you but a couple minutes to get comfortable with it!

 

[Disney_Alli]

I was nervous and stressing and then I didn't realize my window had opened! I was still able to book everything I wanted at exactly the times I wanted - my sister worked with me and we had a blast!

 

[amycakes]

I just watched a YouTube Video and that helped! Good Luck!

 

[disneyseniors]

I understand your dilemma, OP. I stressed out the first time with fp+. I refused to get up at midnight to try and get fp's; just wouldn't do it (stubborn?)

So, I got up leisurely in the am, had some coffee to wake up the brain cells, and then got online and got all the fp's that I had wanted. No problem. I didn't have a problem by not getting an early start at all. I don't go to wdw during the busiest times, so maybe that played into it? I stressed out for nothing and found it amazingly easy to do.

Then my daughter and family of 5 decided to go at the same time and to link our accounts. A disaster!!! It totally erased all my husbands fp's. I was freaked out that all that planning was for nothing, if he could not get the fast passes back. Well, I called Disney IT and they were very helpful. It took an hour or so, but the IT people got all of my husbands cancelled fp's back and fixed the problems with linking up with my daughters family. I was impressed by their knowledge and helpfulness. That was before they fired a lot of their help and hired foreigners in their place, so who knows about IT now?

Anyway, it is really a lot easier than you may think. Good luck, and let us know how it went

 

[3smithboys]

Thanks everyone! We did it! Stayed up til midnight and finished at 1am... got everything we wanted... at least we think so! Not sure about all of the times - may have to move a few things around, but I suppose that's part of the fun in the planning! It was pretty easy; however, the site did crap out two or three times and I was worried we would loose everything or at least the FP we were on (and it always seemed to be while we were getting Soarin or Mine Train, of course!)