For "Rope Droppers"....

[kkayluvsdis]

How are you handling your FP+ reservations? We're in the process of planning our first trip since the implementation of FP+ and I'm not sure how to proceed. We are a family that is usually at the parks at opening. Would we be best to plan our FB+ attractions for later in the day and ride as much as we can standby in the morning? What has worked for you? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed about this!

Thanks!

-Kelly

 

[wisblue]

How are you handling your FP+ reservations? We're in the process of planning our first trip since the implementation of FP+ and I'm not sure how to proceed. We are a family that is usually at the parks at opening. Would we be best to plan our FB+ attractions for later in the day and ride as much as we can standby in the morning? What has worked for you? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm honestly feeling a bit overwhelmed about this!

Thanks!

-Kelly

Getting FP+ reservations for later in the day seems to be the opinion of the large majority of rope droppers. I know that we feel that way, and it worked beautifully over the Christmas break.

 

[Texas Barbie]

Absolutely! I wouldn't use a precious fastpass when crowds are at their lightest that day.

 

[Amstar]

Upcoming trip in August 2014.

Our plan is to not only be rope droppers but get breakfast reservations before the park opens.

That being said we are planning on being "rope droppers" ride the rides we can and use our FP+ at other parks when we hop over to them or for attractions at the park later in the day.

This allows us to to rides early in the morning, then after lunch head back to the hotel to relax (swim or naps) then go back out later in the evening and still get some of the rides we want b/c of FP+

 

[Schmeck]

Planning on doing rope drop at one park, for a headline attraction, and then maybe an ADR or some less popular rides, then hopping to second park with FP+ scheduled.

We have always done park hopping, but now our FP plans are just flipped. We used to do the FP at the first park, and then when the times got too late or ran out, we'd go to the second park to do low key stuff (mainly World Showcase shopping/eating).

 

[morethananyonex]

The most effective FP+ strategy is to use it for the busiest time of day you will be in the park, while doing RD or very late nights (if it's open) for everything else.

Since you're a RD family, book your FP+ for late morning/afternoons if you will still be in the park, ride anything popular you couldn't book at FP+ for immediately and just tour like normal after that.

 

[justanothermark]

2 methods
1. FP+ for middle of the day to later in the day during peak crowds. Ride the headliners at rope drop and fill in less crowded rides as appropriate.
2. Rope drop at one park and get all the headliners in and leave mid-day and have FP+ for the park hopped to.

FP+ does change the model significantly and now that everybody will be pretty much on the same footing with FP- going away, should work even better. (No more people double dipping or just using FP- and getting a lot more than 3 FP+)

 

[henry72]

I am not sure what we are going to do. We have PH for our June trip but usually only have the first park of the day picked out. If we hop, I won't know which park the kids will want to return to. I am thinking of making our FP+ choices in the late morning/early afternoon so we hit the rides we don't want to miss before we hop to another location. I would love to make our picks at the 2nd park but really don't think we can plan them out this far in advanced.

 

[summermac]

I have my FP+ scheduled in an effort to minimize running around the park. I have a slow as molasses 6 year old and my parents are coming too. They are in their 50s but day after day of crisscrossing the park (like our 1st trip) wears anyone out.

If we get there and can make good use of rope drop with minimal waits, we will try not to use our FP+ so we have the option of changing them to another park for hopping.

For example here's my MK day plan
8:00 Crystal Palace
Fantasyland at Rope Drop for hopefully:
Peter Pan, Pooh, and Small World
Mermaid and Ariel and by then I think our FP window will open for:
FP+ for ETWB 10:05 - 11:05 (might not be necessary so if not will change it)
Barnstormer
Tomorrowland for
Buzz, Astro Oribter (time permitting) and Space Mountain FP from 12-1
Monster's Inc if there's time
FP lunch at BOG at 1:35
Back to Fantasyland for Philharmagic (let our food settle)
Then over to Liberty Square for Haunted Mansion, Riverboat, Presidents
(If we didn't need our FP+ earlier for ETWB I will change it for Haunted Mansion depending on SB times or even Jungle Cruise for later)
I think it will be about 4:30 by now, if not explore Tom Sawyer island
BTM FP+ from 4-5; then Country Bears (we've never seen and Splash is closed)
Adventureland for Pirates, Jungle Cruise (with a possible FP+), Aladdin and Tiki Room
DOLE WHIP TIME!
Enjoy the rest of the evening (if any left) at the park doing whatever or hop to Epcot depending on time.

We might try to go to Space and ride it standby right after Peter Pan and Pooh b/c we can rider swap it for a second time later, opening up another FP+ but at the same time I don't want to be in Fantasyland, run to Tomorrowland and run back to Fantasyland. Although we are kind of doing that anyway since we have lunch at BOG so I guess we'll play that by ear.

 

[amg35]

We plan to do exactly what you are doing.

Of course we're not going until October, so who knows what the process will be by then!

 

[Aliceacc]

I am not sure what we are going to do. We have PH for our June trip but usually only have the first park of the day picked out. If we hop, I won't know which park the kids will want to return to. I am thinking of making our FP+ choices in the late morning/early afternoon so we hit the rides we don't want to miss before we hop to another location. I would love to make our picks at the 2nd park but really don't think we can plan them out this far in advanced.

Just thinking this out as I type...

Would you consider planning your SECOND park of the day, and getting your FP+'s based on them?

Then doing your first park of the day as the spirit moves you?

Since the bulk of the crowds don't hit until late morning, your rope drop choice shouldn't matter nearly as much as where you are later.

Oh, and while we're at it, I have a question:

What's the reasoning involved in getting a FP+ for something like Illuminations? I guess you get a good spot, but that's not something we've ever struggled with.

And can someone explain why you FP lunch at BOG? Is it because at lunch it's counter service, and that's the best way to ensure a seat?

 

[DizFanSLD]

While I totally get the approach of using them at the busiest time, I just felt like there were too many other factors to consider - park hours, ADRs, the fact that we usually take a midday break from the parks and finally, our park-hopping plans. We usually tour in fairly predictable ways in each park, based on what we have learned over the years from personal experience, touringplans.com, and these and other boards. I ended up scheduling my FP+ at a variety of times based on the way we tour given the above-referenced factors. Some are location based in relation to ADRs, others are to minimize backtracking, and still others are based on when we will return to a park after our break, and what direction we expect to be heading at that time.

I figure that this trip will be about learning the system. By the time our 2015 trip comes along, there should be a lot more data available to use to make decisions, as well as possible changes in the whole FP+ system anyway. I guess we will see how it works!

 

[DizFanSLD]

And can someone explain why you FP lunch at BOG? Is it because at lunch it's counter service, and that's the best way to ensure a seat?

As of right now, the BOG FP is a "secret", and if you are able to get one, it doesn't count against your 3. The advantage for us (we have one for 2/17!) is to not have to wait in the 30 or more minute line to get in. I wouldn't use one of my 3 for that if it counted, I agree - a waste.

 

[karenklo]

We used this FP+ strategy for NYE week. It worked great! WE either scheduled FP for mid day, or saved them for evening if hopping. For example, MK all FP+ were between noon and 5pm. NYE we spent the day RD at AK, then hopped over to EP for the evening. Had FP+ (pre-tier) in place for TT, Soarin, and Malestrom. IT worked great. Even changed a few on the fly if we changed a ride we wanted or a time. The tier is the only thing I am really disliking. I will say that my survey from Disney I got asked a lot FP+ questions about the tiers and the total # of FP allowed. SO they are at least looking for feedback.

 

[Laketravis]

We would make our ADR's for dinner first, then plan our FP+ around that.

If we were going to Biergarten or Yachtsmans, we would make FP+ reservations for afternoon or evening at EP or HS.

If we were going to Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace, we would make FP+ reservations for afternoon or evening at MK

If we were going to Boma or Tusker House, then.....you got it, AK. In the case of AK, our FP's would normally be in the afternoon, followed by dinner, and then if we still felt like it go to MK or EP for fireworks and EMH. If you like packing as much as possible into a single day, I'd call this one the power plan.

The park with morning EMH would then be our first choice and if there weren't any morning EMH that day, we would choose a recommended park. If the recommended park was the same as our PM park, we'd pick the next recommended park.

Once at the park in the morning, it would depend on the park as to what our strategy would be at RD. With the tiers at HS and EP, getting to your favorite headliner first is obvious priority. If conditions are favorable, you might even get to enjoy it twice. If you're a glutton for one particular headliner, you might just camp out at that one until the SB line reaches 45 minutes or more.

On our most intense days and by following the above, we would be out of EP by 11:30 after TT, Soarin, and MS, grab lunch if we were hungry, hit a second park for our 3 FP's, go to dinner, and then hit EP or MK for Illuminations or Wishes and a parade and EMH.

 

[jinkies04]

I have eight of us for March and debating this same issue. My family went in 2008 and we did RD at each park, pulled FP-, and everyone usually tired out at about 2-3 so we headed back to the hotel then did a park in the evening. Had ADRs each day then but this time only QS plan so that changes things too.

This trip we are adding my sister, BIL, and 4 year old niece. Plus my kids are now 10 and 14 so they won't be as "tired."

I am debating between:
1) RD one park in the morning, break in afternoon, FP+ in a different park in the late afternoon/evening OR
2) RD one park using FP+ for later morning early afternoon, break (or no break), then a different evening park.

I am reading people's experiences to see how it is working for others with similar families and touring styles. I really appreciate reading what is working or not working for others.

 

[DisneyMomLJ]

Wha wha what? The BOG fastpass doesn't count against the three? Awesome!

 

[amylevan]

We have ours scheduled for late morning/early afternoon. We are a larger group and have little ones with us, so there is no guarantee everyone will still be touring by the evenings. So, our plan is rope drop with a touring plan that includes FP+ reservations until early afternoon. Take a break. Then head back out for dinner TS ADRs and evening entertainment. If we do any rides then, bonus.

 

[mesaboy2]

Wha wha what? The BOG fastpass doesn't count against the three? Awesome!

Correct. See the green link in my signature for more info.

 

[DizFanSLD]

Wha wha what? The BOG fastpass doesn't count against the three? Awesome!

Well...not for NOW, but no telling when that will change. The access is through a back door that is provided by email invitation, except that they are not stopping folks from booking who never got the email, just got the link from here. It is supposed to be a test, and will almost certainly be closed down at some point in the future. But for now, if you can get one, it doesn't count against your three, but it also doesn't show up in the MDE app. You have to take a screen shot of the confirmation just in case, as the system is glitchy, and some have found that there is no record of their booking when they arrive at the restaurant.