FP 60 day out confusion

[TheHannas]

So i am waiting for our booking window for FP and Dining to open. I am overthinking the booking strategy.. Everyone waits for there booking window to open at 60 days to try to score FP, same for dining (maybe different time frame).. Some talk about 60 + x iin hopes of getting FP.. Some threads i read say allot of luck with 60 day + 3 for that particular ride. My thought is why does this matter. It will always be someone’s 60 day +. It will always be someone who is there now and trying to book the pastpass while someone’s 60 day mark just hit and they are trying to book. Seems like it boils down to luck of the draw mostly and how crowded it is that day.. Will I try to book FP and dining when my window open- absolutely! Do i understand the madness behind it- No!

 

[StacyStrong]

I feel like you answered your own question. It matters because it's always "someone's 60+" so the less peoples 60+, the better.

 

[gap2368]

The earlier you can book the better the FP so if you staying a week and someone is staying for 3 days you will have a Breyer shot of getting better FP then the 3 day person

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

What's the confusion? The earlier you book FPs the better the availability will be.

 

[SouloTravlr]

Dining opened at 180 days. You're already way behind on dining reservations.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Dining opened at 180 days. You're already way behind on dining reservations.

I was going to say the same thing, but OP didn't mention when the trip is... ?

 

[Shaun176]

So i am waiting for our booking window for FP and Dining to open. I am overthinking the booking strategy.. Everyone waits for there booking window to open at 60 days to try to score FP, same for dining (maybe different time frame).. Some talk about 60 + x iin hopes of getting FP.. Some threads i read say allot of luck with 60 day + 3 for that particular ride. My thought is why does this matter. It will always be someone’s 60 day +. It will always be someone who is there now and trying to book the pastpass while someone’s 60 day mark just hit and they are trying to book. Seems like it boils down to luck of the draw mostly and how crowded it is that day.. Will I try to book FP and dining when my window open- absolutely! Do i understand the madness behind it- No!

If you are staying multiple days especially more than 3 or 4, less people have had the opportunity the end of your stay.

We are staying 10 days. When I did my fp everything was wide open on day 10 because very few people have a reservation that allows them to book 70 days out.

Also when I log in, I always select my fp from the last day to the first.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Your thread is confusing.
BTW ADR's open 180 days out.

 

[bumbershoot]

A recent post discusses a November trip, so she’s got about 10 days until her adrs open. If that’s the trip the OP is talking about, she didn’t miss that window.

 

[ww52]

So many theories / strategies for FP+ booking...

Curious on the "last day first" strategy. I assume that means you intentionally plan the harder to get FPs toward the end of your trip? I never thought of that.

Our window opens this Saturday - 6 night trip (with parks on five separate days). We spent hours putting together a plan that was complicated by the need for naps/somewhat early bedtime for the little ones. But it's front loaded with the higher demand attractions.

Maybe we need to consider an alternate set of plans that puts them at the end.

Luckily the Touring Plans website makes that pretty easy.

 

[TheHannas]

Yeah our trip is not till November. I guess i just get confused on the whole big deal of booking 60+ out.. to me it boils down to how busy the park is and who is booking what.
I’m over analyzing it!!!

 

[TheHannas]

I am counting the days till we can book FP and dining btw..

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Curious on the "last day first" strategy. I assume that means you intentionally plan the harder to get FPs toward the end of your trip? I never thought of that.

Yes, the general strategy for getting hard to get FP is to plan them for the later days of the trip and book those first when your window opens.

 

[Sarcazm]

Yeah our trip is not till November. I guess i just get confused on the whole big deal of booking 60+ out.. to me it boils down to how busy the park is and who is booking what.
I’m over analyzing it!!!

But 60+ out does matter.

Think about it like this: let's say 70% of people booking are going for 3 days and 30% of people booking are going for 10 days (obviously this is just made up). When the 3-day people book, they will only book for Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. This leaves Day 4-10 with more FPs available. So, if I'm going on a 10-day trip, I know LESS people will be booking FPs on Days 4-10 because 70% of the people booked are only going for 3 days.

To further explain, let's use an example of Nov 1 - 10. MOST people who are booking FPs are only staying a couple of days (let's say 3-5 days). So, they will book FPs for 60+3. But people who are staying 10 days will be able to book 60+10. There are not as many people going for 10 days (starting on Nov 1). So, if you're a 60+10 person who starts on Nov 1, then you will have pick of the litter from Nov 5-10 because MOST people will not have booked that far out.

Then, starting on Nov 2, it will somebody else's 60 day start, and on Nov 3, it will somebody else's 60 day start. So, you get more and more people starting their 60 day bookings. So, then you start seeing FPs disappearing as you get closer and closer to Nov 5 -10.

So, yes, booking FPs at 60+10 is much much easier than 60.

 

[TheHannas]

Thanks! That is an excellent example!

 

[margot31]

Honestly I have had luck even at the 30 days prior to a trip. With the meals...as long as you are willing to bend and all you can have luck there too. I snagged a BOG for 4 not too long ago. But I also don't force this kind of stuff to stress me out.

 

[Gwmort1]

Also, assume you were only going to go for one day. And on that one day you really wanted to ride one particular high demand ride.

10 days before you are able to make a fastpass reservation for it some other people (staying for 10 days) are, so fewer are left for you.

9 days before you can make your reservations some other people with 9 days stays make some more, and so on at 8 days and 7 days and 6 days, etc...

By the time your 60 day window opens, many (and in some cases all) of the available fastpasses will be gone, so it is important for you to log on as soon as you can and try to get one of the few still available, before they are all gone.

If you wait another day or two the pool of people able to book will grow even larger and even fewer will be available.

 

[DSLRuser]

Honestly I have had luck even at the 30 days prior to a trip. With the meals...as long as you are willing to bend and all you can have luck there too. I snagged a BOG for 4 not too long ago. But I also don't force this kind of stuff to stress me out.

totally agree..... Ohana, Be Our Guest, Cindy Royal table are the only three ADR's that can't be had at 30, or 60 days..... wile yes, everyone should experience them 1x, your vacation moves on if you don't get it.

Same with FP+.... mid Way Mania, Slinky Dog, Flight of Passage are the only ones hard to get at 60 days now. 7 dwarfs, saorin, frozen...have all moved away from the "must have" 1st day stuff.