FP+ advice

[redsbe]

I have not seen this mentioned or posted here before but I see that many of the traditional WDW touring plan sites that may people are familiar with and use are also now posting some pretty detailed information on FP+ and strategies including which rides to use FP+ in what order, and times to book. touringplans for example has a pretty good overview that I was impressed with, may be helpful to many especially those soon to use FP+ for the first time.

 

[mesaboy2]

I have not seen this mentioned or posted here before but I see that many of the traditional WDW touring plan sites that may people are familiar with and use are also now posting some pretty detailed information on FP+ and strategies including which rides to use FP+ in what order, and times to book. touringplans for example has a pretty good overview that I was impressed with, may be helpful to many especially those soon to use FP+ for the first time.

That's what I would hope for from them, since FP+ is here to stay. My own take is in the green link below.

 

[db57me]

I could use some advice, albeit way in advance of needing it.

We are working out a rough itinerary around our table service ADRs each day, as well as the recommendations of which parks are the most recommended by TouringPlans and easyWDW. Once we hit the 60 day mark (end of April), I want to schedule our FP+ for each day - 3 per day in a single park (hoping this will change before June). We are not rope droppers or commandos. However, we do not want to spend more time standing in line for the attractions on our list then we will experiencing the attractions.

My thinking is to book a FP+ for a morning attraction, like Safari in AK, which is within an hour of opening. Does it make sense to do this given lines are not too long in the morning? The last week in June will be busy. As I said above, we will not wait outside the park for it to open. We may arrive at, or around opening, but we will not rush to get to the attraction.

This will be our first time in AK and I anticipate we will be somewhat in awe. So, having said all that, I can see us getting to the attraction within the first hour or so of opening. Having a FP+ from 9-10, or 9:30-10:30, makes sense. We would then plan 2 other FP+ around lunch, probably saving the Rapids for our last attraction. That way we can leave after getting soaked.

Of course, by using our 3 FP+ in the morning and early afternoon we will not be able to schedule any FP+ later in the day. We have purchased the park hopper.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[DisneyFive]

I could use some advice, albeit way in advance of needing it.
My thinking is to book a FP+ for a morning attraction, like Safari in AK, which is within an hour of opening. Does it make sense to do this given lines are not too long in the morning? The last week in June will be busy. As I said above, we will not wait outside the park for it to open. We may arrive at, or around opening, but we will not rush to get to the attraction.

Thanks in advance for your input.

My advice,
Don't worry much about crowd levels throughout the day when you schedule you FP+. Schedule when it works best for your touring plan. Draw out your path through the parks, where you plan to eat, etc... and book your FP times and attractions to work with that. We do tend to do safari in the morning, since the animals tend to be active, before the heat sets in.

I would recommend FP for these rides, in order of the need for FP:

Safari
Expedition Everest
Rapids or Dinasaur

Dan

 

[db57me]

My advice,
Don't worry much about crowd levels throughout the day when you schedule you FP+. Schedule when it works best for your touring plan. Draw out your path through the parks, where you plan to eat, etc... and book your FP times and attractions to work with that. We do tend to do safari in the morning, since the animals tend to be active, before the heat sets in.

I would recommend FP for these rides, in order of the need for FP:

Safari
Expedition Everest
Rapids or Dinasaur

Dan

Dan: Thank you so much, that is some of the best advice regarding the FP+ system and planning that I have seen.
David

 

[MichiganDVC]

My advice, Don't worry much about crowd levels throughout the day when you schedule you FP+. Schedule when it works best for your touring plan. Draw out your path through the parks, where you plan to eat, etc... and book your FP times and attractions to work with that. We do tend to do safari in the morning, since the animals tend to be active, before the heat sets in. I would recommend FP for these rides, in order of the need for FP: Safari Expedition Everest Rapids or Dinasaur Dan

Completely disagree. You absolutely have to factor in crowd levels at different times. What's the point of getting a fast pass if the standby wait is 10 minutes? Plan to ride everything standby for the first two hours of park opening, and make all your fast passes after that.

 

[redsbe]

touringplans has time chart of best time blocks to use FP+ based on typical crowd patterns to each attraction and suggestions on how to use FP+ combined with RD, even which order to select FP+ and which attractions when do not to use FP+ for

 

[DaniMoon]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I do think if you have a FP+ scheduled and get to the ride and the SB line is relatively short, you can change your FP to another attraction on the phone app.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I do think if you have a FP+ scheduled and get to the ride and the SB line is relatively short, you can change your FP to another attraction on the phone app.

You can, but assuming its a sought-after FP like TSMM or Space Mountain, you probably aren't going to get the best time selection if you try to change it at 10:00am.

However, if AK opens at 9am and it's a recommended day, I can all but guarantee the standby line for Safari will be 20 min or less for the first hour. Just start making your FPs for after 11am

 

[DisneyFive]

Completely disagree. You absolutely have to factor in crowd levels at different times. What's the point of getting a fast pass if the standby wait is 10 minutes? Plan to ride everything standby for the first two hours of park opening, and make all your fast passes after that.

I was talking about db57me's Safari request about AK. My point was that a FP line will be relatively short no matter the time of day, whereas the standby lines can vary wildly depending on when you get there. In our experience, Safari has the longest wait (even for FP) of the AK attractions. The standby line can get long, quick.

db57me said that they weren't going to go on any AK attraction right at park opening. In my experience at AK, the line for Safari Standby builds very fast. Good luck having a short standby line at Safari 1-2 hours after park opening. You can have a very long wait even only one hour after park opening.

I completely agree with you about not using a FP+ if the standby line is short, that's obvious. In general, we don't schedule FP's until at least after 11am or so, but Safari is different in our experience. YMMV

Dan

 

[db57me]

I certainly did want to start a posting argument. I see where you are both coming from, and the advice matches what I've figured from reading other posts and checking easyWDW. Thanks to everyone.

 

[MichiganDVC]

I certainly did want to start a posting argument. I see where you are both coming from, and the advice matches what I've figured from reading other posts and checking easyWDW. Thanks to everyone.

A disagreement only turns into an argument when one of us tells you either to go to Universal instead because it's so much better or changes the discussion to why having only 3 FP+ opportunities is ruining Walt's dream. ;-)
I think we're safe...

 

[DisneyFive]

A disagreement only turns into an argument when one of us tells you either to go to Universal instead because it's so much better or changes the discussion to why having only 3 FP+ opportunities is ruining Walt's dream. ;-)
I think we're safe...

Too funny! I agree. MichiganDVC is correct about not needing FP's early in the morning in almost all cases. It's not the best time to use them overall. If you can ride standby with a short wait in the morning, that is optimal since you can save the FPs for later.

I was focusing on the Animal Kingdom example (which I do standby by in my experience). Safari has been a good use of a morning FP for us.(but not right at rope drop mind you) ...and I think MichiganDVC would agree that it can work well to plan your park strategy and align your FP times to when you think you'll be in that part of the park.

No worries whatsoever db57me.

Dan

 

[Seasideshell]

Has anyone used the fast pass for Illuminations? Curious as to the location...is it a good location? Worth it? Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

Has anyone used the fast pass for Illuminations? Curious as to the location...is it a good location? Worth it? Thanks!

See the green link in my signature.

 

[Seasideshell]

Thank you for your link...so helpful. I remember getting a dinner package that included VIP seating for Fantasmic.( years and years ago)....what a waste! Worst seating area ever! So I was mostly curious to see where that FP+ would put your viewing area! Pretty much a resort only stay for us this time...maybe just Epcot. We've been lucky enough to go to Disney parks/resorts quite often thru the years! This FP+ will certainly make things interesting to say the least. Thank you again!