FP+ and Park Hopping

[nenglim]

This worked like a charm. As soon as you tap into the mickey head, you can make a FP for another park. Just a suggestion though, take into consideration the time it will take to get you to the second park when booking the FP.

 

[hiroMYhero]

This worked like a charm. As soon as you tap into the mickey head, you can make a FP for another park. Just a suggestion though, take into consideration the time it will take to get you to the second park when booking the FP.

Thanks for reporting your success. And, for the excellent tip!

 

[DisWishes720]

This is such a helpful thread! We really had the old FP system down pat, but I'm still so confused about the new system. Maybe you guys can offer some advice for hopping and how best to utilize the FP+.

We have a range of ages (1-60) and love the thrill rides, but also want to do as much as we can for the little ones. No one in this crowd likes to wait more than 30 minutes (even that is pushing it) in line. We knew the old system to the point where we never really had to (think a lot of FP runners), but I still can't figure out this new system!

We are going 2/11-2/17 and crowd levels range from 2 to 9!

1) Do you recommend booking Tier 1 rides as early as possible, then trying to get whatever we can in the afternoon at the second park?

2) What strategy works then best for hopping with shortest wait times?

3) If we book TSMM and ST at HS, as soon as we ride our first FP+ can I book say Soarin' at EPCOT?

4)Can I book 2 FP+ times after using our first one at the next park to have 3 total?

Thank you!!!

 

[hiroMYhero]

This is such a helpful thread! We really had the old FP system down pat, but I'm still so confused about the new system. Maybe you guys can offer some advice for hopping and how best to utilize the FP+.

We have a range of ages (1-60) and love the thrill rides, but also want to do as much as we can for the little ones. No one in this crowd likes to wait more than 30 minutes (even that is pushing it) in line. We knew the old system to the point where we never really had to (think a lot of FP runners), but I still can't figure out this new system!

We are going 2/11-2/17 and crowd levels range from 2 to 9!

1) Do you recommend booking Tier 1 rides as early as possible, then trying to get whatever we can in the afternoon at the second park?

2) What strategy works then best for hopping with shortest wait times?

3) If we book TSMM and ST at HS, as soon as we ride our first FP+ can I book say Soarin' at EPCOT?

4)Can I book 2 FP+ times after using our first one at the next park to have 3 total?

Thank you!!!

1. Yes; definitely book your Tier 1s that are must-dos.

2. The best is rope drop with a Tier 1 booked early, 9:30 or so, and then book for the next park as soon as you enter the FP line.

3. Yes. You may not need a FP for ST so you can cancel and use 2 for Epcot.

4. Yes.

And to further add to your planning: use Rider Swap/Child Swap because of the 1 yr old.

Because any 3 riders ride on the Swap via the FP line without needing a FP, you can book Tier 1 height restricted rides in park #1 for some members of your party and another Tier 1 in Park #1 or Park #2 for the other members - you'll always have any 3 riders riding on the Swap so you will double the number of height restricted FP rides.

 

[DisWishes720]

1. Yes; definitely book your Tier 1s that are must-dos.

2. The best is rope drop with a Tier 1 booked early, 9:30 or so, and then book for the next park as soon as you enter the FP line.

3. Yes. You may not need a FP for ST so you can cancel and use 2 for Epcot.

4. Yes.

And to further add to your planning: use Rider Swap/Child Swap because of the 1 yr old.

Because any 3 riders ride on the Swap via the FP line without needing a FP, you can book Tier 1 height restricted rides in park #1 for some members of your party and another Tier 1 in Park #1 or Park #2 for the other members - you'll always have any 3 riders riding on the Swap so you will double the number of height restricted FP rides.

You just blew my mind! So let me clarify because I feel like it's too good to be true! In EPCOT, We have myself, DH and DS (who meets height requirement) get FP for Soarin'. Then we have my mom, and dad FP Test Track. We can have the first group ride Soarin, get a FP because of the baby, then let's say my DS, Mom, and Dad can ride after? Same for Test Track??

 

[hiroMYhero]

You just blew my mind! So let me clarify because I feel like it's too good to be true! In EPCOT, We have myself, DH and DS (who meets height requirement) get FP for Soarin'. Then we have my mom, and dad FP Test Track. We can have the first group ride Soarin, get a FP because of the baby, then let's say my DS, Mom, and Dad can ride after? Same for Test Track??

Yes; your mind is intact!!

It's a Rider Swap pass that will be given to the first group after you show the baby at the FP entrance. The 2nd group enters the FP line using the Rider Swap pass.

You're gonna need a spreadsheet!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

3) If we book TSMM and ST at HS, as soon as we ride our first FP+ can I book say Soarin' at EPCOT?

3. Yes. You may not need a FP for ST so you can cancel and use 2 for Epcot.

We've not had luck doing this. I'm getting a message that I've booked my 3 FP+ allowed to be booked ahead, even after using 1 or 2...??

ETA: this is using the MDE app on my iPhone. Does another way work? Using safari browser to access MDE??

 

[hiroMYhero]

We've not had luck doing this. I'm getting a message that I've booked my 3 FP+ allowed to be booked ahead, even after using 1 or 2...??

ETA: this is using the MDE app on my iPhone. Does another way work? Using safari browser to access MDE??

Are you starting out with 2 or less? It won't work with 3 FPs pre-booked - the system makes you wait until your 3rd is used before booking the 4th.

For park hopping, the system allows you to complete your initial alottment of 3 FPs in any park as long as you have used 1 of only 1 or 2 that are pre-booked for Park #1.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Are you starting out with 2 or less? It won't work with 3 FPs pre-booked - the system makes you wait until your 3rd is used before booking the 4th.

Duh!! Yes... This is exactly it!! Thanks !!

 

[DisWishes720]

Duh!! Yes... This is exactly it!! Thanks !!

Ahh so you have to book only 2 FP in order to book at another park after using your first? I am I getting this?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Ahh so you have to book only 2 FP in order to book at another park after using your first? I am I getting this?

Correct, 1 or 2. It's being used by those who want to do a Tier 1 at Epcot and then hop to DHS, or vice versa.

 

[Lisa F]

Correct, 1 or 2. It's being used by those who want to do a Tier 1 at Epcot and then hop to DHS, or vice versa.

just to be clear if I wanted to do a Tier 1 at Epcot, as soon as I use that Tier 1 I can use MDE to book 2 FP+s at the MK?

Also do you have to actually use the FP or just have the window expire? this is my hypothetical.

RoL opens for december and I want to book a FP for the second show. So in advance I book a FP for the second show and a throwaway FP first thing in the morning at AK say from 9-10am. But in the morning I plan to actually be at HS for morning extra magic hours. So I show up at HS at 7:30am, get let in at 7:45, book jedi training academy and line up for them letting in people for early magic hours. I ride toy story twice. I ride great movie ride. at 9am or 10am? (which is it?) I can book another FP for HS? of course but something like star tours or tower of terror. and basically i can do everything I want to without any Tier 1 FPs at hs? Does that make sense?

 

[hiroMYhero]

just to be clear if I wanted to do a Tier 1 at Epcot, as soon as I use that Tier 1 I can use MDE to book 2 FP+s at the MK?

Yes for this scenario.

Also do you have to actually use the FP or just have the window expire? this is my hypothetical.

I'll defer to @marciemi for this hypothetical because you'll be booking FP#3 in Park #2 to be used before FP#2 in Park #1 even though you haven't yet entered Park #1.

 

[Lisa F]

Yes for this scenario.


I'll defer to @marciemi for this hypothetical because you'll be booking FP#3 in Park #2 to be used before FP#2 in Park #1 even though you haven't yet entered Park #1.

in this case it might just be simpler to use the SDFP on a different band. I'm only really asking because I am trying to figure out a way to guarantee a RoL fp without blowing the rest of my FP use for the day. with morning extra magic hours and no desire to ride rockin' roller coaster it may not ultimately matter.

 

[hiroMYhero]

in this case it might just be simpler to use the SDFP on a different band. I'm only really asking because I am trying to figure out a way to guarantee a RoL fp without blowing the rest of my FP use for the day. with morning extra magic hours and no desire to ride rockin' roller coaster it may not ultimately matter.

I would do that. Pre-book for AK and SDFP DHS especially because you'll get a lot done during EMH and DHS will have a lot it availability for SDFP that early in the morning.

 

[marciemi]

Also do you have to actually use the FP or just have the window expire? this is my hypothetical.

RoL opens for december and I want to book a FP for the second show. So in advance I book a FP for the second show and a throwaway FP first thing in the morning at AK say from 9-10am. But in the morning I plan to actually be at HS for morning extra magic hours. So I show up at HS at 7:30am, get let in at 7:45, book jedi training academy and line up for them letting in people for early magic hours. I ride toy story twice. I ride great movie ride. at 9am or 10am? (which is it?) I can book another FP for HS? of course but something like star tours or tower of terror. and basically i can do everything I want to without any Tier 1 FPs at hs? Does that make sense?

I'll defer to @marciemi for this hypothetical because you'll be booking FP#3 in Park #2 to be used before FP#2 in Park #1 even though you haven't yet entered Park #1.

Yeah, I really don't think this would work. I don't think you can ever book for another park until you've actually scanned at the first one so it knows you're actually in the park that day. You could test this from home but just like if I tried that for tomorrow it won't let you book between parks until you've proven you're in a park. Once your window passes at AK while you're at HS, the system has no way of knowing if you're just sitting at home. Well, it may "know" since you used ticket media, but that's not a requirement or else we wouldn't be getting these SDFP's! It's not the "same day" part that lets you split your FPP's but the fact that you've already used one in a park if that makes sense. I do think it would work if you booked say Everest from 9-10am and ROL at 8:30pm, scanned at EE and then immediately booked for RnRC for the afternoon (without losing the ROL for the evening).

Based on what you want to do, I think as you suggested that your second option would be the best. Book what you want for AK for the evening, use EMH in the morning and SDFP along with it. These days you seem to be able frequently to get TSMM, ToT, Star Tours, GMR and lots of the shows same day. So if you went right to TSMM (don't waste RD time going to a kiosk then) and rode and then booked your SDFP's you'd almost certainly be able to get some combination of 3 of those. There are 2 unmanned kiosks right where you come out of TSMM too which are probably the best ones to use without lines or CM's bothering you.