FP+ at 60 days, which are "selling out?"

[Ariel on Land]

Obviously if offsite guests aren't booking theirs until day of, we're not talking getting an ADR at Cindy's a month before. But are FPs "selling out" at the 60 day mark? If so, which ones? Or does it really matter if you wait until 30 days or 2 weeks prior?

Just curious. We went in October, when FP- was still usable, and the only things I had a hard time getting a few weeks ahead of time I think was Wishes and MSEP. And at that time those weren't released until later, is that still the case?

 

[Shaden]

Obviously if offsite guests aren't booking theirs until day of, we're not talking getting an ADR at Cindy's a month before. But are FPs "selling out" at the 60 day mark? If so, which ones? Or does it really matter if you wait until 30 days or 2 weeks prior?

Just curious. We went in October, when FP- was still usable, and the only things I had a hard time getting a few weeks ahead of time I think was Wishes and MSEP. And at that time those weren't released until later, is that still the case?

So far, none.

Though many people predicted (and I was one of them) that FPs for headliners would/could sell out at the 60 day mark, that was based on the fact that a) it would be high season, b) Off site guests would be able to book FPs in advance.

Currently its low season, and not even everyone on site has really had access to FP+ for busy season 60 days in advance yet, though presidents day weekend might be an example.

However, offsite guests are still unable to book in advance, AND APs are only testing booking in advance unless they have a room reservation....

If offsite guests never get advance booking, which I can't really see if the point of the system is to "lock people in" ... then we may never see the 60 day sell outs ...

 

[ArwenMarie]

It will be interesting to see what happens when the 7DMT opens.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

Tis FP+ is making me crazy. We normally buy our tickets when we arrive. We stay DVC so we don't have a package deal. Now I have to get them 60 days in advance

Can you do the will call option and get some kind of code to make the FP+ selection?

 

[abner1776]

While the FP+ are not "sold out" per se, not every time slot is available so I guess it depends on how you define, Sold Out.

I am going to MK next Wed evening and my three FP+ are pretty much spreadout over the evening due to the limitations of the available time slots. I even went back in and tried to change my times individually but was not able to materially improve the schedule.

It becomes more of a problem when you are trying to coordinate the time slots with your ADR's as I am trying to do at Epcot next Friday evening...I can't believe I have to do this much planning just to enjoy my vacation at WDW.

 

[soccer mom]

We are leaving tomorrow and starting in the parks on Sunday. I have been tweaking our FP+ times right up to today with no problem.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Anyone know when I could book a FP for the Main Street electrical parade? At my 60 days it wasn't available as a choice

 

[jenrose66]

I wasn't able to book until one week before for the parade. I just booked msep this morning for 2/7.

 

[wisblue]

While the FP+ are not "sold out" per se, not every time slot is available so I guess it depends on how you define, Sold Out.

I am going to MK next Wed evening and my three FP+ are pretty much spreadout over the evening due to the limitations of the available time slots. I even went back in and tried to change my times individually but was not able to materially improve the schedule.

It becomes more of a problem when you are trying to coordinate the time slots with your ADR's as I am trying to do at Epcot next Friday evening...I can't believe I have to do this much planning just to enjoy my vacation at WDW.

When you first set your FP+ reservations for the evening, did you accept an option with evening times and then try to change them?

That is probably going to be difficult because the system will not allow you to get FP+ reservations with overlapping return times. For example, if you have one for 4:30-5:30, and another for 6:15-7:15, the system won't let you pick anything else for a return time that begins between 3:30 and 7:15 because that would create an overlap.

Although I have never done that, I also understand that there are restrictions to keep you from getting FPs too close to the ADRs linked to your account.

What worked well for me if I wanted FPs for the evening was to accept the option with all morning and early afternoon times and then change each one individually into a slot I wanted. That allowed me to get times back to back to back (like 6-7, 7-8, and 8-9. By returning later in the return period for the first one and early in the period for the last one, you can use all 3 of them in less than an hour and a half.

 

[wisblue]

Tis FP+ is making me crazy. We normally buy our tickets when we arrive. We stay DVC so we don't have a package deal. Now I have to get them 60 days in advance

Can you do the will call option and get some kind of code to make the FP+ selection?

Yes. One of my daughters did that. She bought a 5 day hopper online, used the confirmation code to link to her MDE account, and then made her FP+ reservations.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

So far, none.

Though many people predicted (and I was one of them) that FPs for headliners would/could sell out at the 60 day mark, that was based on the fact that a) it would be high season, b) Off site guests would be able to book FPs in advance.

Currently its low season, and not even everyone on site has really had access to FP+ for busy season 60 days in advance yet, though presidents day weekend might be an example.

However, offsite guests are still unable to book in advance, AND APs are only testing booking in advance unless they have a room reservation....

If offsite guests never get advance booking, which I can't really see if the point of the system is to "lock people in" ... then we may never see the 60 day sell outs ...

It's also something that may develop over time. As more people report not getting the times they want for peak seasons, more people will start booking at the 60-day mark, which will make more people report not getting what they want, etc. When 7DMT first opens, if it is available for FP+, you will likely need to book it early, which might also have a domino effect. My window opens in a few days. I will book close to 60 days but don't feel great pressure to book right at 60 days -- I would feel different if 7DMT was available or I was trying to get TSMM.

 

[frozengurl]

Ok, so I'm going on a quick trip in April the 11-13 while I'm visiting my family in FL. We have the AP vouchers that will not become active until we arrive on the 11th. We are staying on property but technically right now since the vouchers aren't activated yet it appears to be a "room only" res. Therefore, I will not get to "lock in" my FP+ ressies until I arrive. I'm trying not to get too upset about this bc I know we are doing our "real" vacation in October but I'm pretty sure that I won't get times for TSMM. I am also pretty curious as to what will be left for me to "lock in" on Friday my arrival day since I won't have my band and AP's linked until around 2pm. We were planning on doing an evening at AK that day. This is also spring break week and Palm Sunday weekend... I can't imagine I'm going to have much luck. But.... At least I'll get to spend a weekend where the magic is... And if no rides are available you can find me swimming at my resort! Trying to stay positive!

 

[cvjw]

I made my FP+ reservations last night for our April vacation. Not all times were available for the major headliners at almost 60 days out. I tried to sync up our reservation times with my sister's reservation times, and could not for some attractions. I don't know how the time slots are released for booking by Disney, but at almost 60 days out, there were very few return times for TSM available for booking.

This is a very different scenario then we had when booking FP+ for our November and December trips. I made all of the FP+ reservations right before the trips, and even changed times/attractions during the trip. I don't think this will be possible for our April trip as everyone is doing FP+.

Not loving FP+

 

[KelleyK75]

I did my FP+ last week for an end of March trip, and while I didn't pick all of the most popular rides, I had no trouble at all with getting any time I wanted. Even Toy Story Mania gave me good choices to pick from. I did mine right at the 60 day mark. I had one I wanted to change the time....meeting Mickey in MK, and it gave me pretty much every hour the park was open to choose from.

 

[Ariel on Land]

I made my FP+ reservations last night for our April vacation. Not all times were available for the major headliners at almost 60 days out. I tried to sync up our reservation times with my sister's reservation times, and could not for some attractions. I don't know how the time slots are released for booking by Disney, but at almost 60 days out, there were very few return times for TSM available for booking.

This is a very different scenario then we had when booking FP+ for our November and December trips. I made all of the FP+ reservations right before the trips, and even changed times/attractions during the trip. I don't think this will be possible for our April trip as everyone is doing FP+.

Not loving FP+

Ick.... I don't like hearing that! We had no issues for our Oct trip either. I guess I'll just have to see how it goes as we get closer! I sure hope by the time I go in September, things will have smoothed out and not gotten even worse!!

 

[DebbieB]

For the heck of it, I went into tomorrow and for TSM, these times came up as my 4 options: 9:15, 11:35, 3:05, 3:35. It only gives 4 options so there are likely more available. I didn't want to book it and try to change it to see more times since I will not actually be there.

 

[corinascot]

I booked for our end of March trip a couple days ago. Plenty of times available for all parks and all the attractions we wanted.

 

[KelleyK75]

For the heck of it, I went into tomorrow and for TSM, these times came up as my 4 options: 9:15, 11:35, 3:05, 3:35. It only gives 4 options so there are likely more available. I didn't want to book it and try to change it to see more times since I will not actually be there.

When I did mine it gave me four choices also. Then when I had to go back and change one, I went into "change time" and it gave me probably 10 or more options. Probably the best thing for anyone looking to "reserve" the FP+ is to choose a time that would potentially work for you, then go into "change time" and see if there are any times that work better. Because of an ADR and not wanting anything that might conflict with a parade time, I ended up with the Meet Mickey at 6:55. But when I went to change it, I could pick pretty much any hour from 11:00-the end of the day.

 

[wisblue]

I made my FP+ reservations last night for our April vacation. Not all times were available for the major headliners at almost 60 days out. I tried to sync up our reservation times with my sister's reservation times, and could not for some attractions. I don't know how the time slots are released for booking by Disney, but at almost 60 days out, there were very few return times for TSM available for booking.

This is a very different scenario then we had when booking FP+ for our November and December trips. I made all of the FP+ reservations right before the trips, and even changed times/attractions during the trip. I don't think this will be possible for our April trip as everyone is doing FP+.

Not loving FP+

If you're making reservations for April now, it must be based on 60+, because today April 1 is day 60.

Maybe they make a limited number of slots for each time for the days that are more than 60 days out to keep people with longer stays from taking all of the spots away from people with shorter ones.

Maybe you will see more times available when you get fully inside the 60 day window.

I just tried to make FP+ reservations for April 1 (the farthest out I can go because I don't have a resort reservation), and all times were available for TSMM.

 

[rastuso]

I am quite the FP+ hater, but I don't see the 60 days out sellouts happening anytime soon. Too many people, especially the ones that just call Disney, buy everything and agree to get kidnapped at the airport, still have no clue.

A friend of a friend on FB posted a pic of her families MB's. When questioned, she said they were some new thing that allows charging to rooms, replaces their room key, and are park admission too. However, she made no mention of FP+. So, either she doesn't think scheduling FP early is important (and who would, if you have been there a year or so ago, you'll just remember FP as things you collect and use whenever), or wasn't even explained them.

I think this year will be filled mostly with people who will plan their Disney vacations like have been doing for years. They may play around with FP+ a bit, but the reality of "thou shalt count only to three, no more, no less" will not set in until they live it. There will be lots of reports from people saying their trip was ruined by FP+. Some of that will be because they didnt' plan ahead, but most will simply be the limits it puts on them.

Imagine your average Disney family showing up this summer. They get bussed to the All-Star concentration camp, go to bed, wake up all excited, just to get to the park and find that there are no FP machines, and they have to stand in a long line before they can even get in a line for a ride. And their favorites are already gone, or they have to choose between little Billy and Stephanie's favorites.

I'm quite surprised at what seems to be the lack of prodding that Disney is doing to get people to sign up in advance. I would have thought folks would be getting some very fancy "FP+ for Dummies" brochure in the MB box showing EXACTLY how to sign up. And I'm also shocked they aren't given the choice to simply put in their ages, and what parks they plan on going to each day, and Disney does the rest, as a default, for them.

Can't wait to see the chaos the first week of Spring Break.

Jason