FP needed at Epcot if starting at ropedrop?

[DavidNYC]

Generally I agree, but since the OP is finishing at AK, I understand their logic.

I still think they can accomplish what they want at Epcot, with some waits, if they commit to being at park 45 minutes to an hour before opening to ensure they are at the front of the rope drop pack.

Again - OP doesn't say how long their trip is so hard to evaluate a single day out of context for what they want to do for a trip. But yes - if I were doing an EP/AK day, I'd definitely use my FP at AK. Would rope drop rides until about 11am and then head to FW to do countries. I'd most likely plan another evening in Epcot during the trip to try to 4th FP anything in FW I didn't get to hit.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Just a note about rope dropping Test Track. I did it last summer and was #3 in the single rider line. But ... We waited. And waited. And waited for the ride to open. I don't know what the delay was (not weather tho!) but it was thankfully only 20 min or so.

Test Track usd to be down quite a bit and if it's first on your list, you may fall behind your planned times to other rides (as their lines get longer).

 

[lisa cameron]

Just a note about rope dropping Test Track. I did it last summer and was #3 in the single rider line. But ... We waited. And waited. And waited for the ride to open. I don't know what the delay was (not weather tho!) but it was thankfully only 20 min or so.

Test Track usd to be down quite a bit and if it's first on your list, you may fall behind your planned times to other rides (as their lines get longer).

Agreed. If no FP and wanting to do headliners out of the gate, maybe first head to Soarin, then single rider TT, that way if TT is down, just keep heading to FEA.

 

[donalds friend]

Thanks for the suggestions! We are actually there for 7 days so I do have some flexibility of getting rides I miss. With FOP being so popular, I was thinking that would be a strategy to ride it one more time. I may go ahead and book AK while I'm deciding because those are the ones that go first. We will actually be there for dinner at Garden Grill the night before so we might can pick up a 4th fp for something then. When my window opens I will probably do the AK fastpasses. If I can't get the headliners our first day at Epcot I can probably get some 4th fastpasses at another time and just do some of the countries. One thing that is weird is that according to touring plans AK is the suggested park, but it is early entry so I may just devote the day to Epcot. It will depend on how fp go for FOP when my window opens.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Thanks for the suggestions! We are actually there for 7 days so I do have some flexibility of getting rides I miss. With FOP being so popular, I was thinking that would be a strategy to ride it one more time. I may go ahead and book AK while I'm deciding because those are the ones that go first. We will actually be there for dinner at Garden Grill the night before so we might can pick up a 4th fp for something then. When my window opens I will probably do the AK fastpasses. If I can't get the headliners our first day at Epcot I can probably get some 4th fastpasses at another time and just do some of the countries. One thing that is weird is that according to touring plans AK is the suggested park, but it is early entry so I may just devote the day to Epcot. It will depend on how fp go for FOP when my window opens.

That's perfect! I'm like 95% sure you'll be able to pick up a Soarin' FP that night. You may be able to get a FP for either TT or FEA, though those aren't as plentiful. Maybe plan to get in line for TT or FEA right at the end of the night for a relatively short wait (no FP riders to bump the standby queue back and the posted wait times will be artificially inflated). Then you will be able to target your morning RD for the headliner you missed the night before.

 

[Disneypro1]

May is a great time to go..lower crowds by far..But, I always will take advantage of FP+ no need to wait at all if not needed. However, No line is usually more than 20 min or so when we go in early May.

 

[cakebaker]

Yep, totally agree. I don't see any reason to "save" FP+ for later. Why not use them later AND now?

Because the popular rides won’t be available. If I were doing Epcot morning, AK afternoon, I’d be getting fp’s for FOP, Everest and Safari. I’d rather stand in line for 30-40 minutes in the am than several hours in the afternoon.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Because the popular rides won’t be available. If I were doing Epcot morning, AK afternoon, I’d be getting fp’s for FOP, Everest and Safari. I’d rather stabe Nd in line for 30-40 minutes in the am than several hours in the afternoon.

There have been several confirmed reports of the twice daily FP Drops for the popular rides in AK and DHS and pretty much anything can be refreshed for FPs with just a little patience. We recently completed a 7 day visit and only waited in one standby line more than 10 minutes (Navi River, I just couldn't get that one to refresh for 5).

I don't see the need to wait 30-40 minutes in those morning lines. It's just not necessary.

 

[cakebaker]

There have been several confirmed reports of the twice daily FP Drops for the popular rides in AK and DHS and pretty much anything can be refreshed for FPs with just a little patience. We recently completed a 7 day visit and only waited in one standby line more than 10 minutes (Navi River, I just couldn't get that one to refresh for 5).

I don't see the need to wait 30-40 minutes in those morning lines. It's just not necessary.

I’ve been making trips with my young grandson so spending time refreshing just isn’t much of an option. I like focusing on him, not trying to find fp’s. Everyone has their own preferences that work best for them. For us, park hopping doing standby in the morning on lesser rides, fp’s for the popular ones in the afternoons works. I don’t need to book FPS in the mornings for popular rides because we ride those with FP on a day we are at the park in the afternoon.

In reality, we don’t stand in line for anything beyond 20-30 minutes and usually not that long. I wasn’t referring to me personally in that, just using it as an either or sample. In the mornings people rush to the new rides in that first hour, making for very short lines on the lesser rides.

 

[limegreenmonorail]

If I were you, I'd switch GG to a pre-park opening breakfast for that day, instead of dinner the night before. Check in for breakfast by 7:45am, and you can easily eat, ride Soarin', and be on your way to TT or FEA by the time the crowds are entering the park.