FP Question: Mix of Regular Base Tickets with DAH in between

[jbish]

For our upcoming Spring Break trip (the week leading up to Easter), I know it will just be a zoo at WDW. To help us navigate that, I was able to justify getting two DAH tickets and will only buy a 3-day base ticket for the remaining days. This is scattered across a 6 day trip. The itinerary I'm thinking of, as of now:
- Day 1 (Sat) - HS
- Day 2 (Sun) - MK DAH
- Day 3 (Mon) - Epcot
- Day 4 (Tue) - AK DAH
- Day 5 (Wed) - HS
- Day 6 (Thu) - Disney Springs

The Member Services CM (DVC) that I spoke with to buy the DAH tickets did not seem to think I would be able to reserve any FPs with only the DAH ticket - she said I would need to have a regular ticket in order to do so. But, from what I have read, seems like I should - please let me know if I'm wrong on that front.

Because I have my DAH days sprinkled in the midst of our park tickets, but will have 5 days worth of ticket media, will I be able to make 5 days worth of FPs? Can I link them all to our profiles on MDE? Is there anything I need to know about making FPs for those few hours when the park is still open and the event hasn't yet officially started?

Thanks!

 

[jbish]

Bumping as I haven't found my answers yet - hoping to get a few more looks at this now that it's Monday morning! I've seen a few questions asked about making FPs on the DAH ticket on a day when someone is going to a different park earlier in the day and that doesn't seem to be allowed since MDE limits the number of FPs in one day to 3. And I'm sure I'd be able to make FPs on Day 2 of my plan since I have 3 day base tickets. But I'd like to be able to make my Day 5 HS FPs, too. Thanks, all!

 

[CastAStone]

Edit: Listen to the other guy.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Because I have my DAH days sprinkled in the midst of our park tickets, but will have 5 days worth of ticket media, will I be able to make 5 days worth of FPs?

While different situations can sometimes lead to different results, this is how it will likely work given what you describe. The DAH admission will let you book FPs just like a regular ticket. It will technically let you book them any time that day - it’s not smart enough to know you can’t actually enter the park until a certain time.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[jbish]

While different situations can sometimes lead to different results, this is how it will likely work given what you describe. The DAH admission will let you book FPs just like a regular ticket. It will technically let you book them any time that day - it’s not smart enough to know you can’t actually enter the park until a certain time.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks, @GADisneyDad14 - I'll definitely let you know. But, either way, your understanding is that DAH, being a valid park entry ticket, does allow me to reserve FPs for a day? The phone CM was incorrect? I'm about to drop another load of money on 5 more DAH tickets so I want to be sure I know what the precedence is when it comes to FPs with those tickets. Thanks again!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks, @GADisneyDad14 - I'll definitely let you know. But, either way, your understanding is that DAH, being a valid park entry ticket, does allow me to reserve FPs for a day? The phone CM was incorrect? I'm about to drop another load of money on 5 more DAH tickets so I want to be sure I know what the precedence is when it comes to FPs with those tickets. Thanks again!!

Yes, the DAH ticket should allow for FP booking given what you describe about the rest of your plans. It is not surprising to run into CMs who either aren’t informed or aren’t trained in that sort of nuanced level of MDE/FP info.

 

[vinotinto]

The one thing you have to watch out for if you decide to "sprinkle" your trip with the DAH tickets, is to use the designated DAH entrance, so that it pulls the correct admission (DAH) and not one of your days from your 3-day ticket. The system is not smart enough to use the correct DAH ticket for the date that you purchase it if you don't use the designated entrance. Follow signs for "Event Guests."

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

You'll be there the same time as me and I have the same strategy. We did this last year and TBH you won't need FP's even though it's spring break, although I do believe we used one. I'm fairly confident that I was able to book FP's using those tickets. You're of course limited by the time you can enter the event in terms of timing though. So if you can enter at 7 and the park closes at 8 you'll only be able to use a FP in the 7-8 range, so best case 2 FP's. My son was able to ride FOP and EE 4 times each during the event. So don't panic if you can't get a FOP FP, it is basically walk on during the event. Same really applies at MK, you can get a lot done during the events. So long and short of it, the events are totally worth it if you're looking to basically do rides. You won't really need the FP's. Now I'm hoping for an after hours event at HS but I seriously doubt they add one.

 

[jbish]

The one thing you have to watch out for if you decide to "sprinkle" your trip with the DAH tickets, is to use the designated DAH entrance, so that it pulls the correct admission (DAH) and not one of your days from your 3-day ticket. The system is not smart enough to use the correct DAH ticket for the date that you purchase it if you don't use the designated entrance. Follow signs for "Event Guests."

Great advice! Thank you!!

 

[jbish]

You'll be there the same time as me and I have the same strategy. We did this last year and TBH you won't need FP's even though it's spring break, although I do believe we used one. I'm fairly confident that I was able to book FP's using those tickets. You're of course limited by the time you can enter the event in terms of timing though. So if you can enter at 7 and the park closes at 8 you'll only be able to use a FP in the 7-8 range, so best case 2 FP's. My son was able to ride FOP and EE 4 times each during the event. So don't panic if you can't get a FOP FP, it is basically walk on during the event. Same really applies at MK, you can get a lot done during the events. So long and short of it, the events are totally worth it if you're looking to basically do rides. You won't really need the FP's. Now I'm hoping for an after hours event at HS but I seriously doubt they add one.

Thanks for the additional insight. I see that the night of AK DAH, the current park close time is 8 pm - so, to your point, there won't be much opportunity (or probably the need) to do FPs. Things I've read so far gives me confidence that we will have ample time to get everything done there. We will use the "early entry" time to get the Safari in before they shut that down for the night. I feel like FPs are going to be more critical at MK as I expect that place to be packed on that Sunday when we arrive for check-in at 7 pm.

I, too, would love to see a DAH for HS that week, but I'm not holding my breath. So we're bracing ourselves for a 5 am rope-drop scenario but will keep an eye out on how they adjust SWGE over these next few months.

 

[scrappingbuckeye]

Thanks for the additional insight. I see that the night of AK DAH, the current park close time is 8 pm - so, to your point, there won't be much opportunity (or probably the need) to do FPs. Things I've read so far gives me confidence that we will have ample time to get everything done there. We will use the "early entry" time to get the Safari in before they shut that down for the night. I feel like FPs are going to be more critical at MK as I expect that place to be packed on that Sunday when we arrive for check-in at 7 pm.

I, too, would love to see a DAH for HS that week, but I'm not holding my breath. So we're bracing ourselves for a 5 am rope-drop scenario but will keep an eye out on how they adjust SWGE over these next few months.

In looking back at my photos from last year, during the MK afterhours event during spring break we rode, POC, SM, Buzz, Peoplemover, HM (at least 2 times) and Mine Train 4 times. If my memory is correct the posted wait time for Mine Train was crazy long but the reality was much shorter. Once the park closes and FP's are gone it's amazing how much faster the lines go. I do believe we had mine train fast passes for one of those, but the rest was just during the event, especially at the end of the night. We probably rode Big Thunder Railroad too, but obviously there's no picture for that to remember for sure. I absolutely love the after hours events, you can definitely get a lot accomplished!

 

[jbish]

While different situations can sometimes lead to different results, this is how it will likely work given what you describe. The DAH admission will let you book FPs just like a regular ticket. It will technically let you book them any time that day - it’s not smart enough to know you can’t actually enter the park until a certain time.

Let us know how it goes.

@GADisneyDad14 As a follow up to my earlier post: Made my FPs today and was able to make them for 5 days - this is with a 3 day base ticket and 2 DAH event tickets. I made sure to book the three days that I had planned to use my regular park tickets just in case I was limited to making FPs for only three days. But I was able to book two additional days worth of FPs. This is even after two different CMs that I ordered the DAH tickets from told me that I would NOT be able to book FPs with them. Thankfully, I have these boards to give me the real scoop!!