FP Questions - what should I do?

[phillymummer]

Hello DISers!
My FP window opens up on Saturday Sept 5th and I am going for the popular A&E! I plan on being up at midnight to make my selections.

I have been looking at the Dibbs FP calendar for about 2 weeks now and have noticed that the FP for A&E are always booked the first 3-4 days of the 60-day window. Meaning- if someone wants A&E, most likely they are not going to get it during the first few days of their trip. Right now the 60-day marker is Oct 24 and A&E is booked through Oct 27).

Here is what I would like to do:
Day 1- MK
Day 2- Epcot (this is pretty much set due to a dance workshop and ADRs)
Day 3- DHS and performance in DTD
(Yes, I am only going for three days!)

Question #1- I will only need FPs for 3 people. How likely I am to get one for A&E despite what the Dibbs calendar shows?

QUESTION #2- what should I do?
A. Take the time to see if A&E and SDMT are available for 3 people on Day 1 and if not then check for availability on Day 3?

B. Right away look for availability on the Day 3 and switch my park days? I will have PHs.

C. Book 3 FPs for 3 ppl at MK on my first day and then go back and try to get a FP for only two people. (My hubby doesn't really need to go through the line with us). Then continue to book FP for epcot and DHS.

D- Is there an option I am not thinking of?



UPDATE- I HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP MY ORIGINAL PLANS RATHER THAN PARK HOP. I WILL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET! I ADDED ANOTHER QUESTION IN ANOTHER POST.

thank you for any advice you can give!

~PM

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My window opened 8 days ago. A&E was gone for our entire trip for even one person, and we have a 6 day trip. Based on my experience and your short trip length, I would just plan on meeting them via SB, honestly. The lines are fairly reasonable now, averaging about an hour, so it isn't like a FP+ is going to save you hours upon hours in line. You're going to be in the MK during late EMH. SB lines will likely be around 20 minutes then.

 

[phillymummer]

Thank you for that info and advice! In that case, i think i will stick with my original plan and just hope a FP becomes available. I really dont like to
PH.

 

[ktlm]

3 days makes it hard. Also, if my calculations are right if your window opens September 5, that puts your 1st park day on a Wednesday? I think that will make it even harder. A lot of people go for a week, and many of those people will come in on Saturday or Sunday and leave the next weekend. All those people have gotten to book A&E for that entire week before your window ever opens. The DIBB should be showing availability on your days before you book. I would look that night about starting about 10 minutes before your window opens. If it is showing availability on one of your days, I would go to that day first. If it shows availability on both your days, then I would go ahead and try the 1st day. If it is showing no availability at all before your window even opens, then it probably doesn't make that much difference. I would go ahead and try the first day, but chances are pretty slim. If you want 7DMT and it is available day 1, I would go ahead and book that day first since that is the day you really want to go there. Then go to day 3, and just see if by chance an A&E pops up. If it does, you can book MK that day and then change your 1st day FP+s. If you wind up with your days switched, you can then look for A&E and 7DMT on the DIBB- if they come up, then you do have to dump your DHS FP+ and you run the risk that you won't get what you want on that 3rd day. I would not dump your 3rd day passes until you have A&E locked in for the first day. I don't think people have had too much trouble getting what they want at DHS even as their trip gets close, so hopefully you would not have too much trouble. I would think that if TSMM is your 1st tier choice, you may not get a whole lot of times available, but hopefully there still would be FP for it. Good luck!

 

[phillymummer]

My first day is a wed- the wed of jersey week no less! I thought the same thing about arriving mid-week. Trying to switch park days and switch FP to different Parks on different days just sounds complicated. I'M afraid i'll mess up and end up having to call IT.

Of course TSM is on my list. That just might be higher up on the priority list than a&e!

I'll stick with my original plan and just stalk mde for availability.

Thanks!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You won't have a problem with TSMM. Those FP+s aren't typically all distributed until a day or two before.

 

[phillymummer]

One more question- it looks like a&e is going to be my only issue. If the dibb calendar shows a&e unavailable for my mk day, should i still be up at midnight trying to get a fp for 3 ppl? or can i just make my selections in the morning?

I am going to try for sdmt. Is midnight mandatory for that still?

I am not going for parades or fireworks so i should be able to get everything the next morning (tsmm, soarin, space mt, tot, other low demand attractions).

 

[cath1979]

Maybe you can try to catch also a prepark adr for BOG and then go right after à quick breakfast to a&E

 

[phillymummer]

Our MK is our arrival day so that wont work. But thank you for the suggestion.