FP+ ..what are the busiest times?

[Seabean]

Our 60 day window is coming up (staying at the BWI in August) and now that FP+ has had some time live, does anyone know what times of the day tend to be the busiest to book any given ride?

Are many people booking times just after rope drop? Or perhaps there are peaks at around 11am or 2pm or 4pm ....or what?


I see on the Touringplans site, that they have frequency charts for the parks (scroll down):

http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/fastpass#
http://touringplans.com/epcot/fastpass


... but I'm curious as to what times people are shooting for?

 

[kmb584]

Our 60 day window is coming up (staying at the BWI in August) and now that FP+ has had some time live, does anyone know what times of the day tend to be the busiest to book any given ride?

Are many people booking times just after rope drop? Or perhaps there are peaks at around 11am or 2pm or 4pm ....or what?


I see on the Touringplans site, that they have frequency charts for the parks (scroll down):

http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/fastpass#
http://touringplans.com/epcot/fastpass


... but I'm curious as to what times people are shooting for?

There's no definitive answer as everyone is different. For me personally I like to book between 10a-1p so I can utilize extra FP+ in the early afternoon and evening, but others prefer later time windows so they can sleep in, etc. while still others aim for getting all 3 out of the way as soon as possible to make more selections.

When we were there the 5th-15th there was a steady stream of people in the FP+ queues all day long.

 

[Seabean]

Thanks - our strategy is getting there at rope-drop, then being back at our hotel pool by 1 or 2pm. Obviouly a lot of others have this same strategy too, so I wonder if they tend to book their FP+ 's earlier or later in the morning. And then I wonder how that coincides with the "late sleeper" crowd?

 

[shocker]

And then I wonder how that coincides with the "late sleeper" crowd?

NOTHING caters to or is benefited by the late sleeper crowd.

There is some improvement in this area that they can now be guaranteed 3 FP, whereas before they may have shown up later in the day to find all FP's gone. Again, if they start too late they may find no 4th FP available.

They can also pre-book meals the same as before and at least have a place to eat without worrying about the greater crowd level.

 

[Feberin]

We aimed for one around 10 or 11 and then one an hour until we finished them. The only exception was the day we did RD at HS and then went to Epcot later in the day. We did our FP+ for Epcot and had them so they were after 3 pm so we'd have plenty of time to do HS and the World Showcase before we started using them.

 

[Seabean]

I'm guessing the best strategy for those like us who arrive by rope-drop, and get back to the hotel pool by early afternoon is...

9am -10am: get on as many rides w/o FP's while the crowds are still low

10am - 12noon: book FP's and ride during this time as the crowds grow


12-1pm: head back to the hotel for the pool


So, I'm guessing there might be peak time for FP's from about 10-12am?


edit: actually you'd book 1 FP for the 10am hour, 1 for the 11am, and 1 for the noon hour, right?

 

[bluwater]

All of my FPs are booked from 3:30pm -7:00pm.

Why?

Rope drop
Ride 1-2 headliners for which I dont have a FP
Then ride some less popular rides...but still fairly popular
Break = leave park around 11:45am

Back in park at 4 (usually a hop to different park because if I am lucky, I rode 1-2 headliners in park #1 that mornig at RD)
Ride FP headliner rides
FP more - hope for the best
Dinner
Fill in with less popular rides and ride new fastpass rides

Repeat next day (always hopping after mid-day to keep the strategy going)

Its all about timing.

 

[Seabean]

Interesting.... you're doing your entire morning w/o any FP's.... taking a mid-afternoon pool break.... then saving the FP's for later in the day. Maybe we should seriously consider that. Thanks.

Anyone else concur?

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

All of my FPs are booked from 3:30pm -7:00pm. Why? Rope drop Ride 1-2 headliners for which I dont have a FP Then ride some less popular rides...but still fairly popular Break = leave park around 11:45am Back in park at 4 (usually a hop to different park because if I am lucky, I rode 1-2 headliners in park #1 that mornig at RD) Ride FP headliner rides FP more - hope for the best Dinner Fill in with less popular rides and ride new fastpass rides Repeat next day (always hopping after mid-day to keep the strategy going) Its all about timing.

This is exactly the touring strategy we are going for. Coming from the UK we have 14 day premium tickets which allow us to park hop so we are hoping to make use of every morning and evening EMH that we can. It is my understanding that you can't book FP+ for EMH.

 

[Chumpson]

Interesting.... you're doing your entire morning w/o any FP's.... taking a mid-afternoon pool break.... then saving the FP's for later in the day. Maybe we should seriously consider that. Thanks.

Anyone else concur?

That is what I am doing. All of my FP+ come after my break. Even if I don't tour as much in the morning as I would want to, I know the evening times will allow me to see at least three rides I want to.