FP window has now opened and I HATE it!

[JimmyV]

I worked backwards and started on my last park day.

For some of the more popular things try to book them closer to the end of your trip vs the begining.

And herein lies the problem. Who wants to spend a whole week at WDW and only do the most popular attractions at the end of their trip? If you can't get A&E or the Mine Train until the 9th day of your trip, and on the second day of your trip you are spending the entire day at the MK, it is tough to walk the kids past those new and popular attractions and tell then that they won't get to do them until a week from now. A first world problem, to be sure. But one that could be eliminated entirely if Disney just bit the bullet and went to a 60 day booking system. A prior poster asked if that would really be better, and in my opinion, yes it would. When people have their ADRs all set up 180 days in advance, and they got that coveted BoG dinner reservation for Thursday, and Le Cellier for Friday, and 50's Prime Time for Saturday, it would be nice to know when it comes time to book FPs that all the good ones at the MK aren't gone for the Thursday that you want to be there, and likewise for Epcot and DHS on those days as well. Getting shut out of FPs and having to reconfigure plans, or having to wait until you are 8 days into your vacation to hit the newest and most popular rides is not a great way to go about things.

 

[bcalloway]

And herein lies the problem. Who wants to spend a whole week at WDW and only do the most popular attractions at the end of their trip? If you can't get A&E or the Mine Train until the 9th day of your trip, and on the second day of your trip you are spending the entire day at the MK, it is tough to walk the kids past those new and popular attractions and tell then that they won't get to do them until a week from now. A first world problem, to be sure. But one that could be eliminated entirely if Disney just bit the bullet and went to a 60 day booking system. A prior poster asked if that would really be better, and in my opinion, yes it would. When people have their ADRs all set up 180 days in advance, and they got that coveted BoG dinner reservation for Thursday, and Le Cellier for Friday, and 50's Prime Time for Saturday, it would be nice to know when it comes time to book FPs that all the good ones at the MK aren't gone for the Thursday that you want to be there, and likewise for Epcot and DHS on those days as well. Getting shut out of FPs and having to reconfigure plans, or having to wait until you are 8 days into your vacation to hit the newest and most popular rides is not a great way to go about things.

My FP+ window hasn't opened yet, but this is my fear EXACTLY! I'm so nervous about getting anything that we would like to do.

 

[Luvchefmic]

No more waking up for rope drop and racing to FP machines. Now we stay up until midnight 60 days before our trip, gulping coffee trying to score them!

Hmm sounds like something that should go on a t-shirt Bet it would sell too

 

[markandjen]

Our window opened up on Monday and we were able to get everything we wanted including A&E on day 66 in an early afternoon slot and 7DMT 3 seperate days all times we wanted. I think the evening parade and Wishes are filled up due to the fact the week we're going has 4 MNSHP nights.

 

[MuddyTires]

On our 60 days out night, we were able to get A&E for the 5th day and Mine Train for our 1st day. And we have 5 people, and got the FP+'s for each of us at the exact same time window.

 

[Jennasis]

Rope drop isn't 9am at the turnstyles anymore...it's 60 days out at midnight.


PROGRESS!

 

[J and R's mom]

I, too, feel your pain.

Tuesday (8/26...at 11:00pm since we're central time) was our 60 day window opening. Tried for Anna and Elsa--starting on our last full day there--right at 11:00pm. NO LUCK. But we are only staying for four nights so we're in the < 5 days category. I checked the other days as well but no luck for those either.

We were able to get everything else, but time options were going quickly for the headliners.

Is FP+ fair across the board? NOPE.

Rewarding for those staying longer and spending more money? YEP.

And don't get me started on the tiering thing....

 

[themouseforme]

wow. you guys are sweatin October, but in oct i'll be trying to do xmas week!!
oh well. we'll see. I'm gonna keep positive thoughts and sleep with my laptop.

 

[lllGurulll]

You guys are stressing me out and my 60 day window isn't until march.

One thing is certain, I'm not wasting my time on this A&E stuff. my kids are all about the rides

 

[horse11]

Yeah, I got on at midnight and started 66 days out (our last day, and the A&E passes were all unavailable.

Thank goodness for the lovely people on here who help coordinate to pass on cancelled FP+ though!

WOW I just don't understand I only have 4 days for my trip in October and on my 4th day everything was available including a slot for A&E. plus all the Parades. Did you get on at Midnight Florida time? If this is happening to people I can understand their frustration.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Now think if you're offsite or local and can only book at the 30 day point...and think how little selection is left for any "newish" experiences...

We got our tickets & booked FP+ the night before our trip in July. We didn't need A & E and couldn't get 7DMT. We did rope drop and did the 7DMT with about a 30-35 minute wait. It wasn't bad at all

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, being that I'm the dreaded offsite stayer, but it stinks that onsite can book multiple times for the same attractions. Thus leaving offsite ZERO chance at things like A&E, 7DMT. It sucks that people like me who can't afford to stay onsite but still spend plenty taking trips to Disney get the shaft. No flames please, just stating how I feel about this.

 

[mom2rtk]

WOW I just don't understand I only have 4 days for my trip in October and on my 4th day everything was available including a slot for A&E. plus all the Parades. Did you get on at Midnight Florida time? If this is happening to people I can understand their frustration.

I'm curious for you, and for others who booked for shorter trips (less than 10 days) and found everything available....... did you get A/E and/or 7DMT on a party day in the MK or a non-party day?

 

[eyehartdisney]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, being that I'm the dreaded offsite stayer, but it stinks that onsite can book multiple times for the same attractions. Thus leaving offsite ZERO chance at things like A&E, 7DMT. It sucks that people like me who can't afford to stay onsite but still spend plenty taking trips to Disney get the shaft. No flames please, just stating how I feel about this.

No flames, but that's the way these theme parks have been running towards lately, not just Disney. Look at Universal and their Front of Line access for hotel guests.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I'm curious for you, and for others who booked for shorter trips (less than 10 days) and found everything available....... did you get A/E and/or 7DMT on a party day in the MK or a non-party day?

I was able to get 6 overlapping 7dmt on day 1 of my.trip which is a party day. I booked 61 days out b/c I had a room only before package starts. I probably could have gotten them together but wanted in morning instead of afternoon. Day 3 and 6 there was plenty 7dmt (also part days though). A&E only available day 6. I tried for 1 earlier in trip and nothing was available. Now I pray nothing mysteriously disappears.

 

[carley]

I'm curious for you, and for others who booked for shorter trips (less than 10 days) and found everything available....... did you get A/E and/or 7DMT on a party day in the MK or a non-party day?

i booked for 7 days end of sept, had no problems getting mine train, and anna elsa meet n greet. booked fastpass for both on day 4 and day 6, i believe one is a halloween party date. i didnt log in till 6am on available fastpast day.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was able to get 6 overlapping 7dmt on day 1 of my.trip which is a party day. I booked 61 days out b/c I had a room only before package starts. I probably could have gotten them together but wanted in morning instead of afternoon. Day 3 and 6 there was plenty 7dmt (also part days though). A&E only available day 6. I tried for 1 earlier in trip and nothing was available. Now I pray nothing mysteriously disappears.

i booked for 7 days end of sept, had no problems getting mine train, and anna elsa meet n greet. booked fastpass for both on day 4 and day 6, i believe one is a halloween party date. i didnt log in till 6am on available fastpast day.

Thanks! I've been curious whether it would be easier to get hard to get FPs on party days when crowds are lower, or on non-party days when hours were longer.

Still looks like a mixed bag. Maybe just random luck?

Thanks for the reports! I'd love to hear more.

 

[Kalea]

I'm curious for you, and for others who booked for shorter trips (less than 10 days) and found everything available....... did you get A/E and/or 7DMT on a party day in the MK or a non-party day?

We have less than 10 days and were able to get both 7DMT & A/E on a party day and a non-party day.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Thanks! I've been curious whether it would be easier to get hard to get FPs on party days when crowds are lower, or on non-party days when hours were longer.

Still looks like a mixed bag. Maybe just random luck?

Thanks for the reports! I'd love to hear more.

I was hoping with all my might A&E would have been available for my 3rd park day. It wasn't. Day 6 I'm letting the kiddos pick where they wanna go. I am thinking it'll be b/t MK and AK. But that is the only time we could get A&E so if they choose AK, I'll be getting rid of 6 and someone will hit the jackpot!

 

[JimmyV]

Is FP+ fair across the board? NOPE.

Rewarding for those staying longer and spending more money? YEP.

But this is where the logic breaks down. A family paying rack rate for 5 nights at the GF and who gets the DxDP will spend more money than a family who spends 10 nights at ASM with a QS dining plan. The difference between a 10 day park pass and a 5 day park pass simply isn't great enough to make up the difference. So it isn't money that is being rewarded, but time. And try as I might, I just can't see the logic behind rewarding time. If Person A and Person B are both going to be in the MK on October 29, then both people should be at their computers at the same time, the same number of days in advance competing for the same attraction time slots. Pure and simple.

i booked for 7 days end of sept, had no problems getting mine train, and anna elsa meet n greet.

There's your answer right there. There is no reason to suspect that the most "off" of "off seasons" will present the same issues as people who have reported back on their experiences trying to get FP+ slots for the summer. And as the calendar clicks forward toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are going to see things tighten up again. No different than the person who says: "I tried like the Dickens to get an ADR at BoG for July 10 and couldn't get one to save my life." And then another person chimes in: "Funny. I had no problem getting one for September 12." Totally different animals.