GAD FP opinions needed

[szvers]

Do you guys think that if I use my GAD vouchers for FP's for my family then I wouldn't need to get to the parks 30 min before start time like we usually do in the past.

We have followed the advice of the Unofficial Guide to get there early and it has worked well, but if one arrives early to beat the crowds for the big attractions, which we'll already have FP's for via the GAD, does that nullify the need to get there early?

Thanks

 

[JoQuo711]

I wouldn't say it nullifies it, you could totally use the early-riser strategy along with the GAD fast passes. If you guys would normally be awake/ready for rope drop anyway, you might as well get there early, follow your normal plans with regular fast passes and standby lines until things get more crowded after a few hours, and then go ahead and use your GAD fast passes at that point. This way you'll get in way more rides than you normally do in basically the same amount of time.

Then again if you struggle to wake up early (that's me... ), the GAD passes might be your ticket to a few extra hours of sleep.

 

[szvers]

I wouldn't say it nullifies it, you could totally use the early-riser strategy along with the GAD fast passes. If you guys would normally be awake/ready for rope drop anyway, you might as well get there early, follow your normal plans with regular fast passes and standby lines until things get more crowded after a few hours, and then go ahead and use your GAD fast passes at that point. This way you'll get in way more rides than you normally do in basically the same amount of time.

Then again if you struggle to wake up early (that's me... ), the GAD passes might be your ticket to a few extra hours of sleep.

I am usually the one trying to get everyone up in the morning, so if we could avoid the lines by using the GAD FP cards I'd prefer to let them sleep an extra hour.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

It depends which rides you want to do and how many times you want to ride them. There are five (sometimes four if Splash is off the list) Donald rides at MK. If you want to ride all of them once, you can use three Donald credits and use your ticket for two additional FPs to get the other two rides - easy enough to do. But if you want to ride them more than once, you'll get a lot more done by going early. At DHS, if you want to ride TSM more than once and also ride ToT and RnR, it would be good to arrive early. I'm not sure ToT ever runs out of FPs, but TSM runs out by early afternoon and RnR sometimes runs out. Many people use the Donald credits for three rides on TSM, then they use park tickets for ToT and RnR - totally doable if you arrive by lunch or early afternoon.

I would think you could definitely sleep late for Epcot and AK.

The GAD FPs give you a lot of flexibility and help you avoid criss-crossing the parks to get FPs. But going early is never a mistake - you can just get more done.

We are planning to use a GAD voucher for FPs at DHS and we are intentionally NOT arriving for rope drop. We don't want to deal with the morning stampede. But we will be there within 30 minutes of opening. We will be there for RD at MK - my kids like to ride the MK rides over and over again. The GAD FPs are just a bonus to our regular touring plan.

Edited to add: If you want to see the Fairies in Toontown, it is still a good idea to arrive early so you can make Toontown rope drop at 9:45.

 

[szvers]

It depends which rides you want to do and how many times you want to ride them. There are five (sometimes four if Splash is off the list) Donald rides at MK. If you want to ride all of them once, you can use three Donald credits and use your ticket for two additional FPs to get the other two rides - easy enough to do. But if you want to ride them more than once, you'll get a lot more done by going early. At DHS, if you want to ride TSM more than once and also ride ToT and RnR, it would be good to arrive early. I'm not sure ToT ever runs out of FPs, but TSM runs out by early afternoon and RnR sometimes runs out. Many people use the Donald credits for three rides on TSM, then they use park tickets for ToT and RnR - totally doable if you arrive by lunch or early afternoon.

I would think you could definitely sleep late for Epcot and AK.

The GAD FPs give you a lot of flexibility and help you avoid criss-crossing the parks to get FPs. But going early is never a mistake - you can just get more done.

We are planning to use a GAD voucher for FPs at DHS and we are intentionally NOT arriving for rope drop. We don't want to deal with the morning stampede. But we will be there within 30 minutes of opening. We will be there for RD at MK - my kids like to ride the MK rides over and over again. The GAD FPs are just a bonus to our regular touring plan.

Edited to add: If you want to see the Fairies in Toontown, it is still a good idea to arrive early so you can make Toontown rope drop at 9:45.

Great info. The reason I ask is we plan to stay up real late for the Extra Magic Hours at Mk, maybe even until 3am, so we wouldn't be that enthused to get up early the next day for another park.

I agree with you. Early never hurts and if I see the GAD Fps as a complement to what our plans are it makes sense.

Thanks, as always.