Getting FastPasses at 60-Day Point for a Large Group

[Christine]

I've got a while before my FastPass window opens (Sept 3). We are going with a group of 16 people. I am the only member of this group that is experienced in getting fastpasses. Most of the other group members haven't been to Disney in over 20 years and it's been a struggle to even get them situated with the app. I don't have any faith that this will improve by our date.

I have access to all their MDE accounts. They are also linked to me as Friends. I know it would be stupid to try to get 16 people on one ride so trying to figure out the best strategy when the window opens up. Try to find multiple devices to work on? What would you do?

 

[Searc]

I did a group trip in March with 11 people and was in charge of everything. When I made fastpasses, I did the entire group at once and had no issues. If you would be more comfortable, maybe split them up into groups of 8 if you are planning on doing most rides together.

 

[denecarter]

Our trip was for 7/7-7/13 and there were 19 of us, 2 of those under 3 so no tickets.

Before the trip, I taught my adult daughter and niece how to make fastpasses. On the morning of our FP+ window, we all logged into my account (only one with access to everyone) and went to our target rides/days.

We got everything we wanted... for in the mornings... at the same time as one big group... for 17-20 people. (Niece forgot to exclude 3 dummy accounts used to hold extra tickets.)

We got 7DMT, FOP, SDD, TSMM, RnRC (x2 days), and ToT (x2 days), plus the other rides we wanted.

I was pleasantly surprised... YMMV.

 

[Christine]

Our trip was for 7/7-7/13 and there were 19 of us, 2 of those under 3 so no tickets.

Before the trip, I taught my adult daughter and niece how to make fastpasses. On the morning of our FP+ window, we all logged into my account (only one with access to everyone) and went to our target rides/days.

We got everything we wanted... for in the mornings... at the same time as one big group... for 17-20 people. (Niece forgot to exclude 3 dummy accounts used to hold extra tickets.)

We got 7DMT, FOP, SDD, TSMM, RnRC (x2 days), and ToT (x2 days), plus the other rides we wanted.

I was pleasantly surprised... YMMV.

This is good to hear. Guess I won't bother than with the separate logins.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

As others have said, you should be able to book FP for 16 at once if you are all linked. As you have already probably see, dining ADR's are a little different. You likely broke your dining into 2 groups.

Where it will get a bit challenging, is actually keeping 16 people together in the parks. With that many, I'm not sure I'd even really try. Someone will pretty much always want to stray: for food, drinks, personal needs....Some in your group will likely want to sleep a little later, nap in the afternoon, or go to bed early.

To keep your own sanity, I suggest going in with an expectation that the group will split.

You might want to even say something along the lines of "Here's what I planned, and plan to do. Everyone is free to join me or go their own pace (no hard feelings), but I'm not responsible for modifications if/when you go your own way."

 

[Christine]

As others have said, you should be able to book FP for 16 at once if you are all linked. As you have already probably see, dining ADR's are a little different. You likely broke your dining into 2 groups.

Where it will get a bit challenging, is actually keeping 16 people together in the parks. With that many, I'm not sure I'd even really try. Someone will pretty much always want to stray: for food, drinks, personal needs....Some in your group will likely want to sleep a little later, nap in the afternoon, or go to bed early.

To keep your own sanity, I suggest going in with an expectation that the group will split.

You might want to even say something along the lines of "Here's what I planned, and plan to do. Everyone is free to join me or go their own pace (no hard feelings), but I'm not responsible for modifications if/when you go your own way."

Yeah, we are already doing that and I know some of us will splinter off. For instance, one day we are all doing the MK, but three in the party will go to Epcot (still leaves us with 13 people that day). Sure, one may get tired and go back to the room, but I still need to get the fast passes in case they don't.

I also have part of the group probably really wanting stuff for little kids and a few others in the group will want Space Mountain. So, it's going to be difficult.

I think at Animal Kingdom, we will all want to do the Safari and probably FoP at the same time.

 

[yorkieteacher]

Having as many people as you can possible get to work on getting them is crucial-and you are already well on your way with three! I'd see if I could get a couple more even! Assign each person a day and desired time for your fast passes, go after the most desired first, and have a set of overlapping times written down if you need to break them up-also remember to write down the time you succeed in getting so you will be sure of the times for the other two that day. Trust me on that last one-booking for 7 people a couple of weeks ago and remembering the times I picked for the "top gun" when it was different from what I originally wanted was almost my downfall!

 

[Searc]

Do it all yourself, or you will be wasting time fielding numerous questions from people who have no idea what they are doing.

 

[JessicaW1234]

I booked for our whole group myself (9)- maybe you could just book the headliners and put others as placeholders to have something and then modify as people want to branch out?

 

[Christine]

Having as many people as you can possible get to work on getting them is crucial-and

Unfortunately, having them work on it won't be happening. I'm pretty sure it will just be me. The other person that could do it is my son, but he will be at work (new-ish job) so no way he can do it. But it's good to hear that people are having success with large groups. I think the biggest concern will be getting fastpasses that the little ones and their parents like and getting different ones for the thrill riders.

 

[Searc]

Unfortunately, having them work on it won't be happening. I'm pretty sure it will just be me. The other person that could do it is my son, but he will be at work (new-ish job) so no way he can do it. But it's good to hear that people are having success with large groups. I think the biggest concern will be getting fastpasses that the little ones and their parents like and getting different ones for the thrill riders.

What I did was get thrill rides for everyone in the group, even those I knew wouldn't want to ride. That way, people who did want to ride could use our bands and go more than once. I reversed it on days where we did tamer rides, so the ones who wanted tamer rides (we had one 5 year old, rest were adults) got to ride twice in a row on some rides. It worked well.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

With your group size, you might also be able to make good use of child swap passes, where they are available. With a child swap pass ( also called, "rider swap pass") , you present a group of riders +child+ person watching the child to the ride entrance. The CM will issue a rider swap pass, and later the babysitting adult can ride the attraction (FP line) with up to 3 people after the 1st group finishes.

If you know some folks don't want to ride Space Mtn, you do NOT have to book a Space Mtn FP for them. When booking FP, you choose which family gets that FP. If Uncle Joe doesn't want to go, just don't pick him.

Right after you pick the Space Mtn FP group, you can pick a different FP for Uncle Joe and everyone else that prefers a FP for Buzz in that time period.

Just try to get overlapping times and FP that are in the same area, so when you choose your next FP, you can select the whole group again for that FP (if you want).