Hardly any AK FP available 2nd half of Aug

[katytrott]

I've read quite a bit about how summer is the new better time of year to visit and was quiet last year and quiet this year so far. We're visiting 13th - 28th Aug (offsite) and had no prob getting FP for AK start of the trip (apart from FOP obviously) but once over half way mark there are no FP available all day for FOP, NRJ, ROL and surprisingly Kilimanjaro safaris.

What gives? I thought crowds were possibly lighter during summer, or at least I've read end of Aug is quieter due to florida schools going back (UK schools don't go back till Sept)? Is lack of FP indicative of large crowds?

Thanks

 

[mom2rtk]

Weren't some passes blacked out most of the time since Pandora opened? They have lifted some blackout dates, but that's pretty recent. I expect a lot of those who have been blacked out are anxious to check out Pandora.

 

[katytrott]

Sorry, bit confused as to what you mean by blacked out. Are you thinking possibly locals who haven't been able to get FP due to none available from blackouts when Pandora 1st opened, suddenly are able to go due to no blackouts last half of Aug? If that's the case that would make sense and would hopefully mean it's just that concentrated Pandora (and Africa by all accounts) area that will have high crowds - not the whole of WDW!

 

[AngiTN]

I saw a comment on one of the bloggers that tracks wait times that crowds are picking up now. That wait times are up at the end of July compared to June and first part of July. Looks like the slow summer is coming to and end.
Which makes sense, we are heading down soon. It's never slow when we go, it's always, and I mean always, busier than projected when we go. Every time.

 

[Mimifree]

We booked a last minute trip about 32 days out for June. Crowds were down but FP for all that you listed (except ROL) went quickly. I think people are getting FPs for KS when they get one of their Pandora FPs. Overall park crowds may be down but I think most people are going to AK for Pandora.

 

[katytrott]

Yes this is the conclusion I came to.....well at least I hope is the scenario, but still don't understand why the end of Aug is so different to the start?

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes this is the conclusion I came to.....well at least I hope is the scenario, but still don't understand why the end of Aug is so different to the start?

That depends on your definition of "end" of August.

Initially some APs were blocked for the first 10 days.

If it's the very end you're talking about, that could be about the start of free dining and the first Halloween party drawing in crowds.

 

[CAS239]

Weren't some passes blacked out most of the time since Pandora opened? They have lifted some blackout dates, but that's pretty recent. I expect a lot of those who have been blacked out are anxious to check out Pandora.

There's no blackout dates for the OP's trip. Some blackout dates were end of June-beginning of August. 10 days in August were lifted but that would have no affect on the OP's FP selection.

The only tickets that were blacked out because of Pandora were cast member friend passes

 

[CAS239]

60 days out FoP is hard to get. Around 30 days River Journey and RoL become fairly hard to get. And the safari is a very popular FP, so it's not uncommon for it to be completely gone or few hours left say a week out

It seems the FP's have gone decently early if safari is completely out about 2 weeks in advance, but not too far out of the norm. Possibly due to the crowds coming down for mnsshp and free dining

 

[disneymagicgirl]

10 days in August were lifted but that would have no affect on the OP's FP selection.

I might disagree. There were plenty earlier this week and after they lifted the blackout days for those APs a bunch of things suddenly have zero availability.

 

[katytrott]

You'll have to forgive me on my lack of knowledge on blackouts and free dining etc as have UK ticket and only ever stay offsite.

Just checked on MDE and for 1st Aug, 5 of us can get safari FP from 2.15pm onwards with good selection of times - then exactly 3 weeks later on the 22nd all FP gone for safari. Made sure I checked on days which weren't am EMH - only difference is park closes at 10pm with the extra 2hrs after that on the 1st and closes at 9.30pm with no extra time after that on the 22nd. Random days I picked there but every day 1st 2 weeks follow the pattern of plenty of safari FP, and last 2 weeks every day follows pattern of no safari FP (or very late availability).

Weird! Maybe it's the reduced eve hours that are making the difference but don't know how 2 hrs less in the eve from 10-midnight would mean everyone books their safari FP earlier in the day!?

 

[disneygirlsng]

I might disagree. There were plenty earlier this week and after they lifted the blackout days for those APs a bunch of things suddenly have zero availability.

I'm not sure how lifting the blackout for Aug 1-10th would affect FP choices for Aug 13-28th? Those dates were never blacked out to begin with.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'm not sure how lifting the blackout for Aug 1-10th would affect FP choices for Aug 13-28th? Those dates were never blacked out to begin with.

Yes. Just referring to the General lifting of the blackout dates. Maybe I read his statement as too general and not specific to the OPs dates.

 

[FigmentFinder]

While schools in the south start earlier; there are many places in the Northeastern US that still start after Labor Day, in September. The last weeks of August are a popular time for people locally (I live in NJ) to go on vacation as many of the camps are over by mid August. Plus vacations can be extended over the Labor Day weekend. A day to relax when you come home would be great or an extra day of vacation.

You named the attractions most people would get FP for. Since the only thing that are tiered are the Avatar rides, people could hold a FOP, Everest and Safari FP. So, those are most likely the ones that would be full.

 

[Dayzy]

Ditto Figmentfinder. I'm in NY and most of the day camps end by August 18th. It's the perfect time for everyone to go on vacation then.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We are in CT and will be at WDW from Aug. 23 - 28. We've gone this last week of August every year since 2011. We have FP+ booked at AK for two days of our trip and, because I couldn't get FOP, I'm in the FP+ system at least once a day to check availability to see if I can switch Nav'i to FOP (I know, don't hold my breath!). I have to concur with the AK FP+ lack of availability! For the days we are going, there are now no FP+ available for KS, Nav'i, FOP, and ROL. I understand the last three, but I've never seen NO availability for KS. I'm just guessing that the overall uptick in crowds going to AK (even during a "slow" time) are eating up all the FP+. Most people pick 3 and, with the tiering, it makes sense that one of the most popular rides (KS) would end up being picked with FOP or Nav'i. BTW, we had no problem getting all of the rides (except FOP) and ROL at 60 days.

 

[CAS239]

I might disagree. There were plenty earlier this week and after they lifted the blackout days for those APs a bunch of things suddenly have zero availability.

The days the OP is wondering about never had blackout dates. Them lifting them for Aug 1st-Aug 10th would have no bearing on OP's Aug 13-28th trip

 

[bizeemom4]

Free dining starts mid-August

 

[anomamatt]

AK FPs are pretty scarce. I booked mine 60 days out and did fine but I checked back at 30 days out and FOP, safari, and EE were all gone. FOP is obvious but I've gotten 4th FPs for safari and EE on previous trips.

 

[FourLeafClover]

We are also going to AK in late August (25th). Though we are staying offsite - at 30 days I was able to get EE and Kali anytime I wanted, but absolutely no FOP, NRJ, Safari, or ROL. I stalk MDE and nothing has come up for any of those. The park is scheduled to be a 6 that day (Halloween party at MK that night). I am really hoping its not insanely crowded. Though I have been stalking wait times too and while the Pandora rides are high, Safari has been at like 20 minutes often.

We are going to MK earlier in the week and I had no trouble getting all the FP we wanted - all 3 mountains. There were none for 7DMT, but pretty much everything else is available even now for that day (at least later in the day).