Help! I underestimated this whole FP+ thing ...

[DeterminedOne]

I am 12 days out from making FP+ reservations. Haven't been to the World in 11 years. Back then - guests simply grabbed a FP from the machine and reported back when told. For that reason, I did not think FP+ reservations were a big deal. I am most concerned with Magic Kingdom because of the number of attractions. We have a PPO ADR at BOG, so I am not going to use a FP for Seven Dwarfs. Is that right?

Need suggestions on those for which I should absolutely reserve a FP either first, or after all three have been used. I didn't realize how much planning this whole FP+ system requires. Thanks a bunch!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
It's a Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Big Thunder Mountain
**Splash Mountain - closed during our trip. Booooo!!
Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of Caribbean
Buzz Lightyear
Monster's Laugh Floor
Space Mountain

 

[ELSA711]

Well the good thing about MK is that FP are plentiful with no tiered rides (with the exception of 7DMT). With that said even with the PPO breakfast I would still get the FP for 7DMT if you can.
Simply change it to something else if you get an early morning ride in or save it to do it again if you love it!

Everything else on your list I have had no problems getting 4th, 5th and 6th FP for.

 

[bashuck]

Yeah still book FP for 7DMT. Look at the app and look at the current wait times and that should be very representative of what you will experience as far as which are busiest. If you are going to be there in mid September the good news is that everything will be shorter than what you see right now. If you are going to be in the park for awhile don't book any FP for the first 2 hours as rides like BTMRR will often have 10-15 minute waits in the beginning even if they are going to be 45 minutes later in the day.

 

[ChristineOH]

7DMT is by far the hardest FP to get at MK, but it's no where near FoP levels.

On your list, the hardest is 7DMT, followed by PP, Space, and BTMRR. I agree with Elsa711 that I'd probably get a FP for 7DMT even if you can do it without one with your PPO ADR. If you've never done it before, you'll probably enjoy doing it twice. And if you decide that your one or two rides PPO were enough, you can switch that FP-- anything else in the park is available with a little refreshing.

I personally love the PP queue, so I always do it at RD and don't use a FP for that. MK is super flexible with FP-- so much available day of and no tiers-- so it's the park I'd worry about the least.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Toughest to get in order, in my experience (also in order of how long the line typically is w/o FP):

1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
2. Peter Pan's Flight
   
3. Space Mountain
   
4. Big Thunder Mountain

We also always book the following, just because they are must-do's for us and we like to have one locked in:

• Haunted Mansion
  
• Pirates of Caribbean
  
• Jungle Cruise
  
• Buzz Lightyear

We never book FP for these -- never need them:

• It's a Small World
• Mickey's Philharmagic
• Monster's Laugh Floor

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Have you read through the first few posts on the FP+ FAQ sticky? There is a list which prioritizes the FP for the attractions in each park. I agree with the others to try for a FP to 7DMT even though you have the PPO BOG breakfast. If you decide not to use that FP+, then you can switch it to one of your other rides. Outside of 7DMT, the next most important rides to get FP for are Peter Pan, Space, and BTMRR.

Link to the FP+ sticky: https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/

 

[Alesia]

Start by reading the first 10 posts of this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I'd say you're making it out to be scarier than it is.
You aren't planning every detail just 3 attractions and you actually get to pick your time out of available times vs the stress of having no clue what time you'll need to return ahead of time like with legacy FP.

MK should honestly be the least of your worries because there are so many attracitons that have FP+ and there are no tiers.

I don't care for PPO ADR's as often times Disney extends hours just a week or two out and then your PPO can easily become a RD ADR.

I always do PP, IASW, HM, and Mickey's Philharmagic in that order at RD and don't use FP+ for them.

I'd recommend FP+ for 7DMT (early in the day since you'll be in the area), BTMRR, and Space Mountain.

If you are able to get 4th and beyond then I'd use additional FP+ for Jungle Cruise, then POTC, then Buzz...

You'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish with a full day at MK and how many FP+ you can pull.

 

[GillianP1301]

Definitely read the FP thread posted above, very informative.

My 2 cents...

Get to 7DMT right after your PPO breakfast, no FP needed.

For the attractions you listed, I would book my FP for BTMRR and Space Mountain for sure. For the 3rd one I would do either Jungle Cruise or Pirates, although both should still have availability for 4th plus on the day of

Small World, Haunted Mansion, Buzz should all have same day 4th+ available.

Philharmagic & Monsters Laugh Floor won't need a FP and will most definitely have same day available.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Thanks, everyone. This is helpful. I tried reading the FP+ thread but it's too much information. This is not to say the page is not helpful, it's just the way my brain works. I struggle eating at buffets because the multitude of choices. Also the same reason I have trouble shopping at stores like Marshall's and T-J Maxx. My brain doesn't understand the way they are organized. By asking the question here, I knew you all could chew it into small bites for me.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Toughest to get in order, in my experience (also in order of how long the line typically is w/o FP):

1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
2. Peter Pan's Flight
   
3. Space Mountain
   
4. Big Thunder Mountain

I agree with this! The top 4 you listed are definitely the ones I normally book FP's for. I normally only book space mt once though...that ride is a bit too crazy for me, so doing it one is more than enough. I agree about going on 7DMT right after your BOG adr.

Wait times without FP all depends on what time of year you're going. Peter Pans Flight always seems to have a long wait. Its just because of the dynamics of the ride.

Thanks, everyone. This is helpful. I tried reading the FP+ thread but it's too much information. This is not to say the page is not helpful, it's just the way my brain works. I struggle eating at buffets because the multitude of choices. Also the same reason I have trouble shopping at stores like Marshall's and T-J Maxx. My brain doesn't understand the way they are organized. By asking the question here, I knew you all could chew it into small bites for me.

Oh i totally know what you mean about that FP post. My brain works similiarly to yours. Its too much information, my brain gets overwhelmed.

 

[goofyintoronto]

One more thing. I wouldnt waste my time making FP for the following:

Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of Caribbean
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc
It's a Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic

The lines for the above rides aren't normally too bad (in my opinion)....I normally go in October.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

One more thing. I wouldnt waste my time making FP for the following:

Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of Caribbean
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc
It's a Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic

The lines for the above rides aren't normally too bad (in my opinion)....I normally go in October.

For end of Sept, I think you're probably right... we have experienced surprisingly long lines at times for HM and JC, though.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

One more thing. I wouldnt waste my time making FP for the following:

Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of Caribbean
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc
It's a Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic

The lines for the above rides aren't normally too bad (in my opinion)....I normally go in October.

I usually do my 4th, 5th, 6th etc. FP+s for Pirates, Jungle Cruise and Buzz. They are almost always available for the afternoon and evening (even over crowded Easter Week!). And those lines get long as the day progresses.

I rope drop Space and Peter Pan, then do the rest of Fantasyland (Pooh, Little Mermaid, Small World), followed by Haunted Mansion. I get my first 3 FP+s for 7DMT, Splash and Big Thunder (done by 1:00 ish so I can make a 4th FP).

 

[goofyintoronto]

For end of Sept, I think you're probably right... we have experienced surprisingly long lines at times for HM and JC, though.

Long lines at the end of Sept? I guess things at Disney has changed in terms of crowds...so that shouldn't surprise me.

I usually do my 4th, 5th, 6th etc. FP+s for Pirates, Jungle Cruise and Buzz. They are almost always available for the afternoon and evening (even over crowded Easter Week!). And those lines get long as the day progresses.

Ah yes thats true. See, i park hop like crazy. So i never have a chance to do 4th, 5th, 6th FP.

 

[mesaboy2]

Here's the condensed version:

A - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
A - Peter Pan's Flight
A - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
A - Space Mountain
A - Splash Mountain
B - Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
B - Enchanted Tales With Belle
B - Haunted Mansion
B - Jungle Cruise
B - Meet Ariel at her Grotto
B - Meet Cinderella and a Guest at Princess Fairytale Hall
B - Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
B - Meet Rapunzel and a Guest at Princess Fairytale Hall
B - Pirates of the Caribbean
B - The Barnstormer
B - The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
B - Tomorrowland Speedway
B - Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
C - Dumbo the Flying Elephant
C - it's a small world
C - Mad Tea Party
C - Meet Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
C - Mickey's PhilharMagic
C - Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
C - The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

 

[Klayfish]

Do not let the FP+ system confuse or overwhelm you. It's not that big of a deal once you understand how it works. It is a lot of info, but read through the sticky thread a few times, and the condensed list of FP+ priority from mesaboy2 above is spot on. We're here now and have been for 2 weeks. We have been many times, so we know the system well, which is a big advantage for sure. Having said that, as long as you understand the very basic concepts of FP+, you'll be fine. We've made same day FP+ for every A and B ride listed by mesaboy2 above ...including 7DMT. It does take a bit of persistence sometimes, and you have to keep refreshing MDE, but you will get what you want.

Often, even some of the B list rides don't need FP+, such as Under the Sea or Pirates (that ride sometimes has a 5 minute wait, sometimes has an hour wait...it's really hit or miss).

 

[DeterminedOne]

Have you all ever used Touring Plans? I signed up months ago, but never used it. After you helped make sense of FP+ I realized I could make a customized plan. I plugged in the attractions we want to visit and it spit out a plan for securing FP.
I know I would not have made that connection it could do that if you all hadn't taken the time to explain to me how it works. Sad but true. But here's the thing:

I figured after breakfast at BOG we would tour Fantasyland first. I know how hot it is in September and want to avoid zig-zagging the parks. With that said - this was their suggestion for booking FP+. It is advising to leave Fantasyland and head to Tomorrowland first. Does this sound right?

Based on your touring plan, you should try to get FastPass+ reservations for the attractions below. This is a prioritized list, and you will save the most time by getting FastPass+ for the attractions highest up the list. Try to get FastPass+ for the first attraction listed. If that is not available, get FastPass+ for the second attraction listed, etc. (Optimize to repopulate this list.)

• 1) Space Mountain
• 2) The Haunted Mansion
• 3) Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• 4) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 5) Peter Pan's Flight
• 6) Pirates of the Caribbean
• 7) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• 8) Jungle Cruise

 

[mesaboy2]

Have you all ever used Touring Plans? I signed up months ago, but never used it. After you helped make sense of FP+ I realized I could make a customized plan. I plugged in the attractions we want to visit and it spit out a plan for securing FP.
I know I would not have made that connection it could do that if you all hadn't taken the time to explain to me how it works. Sad but true. But here's the thing:

I figured after breakfast at BOG we would tour Fantasyland first. I know how hot it is in September and want to avoid zig-zagging the parks. With that said - this was their suggestion for booking FP+. It is advising to leave Fantasyland and head to Tomorrowland first. Does this sound right?

Based on your touring plan, you should try to get FastPass+ reservations for the attractions below. This is a prioritized list, and you will save the most time by getting FastPass+ for the attractions highest up the list. Try to get FastPass+ for the first attraction listed. If that is not available, get FastPass+ for the second attraction listed, etc. (Optimize to repopulate this list.)

• 1) Space Mountain
• 2) The Haunted Mansion
• 3) Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• 4) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 5) Peter Pan's Flight
• 6) Pirates of the Caribbean
• 7) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• 8) Jungle Cruise

Mansion and Buzz are too high, and Dwarfs and Pan are too low in my opinion.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Have you all ever used Touring Plans? I signed up months ago, but never used it. After you helped make sense of FP+ I realized I could make a customized plan. I plugged in the attractions we want to visit and it spit out a plan for securing FP.
I know I would not have made that connection it could do that if you all hadn't taken the time to explain to me how it works. Sad but true. But here's the thing:

I figured after breakfast at BOG we would tour Fantasyland first. I know how hot it is in September and want to avoid zig-zagging the parks. With that said - this was their suggestion for booking FP+. It is advising to leave Fantasyland and head to Tomorrowland first. Does this sound right?

Based on your touring plan, you should try to get FastPass+ reservations for the attractions below. This is a prioritized list, and you will save the most time by getting FastPass+ for the attractions highest up the list. Try to get FastPass+ for the first attraction listed. If that is not available, get FastPass+ for the second attraction listed, etc. (Optimize to repopulate this list.)

• 1) Space Mountain
• 2) The Haunted Mansion
• 3) Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• 4) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 5) Peter Pan's Flight
• 6) Pirates of the Caribbean
• 7) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• 8) Jungle Cruise

I have never used TP and probably never will.
Their suggestions sound crappy IMHO for how I tour but to each their own.