Help! Just booked August 25 - 30!

[Snow White Wanna Be]

Hi All!

I'm a bit of a Disney feign; I've been to WDW/DL about 6 times in the last 15 years. I stayed at All Star Music during my first-ever trip to the world, and I just booked a solo trip August 25-30 (leaving early on the 31st) to stay at All Star Music again. This trip is mostly about relaxation; I'm at a very difficult period in my life and I need a break.

I'd love to hear everyone's suggestions about how to effectively work FP and schedule my days. I want the days to look like this:

Rope drop. Tour until about 12.
Afternoon at the resort - swimming, reading, relaxing in the air-conditioned room.
6 PM - back to park - have dinner, prioritize the parade/fireworks.

How should I best work the FP+ system? My last trip was 2 years ago, is there anything new in the parks?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Hi All!

I'm a bit of a Disney feign; I've been to WDW/DL about 6 times in the last 15 years. I stayed at All Star Music during my first-ever trip to the world, and I just booked a solo trip August 25-30 (leaving early on the 31st) to stay at All Star Music again. This trip is mostly about relaxation; I'm at a very difficult period in my life and I need a break.

I'd love to hear everyone's suggestions about how to effectively work FP and schedule my days. I want the days to look like this:

Rope drop. Tour until about 12.
Afternoon at the resort - swimming, reading, relaxing in the air-conditioned room.
6 PM - back to park - have dinner, prioritize the parade/fireworks.

How should I best work the FP+ system? My last trip was 2 years ago, is there anything new in the parks?

to DISboards!! To learn about the FP system and how to prioritize the rides you want to do, this thread is very valuable: http://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/

With rope dropping, you can plan to book your 1st FP for 10:30/11:00 and book the remaining 2 for the evenings.

There are a lot of posters who will answer your questions here or in the FP FAQ thread! Happy planning!

 

[Snow White Wanna Be]

Thanks!

Can I ask - why not book all three for the morning? Is that because I'll be unlikely to get on anything otherwise?

 

[hiroMYhero]

At rope drop, you'll be walking onto rides or waiting a minimal amount of time in Standby. By booking two in the evening, you won't have to worry about Standby times late in the day.

You always could book all 3 for the morning and then book a 4th for later.
It will really depend on your must-do rides - especially when it comes to Epcot and DHS where the rides are tiered for FPs.

 

[SplashMo]

Here are some things that could work and be mixed and matched.:

Rope Drop MK with FP+ Return to hotel and then head to any park
Rope Drop TT at Epcot with FP+ for SOARIN Return to Hotel and then head to any park


Arrive at AK about 3PM without FP+
Arrive at DHS about 4PM with or without FP+

The main point being that Rope Drop will be most important in MK. Then followed by Epcot and DHS. Rope Drop in AK is not necessary. If you do rope drop the park you can do so without FP+. You can also arrive late at AK without FP+

Check out www,easywdw.com for best days to visit each park. Use this to plan which park to visit when. There are also touring guides for each park. MK trumps the other parks when it comes to rope drop, FP+ and best days to visit each park.

 

[SplashMo]

Perhaps some more flushed out ideas:

RD MK 2 Days Arrive with FP+ for three rides at 9,10,11. Place favorite FP+ at 10 if possible in case you sleep in. Move up FP+ on app once you have ridden.
RD EP 2 Days Arrive with FP+ for SOARIN and then Living with the Land. Ride TT first and then use FP+ for SOARIN and then for Living with the land.
RD DHS 1 Day with FP+ for TSMM, TofT and one other ride.
RD AK 1 Day without FP+ make FP+ reservations for your evening park (preferably MK where the FP+ will help the most).

Jump to other parks in the evening.

Once you have used your FP+ selections in the park you RD (or they expire). You can make reservations in another park if they are available.

On the RD days at Epcot you can likely get out before NOON. Except it is a good place for an early lunch.

It would be nice to have some time to walk WS in Epcot. And also nice to arrive at AK a bit before 6 on one night

 

[Snow White Wanna Be]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I like the idea of booking all three at one park in the morning because then I could head to a different park in the evening.

Has anyone used Ridemax or the other planning programs? I tried Ridemax in Disneyland a few years ago and it worked alright, I'm just wondering how it incorporates Fast Pass Plus.

 

[Snow White Wanna Be]

I didn't see the evening MK parade or Wishes on the FP+ list given on the other page; do these attractions not have FP anymore?

 

[hiroMYhero]

I didn't see the evening MK parade or Wishes on the FP+ list given on the other page; do these attractions not have FP anymore?

Wishes and MSEP no longer have FPs.

There are rumors that Festival of Fantasy may stop having FPs but for now, they are still available.

 

[Snow White Wanna Be]

Thanks!

 

[SplashMo]

Has anyone used Ridemax or the other planning programs? I tried Ridemax in Disneyland a few years ago and it worked alright, I'm just wondering how it incorporates Fast Pass Plus.

There are several tools. The easiest is the touring plans at www.easywdw.com. My one objection is the Epcot Touring plan as it is possible to FP+ SOARIN and then RD TT.

Then there is touringplans.com. They also have touring plans. You can use these plans to help with the morning. Then if you subscribe you can make custom touring plans. Say you want to ride Everest 5 times in one day. It will let you know how to do that. I find it is best for MK as the number of rides are great.

One thing to consider is for certain days (of course mixed up to account for best days in the parks).

MK->AK MK is the furthest park from All Star Music (ASM). AK is the closest. So this allows for only one long bus ride on this day. FP+ for MK
EP->EP A quick morning (11AM) getting you back to the hotel early so you can return early for WS, dinner and Illuminations.
EP->MK A quick morning (11AM) getting you back to the hotel early so you can stay late for fireworks, dinner and stay late for rides.

Many combinations.

I would consider RD

MK
MK
MK
EP
EP
DHS

and mix and match Nights (hard to say which park to go to twice vs once).

MK Fireworks and rides
MK Rides
EP Illuminations
DHS F! or StarWars Fireworks
AK All rides and ROL
AK All rides and ROL