Help me choose my fastpass strategy PLEASE!

[Disneymom1126]

Our next trip is a pretty short trip (3 days in the parks). On our last day, we are going to do Epcot in the morning (rope drop) and then take a short break after lunch and do MNSSHP that night. Our biggest priorities at Epcot are TT and Soarin' (and of course some Ice Cream in France

The last time we were there we spent two days at Epcot so I did FP for TT one day and Soarin the 2nd day. I'm trying to decide whether to do fastpasses in Epcot at all and instead book fastpasses at MK from 4-7...or should I go ahead and do fastpasses in Epcot (i.e. rope drop TT and FP soarin) and then stop by a kiosk when we get to MK and try to get an additional FP once we get there? I'm thinking by 4:00 FP for all the headliners at MK will be gone...but then lines will probably be shorter after 7 when the party starts.

What would you do?

 

[KeroKero]

More than likely the FP's for MK will be done. The lines are sometimes shorter during the parties (during the earlier hours). Lines are generally next to nothing late in the evening and when people are securing spots for the two parades. My opinion would be to use the FP's for Epcot in the morning, Soarin especially - then head over to TT to wait in the SB line.

 

[JimmyV]

My opinion would be to use the FP's for Epcot in the morning, Soarin especially - then head over to TT to wait in the SB line.

Actually, this is backwards. Start at TT and use the SB line, then head over to Soarin' to use the FP that you booked in advance. There is no advantage to using your FP first thing in the morning, and then heading over to the second attraction to use the SB line. Ride SB at Rope Drop. Use FP later in the morning.

 

[KeroKero]

Actually, this is backwards. Start at TT and use the SB line, then head over to Soarin' to use the FP that you booked in advance. There is no advantage to using your FP first thing in the morning, and then heading over to the second attraction to use the SB line. Ride SB at Rope Drop. Use FP later in the morning.

We've never tried it this way and have always been hesitant to. If we can secure an early FP for an attraction that we really like, we do - especially at Epcot. Plus, if by the time we get to TT we're not liking the line situation we head to single rider. This always works for us if we're trying to do both these in 1 day, we're open to the other way though, maybe will give it a try next trip

 

[lovndisney12]

RD TT or Soarin' and Fastpass the other. I ditto the earlier response to not get your FP+ too early in the morning. The first hour or two after rope drop usually have some of the shortest waits so you mine as well take advantage of the shorter lines and then use the FP for late morning / early afternoon before your break. Don't expect any good FP+ at MK that afternoon but while it has been years, we didn't have too long of waits during the party hours - but do check to see what is open as if I remember correctly not everything was (and food was limited). Last fall we hopped from HS to MK and were at MK around 1 PM and there were no FP+ for anything we wanted - SDMT, SM, BTM, Pirates, Jungle, Haunted, etc. There were plenty for things like Stitch, Laugh Factory, and I believe Mickey's Philharmagic - but you didn't really need a FP for those anyways.

 

[JimmyV]

Plus, if by the time we get to TT we're not liking the line situation we head to single rider.

Try this instead:
Book a throwaway FP for a Tier Two attraction that you don't intend to do, and book it for 9:00. Book your second FP for 10:00-11:00 and your third for 11:00-12:00.

1. Go to TT at RD and use the SB line. This way, you don't have to use the single rider line, you get to stay together, and you get to design your car.
2. Go from TT to Sum of All Thrills. By the time you get there, the line won't be too long.
3. As between Mission Space and Spaceship Earth, figure out which one you will Fast Pass and which one you won't. Whichever one you won't, ride that after Sum of All Thrills. The SB line will still be manageable.
4. After that, use your two FPs (For Soarin' and the Spaceship Earth/Mission Space choice) in succession. You will get to the first of those two rides toward the end of your 10:00-11:00 window, and you will get to the second of your two rides toward the beginning of your 11:00-12:00 window. By 11:30, you will have used up all three FPs and can begin to hunt for more.
5. If there is another Tier Two attraction that you really, really want to visit via FP, skip the throwaway FP step, and book your third FP for the 12:00-1:00 time slot.

But no matter what....use the time between 9:00-10:30 doing things other than Soarin' which you will FP later. So in the example above, assume that you elect to get a FP for Spaceship Earth instead of Mission Space, your order would be:

• TT at RD in the SB line
• Sum of All Thrills
• Mission Space in the SB line
• Soarin' using FP
• Spaceship Earth using FP

 

[GaryDis]

(For Soarin' and the Spaceship Earth/Mission Space choice) in succession.

My concern with this is that riding Soarin' and Mission Space consecutively may be too much stomach trauma for some people.

 

[JimmyV]

My concern with this is that riding Soarin' and Mission Space consecutively may be too much stomach trauma for some people.

Hey...they don't call it the "Vomit Comet" for nothing. I suppose one could go to MS after TT, and then go to Sum of All Thrills, but I'm not sure that makes things any better. Bottom line is, if you are going to to TT, SoaT, MS and Soarin' all in the same morning, something is going to have to give. Hopefully, it won't be your breakfast. The OP wants to head over to the MK in the afternoon, so saving some of the "motion rides" until later in the day doesn't seem to be an option. There is always the option of spending some leisure time at Living Seas and then going over to Soarin' in the early to mid-afternoon. But I've never had any motion issues with Soarin', so I never factor that issue into my plans.

 

[Disneymom1126]

Thanks for all these tips! My original plan was to Rope Drop TT, do sum of all thrills and mission space (maybe mission space with a FP) then head over to the other side of FW and use a FP for Soarin'. I then started thinking that maybe if I could book a (for example) SDMT fastpass at MK at the 60 day mark I'd rather wait in line at Soarin (in the AC) then at SDMT on the night of the party! I'm probably over-planning (is that possible these days? lol)

My concern with this is that riding Soarin' and Mission Space consecutively may be too much stomach trauma for some people.

Luckily me and DD don't have any issue with this, but I can definitely understand the concern for anyone who has motion sickness issues!!