help with order of rides and FP+

[wakica]

I'm quite lost. I used to be a pro at touring WDW but I haven't been since the prebooking of fast pass rides so I'm a bit at a loss.

Here's a list of rides wanted to be done for each park. I have them in order of the way we used to do them but just not sure it's the best way now or which ones should be prebooked fast passes?? Also, if I'm missing an attraction that you think is a must see I'm happy to have you inform me. There are some new things since i went 5 years ago.
OH! Almost forgot - it's for 2 adults in their 40's and we can't show up before rope drop - coming in on a bus from an outside hotel.

Going in January

Fri Jan 13
EP
really only concerned about
Soarin
Test Track

Then planning to just tour around the World Showcase with no particular goals except to grab a snack at the bakery in Norway and enjoy the scenery and surroundings.
Also planning to watch Illuminations. best spot??

Sat Jan 14
HS
Toy Story
Rock n Rollercoaster
Tower of Terror
Star Tours

probably eat at 50's or Sci Fi.

Sun Jan 15
MK
Space
Buzz
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder
POTC
Jungle Cruise
grab a Dole Whip
at some point The People Mover
watch Wishes. Best spot???

thanks in advance for any advice. I'm completely lost when it comes to the new prebooked fast passes.

 

[cassie58]

Posted this yesterday in response to your 1st post, but not sure if you got it, since yours was reposted. So here was my reply again, just in case!

At Epcot, you can do TT single rider if needed, so I would FP Soarin for late morning, (since you can only FP one with the Tiers at Epcot) and try to do TT when you first get there, and if long wait, you can choose single rider. You can then decide to do any other rides in FW and explore the seas, etc. Then you can head to WS to wander for afternoon/evening. Beware, Norway area is crazy with new Frozen ride in place of Maelstrom, and Anna & Elsa meet outside, and was already a smaller area - just an FYI! There is a good area in front of Italy we like for Illuminations, but depends on crowds/how early you want to get your spot - plenty of areas to see it from, depending on where you are and if you want to be closer to exit.

At HS, since you can get either TSM or RnRC FP with Tiers again, I would get TSM FP, and go to RnRC when you arrive. (TSM may be harder to get at 30 days). It also has single rider if needed. You can FP ToT and ST in your Tier 2. If you are interested in seeing Fantasmic, you can sometimes get a 4th FP for it. You will want to try and get an ADR for Sci-Fi or 50sPT, as walk-ups are hard to come by these days. If you guys are into Star Wars, there is now Launch Bay in place of Animation Academy, where there is memorabilia, short film, and meets with Chewy and Kylo. If this interests you, plan to do it earlier in the day - can check the SW thread on here for more info. There is also a Star Wars Stage show throughout the day, and may be SW fireworks show at night. You have to plan your day based on any other shows you want to see like Indy or B&B, and a meal, to see where FP fit best in your day. Steve Soares site, wdwent.com has the weekly schedule for each park of shows and events, which changes a little with season and park hours, but it gives you a general idea to work with.

At MK, the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (coaster) in New Fantasyland is the most coveted FP since it has the longest lines all day and is fun, but very short, so not one you want to wait for hours to do. If you can get FP, go for it. Peter Pan is the other one with long lines so FP If you want it. If not, I would go for the mountains, and since you can now get 4th, 5th, 6th FPs if available after using your three, make them for late morning/early afternoon(so as soon as you get in line for 3rd, you can go on app to try for 4th), in order of which lands you want to rotate through so you are not crisscrossing the park all day. Based on what you don't have FP for, you can go to the others first thing when lines are shorter, for example if you FP the mountains, go to Adventureland first to do POTC and Jungle Cruise(grab a Dole Whip!), and then head into Frontierland to do FP for BTMRR and Splash, then head to HM if waits aren't long, and later head over to Tomorrowland for Space FP and try Buzz, etc. Be sure to try and see projection show on the castle at night - really amazing, currently being shown after Wishes, but could change - check times as it gets closer - just began a new one, called Once Upon a Time. You will want a view from front of castle, depending on crowds and how early you want to get a spot, we like to sit in the hub area and grab a snack from Sleepy Hollow while we wait - you can check out Robo's maps on here for good areas to see it and Wishes.(and other night shows). HTH! Let us know if you have other questions!

 

[wakica]

Thanks so much for your help. I will take note of all your points when making my plans.

So... the booked fast passes - they should be booked for first thing once we arrive? I'm so used to the old way where you go standby to start the day bc that's when the rides have shorter lines, but it sounds like you can't book any further fast passes until you've used the 3 you can prebook. Do I have that right?

 

[cassie58]

Yes and No! You are still going to start like the old way, taking advantage of shorter lines first thing. Early is still the best time to get things done, so you don't want to "waste" FP right away, because the top rides may be "sold out of FP" all day, so even though you can get a 4th, it may be for Small World or Tea Cups, if that makes sense. Since you have to plan your FP ahead now, you want to plan them for late morning/early afternoon when it gets more crowded. Whichever ones are most important to you, you will try to pick for your 3(depending on what's available at 30 days), maybe between 10:30-11:00 to 2:00-3:00(may have to be later depending on choices). Most people will pick 7DMT, PP, and the three mountains, as they are favorites that build longest lines quickly. People do change around plans, so you can keep trying to get ones you wanted/better times as trip gets closer. You are going in a slower season, but over MLK weekend so it will be busier due to families traveling around the long weekend. Also, in case you weren't aware, FP times are still an hour block, but you can't return after that time like in the good old days!

Whatever you don't get, you want to plan to do first thing, checking wait times on your app as you arrive there for info. You can plan ahead what direction you want to start in, thinking of rides you don't have FP for that will get long later, that are still reasonable. So if you don't get 7DMT or PP for example, and the waits are still reasonable, head there first, do those and any other rides in that area you like, and then head towards your first FP. Just try not to FP things back to back that are across the park from each other for less running around! As soon as you scan into FP #3, you will want to pull up app, and check for a fourth, depending on what is available that you haven't done yet - probably not major rides later, but you never know! Then you can repeat after each new one. Some people book them later in the day if they are going to break midday and leave the park, or want to ride something in the dark, but it sounds like you plan to stay and try and do as much as you can. MK is the hardest with only 1 day, since there are the most rides to do there. HS and Epcot are tricky because of the two tiers, since you can only get 1 ride in the first tier, and have to try to get others done early/single rider if you only have one day there. It is a lot to get used to the first time with the new system, but you'll be a pro by the end of the weekend!

 

[caroline1851]

EPC-get a fp+ for one of those 2 and go to the other one at RD.
DHS-get fp+ for TSMM, Star tours and Tower of Terror. Go directly to RRC when park opens. Get there 1/2 before park opens. book your fp+ fo rTOT around 9:30-10:30, then TSMM 10:30-11:30 then STar tours for 11:30-12:30.
MK: I would ride Buzz first, have Space fp+ for 9-10, then do Haunted Mansion. then have Fp+ for Thunder for 11-12 and splash from 12-1. Once off that, grab a 4th fp+ for Jungle Cruise. After you ride splash, should be able to do Pirates with a reasonable wait. if too long, get a fp+ after you've done Jungle cruise.

 

[gap2368]

Thanks so much for your help. I will take note of all your points when making my plans.

So... the booked fast passes - they should be booked for first thing once we arrive? I'm so used to the old way where you go standby to start the day bc that's when the rides have shorter lines, but it sounds like you can't book any further fast passes until you've used the 3 you can prebook. Do I have that right?

I would never book a FP for first thing the first 60 to 90 minutes the parks are open lines are short so I try to book my FP for about 60 to 90 minutes after park opens and then have them back to back so this way I can get another FP

so for your MK day

you Ould get there at RD do

space
buzz
HM
more then like BTMRR you may have a small wait 30-45 minutes
have a FP for splash say 1030-1130
then FP JC 1130-1230
then POTCB 1230 to 130

if you get done with one FP before your next window opens you you can eat your snack do a ride or what ever