Here it is - Announcement re More FP+ Beginning 4/28

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I was wondering the same thing. It def seems like you have to use the first 3 in the same park. I was selfishly hoping we would be able to preplan in diff parks. One day start at Epcot and have a FP+ for Soar in and do all the tier 2 stuff and then hop to HS and do ToT and TSM. Next day start at HS and do RnRC and ToT and then hop to epcot for TT.

you are not alone! If I can't preplan the 3 FP+ in different parks then the 'new parkhopping' is to me somewhat useless.

 

[Nemo32]

This is a step in the right direction! My only hope is that they enable adding more FP+ from your app, rather than the kiosk. Then the new system, while not as awesome as FP- in my opinion, will be easier to swallow.

Does anyone know if we can add FP+ at multiple parks before we go? Or do those first 3 FP+ still have to be in the same park and then the 4th can be anywhere?

Also, say I use my first 3 FP+ in MK and want to add a 4th for DHS, can I do so from a kiosk in MK before I leave the park? Thanks!!

 

[famy27]

Time to play WFPAAN (What FastPasses Are Available Now)

Time: 4:45 pm Disney time.

EPCOT:
Tier 1: Maelstrom and Character spot
Tier 2: everything

HS:
Tier 1: BatB

Tier2:
Star Tours
Muppets
American Idol
Great Movie Ride
Voyage of the Little Mermaid

AK:
Dinosaur
Nemo
ITTBAB
Kali
Disney Pals
Primeval Whirl

MK:
Everything except ETWB, A&E, and Ariel's grotto.

So, I may be moving some FPs around. We'll be starting our days in other parks and then hopping to MK to do the secondary rides with our "extra" FPs.

You bet your FP that I'll be checking around noon to see what's left each day.

 

[Laketravis]

I have a feeling most people will approach this with the logic that they need to reserve their initial allotment as early in the day as possible so that they can maximize their use of evergreen FP's later in the day and/or at another park.

It seems that this will certainly put demand pressure on reservations earlier in the day, compressing availability in the mornings and mid-afternoons.

 

[Mad Hattered]

so where are these kiosks located? just at the front of the parks currently?

If they need to add some, they should stick them near bathrooms so the wife/daddy/whoever can take the kids potty while the other books the next FP.

MK:

Philharmagic
Pete's Silly Sideshow
Diamond Horseshoe
Jungle Cruise
Buzz Lightyear
Stitch

EPCOT:

Innoventions East and West
International Gateway
Innoventions Plaza

DHS:

Tower of Terror
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Toy Story
Muppetvision 3D

AK:

Disney Outfitter
Island Mercantile

 

[FLchick415]

Interestingly enough, I'll be in the park on Monday (my departure day...visiting MK). Wonder if I should move some of my FPs up and test this out.

 

[slickpoetry]

Time to play WFPAAN (What FastPasses Are Available Now)

Time: 4:45 pm Disney time.

EPCOT:
Tier 1: Maelstrom and Character spot
Tier 2: everything

HS:
Tier 1: BatB

Tier2:
Star Tours
Muppets
American Idol
Great Movie Ride
Voyage of the Little Mermaid

AK:
Dinosaur
Nemo
ITTBAB
Kali
Disney Pals
Primeval Whirl

MK:
Everything except ETWB, A&E, and Ariel's grotto.

So, I may be moving some FPs around. We'll be starting our days in other parks and then hopping to MK to do the secondary rides with our "extra" FPs.

You bet your FP that I'll be checking around noon to see what's left each day.

If you could post an update for me every day between now and October, that'd be great.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I have a feeling most people will approach this with the logic that they need to reserve their initial allotment as early in the day as possible so that they can maximize their use of evergreen FP's later in the day and/or at another park.

It seems that this will certainly put demand pressure on reservations earlier in the day, compressing availability in the mornings and mid-afternoons.

Exactly. Remember when rope drop was cool?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Wow, best of both worlds!

No FP limit and the ability to park hop should make the commandos happy and pre-booking still available should make those that want to sleep in happy.

Curious to see how this affects touring. I used the rope drop, afternoon break, nighttime FP+ strategy and loved it. Will the mornings require FP now?

Unless they add more FP+ capacity I think not.

We definitely rode less then we had in the past.

Within the first 20 minutes after RD TSMM was at 60 minutes and by 8:35 was at 120 minutes.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I have a feeling most people will approach this with the logic that they need to reserve their initial allotment as early in the day as possible so that they can maximize their use of evergreen FP's later in the day and/or at another park.

It seems that this will certainly put demand pressure on reservations earlier in the day, compressing availability in the mornings and mid-afternoons.

And are all those prized earlier slots gone at day 60 or are any available on day 30 when offsite and APs can book?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I was wondering the same thing. It def seems like you have to use the first 3 in the same park. I was selfishly hoping we would be able to preplan in diff parks. One day start at Epcot and have a FP+ for Soar in and do all the tier 2 stuff and then hop to HS and do ToT and TSM. Next day start at HS and do RnRC and ToT and then hop to epcot for TT.

Yeah, looks like the prebooked 3 will be in the same park. Which kind of makes sense...if they changed that, they would have to tier all of the parks together, using their logic.

I'm thinking this isn't going to be too useful for hopping. Better to just see what's left at the park you are in after using the 3.

 

[3happydancers]

I don't mind the kiosks. It is still better than running all over the place.

Not sure about this??? There were way more FP- machines than there are kiosks so there could be a chance of much long lines.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

There were long lines at the kiosks last week without added guests booking a 4th FP+.

We were there during peak last week, at 10 AM we tried to move TT earlier or over to Soarin'. All slots were gone for Soarin' and TT by 10 AM. I am not hopeful anything good would be left by 2PM.

Also, as expected the Standby lines at RD got long faster. We were at Maelstrom when it opened at 11:30, the standby line started at 30 minutes. I seriously thought no one would FP+ that right at opening but I was wrong. There was nothing left in Group 1 but Maelstrom and a meet and greet. I watched people walk through the FP+ line and onto the ride about every 10 seconds.

People might as well get used to this as being normal from here on out. Rope drop isn't going to be as much of an advantage as it used to be. If I do decide to go to Disney in the near future, my strategy is to do one of the breakfasts before park opening and make a run for the headliners at park open. Many fastpasses WILL run out by the afternoons especially tier 1 attractions and especially at busier times of the year. Even with the new fp changes, waiting in a long kiosk line to shorten a wait later in another line isn't saving us any time.

you are not alone! If I can't preplan the 3 FP+ in different parks then the 'new parkhopping' is to me somewhat useless.

I do not think we will be able to make advance fastpass reservations for more than 1 park in advance. From what it seems, you can only make those extras at the park kiosk when you get there. Yes, it will be useless unless you will be perfectly happy using your kiosk fastpasses for attractions that are not headliners and that you used to be able to walk on before.

I have a feeling most people will approach this with the logic that they need to reserve their initial allotment as early in the day as possible so that they can maximize their use of evergreen FP's later in the day and/or at another park.

It seems that this will certainly put demand pressure on reservations earlier in the day, compressing availability in the mornings and mid-afternoons.

This is going to happen in my opinion. Especially since I think rope drop will be a little busier now.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Not sure about this??? There were way more FP- machines than there are kiosks so there could be a chance of much long lines.

According to Disney's site (so take that for it's worth) they list 16 total kiosk locations amongst all four parks, with MK having the most with 6.

 

[LBIJim]

The notice doesn't specifically state whether getting an additional FP for a ride for which you already used FP is disallowed, so I'm hoping to be able to more than one for BTMRR, Soarin' etc. Assuming availability, of course. A BIG if.

As for park hopping, it looks to me like you'll have to go to the other park first before you can get an additional FP for there.

In theory a step in the right direction. Curious to hear how it works in practice.

Jim

 

[Kelly014]

So what if we miss a fast pass reservation? Like for whatever reason you don't physically swipe your magic band and go to a meet and greet or onto a ride. If it's 2 PM and you have passed all your FP reservations time wise, but didn't physically go to one, does that still count as "using" it?

If I think we need to take a break or want to eat I don't really want to feel like I absolutely have to be at my FP reservation or I won't be able to book more later in the day (assuming there's anything left I suppose).

Does that make any sort of sense?? In a way I really like the pre-booking thing but this is all very confusing

 

[ArwenMarie]

So what if we miss a fast pass reservation? Like for whatever reason you don't physically swipe your magic band and go to a meet and greet or onto a ride. If it's 2 PM and you have passed all your FP reservations time wise, but didn't physically go to one, does that still count as "using" it?

If I think we need to take a break or want to eat I don't really want to feel like I absolutely have to be at my FP reservation or I won't be able to book more later in the day (assuming there's anything left I suppose).

Does that make any sort of sense?? In a way I really like the pre-booking thing but this is all very confusing

I think if you miss a FP, you can reschedule it after the time elapses anyway. I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong on that!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

This is how I've explained it. It's just like old FastPass except your first three you pick ahead of your visit, with the sole exception that the system does not allow you to Fastpass any ride more than once.

That's how I see it.

Overall, I think it's a good change. They seem to have responsed to concerns people had in a manner that is doing within the contraints (no, everyone cannot have 8 FPs). You can't please everyone.

As for the parade/fireworks, if you book that as one of your advance FP+, then yes, you are out of luck for the 4th. Though I think my strategy my be to use my 3 and then try to snag a parade/fireworks FP for the 4th. I'm curious to see how this all works out, though.

I think I will still reserve my FP+ for midday, early evening.

 

[Shaden]

This is such awesome news ... at least for me and my family ... and for many others I am sure. We are there starting Friday, have most days with early fp and a couple with evening fp ... will report how each works out.

 

[2Tiggies]

I've recently made my FP reservations and have decided against changing them in the hope of getting more later in the day. My logic is that I am happy that the attractions and times I have picked will save us time. If I have to stack them together and use a FP for Space Mountain at 9.05 am when I could have walked on so that I can hope to get the Barnstormer at 5 pm as my fourth one then the first 'good' FP I had, really had no value .... can you see where I'm going with this?

I think it may work for some better than others. I guess I'm just tired of planning now and want to close the schedule book so I can give my head a rest before we arrive on vacation