Hollywood studios : fastpass

[tchan03]

My family (2 kids who are 3 and 6) surely will go for Toy story mania (TSM) first thing in the morning, my questions are :...
1. would you still suggest to get fastpass (9:20am for TSM?) in case it's super busy day ?

2. Are the following attractions worth fastpass+?

Beauty of the beast music stage
Great movie ride
Voyage of little mermaid


3. If fastpass arrival time is , say 11-12, and i arrive early at 10:45, usually do they allow to get in line, or they ask you to come back later?
Conversely if you arrive later than scheduled timeframe...say you arrived at 12:15...will they strictly disallow you to be in FP line?


Thanks
TC

 

[CanadianPaco]

This is what I am planning for this Thursday. Ride it stand-by then ride with FP+. We love this ride and wanted two turns at it.

 

[AmyB2006]

My family (2 kids who are 3 and 6) surely will go for Toy story mania (TSM) first thing in the morning, my questions are :...
1. would you still suggest to get fastpass (9:20am for TSM?) in case it's super busy day ?


I would because the line can get rather long pretty quickly. If it isn't, then you can ride it twice. Once in Standby, once with your FP+.


2. Are the following attractions worth fastpass+?

Beauty of the beast music stage NO
Great movie ride NO
Voyage of little mermaid Maybe, depending on how crowded it is.

See Mesaboy's link in his signature with FP+ priorities.


3. If fastpass arrival time is , say 11-12, and i arrive early at 10:45, usually do they allow to get in line, or they ask you to come back later?

No, you will have to wait until the actual time. I believe it'll let you in 5 mins early, but a lot of times there is another line in front of the FP+ entrance of people waiting for their FP time.

 

[Itinkso]

My family (2 kids who are 3 and 6) surely will go for Toy story mania (TSM) first thing in the morning, my questions are :...
1. would you still suggest to get fastpass (9:20am for TSM?) in case it's super busy day ?

2. Are the following attractions worth fastpass+?

Beauty of the beast music stage
Great movie ride
Voyage of little mermaid


3. If fastpass arrival time is , say 11-12, and i arrive early at 10:45, usually do they allow to get in line, or they ask you to come back later?
Conversely if you arrive later than scheduled timeframe...say you arrived at 12:15...will they strictly disallow you to be in FP line?


Thanks
TC

3. Plan to arrive closer to your Fp+ window. We were able to enter 5 minutes early... 15 is too early and you will hold up the line behind you.

There is a grace period for a late arrival - don't arrive more than 15 minutes after your Fp+ window closes.

 

[Wendybird55]

I would get FP+ for TSM. Even if the ride isn't crowded you can ride SB first then do FP+ (you do have an hr FP window) and get to ride twice. This is wht we usually try to do.

I wouldn't waste FP for Beauty and the Beast as it's an outdoor theater doesn't get you in any sooner it just has a section of seats designated for FP and they may not necessarily be the best seats. Just get to theater at least 1/2 hour (45 min if park is busy) before show starts and you'll be fine.

Over my past trips Great Movie Ride never looked crowded enough for FP. And Little Mermaid is a show so it's all in timing - getting there about 15-20min before next show is to start. Again FP or not you have to wait for show before you to end before you can go in.

This all being said...except for Beauty and the Beast, things may have changes for the other 2 attractions with FP+. When I was there last they were still testing FP+ and not everyone had it (I did) and the paper FP tickets were still available. I have heard things have changed since.

TSM is a definite yes! If you do not like the other 2 "big" DHS attractions (TOT & RnR) then pick 2 other FP+ based on your favorite attractions. When you get to the park you can always change your FP+ selections based on crowds and lines.

As far as arrival time...from experience and what I' reading on the boards there is no benefit to getting to attraction prior to your FP+ time - you cannot go in until your designated time. If it's like 5min before your time and the FP+ line looks a little long, sure go wait on it if you think it would take at least 5 min to get to head of line. But don't waste your time thinking if you get to FP+ line 15 min or so before designated time you'll get in any sooner...your better off getting there during the designated time - remember you have an hour window...and if the FP line wait is more than an hour, I wouldn't wait on it anyway!

 

[AmyB2006]

I wouldn't waste FP for Beauty and the Beast as it's an outdoor theater doesn't get you in any sooner it just has a section of seats designated for FP and they may not necessarily be the best seats. Just get to theater at least 1/2 hour (45 min if park is busy) before show starts and you'll be fine.

This may not be the case. In December, there was no separate section. I only booked it because the rest of my family was doing RnRC and I took the kids to see this. I was the only person in the FP line, LOL, and the lines get let in at the same time.