How a touring plan can help - Fastpass Plus and touring with easywdw.com

[SueM in MN]

Many people have written before what a difference using a touring plan can make, even if you can't follow it completely.
If you are able to visit the parks early in the day, you can minimize waits to almost nothing and still see a lot.
Part one expulsions getting there from off-site, getting into the park and the Fastpass Plus system.
http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1and-fastpass-kiosks-part-1/

Part two is his actual day touring, with many pictures and notes about current waits that day.
http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorized/magic-kingdom-cheat-sheet-day-1and-fastpass-kiosks-part-1/

This was Saturday, January 18, 2014 at MK over the busy Martin Luther King weekend.
Josh from easywdw.com notes that Magic Kingdom was the park he recommended avoiding that day because it would be the busiest. Even with that, he got a lot done in a short period of the morning and used his 3 Fastpass Plus selections for afternoon.
It also illustrates how using a touring plan can help in ways the discontinued GAC (Guest Assistance Card) or new DAS (Disability Access Service) can't.
He has pictures that show the crowds at various points of the day. Going early avoids waits, but also many of the crowded areas.

 

[buffettgirl]

I found it quite interesting that he was able to get so much done between 8 and 10am. I know many don't like to get to the park that early, but it's really the only way to maximize your time with no waits, and that's what everyone wants, no waits.

 

[tinkerpea]

I reckon more and more are going to be going earlier and earlier to the parks now that FP+ is in place! Since many used to get 7-8 FP a day maybe more!

Also those who was used the GAC and not having to get up to go early,are going to start going there for rope drop,
It will be very interesting to see how this changes over the next 6-12 months!!

I for one never go at busy times BUT this yr were having to go over July 4th for 2wks due to military deployment!
We have never done a rope drop & always used a GAC, after our last 3wk trip using a DAS & FP+ when in trials in october to november,we will be doing rope drop every other morning using a DAS /FP+ & touring plan lines!
I'm sure many will follow!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Consider the flip side of the coin. Those who always felt the need to get to the parks for RD just to get to ride things like TSMM will now be able to sleep in secure in the knowledge that they'll still get to ride with limited wait.

What Josh posted is the exact reason I focus so much on my touring plans. I'm actually thinking I won't even have to use our DAS this trip because of FP+ and being natural early birds.

 

[buffettgirl]

Consider the flip side of the coin. Those who always felt the need to get to the parks for RD just to get to ride things like TSMM will now be able to sleep in secure in the knowledge that they'll still get to ride with limited wait.

What Josh posted is the exact reason I focus so much on my touring plans. I'm actually thinking I won't even have to use our DAS this trip because of FP+ and being natural early birds.

exactly. That's something that I like about the ability to schedule in advance. I can see that being huge for us later in a trip after we've done what we want to do so we can repeat without caring about getting to the park early, or save our selections for at night. Right now the benefit doesn't exist for anyone not staying on property, not that that is a big issue, there should be benefits for on property stay, but it also doesn't exist for those of us staying at Shades of Green. We can do FP+ once you get to the park, but not in advance. I hope they fix that.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm hoping that even if they keep pre-booking FP+ to onsite that they at least allow people to book same day or maybe even next day FP+ using MDE before getting to the park. I think this would help a lot. If nothing else it would allow expectations to be set. For some of us, KNOWING before we leave our resort for the day is very important so we can set appropriate expectations.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Thanks for linking to this site! Looked at our dates, and really made me re-think our plans as to which parks on which days.

 

[Schmeck]

I'm hoping that even if they keep pre-booking FP+ to onsite that they at least allow people to book same day or maybe even next day FP+ using MDE before getting to the park. I think this would help a lot. If nothing else it would allow expectations to be set. For some of us, KNOWING before we leave our resort for the day is very important so we can set appropriate expectations.

How would they know what days you plan on going to the parks if you don't have an onsite reservation? How would Disney know what the day before would be either?

 

[OurBigTrip]

How would they know what days you plan on going to the parks if you don't have an onsite reservation? How would Disney know what the day before would be either?

I read it as wanting to be able to book same day or next day even if you've already booked in advance. MDE can only be used with MagicBands, so that's how I read the post.

 

[clanmcculloch]

How would they know what days you plan on going to the parks if you don't have an onsite reservation? How would Disney know what the day before would be either?

I meant today's or tomorrow's calendar day. Today is 1/24/14 so it would be nice if offsite guests could at least book for 1/24/14 first thing in the morning using MDE and maybe even 1/25/14 as long as they have tickets with remaining park days or APs linked in MDE.

 

[lovethattink]

I reckon more and more are going to be going earlier and earlier to the parks now that FP+ is in place! Since many used to get 7-8 FP a day maybe more!

Also those who was used the GAC and not having to get up to go early,are going to start going there for rope drop,
It will be very interesting to see how this changes over the next 6-12 months!!

I for one never go at busy times BUT this yr were having to go over July 4th for 2wks due to military deployment!
We have never done a rope drop & always used a GAC, after our last 3wk trip using a DAS & FP+ when in trials in october to november,we will be doing rope drop every other morning using a DAS /FP+ & touring plan lines!
I'm sure many will follow!

Yesterday at 9:30 someone was reporting a 90 minute standy by time for either TT or Soarin'. I'd have to go back and read to know for sure. So I agree with you, that more people will utilize rope drop, and we'll see those early morning standby times creep up quickly.

We rarely do rope drop. Not worth it to change ds's sleep routine.

What Josh posted is the exact reason I focus so much on my touring plans. I'm actually thinking I won't even have to use our DAS this trip because of FP+ and being natural early birds.

Since offsite FP+ began, we've rarely had to use ds's DAS. Maybe for one attraction. At AK, we've gone 3 times. Once out of the 3 we needed the DAS. At MK, we used it for 1 attraction both of the times we went since offsite FP+ started. DS isn't an early bird and he makes it about 3 to 5 hours at a park.