How are DVC Members Scheduling Their FP+??

[boxer]

My (60) day window will soon be here, so I was curious as to what everyone else has done. Meaning, since typically DVC members don't really go commando in the parks--how do you schedule your FP+? Do you schedule them all at one time, or do you schedule a couple big ones, and wing the rest when you're down there??

We have FP+ last November, and it was very easy to schedule that morning before we left. We typically go to the parks more towards the evenings, so I was wondering if I can do most of my FP+ planning when I get down there? A scheduled time of 7:30 or 9:00 wouldn't bother us at all, since we are there more in the evenings anyhow.

What is everyone else doing? I just can't even fathom trying to guess where we will be at everyday of a (10) day vacation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Age and health factors here, so I usually do decide what parks we will go to, and make FP+ for it. Sometimes, as in DHS, we only care to do 2 things, and surprisingly, they usually give us an extra for TOT!

When I travel with friends who often do not have park hoppers, I do get us FPs for the things I think they will like. I am waiting to do this for my Girl Friend December trip!

Bobbi

 

[wdrl]

I'm in the group of people that wing it when it comes to scheduling FP+. My past experiences with FP+ tells me that I can wait until nearly the last day -- if not a few hours -- before getting FP+ for most attractions. Last time we went in May and June, FP+ for Anne & Elsa and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train were hard to get, so we booked those very near our 60 day window. However, everything else was still available 2-5 days out when we started nailing down our itinerary. Then, while we were at WDW we frequently made changes within 24 hours with little difficulty.

We'll be at WDW for 15 days starting November 29, 2014. Since we are planning on attending the DVC Merry Mixer on December 1st at Epcot, I already know that we should book Soarin' or Test Track for that day. We won't decide what to do with our other days until much, much closer to our trip.

 

[boxer]

Glad to hear this......I don't want to gave to figure out 'where' we will be in November-----while planning said FP+ in September, lol.

 

[ChanFO]

I went ahead and made choices early, since I'm a planner by nature and I'll be in a park every day (though not exactly commando-style, rope drop to close, half of them are half-days!). I'm not real bent out of shape about them, though. I figure if I don't like what they look like later I'll just change them, or just not show up for the FP+ time if it doesn't end up suiting us on that day. I don't have any party members that are going to be broken up over not doing a specific attraction anyway.

 

[n2mm]

I book them all and modify them the night before. Obviously if it's raining and I have TT I switch it to soarin. I just did mine yesterday morning. While I don't need a FP for A&E I know they are hard to get even 60 days out. I managed the new coaster but read that's a hard one too. It's easier to just get it done now and change when you need to. Now that more folks can do it online it us getting harder to get some of them.

 

[tjkraz]

The only things you really need to plan around are:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Character Meets (particularly Anna & Elsa)
Fireworks / Parade viewing

For the most part, it boils down to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios...and even then, only if you insist on having the items listed above.

If you want to partake of the items above, wouldn't hurt to pick a day for MK and a day for DHS and plan those out. Maybe add ADRs for the same days / parks.

Other parks / attractions you can schedule the night before or even same-day after you've decided what to do, and you'll have plenty of flexibility. I would recommend making up your mind by 9am daily, though. Further you get into the day, fewer options will remain (just like the old FP system.)

 

[smjj]

OK, as I understand it, all 3 must be booked in the same park on the same day, (no park hopping) right? Last time we went there was no FP+ just FP and we booked all our rides for various parks on the same day. It worked out fine and we had no issues with FP or the wrist bands just wanting to confirm this...smjj

 

[supersuperwendy]

We used fastpass+ differently on certain days. Like one day we all slept in and enjoyed breakfast before heading out and had all evening fastpass+. On other days we did rope drop and then hopped to another park and used fastpass+ for the evening.

 

[keishashadow]

Over two trips have had no issue modifying FP+ same day in the park if needed.

I often wonder how many WDW visitors have purchased 'smartphones' since FP+ was rolled out

What concerns me more is not being able to book BOG for dinner for last 3 trips @ 180 days out.

 

[DenLo]

The only things you really need to plan around are:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Character Meets (particularly Anna & Elsa)
Fireworks / Parade viewing. . .

I agree with this list, except I think you only need to worry about Character Meets if it is Anna & Elsa, and they are still booked far out. You often can book these meets the day of your visit and definitely the day before.

The other to do item is an ADR at Be Out Guest Restaurant.

 

[DougEMG]

We're down here now for a few weeks and originally I had every day booked with times starting around 11 and getting one very hour. After doing that for a few days, everyone decided they'd rather just go in the evenings and skip the heat of the day even if it means getting less FP+. So now back to rebooking everything

 

[Dr Gevil]

We went the first week in June. On park days, we got there pretty close to RD and did big rides SB with little wait til around 10:30 or so. Then we had our FP+s either before or maybe one left after lunch. Then headed back to to resort to swim/relax - loved the VWL pool parties/bar! Then went to dinner and then either to a park to catch a ride or two/fireworks or stayed at resort and watched the nightly movie on the beach - depended on where we had dinner/how we felt that night.

On resort days, sleep in/swim/lunch/horseback rides, etc. Have dinner. Evening FP+s. Awesome.

Did we ride as much as we have before - no. But was not having to run all over for FPs and actually enjoying all the little things in the parks (and resorts) better (for me and fam) - yes.

I think my commando days are done as I am ready to embrace the laid back style of DVC stays.

 

[MinnieGi]

On our first trip with FP+, I booked them all for the mornings. But as we toured, I modified almost all of them!! Well, with maybe the exception of TSM because there were only later evening times available and we wouldn't be there then.

Anyway this time I will schedule more for late morning/early afternoons and a few evenings. We do rope drops and walked onto many rides so our FP+ was for an extra ride. We'll see how it goes, but I'm thinking I'll modify on the fly once we are down there again. Luckily that is easy to do.

 

[Chuck S]

I usually have a table service lunch, so once I decide which park, and where I want to eat I make ADRs at the 60 day mark. Then I make FP+ reservations for that park. I don't necessarily make FP+ for every day, and I often change them on the fly using the iPhone app.

 

[bobbiwoz]

What I do not know is if you use the FP+ in the morning at one park, how do you get FPs for another park if you go in the PM.

 

[wdrl]

What I do not know is if you use the FP+ in the morning at one park, how do you get FPs for another park if you go in the PM.

Here is what the FP+ "Learn About" section on My Disney Experience says about getting subsequent FP+ after you have used up your initial three FP+:

In advance, you can reserve up to 3 FastPass+ experiences per day at one theme park. After you use all of the initial FastPass+ experiences on the day of your visit (or your arrival windows have passed), you can select one additional FastPass+ experience to use that same day (based on availability). The additional FastPass+ experience is a rolling FastPass+ experience—each time you use an additional FastPass+ experience, you can select a new one.

Additional FastPass+ selections must be made at a FastPass+ kiosk within the same park as the FastPass+ experience that you wish to select, and they can be made at a different park from your previous selections. (emphasis added)​

 

[DebbieB]

I made my FP+ for Oct 18 to 24 on Monday night at midnight. I was mainly worried about 7DMT, I didn't want A & E. I got all I wanted, booking mostly in the morning. I've used it twice already, last November and May and made changes on the fly for less popular rides. Like I had one for PoTC in the morning, the standby was only 5 min so I rode it and changed my FP+ to Buzz.

 

[boxer]

We went the first week in June. On park days, we got there pretty close to RD and did big rides SB with little wait til around 10:30 or so. Then we had our FP+s either before or maybe one left after lunch. Then headed back to to resort to swim/relax - loved the VWL pool parties/bar! Then went to dinner and then either to a park to catch a ride or two/fireworks or stayed at resort and watched the nightly movie on the beach - depended on where we had dinner/how we felt that night.

On resort days, sleep in/swim/lunch/horseback rides, etc. Have dinner. Evening FP+s. Awesome.

Did we ride as much as we have before - no. But was not having to run all over for FPs and actually enjoying all the little things in the parks (and resorts) better (for me and fam) - yes.

I think my commando days are done as I am ready to embrace the laid back style of DVC stays.

This is more our style of vacationing......I love going to the parks after a dinner, and just walking around, and not worrying about how many rides you are going on.