How bad is it booking fast pass+ at the 30 day mark?

[greeneave]

I was freaking out about booking at 30 days, but with the exception of Anna & Elsa I was able to get everything we wanted including FP for parades and Wishes. The only problem I ran into was coordinating ADR's that were already in place, with FP times. I did have to move things around a bit, but it did work out.

i booked at 44 days out and had no desire for meet and greets and my family can't do rollercoasters, so similar to you, the only issues we had was coordinating our choices with existing adr's, which i booked at 100+ days out.

on our mk day we have fp+ from 12:10 to 4:25pm, with no adr.

on our ak day we have fp+ from 1:30 to 6:00, with a 7:20pm reservation at jiko.

on our epcot day we have fp+ from 9:10am to 12:10pm, with an 8pm reservation at san angel inn.

we're staying at the poly and have park hopper passes so the only day that has no flexibility is the ak day.

 

[Mickey&Mouse]

So I am now a little more concerned about scheduling fast passes. I had planned on booking my fast passes early in the morning the day my 30 day window opens up. I live in a time zone which is an hour and a half later than Eastern Time. That means I will have to be up at 1:30am here if my fast pass windows open at midnight ET and up at 2:30 am if it does not open until after 1:00 ET. Instead, I planned on getting up around 6:00am my time. I know that being on the computer the minute your 30 day window opens is preferred but, given that I have to do this a number of days in a row and still go to work the next day, thought it was my best strategy. Now, I am worried that I need to do the middle of the morning thing instead if I have any hope of getting what we want. Maybe, I can get away with doing that only a few of my dates.??? This is the DW part of my schedule for when we are there:

July 3rd - HS in evening (About 5:00 onward). Typhoon Lagoon in the day.
July 5 - MK daytime (ropedrop)
July 6 - Epcot daytime (ropedrop)
July 7 - MK evening (about 6:00 onward). Blizzard Beach in the Day
July 9 - Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon daytime

What would you do if you were me??? I knew we were going at a busy time this trip, but figured I would stick to my old routine of being there at ropedrop and using fastpasses to ensure we got in most of the things that we wanted to without too much waiting. Our last trip was in 2013 before fastpass+ and I naievely thought the new system would not be too different. From what I have been reading, I was very wrong.

If it was me, I'd probably do the middle morning thing- as soon as it opens up. It seems that there are mixed reviews pertaining to FP availability at 30 days. Plus it looks like you're a party of 5, and going around the 4th of July when it's super busy. I guess it also depends on what everyone in your family wants to get FP's for. I think using RD will be a huge advantage to get a lot out of the way standby, too. Best of luck!

 

[FiveofusNL]

If it was me, I'd probably do the middle morning thing- as soon as it opens up. It seems that there are mixed reviews pertaining to FP availability at 30 days. Plus it looks like you're a party of 5, and going around the 4th of July when it's super busy. I guess it also depends on what everyone in your family wants to get FP's for. I think using RD will be a huge advantage to get a lot out of the way standby, too. Best of luck!

That was what I was afraid of. I am nervous about using the system for the first time as it is, I can only imagine the mess I will be in trying to use it in the middle of the night! Yes, we are a party of 5 and from what I am reading that makes scheduling even harder. So far, I am not liking this fastpass+ system, but maybe I will be singing another tune once I actually use it (fingers crossed).

 

[mombrontrent]

That was what I was afraid of. I am nervous about using the system for the first time as it is, I can only imagine the mess I will be in trying to use it in the middle of the night! Yes, we are a party of 5 and from what I am reading that makes scheduling even harder. So far, I am not liking this fastpass+ system, but maybe I will be singing another tune once I actually use it (fingers crossed).

Honestly I think you will be ok waiting until the morning. We are going in 2.5 weeks (obviously a less bust time then July 4th week though) and I just checked to see what FP+ are still available. We are also a family of 5. For the first week of May I can book Splash, Space, Big Thunder, Peter Pan (basically every ride except for 7DMT) at ANY time of day from 9am until park close, it's wide open. If you want 7DMT I would get up in the middle of the night for that one though. I booked Toy Story for in the early afternoon at my 30 day mark in the morning when I woke up and it's still available now at 20 days out for anytime after 4pm. AK everything is wide open as well as Epcot.

 

[sharona]

That was what I was afraid of. I am nervous about using the system for the first time as it is, I can only imagine the mess I will be in trying to use it in the middle of the night! Yes, we are a party of 5 and from what I am reading that makes scheduling even harder. So far, I am not liking this fastpass+ system, but maybe I will be singing another tune once I actually use it (fingers crossed).

If you're staying offsite and have already linked your tickets in MDE, there is no need to wait until the 30 day mark to practice using the system. The system has no idea what day you intend to use the tickets. You can book FPs for whatever day is currently 30 days out and then cancel them when you're done practicing. I did that a few times, practiced changing times and attractions, got an idea of how the system worked and familiarized myself with the site. It really helped me feel confident in what I was doing when my real 30 day window opened.

 

[marynpaul]

That is a very good tip Sharona. I'm gonna have to try it out now that I received our tickets from UCT.

 

[DisneyParkLover]

I booked around 6 am each day at 30 days out. I was able to get everything I wanted (did not want A&E). On 7DMT I took a time later than I wanted and kept checking until I was able to move it up. Now I have all the exact times I wanted.

 

[FiveofusNL]

If you're staying offsite and have already linked your tickets in MDE, there is no need to wait until the 30 day mark to practice using the system. The system has no idea what day you intend to use the tickets. You can book FPs for whatever day is currently 30 days out and then cancel them when you're done practicing. I did that a few times, practiced changing times and attractions, got an idea of how the system worked and familiarized myself with the site. It really helped me feel confident in what I was doing when my real 30 day window opened.

Wow. Thanks Sharona. I did not realize I could do that....although it makes perfect sense since Disney would not know my visit dates. I will definitely give it a try.

 

[FiveofusNL]

I booked around 6 am each day at 30 days out. I was able to get everything I wanted (did not want A&E). On 7DMT I took a time later than I wanted and kept checking until I was able to move it up. Now I have all the exact times I wanted.

It's good to see that some people are doing this and it works out for them. I think the biggest thing that is against me is the fact that we are going at such a busy time of year. Luckily we do not want popular ones like A&E or the larger coasters, but my kids really want to do the SDMT and the Rock & Roller Coaster.

 

[katallo]

We made our FP's at the 30 day mark and honestly changed quite a few when we arrived. We were able to get Mine Train and Soarn the day before (probably cancellations) but we didn't have any problems.

 

[OnlyDisney]

We currently have FP+ for HS on May 3, 18 days away. Our current FP+ for TSMM is 10:25-11:25am (other FP+ is for noon and 1 o'clock hours). When I check other times for TSMM it is open for for every hour of the day.

I just looked for FP+ for SDMT for our days on May 5 & 6 (5th our FP+ are in the morning and on the 6th they are in the evening). When I try to look for new times on either day I'm told there is nothing available.

 

[JD3ofthem]

We've had breakfast at Crystal Palace before the park opened and then been at the front of the rope drop when the rest of the crowds get in. Does that work at any other park? Not sure if that would work at Studios because of where the restaurants are located and where the rope drop happens there. Has anyone done this?

 

[22Tink]

If you're staying offsite and have already linked your tickets in MDE, there is no need to wait until the 30 day mark to practice using the system. The system has no idea what day you intend to use the tickets. You can book FPs for whatever day is currently 30 days out and then cancel them when you're done practicing. I did that a few times, practiced changing times and attractions, got an idea of how the system worked and familiarized myself with the site. It really helped me feel confident in what I was doing when my real 30 day window opened.

A quick question about linking tickets. I bought a room and ticket pkg to get free dining and they are showing up in MDE but when I go in to play with the FP+ it tells me I need to link my tickets. It that because MDE has my dates and knows it's too early for me to book FP+?

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I got everything I wanted. A&E included...I'm assuming I'll have a low traffic day

 

[IrishNYC]

A quick question about linking tickets. I bought a room and ticket pkg to get free dining and they are showing up in MDE but when I go in to play with the FP+ it tells me I need to link my tickets. It that because MDE has my dates and knows it's too early for me to book FP+?

Yes. With packages you cannot access the FP+ system until your window opens as they're attached to your room reservation.

 

[22Tink]

Yes. With packages you cannot access the FP+ system until your window opens as they're attached to your room reservation.

Thanks! That's what I figured when it wouldn't work for me! I was hoping to practice but I guess I'll have wing it when my window opens.