How check-in day influences Fastpass booking

[JasonMak2000]

I'm working on the assumption that most travelers would start their vacations on Friday or Saturday. I have an upcoming trip checking in on a Monday. My concern is that if most people are arriving on a Friday or Saturday then their 60+ window will open 2-3 days before me resulting in limited availability of the coveted FPs. Do you think my logic is flawed? I'd be interested to hear from those with upcoming trips whose check-ins were early to mid-week if you had trouble with booking the attractions or times that you wanted.

 

[sponica]

I have a monday check in (but tuesday is my first actual park day). I wasn't looking for SDMT (my kid is too short for it) but Peter Pan still had decent FP availability at 60+1. FOP at 60+4 was decent availability, it was mainly my lunch ADR that threw off the times available. FEA at 60+3 was pretty good availability.

People come and go every day, too many things influence arrival/departure day (airfare, rewards blockout dates if using flyer miles, work/school responsibilities)

 

[loutoo]

Although I do think there are more check in and checkouts on Friday & saturday, I don't think it has a massive effect, and, if it it did, the same thing that hurt you for the first few days would help you at the end (assuming your trip is more than 4 days). Also, with the massive variability in trip length I think it all comes out in the wash.

 

[JasonMak2000]

You are probably right that in the end it's a wash but it does seem like the consensus is that hard to get FPs are more attainable at the +3,+4,+5 range. Like you said. For longer trips it's no problem as you will just be taking FPs from the people checking in the following weekend. But for shorter trips, seems like that could be an issue.

 

[PSUGuy]

FWIW, not long ago someone did a poll here asking folks to state what their check in day is and the results were surprisingly evenly spread out, only a slight uptick on the weekend.

Bill From PA

 

[loves to dive]

We will be arriving on Monday (next week) and about 20 days out I decided to see about FOP FPs just on a lark. There were some available for arrival afternoon, which was perfect for us. The only thing I haven't seen available for the entire week we are there is more FOP and SDMT, otherwise everything was available at just about every park.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm working on the assumption that most travelers would start their vacations on Friday or Saturday. I have an upcoming trip checking in on a Monday. My concern is that if most people are arriving on a Friday or Saturday then their 60+ window will open 2-3 days before me resulting in limited availability of the coveted FPs. Do you think my logic is flawed? I'd be interested to hear from those with upcoming trips whose check-ins were early to mid-week if you had trouble with booking the attractions or times that you wanted.

Not a very good assumption with a destination like Disney and folks that come from all over the world.

Yes, I think your logic is flawed.

 

[JasonMak2000]

Ouch

 

[AngiTN]

Sorry, I didn't mean it to be an ouch. You asked specifically "is my logic flawed?"
The answer to that question is, Yes.

 

[Allison]

I think you are overthinking it and it isn't a big deal.

 

[TinkerPan]

I think most folks still like to start and end their vacations on the week-end. That's why room prices are higher . Does this influence FPs? Maybe somewhat. Most folks like to start their Disney Vacation at the MK, take a day off in the middle of the week then end at MK - sound familiar? That's why I still consult the crowd calendars to help me pick what days to go to what parks. My thinking is if a park is even slightly better one day over another then the FPs select may be slightly better too.

That said, as we all know Disney has done a great job of spreading out crowds, not only throughout the year, but through out the week. FP availability has influenced folks park selection and evened out the crowds. So, if you want that coveted FP for FOP you might go to AK later in your vacation then you normally would because of that's when you could get a FP (or ADR) at the time you wanted. So, I guess in the end I wouldn't sweat it too much. I can't outsmart the mouse.

 

[sponica]

Of the 5 or 6 trips I've taken to see the Mouse, I think only one or 2 started on a Saturday. i prefer midweek to midweek vacations myself...but usually end up doing monday to friday/saturday trips

 

[CAS239]

The theory could work out if it involved less people. Everyday thousands of people are just starting their trip and thousands are just ending their trip. With so many people constantly in and out everyday of the week, I don't think booking FP's for a Saturday is any harder than a Wednesday.

The key is booking before everyone else books. That's how you just simply get the harder to get FP's

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I used to work at the bell services/valet desk at a deluxe. Every day was busy with constant arrivals and departures. Sunday always felt to me like the busiest day with a ton of departures but I didn’t find as much of a pattern with arrivals. It was a constant flow and always busy with arrivals and departures.

Also, many people fly on weekdays for cheaper airfare.

I don’t think the day of the week you arrive affects much at all in terms of FP.

 

[JasonMak2000]

Good points. Always good to get the perspective of a former CM. Thanks

 

[DWillowBay]

There will always be people arriving before you arrive. No matter what day of the week you arrive.

 

[AngiTN]

I think most folks still like to start and end their vacations on the week-end. That's why room prices are higher . Does this influence FPs? Maybe somewhat. Most folks like to start their Disney Vacation at the MK, take a day off in the middle of the week then end at MK - sound familiar? That's why I still consult the crowd calendars to help me pick what days to go to what parks. My thinking is if a park is even slightly better one day over another then the FPs select may be slightly better too.

That said, as we all know Disney has done a great job of spreading out crowds, not only throughout the year, but through out the week. FP availability has influenced folks park selection and evened out the crowds. So, if you want that coveted FP for FOP you might go to AK later in your vacation then you normally would because of that's when you could get a FP (or ADR) at the time you wanted. So, I guess in the end I wouldn't sweat it too much. I can't outsmart the mouse.

I've always figured room prices are higher on the weekend because that's when locals can come, if they are inclined to spend a weekend on property. Or those that are close enough for a weekend trip. So they are stuck paying the higher prices, as locals, or semi locals, always are.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I'm working on the assumption that most travelers would start their vacations on Friday or Saturday. I have an upcoming trip checking in on a Monday. My concern is that if most people are arriving on a Friday or Saturday then their 60+ window will open 2-3 days before me resulting in limited availability of the coveted FPs. Do you think my logic is flawed? I'd be interested to hear from those with upcoming trips whose check-ins were early to mid-week if you had trouble with booking the attractions or times that you wanted.

Good topic! We usually have a check in day of either Wednesday or Saturday and usually I don't have too much trouble getting fps, except for FoP, of course. But for our upcoming trip we are checking in on a Tuesday and I had a much harder time getting fps for the days and times I wanted. I had to go to day 4, 6:50 pm in order to get a FoP fp during our five day trip. And I've never had trouble getting 7 Dwarfs before. I truly think the Tuesday check in played a factor in availability.

I would like to add that we always take an early flight when traveling to Disney. When we arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, the Magical express area isn't very busy. When we arrive on a Saturday morning, the area is always crowded. Airfare is always cheaper for us on a Tuesday and Wednesday, while it costs more on a Saturday. Just those two factors seem to indicate that there may be more people beginning their Disney vacations on a Saturday than on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

 

[ellbell]

I always start my trips on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday because flights are cheaper. I would think many people also do this. I would recommend being online as soon as your window opens and have fastpasses for in demand rides scheduled for later in your trip. The day of the week doesn't seem to matter much.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've always figured room prices are higher on the weekend because that's when locals can come, if they are inclined to spend a weekend on property. Or those that are close enough for a weekend trip. So they are stuck paying the higher prices, as locals, or semi locals, always are.

I think generally speaking hotels price themselves that the weekends are more expensive than weekdays. I don't think the local thought process translates to other destinations. I do think in general people do travel more on the weekends because of the m-f workday formula.

With WDW there probably is just so many people coming to one destination point that it's busy enough all days rather than less busy some days but I feel the pricing structure mirrors what other hotels tend to do.

ETA: And sometimes it's actually less expensive on the weekends too depending on the hotel brand and the location. And sometimes there's no pricing change. Just depends.