[eta: This post was moved to this forum. I didn't intend for it to focus on FP+ specifically, but more on general evening strategy. However, I will take any advice you all can give me! - Thanks!]
I'm wondering how other people handle their evenings now, given the FP+ system. Let me explain...
We have been to WDW a few times, but found we really liked the old "Tour Guide Mike" approach, and used it on our last 3 trips. Basically, we'd be there at rope drop, stay until early afternoon, head back to the hotel, then return for the evening. For us, "evening" was usually 2-3 rides that we could use Fastpass for and dinner, with a show (Fantasmic/Illuminations/MSEP+Wishes) on some (not all) nights. It was all very relaxing and fun - even if there were crowds, we never waited in lines (except for staking out a spot for MSEP and Wishes) in the evening and were able to see everything we most wanted.
However, it seems the new FP+ system doesn't quite mesh with that approach. This will be our first time to go with FP+ in place, we're coming up on our 60 day window soon, and I'm wondering how other people who followed that old approach have adapted to the new system.
Do you use your FP+ reservations for evening shows/reserved locations, and/or for headliner rides? We probably will be there at such a busy time that we can't count on getting a 4th fastpass for anything. Or, do you just do dinner and hope that there's some lower-tier ride with little/no wait? Or, do you skip parks entirely at night except for the big shows? Or, something else? I know there's not a "right" way, and I see some nice advantages to FP+, but I'm really trying to figure out how we'll adjust in this aspect of our trip (not to mention that now we face the same problem in AK, not just the other 3 parks...).
I'm wondering how other people handle their evenings now, given the FP+ system. Let me explain...
We have been to WDW a few times, but found we really liked the old "Tour Guide Mike" approach, and used it on our last 3 trips. Basically, we'd be there at rope drop, stay until early afternoon, head back to the hotel, then return for the evening. For us, "evening" was usually 2-3 rides that we could use Fastpass for and dinner, with a show (Fantasmic/Illuminations/MSEP+Wishes) on some (not all) nights. It was all very relaxing and fun - even if there were crowds, we never waited in lines (except for staking out a spot for MSEP and Wishes) in the evening and were able to see everything we most wanted.
However, it seems the new FP+ system doesn't quite mesh with that approach. This will be our first time to go with FP+ in place, we're coming up on our 60 day window soon, and I'm wondering how other people who followed that old approach have adapted to the new system.
Do you use your FP+ reservations for evening shows/reserved locations, and/or for headliner rides? We probably will be there at such a busy time that we can't count on getting a 4th fastpass for anything. Or, do you just do dinner and hope that there's some lower-tier ride with little/no wait? Or, do you skip parks entirely at night except for the big shows? Or, something else? I know there's not a "right" way, and I see some nice advantages to FP+, but I'm really trying to figure out how we'll adjust in this aspect of our trip (not to mention that now we face the same problem in AK, not just the other 3 parks...).
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