How early do you book your first MK FP after rope drop?

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I RD and get a lot done between park opening and 11am.
Then I have a BOG lunch ADR for sometime between 11am and 12pm.
I start out with my first FP+ at about 12:30pm although for my last trip I did manage to get a 7DMT FP+ for 10 people at 9:30am so I took it. The park had opened at 8am that day anyways so I was still able to get a number of things in prior to using that first FP+.

 

[ScrapYap]

I don't think it is a waste. The line for mine trains goes from zero to 50 minutes as soon as the park opens. And you can wait for a long time even if you are part of the first big rush. Skip that mess, do something else, then saunter over there at 9:50. It also opens up the 4th pass sooner if you start them sooner.

I like that. That's what I'm experimenting with. I might even prebook only one FP. Let's say you do rope drop for an hour, then the Mine Train at 10:00. Then a 2nd at 10:30. 3rd at 11:00. 4th at 11:30, etc. I know you wouldn't be able to get the best attractions, just booking on the app. (Though with people constantly cancelling things, I've gotten Mine Train, Splash, etc. last minute.) Wouldn't this be the best way if you were looking for quantity and were relaxed about exactly what you'd ride? I never met a Disney ride I didn't like. Never? Hardly ever. (For the Gilbert & Sullivan fans.)

 

[CMNJ]

I like that. That's what I'm experimenting with. I might even prebook only one FP. Let's say you do rope drop for an hour, then the Mine Train at 10:00. Then a 2nd at 10:30. 3rd at 11:00. 4th at 11:30, etc. I know you wouldn't be able to get the best attractions, just booking on the app. (Though with people constantly cancelling things, I've gotten Mine Train, Splash, etc. last minute.) Wouldn't this be the best way if you were looking for quantity and were relaxed about exactly what you'd ride? I never met a Disney ride I didn't like. Never? Hardly ever. (For the Gilbert & Sullivan fans.)

Maybe book 2 back to back that are harder to get same day and have long waits like mine train and Peter Pan say 9-10 and 10-11 and then keep rolling-those 2 rides are quite close and generate long waits right at RD. I suspect you could hit a large portion of tomorrowland or fantasyland in that first hour then ride two headliners back to back and keep going with a rolling fast pass from there (or try to move your third one up). This might be a good change to my previous strategy for dealing with fast passes....have to give it some more thought

 

[otterpop]

I try to do mine as early as possible so that I can then utilize other FP options as soon as possible.

 

[Day-Day]

Depends on the Park now. Used to just RD everywhere and save FPs for the afternoon. But, with tiering now at 3/4 Parks, it makes you 'burn' FPs earlier. (At least for DHS & Epcot - bc I've done NJR & will NEVER waste a FP on it again!).

I do 9-10-11's at DHS & Epcot and then start looking for my next Tier 1 at 11:01! Or, I will Change Places to a FP in a different park at that time or for later.

Sat, I easily got a 4th FP for GMR and 2 more for TSM after burning my regular 3 early (but it rained that afternoon, so the park emptied early #mileagemayvary). Sun, we got Soarin' FPs after using our 1st 3.

What is NJR?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[ucfknight]

What is NJR?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

It is right next to FPO

 

[IndyJammer]

What is NJR?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

Sorry - I was dyslexic! It should have been NRJ - Na'Vi River Journey. It's the 'other' Pandora attraction - it is Not worth a Tier 1 FP to me.

It is right next to FPO

See what you did there, I do!

 

[Shanti]

If you're using a FP within 2 hours of a park being open then it's a waste of a FP.

Not necessarily. Some top attractions (7DMT & FOP, for example) develop very long lines immediately after rope drop. Many other top attractions (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, RNR, Expedition Everest, TSMM, Test Track) develop long waits within the first hour. So if you book FPs for top attractions from 9-10am, 10-11am, & 11am-12pm, then you can FP your first top attraction around 10am, your second around 11am, and your third also around 11am. That allows you to spend most of your first two hours doing standby on mid-tier attractions (or non-FP top-tier attractions). Then you can start rolling 4th+ FPs as early as 11-ish, and keep doing that for the rest of the day.

 

[Day-Day]

It is right next to FPO

FPO is not on the abbreviation list either; the mystery continues...

I find myself accessing this list all the time but many times the items aren't there. I wish folks would type out the words to start with before going into abbreviations.

 

[ScrapYap]

It is right next to FPO

Wow - I almost missed that! You're quick, knight!

 

[ScrapYap]

FPO is not on the abbreviation list either; the mystery continues...

I find myself accessing this list all the time but many times the items aren't there. I wish folks would type out the words to start with before going into abbreviations.

The knight was making a joke. IndyJam had a typo of NJR for Na'vi River Journey. So knight typo-ed back FPO instead of FOP for Flight of Passage. Both rides being in Pandora.

 

[ScrapYap]

Sorry - I was dyslexic! It should have been NRJ - Na'Vi River Journey. It's the 'other' Pandora attraction - it is Not worth a Tier 1 FP to me.

I'm really grateful to you @IndyJammerfor sharing that opinion on Na'vi. If I go in with low expectations, I'm sure to like it. I was expecting to love it. Now I'm looking for small world with tall blue people and weird flowers. Wouldn't that be a visual party! A tall blue woman lying on a barge, winking? A line of tall blue people doing the can-can? Blue people in hot air balloons? A line of blue women hula dancers? A blue person in a white kilt playing the bagpipes out of tune?

 

[anomamatt]

Wouldn't this be the best way if you were looking for quantity and were relaxed about exactly what you'd ride? I never met a Disney ride I didn't like. Never? Hardly ever. (For the Gilbert & Sullivan fans.)

If you want quantity over "quality" and are focused on MK, I would pre-book one single FP at 9:30 for a hard to get FP attraction (e.g., 7DMT, PP). My plan would be to "rope drop" 1-2 rides, then use your single FP. Then start adding whatever is available one at a time (as soon as you tap into the next ride, get the next FP focusing on whatever is close and soonest). In the morning in MK, you could easily go through 6+ FPs this way by 1pm.

 

[ScrapYap]

If you want quantity over "quality" and are focused on MK, I would pre-book one single FP at 9:30 for a hard to get FP attraction (e.g., 7DMT, PP). My plan would be to "rope drop" 1-2 rides, then use your single FP. Then start adding whatever is available one at a time (as soon as you tap into the next ride, get the next FP focusing on whatever is close and soonest). In the morning in MK, you could easily go through 6+ FPs this way by 1pm.

You're a power user!! I'm going to tweet #FPpoweruser with your strategy!

 

[LAS2012]

Hi ScrapYap!!!!

Our typical park days involve no park hopping and no afternoon breaks at our resort. We plan an afternoon TS that is the only big meal of the day, but it provides an hour+ break off our feet, a chance to cool off, and the ability to rehydrate. I'm too lazy to park hop or go back to the resort...

Days with RD are planned with 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 FP times. Our plan is to maximize short term waits for other rides and hit the first FP at the end of the window, knowing if surrounding rides' wait times are building up we can FP at the beginning of the window and move on to another section of the park. We can adjust our touring plan for the rest of the day depending on what pops up for the 4th, 5th, or more FPs. We know we have our top three rides accomplished and can flex up or down from there. Plus when it is hotter and more crowded I don't have to be a slave to the FP clock. We are only getting one at a time from 4th on, so I can see what looks good based on where we are in the park. We are perfect Disney guests -- we love rides, shows, parades, fireworks, eating and shopping equally and can always find SOMETHING to do!

For park days later in the week, I plan later FP start times -- you just never know when you are going to need to sleep in!

 

[GillianP1301]

I like to do late morning/early afternoon and then have opportunity to pick up additional fastpasses. So usually around 10ish, 11ish and then one after lunch at 1:00ish.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Hi ScrapYap!!!!

We plan an afternoon TS that is the only big meal of the day, but it provides an hour+ break off our feet, a chance to cool off, and the ability to rehydrate.

I like this!

We've always set aside time in the evenings for our TS meals with the thinking being we should do as much park touring as we can during the daytime hours. Many times this backfires and the kids "run out of steam" too early. A break from the surrounding hustle and bustle of the afternoon could be just what the doctor ordered! A chance for the kids to reset while noshing on their chicken nuggets, and adults to gather our thoughts in the peace and quiet of a comfortable AC-cooled restaurant during the hottest times of the day.

Plus when it is hotter and more crowded I don't have to be a slave to the FP clock.

Amen to that! The only thing worse than crowded is more crowded. And the only thing worse than more crowded is more crowded and hotter!

 

[Davey Jones II]

Good strategies. But if you're park hopping, I think it's a must to have your FPs waiting for you at the second park of the day. The only exception might be if you're hopping in order to do some nighttime event, and no headliner rides.

 

[ScrapYap]

Good strategies. But if you're park hopping, I think it's a must to have your FPs waiting for you at the second park of the day. The only exception might be if you're hopping in order to do some nighttime event, and no headliner rides.

That makes sense. Then rope drop at the first park will be priority. Maybe a resort rest in between parks!

 

[marx]

9, 10, 11 - We ride the 9 one close to 10 am (usually mine train). The 10 and 11 we ride close to each other - 10:50 and 10:55 or 11. Then start looking for the 4th while grabbing a bite to eat.

This! We do the same