In need of some Fastpass Plus Help!

[TivoQueen]

I am in the beginning stages of planning out my fastpass plus for our upcoming trip. I was looking at the list of rides that offer fastpass plus and ended up really confused. There are some rides on there that I am wondering if it is necessary to get a fastpass or if the stand by line is still ok to use? For example the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribbean, Spaceship Earth, and Barnstorner. These are all rides my family enjoys, but we usually ride them without a fastpass and don't wait more than a few minutes. Are these lines suddenly getting longer to the point where I need a fastpass?

Another question is regarding specifically Hollywood Studios. The only 2 rides we are interested in there are the Rockin Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania, but I can only select one of those at a time because they are both tier 1. Am I permitted to only select a fastpass for Rockin Roller Coaster and no others in advance, go to the park on the scheduled day and ride the Rockin Rollercoaster then go to the kiosk or use the app on my phone to get one for Toy Story (if available of course)? Basically I would try to get an early fastpass for Rockin Rollercoaster, ride that ride and hope I can get one for Toy Story later in the day. We would do this because we are only planning on one day in that park.

 

[figment_jii]

There are some rides on there that I am wondering if it is necessary to get a fastpass or if the stand by line is still ok to use? For example the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribbean, Spaceship Earth, and Barnstorner. These are all rides my family enjoys, but we usually ride them without a fastpass and don't wait more than a few minutes. Are these lines suddenly getting longer to the point where I need a fastpass?

I think the standby lines have increased with the implementation of FP+. I was there in late October and ended up getting FP+ for HM because the standby line was often 30 minutes or longer. Same for Spaceship Earth and Pirates. I would plan on a 20-30 minute standby wait for HM, PotC, and Spaceship Earth without a FP (I don't know about Barnstormers).

Another question is regarding specifically Hollywood Studios. The only 2 rides we are interested in there are the Rockin Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania, but I can only select one of those at a time because they are both tier 1. Am I permitted to only select a fastpass for Rockin Roller Coaster and no others in advance, go to the park on the scheduled day and ride the Rockin Rollercoaster then go to the kiosk or use the app on my phone to get one for Toy Story (if available of course)? Basically I would try to get an early fastpass for Rockin Rollercoaster, ride that ride and hope I can get one for Toy Story later in the day. We would do this because we are only planning on one day in that park.

You can select one Tier 1 attraction and two Tier 2 attractions when you sign up for FP+. As far as I know, you have to get three FP+s initially (for example, if you only select one Tier 1 ride, the system will randomly select two Tier 2 options for you).

As far as I know, you can only have one active FP+ for a Tier 1 ride at a time. So if you get RnR FP+ in advance, you cannot get one for TSMM until you get to the parks. I don't know about RnR, but I did not see any day of or day before of TSMM FP+ for my entire stay in late October. I just checked and you could get an RnR for today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, but there are no TSMM FP+ on any of those days. So, I would seriously consider getting a TSMM FP and winging the RnR FP. TSMM stand by lines were 60-90 minutes within an hour of opening on the days I was there!

 

[BrianL]

Sounds like you need Mesaboy's ultimate FP+ guide:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3326057

He's got you covered!

There has been much debate about whether or not adding FP+ to rides that never "needed" it has increased waits. The consensus seems to be that it has, but just a little bit. I'd still put HM low on my FPP+ list (and it's my favorite ride). Also, you skip the new graveyard queue if you FP it.

 

[tjevans]

A study of standby waits between February and June 2014 shows that on average, FP+ has actually lowered standby waits.

 

[figment_jii]

A study of standby waits between February and June 2014 shows that on average, FP+ has actually lowered standby waits.

I think the important thing to note is that the study indicated that the standby waits for the big rides decreased slightly, but the standby waits for the normally less busy rides increased. The OP was asking about PotC, HM, and Spaceship Earth, which all had increases according to the Touring Plans study.

 

[DebbieB]

I would get your FP+ for TSM and then ride RnR first thing standby or single rider. TSM is unlikely to be available same day.

 

[HatboxHaint]

1. Add a couple extra days to your reservation on the frontend if you want better availability, then drop those days later

2. You probably would like a fastpass for those 2nd tier-y rides you mentioned, you will have 20+ minute waits from noon time onward with those. You could get a 2nd set of bands on a 2nd account and get same day FP's to defeat those pesky 2nd tier ride lines.


3. No on the DHS question, you gotta get the 3 and use them before going back for the 1st tier 4th.

 

[DavidNYC]

Exactly my suggestion! I think you'll get on RnR with a minimal wait first thing in morning. Just back from DW and was at rope drop for DHS and everyone still makes a dash to Toy Story. You'll waste FP by making one as you're likely to get RnR (if at all) for very late in day. Not that you'd need them for many other rides at DHS, but you'd be likely to get Star Tours & Movie Ride as 4th FPs. If you're at low to mid season, you won't need them for shows.

As for MK, the guide linked to above is the best. All the rides you mentioned are likely to have OK FP+ availability as 4th rides or have shorter waited. The priority list in Mesaboy's the link is what to go by!

Just back from 5 days there and my experience is that FP+ has definitely increased standby at the "lesser" rides but only by a little (10 minutes for Imagination?!?!??!) And for many of them the actual wait was usually less (PoTC posted 15 but we walked on. Spaceship Earth posted 15 and was 5). But I think headliners were a little shorter than what I've seen. Anna and Elsa were even down to 60 minutes at many times!

I would get your FP+ for TSM and then ride RnR first thing standby or single rider. TSM is unlikely to be available same day.

 

[MickeyOCD]

PotC, HM, & Barnstormer only need FP in the heart of the day (1pm-5pm) in reg season & shorten or lengthen that time frame for higher crowd seasons. I went on a 6 day & would've needed FP during that time frame. Mornings or late, will have significantly lower wait times. I would NOT FP these rides unless you don't do the mountains.
And either ride RnR coaster 1st thing or ride it single rider to save your Tier 1 FP for TSMM as that will have the longest standby wait times at DHS.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We went to Disney at the end of August, in a dead time, and there were no "day of" FPs available for TSM even then. RNR will generally have shorter SB waits than TSM, particularly at RD, so I'd FP+ TSM and ride RNR SB.