Is my understanding correct for day guest & FP+?

[Disney Addicted]

Friends are renting a house in Orlando towards the end of Feb / beginning of March, and would like to spend a day or two at WDW.

My understanding is if they purchase park tickets and create a MDE account - they can then link the park tickets to the account and start making FP+ reservations 30 days in advance. Limit of 3 per park. One park per day.

They will most likely purchase tickets once in Florida though... Quite possibly the day they decide to go. The fun of traveling with extended family and debating on just 1 day or 2 days and which park(s).

In that scenario - they won't be able to select any FP+ attractions until they enter the park, yes? The days of sending one person to TOT while the rest head to TSM for FPs are gone right? Where is the FP+ kiosk they would go to? Is there any point in trying to select FP+ at that point?

I have not been to WDW since the FP+ system was introduced (not for lack of trying!) so I'd like to make sure my information is right before advising my friend.

At the moment it looks like they will likely be visiting MK and DHS on two seperate days.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can't get any fastpasses unless you purchase a ticket. If they do not buy tickets until they arrive, they cannot make any fastpasses ahead of time. If they want to make any ahead of time at all, they will need to link their tickets to a MDX account.

There are kiosks all over the parks.

Day of, they should be able to get passes for something - but the odds are it won't be the popular attractions that generate the long lines.

Other than financial, I don't see much reason why they shouldn't just go ahead and buy the tickets assuming they know how many days they will need.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Ok, pretty much what I thought. Thank you.

So, is there any point in them trying to reserve FP+ the morning they arrive in a park? I can't see any benefit to wasting the time. Wouldn't all the top 1st and 2nd rides/attractions be fully booked by then? Or does Disney hold some back for day guests?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No, they don't hold them. If you want them, they have to catch some that someone else cancelled.

There will always be something you can book, especially at MK which has the most attractions, but it will likely not be the main headliner attractions. However, if they'd like to ride something like Pirates or Haunted Mansion without waiting in a 20-30 minute line, they could go ahead and get some passes. Toy Story Mania is probably not going to happen.

 

[staceyeileen]

So, is there any point in them trying to reserve FP+ the morning they arrive in a park? I can't see any benefit to wasting the time. Wouldn't all the top 1st and 2nd rides/attractions be fully booked by then? Or does Disney hold some back for day guests?

Of course they should get some fast passes. I just checked FP availability for TODAY and it's almost 3pm, and was able to book both thunder and Space mountain for the 4-7pm timeframes. Pickings are slimmer at DHS due to lack of rides; like the PP said they probably won't get TSMM.

 

[ibela]

Depending on the park, they should still be able to get some good fast passes. So long as it's not Presidents week they should be OK. Doubtful for TSMM in HS or for Soarin' or Test Track at Epcot but wont hurt to check. There are kiosks everywhere or they can still book on a MDX account on their phone. In late August I was able to move mine around, all mountains were available in MK and in AK I was able to move up Everest and get Dinosaur.

 

[Candleshoe]

That's still a slower time of year so there will be some things available. For others they'll have to ride at park opening.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Thanks everyone!

 

[mm1971]

Ok, pretty much what I thought. Thank you.

So, is there any point in them trying to reserve FP+ the morning they arrive in a park? I can't see any benefit to wasting the time. Wouldn't all the top 1st and 2nd rides/attractions be fully booked by then? Or does Disney hold some back for day guests?

Depends on what they wish to ride. Typically Splash, BTMRR, HM and attractions like that will have availability day of. Form my experience (unless crowd levels are about 7), the only ones not available at MK are 7DMT, PP and maybe Space Mountain. We have actually used our 3 and then gotten a 4th and 5th on our past trips and those were Splash/BTMRR. We did notice that HM, Dumbo, Ariel, IASW all had availability later in the day.

All fireworks, parades and BOG lunch will be gone day of.

It would be best to purchase ahead of time if possible.

 

[Robo]

Other than financial, I don't see much reason why they shouldn't just go ahead and buy the tickets assuming they know how many days they will need.

If they know that they will be going to a WDW theme park on at least ONE day, they could buy a one-day ticket now, and make 3 FP+ reservations for most-wanted attractions a the park for which they most want to visit (at 30 days before they will be in that park.)

Then, after they are at WDW and are using the one-day ticket, if they want to go to another park on another day of that trip, they can head to Guest Relations (inside that first park, if desired) and upgrade the one-day ticket to a two-day (or more) ticket.

At that moment (of upgrading) they will then be able to book 3 FP+ in advance for the next day they will be in a park. That can be done via a smart phone or tablet that they have with them, or done with the help of Guest Relations at the current park.

 

[Disney Addicted]

Other than financial, I don't see much reason why they shouldn't just go ahead and buy the tickets assuming they know how many days they will need.

It may be financial as the ticket price was quite a shock for my friend. They are not leaving for another month and that gives them time to get money together. They are traveling with extended family and were not originally planning on visiting WDW at all.

Depends on what they wish to ride. Typically Splash, BTMRR, HM and attractions like that will have availability day of. Form my experience (unless crowd levels are about 7), the only ones not available at MK are 7DMT, PP and maybe Space Mountain. We have actually used our 3 and then gotten a 4th and 5th on our past trips and those were Splash/BTMRR. We did notice that HM, Dumbo, Ariel, IASW all had availability later in the day.

Awesome. I thought pretty much thought all would be gone and they would be waiting in lines all day.

If they know that they will be going to a WDW theme park on at least ONE day, they could buy a one-day ticket now, and make 3 FP+ reservations for most-wanted attractions a the park for which they most want to visit (at 30 days before they will be in that park.)

Then, after they are at WDW and are using the one-day ticket, if they want to go to another park on another day of that trip, they can head to Guest Relations (inside that first park, if desired) and upgrade the one-day ticket to a two-day (or more) ticket.

At that moment (of upgrading) they will then be able to book 3 FP+ in advance for the next day they will be in a park. That can be done via a smart phone or tablet that they have with them, or done with the help of Guest Relations at the current park.

Yes, that would be good, thank you.

Hey, I just realized I'm not clear on another item. The old system was paper FPs. Staying onsite gives you the magic band which holds the FP reservations right? What do the day guests use to hold/present their FPs?? Coming from Canada, I'm not sure they will be using their phone to access MDE. It costs big $ unless they get a special plan and they may not.

 

[siskaren]

Hey, I just realized I'm not clear on another item. The old system was paper FPs. Staying onsite gives you the magic band which holds the FP reservations right? What do the day guests use to hold/present their FPs?? Coming from Canada, I'm not sure they will be using their phone to access MDE. It costs big $ unless they get a special plan and they may not.

Nothing is on a Magic Band, it's just a way to access what's on a person's MDE account, including FP+ reservations. Day guests just use the tickets.