Is this a good FP+ throw away strategy?

[halssister]

I currently have my 3 FPs booked for Epcot; I have Soarin at 10 and Spaceship Earth at 11:05. These are really the only two things my family has a ton of interest in riding there. I booked a third FP for the character spot, some random later time, just because we had to pick something and hey, we may stop by there, but not a priority.
We can usually only handle a few hours in each park before DS needs a break, which is why the early FPs. Now I'm wondering, would it be smarter to switch the Character FP to ANYTHING that I could get at 9 a.m., so it would expire and I could then use my other two FPs, thus giving me a chance to maybe score a fourth FP for another Soarin trip in the early evening if we decide to go back to the park later that day? Because if I'm understanding, you can only book a fourth after the first three are done, so if my third is a 1:15 character spot, I won't be able to book a fourth til after 2:15, greatly reducing the chance of getting something decent. Am I thinking about this correctly......does it make sense to book a random 9 a.m. Just to "use it up" early?

 

[CAS239]

Yea if you just want to let the other FP expire then I'd put it as close to park opening time as you can.

However it'll be tough to get Soarin or Test Track as a 4th FP. It's possible, but they do go quick. If you really want to ride Soarin twice I'd get there at rope drop and head straight there while you let the throwaway FP expire. That might even let you get 3 Soarin rides if it does still wind up available

 

[Missyrose]

I currently have my 3 FPs booked for Epcot; I have Soarin at 10 and Spaceship Earth at 11:05. These are really the only two things my family has a ton of interest in riding there. I booked a third FP for the character spot, some random later time, just because we had to pick something and hey, we may stop by there, but not a priority.
We can usually only handle a few hours in each park before DS needs a break, which is why the early FPs. Now I'm wondering, would it be smarter to switch the Character FP to ANYTHING that I could get at 9 a.m., so it would expire and I could then use my other two FPs, thus giving me a chance to maybe score a fourth FP for another Soarin trip in the early evening if we decide to go back to the park later that day? Because if I'm understanding, you can only book a fourth after the first three are done, so if my third is a 1:15 character spot, I won't be able to book a fourth til after 2:15, greatly reducing the chance of getting something decent. Am I thinking about this correctly......does it make sense to book a random 9 a.m. Just to "use it up" early?

You can book the fourth FP+ reservation once you've used the third one (or it expires). So theoretically you could ride SSE at 11 then immediately pull the fourth. But, unless you are going at a super slow time of year, I don't think there's a great chance of there being Soarin FP+ reservations left to get after 11.

 

[juliekzp]

When I asked about a similar strategy, Robo (who knows everything) said that I should cancel the FP that I'm not going to use BEFORE I use any of them. Then after I use the other two, the system will be ready for my 4th, which can be any tier (rather than think I'm rescheduling the unused one, which would have to be second tier). If you do that, you could keep it later in the day and move up the two you actually want to use.

 

[halssister]

You can book the fourth FP+ reservation once you've used the third one (or it expires). So theoretically you could ride SSE at 11 then immediately pull the fourth. But, unless you are going at a super slow time of year, I don't think there's a great chance of there being Soarin FP+ reservations left to get after 11.

Yea if you just want to let the other FP expire then I'd put it as close to park opening time as you can.

However it'll be tough to get Soarin or Test Track as a 4th FP. It's possible, but they do go quick. If you really want to ride Soarin twice I'd get there at rope drop and head straight there while you let the throwaway FP expire. That might even let you get 3 Soarin rides if it does still wind up available

I was thinking we would hit Soarin right away and ride once at RD, then use the FP for a second trip (if DS decides he wants to do a second trip that soon). But sounds like, in general, if I'm taking a FP just because I have to and not because I'll use it, it does make more sense to pick an earlier one! Thanks

 

[JimmyV]

When I asked about a similar strategy, Robo (who knows everything) said that I should cancel the FP that I'm not going to use BEFORE I use any of them. Then after I use the other two, the system will be ready for my 4th, which can be any tier (rather than think I'm rescheduling the unused one, which would have to be second tier). If you do that, you could keep it later in the day and move up the two you actually want to use.

This strategy would only make a difference if the OP moves up the other two FPs to an earlier time. If the second of the two FPs that are going to be used is at 11:05, then it doesn't matter if the unused FP is canceled or allowed to lapse. The strategy that you described only works if the unwanted FP is the third of three. That way it can be canceled and the additional FP can be booked after using the second. So, book one for 9:00 and one for 10:00 and the unwanted one for 11:00. Cancel the last one before using any of the 3, and then start pulling extra FPs at 10:05 after using the second one at 10:00.

 

[jsrj21]

Great advice Jimmy V. On my upcoming trip, I have at least 3 days where I have FP's that I know I won't use. I actually feel bad having them and then not using when someone may actually need them.

So my question is, if there's a "throw-away" FP that you're not going to use, is it better to make it the 3rd one in the group for scooping up another FP that you will actually use? I was under the pretense that you had to use all 3 FP's before you can get a 4th?

 

[Frank4202]

In my personal opinion, ride Spaceship Earth as soon as you enter the park. The line moves quickly and its not busy first thing in the morning. Depending on how young your DS is, I would use it for Turtle Talk with Crush or Finding Nemo. Your character meet is a good idea though. Usually long lines there!

If you don't plan on using your FP's, don't book them. I think if more people were to follow this theory rather than feel necessary to use them up on purpose, more people who actually want that FP could get them. Just my two cents though. Best of luck and have fun

 

[JimmyV]

So my question is, if there's a "throw-away" FP that you're not going to use, is it better to make it the 3rd one in the group for scooping up another FP that you will actually use? I was under the pretense that you had to use all 3 FP's before you can get a 4th?

It depends if your strategy is going to be to let it lapse or if you are going to try to cancel it before using any of your three. If you are simply going to let it lapse, then you want it to be your first or second FP of the day. If it is your third of the day, you will not be able to book a fourth until the entire 60 minute window has expired. Whereas, for a FP that you are going to use, you can use it in the first minute of the window and begin looking for a fourth FP immediately thereafter. For example, if you booked:

• FP1 to use-9:00-10:00
• FP2 to use-10:00-11:00
• FP3 to throw away-11:00-12:00

You could use FP1 at 9:00 (or as close to park opening as you could realistically get to the first attraction. Epcot is big and it may take several minutes to actually get to the queue for the first ride). You could then use FP2 at 10:00. But you wouldn't be able to book FP4 until 12:01 at the earliest because you would be locked out all the way to 12:00.

But if you book:

• FP1 to throw away-9:00-10:00
• FP2 to use-10:00-11:00
• FP3 to use-11:00-12:00

then at RD, you hit a couple of attractions. Then you use FP2 any time during its window (but try to go on the early side because Epcot attractions have long durations and if you use your FP toward the end of its window, it will be well into the window of your next FP by the time you exit.) You then would use FP3 as close to 11:00 as possible. Immediately after using the FP (and exiting the ride), you could go to a kiosk to book your 4th. So let's say your FP3 is for Soarin'. You get in line and scan yourself in at 11:00. You exit the ride around 11:20. You can then book your fourth FP. This scenario puts you 40 minutes ahead of the one where your throwaway FP is the third of the day.

Not to complicate things, but there is a way to push this up even more. If you are confident that there will be same day availability early in the morning, (and at Epcot, there usually isn't), you could use FP1 at 10:00 and then try to use the app to change FP3 to an earlier time--say 10:20-11:20 for instance. If successful, you could then use FP3 as close to 10:20 as possible and then try for your fourth. In theory, you could use FP1 at 9:00, then change FP2 to 9:30, then change FP3 to 10:00, and burn through all three by 10:01 and then start looking for more. At Epcot, this isn't likely to be possible except on the slowest of days at which point the extra FPs aren't worth much.

If you plan to try to cancel a FP before using any, you want it to be FP3. That way you can begin looking for FP4 immediately after using FP2, which could be as early as 10:00 + D.O.R.K. (where D.O.R.K. = Duration Of Ride in minutes, plus time it takes to get to a Kiosk.)

 

[itchin2go]

Are Soarin and Test Track typically available to book as a FP "day of"?

 

[JimmyV]

Are Soarin and Test Track typically available to book as a FP "day of"?

"Typically"?....No.

 

[itchin2go]

"Typically"?....No.

So all the strategies of using up the 3 FPs or dumping some of them will probably not do any good?

I'm asking because last trip, we just rope dropped TT and used a FP for Soarin. The line for TT was not *terrible* at rope drop, but it was longer than we wanted to wait. I think this trip, we will go 2 days to EP and do FPs for Soarin and TT on 2 different days. Other than single rider for TT, is there another, perhaps better strategy?

Sounds like any way you slice it, trying to get one of them as a 4th is a slim possibility.

 

[MouseMum]

I currently have my 3 FPs booked for Epcot; I have Soarin at 10 and Spaceship Earth at 11:05. These are really the only two things my family has a ton of interest in riding there. I booked a third FP for the character spot, some random later time, just because we had to pick something and hey, we may stop by there, but not a priority.
We can usually only handle a few hours in each park before DS needs a break, which is why the early FPs. Now I'm wondering, would it be smarter to switch the Character FP to ANYTHING that I could get at 9 a.m., so it would expire and I could then use my other two FPs, thus giving me a chance to maybe score a fourth FP for another Soarin trip in the early evening if we decide to go back to the park later that day? Because if I'm understanding, you can only book a fourth after the first three are done, so if my third is a 1:15 character spot, I won't be able to book a fourth til after 2:15, greatly reducing the chance of getting something decent. Am I thinking about this correctly......does it make sense to book a random 9 a.m. Just to "use it up" early?

That's exactly what I thought of doing or the exact same reason. But after reading the above comments, it sounds dismal at best. Thinking we'll just hit Epcot a second day and go for TT then.

 

[JimmyV]

So all the strategies of using up the 3 FPs or dumping some of them will probably not do any good?

The strategies won't do any good for getting extra FPs for Soarin' or Test Track. But they could help getting FPs for other Tier 1 attractions/experiences for which same day availability exists.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

We've been considering the same thing...now I'm wondering what the chances of getting a 4th FP for IllumiNations would be?

 

[halssister]

In my personal opinion, ride Spaceship Earth as soon as you enter the park. The line moves quickly and its not busy first thing in the morning. Depending on how young your DS is, I would use it for Turtle Talk with Crush or Finding Nemo. Your character meet is a good idea though. Usually long lines there!

If you don't plan on using your FP's, don't book them. I think if more people were to follow this theory rather than feel necessary to use them up on purpose, more people who actually want that FP could get them. Just my two cents though. Best of luck and have fun

I really didn't see an option to "not" book a third fastpass, or I probably wouldn't have! It was automatically giving me a third one for some random attraction that was popular. For our DHS day, we don't do any of the rides there, and I just wanted the Frozen SingALong and B&B. MDE wanted to give me a FP for one of the popular rides, so I ended up scheduling the Muppets, which you never need a FP for......because I felt guilty taking a FP for something like ToT or whatever that we wouldn't ride, and be taking it away from someone else.

 

[juliekzp]

You have to book the third, but then you can cancel it.

 

[jsrj21]

Jimmy V....you are the man! I totally understand what you were telling me. My window just opened up and I booked my FP's but this year's trip is only 6-days because we're doing a cruise post-Disney. My family and I are going to have a little discussion here pretty soon to go over must-do's and some strategies for our stay. Going to use EMH's to the fullest since we're not staying our customary 7-9 days. Thanks again!

 

[NorweJenNY]

Interesting... were you always able to cancel a 3rd FP? Or is this a new thing... haven't been since February and don't remember being able to do this.

Can someone clarify please? Do I understand this correctly?
I can book 3 FPs from the tiers they allow me to book.
As soon as I have them in place I can cancel one I don't want? (Even weeks/months in advance? Or the day of?)
And when I go to the park, I can use the 2 FPs I still have booked, after used, I'm then able to book a new FP from either tier? Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[Robo]

Interesting... were you always able to cancel a 3rd FP? Or is this a new thing... haven't been since February and don't remember being able to do this.

Can someone clarify please? Do I understand this correctly?
I can book 3 FPs from the tiers they allow me to book.
As soon as I have them in place I can cancel one I don't want? (Even weeks/months in advance? Or the day of?)
And when I go to the park, I can use the 2 FPs I still have booked, after used, I'm then able to book a new FP from either tier? Am I understanding this correctly?

The only thing I have tried is canceling any FP that I don't intend to use BEFORE using the first FP on that same day.
I don't know about canceling in advance of the day of use.