June 7n8d visit - planning parks for FP selection

[traveler000mkl]

Hi all! First timing posting here.

We are visiting WDW for the second time as a family in two months. Our 60 day FP selection is coming up on Friday. We are staying 7 nights 8 days and plan to hit park every day (but take PM breaks in the park). We have two kids age 8 and almost 6 at the time of the visit.. and we are staying at AKL and will be taking bus to the parks.

Below is the tentative plan with three options for Sat-Sun plan. I am planning for HS and AK for the second 1/2 of the trip for FP. I am worried about getting FP+ for SDD and FOP ... Any thoughts?? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

6/18 Tue - arrival
6/19 Wed - Epcot (rope drop, leave early evening)
6/20 Thu - Magic Kingdom (rope drop, leave after firework)
6/21 Fri - Epcot (late arrival, leave early evening)

OPTION 1
6/22 Sat - Animal Kingdom (rope drop, leave after river of light)
6/23 Sun - Magic Kingdom (late arrival, leave early evening)
6/24 Mon - Hollywood studios (rope drop, leave after Fantasmic)
Pros: Currently have BOG reservation at Magic Kingdom on Sunday, going to MK on Sun, which is supposedly less crowded than others
Cons: Going to AK on EMH day and have to start day earlier (Arrive at 7:30am might be tough although we are at AKL and close), Not sure if I would be able to get FOP FP? This is 60+4th day for us.

OPTION 2
6/22 Sat - Magic Kingdom (late arrival, leave early evening)
6/23 Sun - Animal Kingdom (rope drop, leave after river of light)
6/24 Mon - Hollywood Studios (rope drop, leave after Fantasmic)
Pros: Shorter day on Saturday which is more crowded day, avoids EMH days at any park
Cons: Two late nights in a row (would prefer to space them out so kids get good night sleep before an early day), Magic Kingdom on a crowded Saturday

OPTION 3
6/22 Sat - Hollywood Studios (rope drop, leave after Fantasmic)
6/23 Sun - Magic Kingdom (late arrival, leave early evening)
6/24 Mon - Animal Kingdom (rope drop, leave after river of light)
Pros: Currently have BOG reservation at Magic Kingdom on Sunday, going to MK on Sun, which is supposedly less crowded than others
Cons: Going to AK on EMH day and have to start day earlier (Arrive at 7:30am might be tough although we are at AKL and close)

6/25 Tue - departure

 

[chippydale33]

Hi! Welcome!! Your trip sounds like it's going to be oh so magical for you and your family

I do not personally think it matters anymore what day of the week you go to parks, to the point of where you switch anything around because of it. I do, however, think it is helpful to avoid EMH when possible if you're not going for EMH. For instance, if there is early magic hours, plan to go to that park more so in the evening. If there are evening magic hours, plan to go to that park more so in the morning.

In regards to SDD and FoP, I've heard that afternoon FPs are much easier to get than morning ones. Even if morning FPs are available for these, I've already planned that at our 180 day mark I'm just going to go for an afternoon one of each to keep it safe.

I hope you have the best time!

 

[anomamatt]

My general rule is to avoid MK on Saturdays.

Thus, I would do option 1 or 3.

You might not be able to get a FP in the morning for FOP on 60+4, but you should be able to get one in the evening. Same with SDD.

 

[traveler000mkl]

Thank you both! Between HS and AK, which park is more beneficial to use up all 3 FP+ in the AM so we can potentially get 4/5th selections? I assume AK as HS has less rides? In that case, we might bench AK for Monday... so that we can get FOP in the AM and settle for SDD PM FP on Saturday.

 

[lilpiglet97]

we might bench AK for Monday... so that we can get FOP in the AM and settle for SDD PM FP on Saturday.

For our upcoming June trip, today was our FP day and I was blessed with Pixie Dust to be able to do our FP's at 12 midnight instead of 7am! I was able to get our party of 3 FP's for FOP on 60+3 (Monday) for 1:30. There were no morning times available, but plenty of afternoon and evening.

 

[Pauly3]

For our upcoming June trip, today was our FP day and I was blessed with Pixie Dust to be able to do our FP's at 12 midnight instead of 7am! I was able to get our party of 3 FP's for FOP on 60+3 (Monday) for 1:30. There were no morning times available, but plenty of afternoon and evening.

Nope... you were actually 17 hours LATE! I believe you calculated your days wrong.

 

[anomamatt]

Thank you both! Between HS and AK, which park is more beneficial to use up all 3 FP+ in the AM so we can potentially get 4/5th selections? I assume AK as HS has less rides? In that case, we might bench AK for Monday... so that we can get FOP in the AM and settle for SDD PM FP on Saturday.

Some of it comes down to personal preference, but I would agree with your plan. Being able to do FOP and other FP in the morning leaves room to grav other FP. And there are more FP attractions in DAK for sure.

 

[twinprincesses09]

I would go with option 1. You should be able to get a fastpass for FOP for 60+4. And it is an early EMH day, so you should be able to get several other rides in early in standby. We are going that same week and are planning to rope drop a EMH morning and go to Na'vi, then EE, then Dinosaur, Primal Whirl and Triceretops Spin. FPs for FOP, Safari, and EE again. We will either take a midday break and come back (we are staying at AKL too!), or leave late afternoon, depending on when our FOP fastpass is. Having Hollywood Studios later in your trip will give you better availability for SDD, and that seems the harder one to get.

 

[lilpiglet97]

According to MDE I was not able to do my FP's until 4-16. I tried each day for a week before to do them all, but it wouldn't let me do it until midnight of 4-16.

 

[lilpiglet97]

Nope... you were actually 17 hours LATE! I believe you calculated your days wrong.

According to MDE I was not able to do my FP's until 4-16. I tried everyday for a week up to that and it wouldn't let me select my FP's until midnight of 4-16

 

[SG131]

I think Option 1 is your best bet. And if you guys are able to rope drop you'll get a lot done if you DON'T head for FOP. You should easily be able to walk on Navi and get to some other stuff. Because AK is so close to your hotel if the kids start getting tired from being up so early you could always hop back for a midday break. I usually hate midday breaks, but this is so close I don't think it would be bad. My second choice would be option 2. I would be hesitant to pick option 3 only because people have reported problems getting slinky dog at 60+4. Right now it seems FOP is SLIGHTLY easier to get than SDD. Of course it depends on how crowded it ends up being. It looks like May is going to be a bit more crowded than usual with the extended park hours they just released so that could be part of why others had trouble getting SDD at 60+4. But just to be safe I'd still keep it later.

 

[twinprincesses09]

Cons: Going to AK on EMH day and have to start day earlier (Arrive at 7:30am might be tough although we are at AKL and close), Not sure if I would be able to get FOP FP? This is 60+4th day for us

I did my FPs today for arrival on 6/17. I was able to get FOP FP on 6/18 (so 60+1) for 6:55pm for 4. Would have prefered earlier, but happy to get it at any time that day. I also got FOP FP on 6/22 (which is day 60+4 for you). We are arriving in the afternoon that day, so I chose to get it at 2:30, but even looking at times now, they are available as early as 10:30am.

 

[traveler000mkl]

I did my FPs today for arrival on 6/17. I was able to get FOP FP on 6/18 (so 60+1) for 6:55pm for 4. Would have prefered earlier, but happy to get it at any time that day. I also got FOP FP on 6/22 (which is day 60+4 for you). We are arriving in the afternoon that day, so I chose to get it at 2:30, but even looking at times now, they are available as early as 10:30am.

Oh this is promising! Thank you for sharing! I am hoping to FP FOP on 6/22... I hope there are some still available tomorrow 7AM (we are arriving 6/18)!

I think Option 1 is our first choice, and then if not, will try option 3, then option 2....!!

 

[twinprincesses09]

Oh this is promising! Thank you for sharing! I am hoping to FP FOP on 6/22... I hope there are some still available tomorrow 7AM (we are arriving 6/18)!

I think Option 1 is our first choice, and then if not, will try option 3, then option 2....!!

Just checked and as of now, they are still lots of times available for a party of 4 as early as 1150am. I would just make that my first selection and be ready right at 7am. Good luck!

 

[traveler000mkl]

Thank you all! I was successful in getting ALL FP+s we wanted within 30 min time frame!! I think ordering them helped. I was logged in refreshing 5 minutes before and went this order:
FOP on 60+4 (I grabbed 11:40 for 4)
SDD on 60+6 (10:20 earliest one available)
SDMT on 60+2 (1:25)
Frozen on 60+1 (11:15)
Then started with the remaining attractions day 60+1 to day 60+6

I am so excited! Thank you all for your tips/advice!

 

[twinprincesses09]

Glad you got what you wanted!!