FPs are valid starting 5 mins before they say they are.
Sooo helpful, thank you!!Ooohh, once you go Maxpass, you never go back!
Some tips, echoing what PP have said:
- Get your first FP once you scan into the park. If you are there pre-open you can still get a FP.
- When you redeem them, use the AP rather than the app. Most rides have a second scan point. Rather than needing to keep your phone open to the redemption page, you can start booking another FP. The machines also have an easier time scanning passes vs the phone screen. If you do end up using the phone screen, take a screenshot (it will come up automatically once you are within your window), so you don't need to worry about connectivity issues.
- Redemption period is 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after. When you open up the app during that time it will automatically pull up the redemption screen.
- Maxpasses can often be available for times other than the reported FP return time. This especially holds if you are only booking for 1 or 2 people; if its a larger group, more likely you will just take what you can get.
- If you don't like the time that is available, I "refresh" by going back to the screen where you pick a park and then re-selecting the park I want. Times will usually be different for many rides (sometimes only +-15 minutes, other times can be immediately). I would usually check the app to see the current posted FP return time and keep refreshing until I got a time earlier than that.
- You can often get FPs later in the afternoon for rides that have already run out of "paper" FPs. So even though Racers may run out of FPs at 2pm, if you go into MaxPass at 5pm, you can sometimes find one available, though it make take some "refreshes".
- You cannot search for a new ride/time unless you are eligible to book another FP. So, once you book one if you want to see if something else becomes available you would need to cancel the previous booked FP.
- You become eligible for a new FP when one of the following happens:
- For a FP that is redeemable within 0-30 minutes, you can get a new FP either 30 minutes later, OR you have used that FP, whichever comes first. So, its 12:00, you pull a FP for 12:10, you can get a new FP at 12:30 or when you have scanned in at the 12:10 FP.
- For a FP that is redeemable 30-90 minutes, you can get a new FP when the existing FP has entered its return time. So, again, 12:00, you pull a FP for 12:45, you can get a new FP at 12:45
- For a FP that is redeemable after 90 minutes, you can get a new FP at 90 minutes. So 12:00, you pull a FP for 2pm, you can get a new FP at 1:30.
- You cannot hold 2 FPs for the same ride at the same time. You can hold FPs for multiple rides at the same time. So, at 12:00, you pull a FP for Indiana Jones at 5pm. At 1:30 you can pull a new FP for another other ride except Indy. You cannot get a new Indy FP until you have used the first one.
- If you want to maximize the number of FPs you get, make sure to set an alarm to get a new one once you eligible.
Ooohh, once you go Maxpass, you never go back!
Some tips, echoing what PP have said:
Thanks. folks! I've often found that if you're especially nice to CMs, they'll let you in with a FP that's even half an hour old. Sometimes.
MP seems to work a little differently in this respect, at least with the CMs we've seen. Haven't experienced it personally, but we've seen CMs scolding/lecturing other guests for being "17 minutes" late or some such minimal time past the 15 minute grace period. (We haven't seen anyone actually being turned away, but who wants the lecture?) I think that since MP is still relatively new, the CMs have been trained to be more strict about the return times since they have to manually override the scanners if you are late. So it pays to still be friendly, but clearly within your return window.
Just saying that since FPs (and rider swap, too) went digital, there seems to be a real shift toward keeping guests within their return windows. CMs just don't seem to be as flexible as they used to be on that point. Maybe this will change as more CMs get used to the all the changes that have happened this year. I know you always strive to be positive, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that some of the CMs at the scanners aren't always magical.
It really all depends on who you get and your attitude! Also how big your party is. I had a multi-experience FP from Matterhorn that one CM said could be used for anything, while another said it was only Matterhorn and yet another said everything except Space/Peter Pan (this was right after they started the digital multi-experience FP). I had another CM scan it to verify and she said there were no restrictions (though I thought there would have been). I went to use it at Guardians and unfortunately it didn't work, so I turned to walk away but the CM called me back when she saw it was just me, and let me on just fine!Just saying that since FPs (and rider swap, too) went digital, there seems to be a real shift toward keeping guests within their return windows. CMs just don't seem to be as flexible as they used to be on that point. Maybe this will change as more CMs get used to the all the changes that have happened this year. I know you always strive to be positive, but I just wanted to give you a heads up that some of the CMs at the scanners aren't always magical.