Making FP+ reservations for a large party

[Laura's Dad]

We are planning a December 2019 trip with 8 people. We are booked at PO-Riverside in 3 rooms on a Bounceback offer for 8 nights. We have a lot of people who will be doing a lot of different things during our stay and I am, unfortunately, the FP expert who usually plans this out. My daughter and I usually do the FP+, but we have never done so for a large party over so many days. We are hopeful that Galaxy's Edge will be open and have therefore planned to do our DHS morning (we will park hop) on the Friday after we check-in on the prior Friday (hoping 180+7 will get us a FP to one of the attractions). We usually do rope drops then go back to the room and rest before night time activities.

Does anyone have any advice about booking FP+ for such a large group? I know that it will be smart to break up the group into smaller factions for FP+ booking, but how should I prioritize what dates/parks/etc.? It seems like a huge task and I am looking for some expert help that would help me with this. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[sharonabe]

We have a lot of people who will be doing a lot of different things during our stay and I am, unfortunately, the FP expert who usually plans this out.

Assuming you and your daughter are going to make the actual FP+ reservations for EVERYONE, I'd say you need to have a sit down meeting with the adults and make a master plan. First figure out which rides you all want to do together (don't worry about when that will happen yet). Then get each group's individual desires. Once your dates for next year have come for this year, get the official park hours for this year and THEN plan where you want to be each day. I think your logic for HS is pretty sound, so I would plan out all the other days around that one.

 

[KayaWildfire]

8 people really isn't too bad, I just finished picking fast passes for our Christmas week trip for 8, we got everything we wanted. We have 6 kids so we are always a group of 8. Some tips and tricks I've picked up along the way:
-As far as what park which day, the size of the group doesn't really change how you plan it. Plan around emh and park hours, however you usually do it.
-I don't split our group into smaller parties, this makes it ridiculously complicated to try and match times.
-If your party will split up due to ride preferences or height issues, like grandpma and junior won't ride space mountain, but everyone else will, start by making a fast pass for space for everyone. Then modify the attraction chosen for whoever will ride something else. The system will automatically pick a time very close to whatever you have selected for the other attraction.
-The attractions I had the most trouble with that you should go after first are Star Wars in your case, Slinky dog, and Flights of Passage. Feel free to go out of order with your days to get the passes you want.
-And one final tip, don't get too picky with the times. I have a general window I'm shooting for and anything within that works.
Hope you have an awesome trip!

 

[rpk1951]

We did 11 people in June without any problems. As long as the reservations are linked or shared and you can see them all in your MDE account you should not have a problem. They all need their tickets linked as well.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

KayaWildfire's advice is spot on. I've planned for 10 before and used the same methods.

I will say that for certain time spots, when it was important, I did end up doing some overlapping windows of smaller groups. Keep it in mind as an option. (Example, 4 have FP for 12-1, 4 had FP for 12:20-1:20, and 2 had FP for 12:45-1:45. We all entered at 12:45 together). It does get crazy but it will work.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

KayaWildfire's advice is spot on. I've planned for 10 before and used the same methods.

I will say that for certain time spots, when it was important, I did end up doing some overlapping windows of smaller groups. Keep it in mind as an option. (Example, 4 have FP for 12-1, 4 had FP for 12:20-1:20, and 2 had FP for 12:45-1:45. We all entered at 12:45 together). It does get crazy but it will work.

This!!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Assuming you and your daughter are going to make the actual FP+ reservations for EVERYONE, I'd say you need to have a sit down meeting with the adults and make a master plan. First figure out which rides you all want to do together (don't worry about when that will happen yet). Then get each group's individual desires. Once your dates for next year have come for this year, get the official park hours for this year and THEN plan where you want to be each day. I think your logic for HS is pretty sound, so I would plan out all the other days around that one.

I did FPs for a group of 22 the week of Christmas last year. DEFINITELY have a meeting and figure out your "must-do" items. Any small children who might not be tall enough for any of the rides? Figure out how to break your groups up accordingly. The *only* thing I wasn't able to get passes for everyone was FOP, and I still managed to get them for 9 of us. The only thing I had to split groups on was the safari at AK. Make sure you have everyone linked to your account.

However: make sure that when you link everyone that each of the accounts can't ALSO see everyone else. (For example, I had everyone linked to ME, but my SIL only saw HER family in her MDE, not all the people from all 4 families in our group.) That way no one accidentally cancels any FPs or ADRs for the whole group.

Another note...."180+7" ?? Unless that's some new thing they're testing, wouldn't it be 60+7 for FP booking?

 

[Laura's Dad]

I did FPs for a group of 22 the week of Christmas last year. DEFINITELY have a meeting and figure out your "must-do" items. Any small children who might not be tall enough for any of the rides? Figure out how to break your groups up accordingly. The *only* thing I wasn't able to get passes for everyone was FOP, and I still managed to get them for 9 of us. The only thing I had to split groups on was the safari at AK. Make sure you have everyone linked to your account.

However: make sure that when you link everyone that each of the accounts can't ALSO see everyone else. (For example, I had everyone linked to ME, but my SIL only saw HER family in her MDE, not all the people from all 4 families in our group.) That way no one accidentally cancels any FPs or ADRs for the whole group.

Another note...."180+7" ?? Unless that's some new thing they're testing, wouldn't it be 60+7 for FP booking?

Yes. I was thinking about ADRs. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Searc]

Assuming you and your daughter are going to make the actual FP+ reservations for EVERYONE, I'd say you need to have a sit down meeting with the adults and make a master plan. First figure out which rides you all want to do together (don't worry about when that will happen yet). Then get each group's individual desires. Once your dates for next year have come for this year, get the official park hours for this year and THEN plan where you want to be each day. I think your logic for HS is pretty sound, so I would plan out all the other days around that one.

Don't forget your ADR's, which dictate where you'll be on each day.

 

[Laura's Dad]

Don't forget your ADR's, which dictate where you'll be on each day.

We have a tentative schedule right now with some flexibility. We will be on the Dining Plan and are excited to be trying new restaurants as well. The only thing that would change our park days up right now would be the narrator for the Candlelight Processional and the possibility of Flight of Passage FPs. We, however, were able to rope drop FOP and an EMH morning and never broke stride without running with great success. Thanks for the advice.

 

[PSUGuy]

Last Nov 2 - 11 I made FPs for a party of 11 at the 60 + 10. We got all we wanted including FoP early in the day without breaking us up or doing endless refreshes. Got on as soon as the window opened and was done in minutes. I gave my MDE user name and password to my adult children who stayed offsite so they could adjust their FP+ choices and also access PhotoPass which they got as my Friends & Family on my AP.

Bill From PA