Making FP+ reservations tomorrow! Help! Haven't done this before

[ewasilau]

What advice do you have for a first-timer? My 60 day FP+ window starts tomorrow and I'm afraid that I will log in and it won't work! Or I won't be able to figure it out. I don't think I can practice ahead of time - when I go to "Make FP+ reservations" it lists my party of 5 but says we are too early. On my MDX app on my phone, I see all 5 tickets, but when I go to My Reservations and Tickets through MDE on my laptop, it only lists my ticket. Is that normal? Is it easier to make the reservations on a phone or a laptop? Should I go for hard to get FP+s first? We have 6 day tickets. Is it easy to toggle back and forth between days if I do it that way? Any advice for me? Thanks SOOO much!!

 

[Ben E N]

I find the phone to be a bit easier.
2 pieces of advice.
1. Play with how it works by pretending you are only 28 days out and go through the process of booking fastpasses for that date. Obviously don't keep them reserved.
2. Once your times are set tomorrow, go back and see if you can switch them for better times. They will try to spread your 3 selections out even if closer times are available.

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

I always do it on my computer, but everyone has a preference. I would have the page up before time and just keep refreshing when it's time to book. Don't go by days, go by which Fastpasses you want the most. Then you can go back and fill in your days after you get the "hard" FP's

 

[CAS239]

It's simple and you'll have no problem. You can't practice with FP because you have a package booked. If you didn't have a package you could see 30 days out.

Make sure everyone is on your friends list, everyone is linked to the reservation, and it'll open at 7am et tomorrow.

Go for hard to get FP's first..Pandora, 7dmt, Frozen, etc. Best to work from your last day for most availability and then work toward your first day.

I always book on my phone

 

[Alesia]

1. Play with how it works by pretending you are only 28 days out and go through the process of booking fastpasses for that date. Obviously don't keep them reserved.

This isn't an option for people who have booked packages.

 

[Gehrig1B]

I find the website much easier than the app. Honestly, I will have multiple browsers and the phone open just in case something goes wrong (happens) with one of the options, starting with the PC using a Chrome browser.

We always book back to back to back starting 1.5 to 2 hours after park opening. This allows us to rope drop if we want and then move on to the fast passes. Grab what you can get even if it doesn't exactly fit your plans, you can always modify later.

I also start with our last days and move backward as some of the most popular rides will not be available on Day 1...think Flight of Passage and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. If you do not have hoppers you need to decide which days belong to which parks before you start, but I suggest hopper tickets for more flexibility.

 

[Ben E N]

This isn't an option for people who have booked packages.

Serious advice here - never book packages! Nothing to be gained but lots to lose. If you go piece by piece it works out to being cheaper and more flexible.

 

[bettymae1121]

I was a newbie too when I booked my first FP+ reservation last month. After the 3rd FP+ booking I had it down. It really isn't too hard, I promise.

I actually booked them in order (first day to last day) and got all the rides I wanted for the times I wanted (or very close to them) including hard-to-get ones like 7DMT and FoP. I got 7DMT as my very first booking, for the first day of our trip. I'm not knocking doing the hard ones first or going in reverse order last day to first, but I don't know that it's necessarily critically important that you do so.

I think the key thing is to be at your computer (or on your phone) at 7 AM Eastern, in my case since I'm Central I set my alarm for 5:45 AM so I could be at my computer and logged in to MDX a few minutes before 6 AM my time (7 AM Disney time). I had my list of rides, dates, and times ready to go so I could easily refer to it during the process, I also had my ADR times handy so if my first choice of FP time wasn't available I didn't accidently put my self on Space Mountain during our BOG lunch when selecting an alternate time (although MDX will remind you too).

Also remember, if you can't get what you're looking for, you can keep trying. People change/cancel FP+ all the time, stay vigilant and you'll do fine.

 

[MainMom]

I always do it on my computer, but everyone has a preference. I would have the page up before time and just keep refreshing when it's time to book. Don't go by days, go by which Fastpasses you want the most. Then you can go back and fill in your days after you get the "hard" FP's

If you have a package you cannot be logged in and refreshing. It doesn’t work. You have to log in when your window opens. I found this out when I booked FP’s in January.

 

[FutureDisneyEventPlanner]

If you have a package you cannot be logged in and refreshing. It doesn’t work. You have to log in when your window opens. I found this out when I booked FP’s in January.

Worked for me every time I've done a package, just sharing my experience

 

[Karen46]

I think the first time using a computer is easier. Then you will get the hang of it quickly and can use the app when in the park or to make changes later. Good Luck

 

[widdleavi]

If I can add in my 2 cents. Know in advance which days you are doing which parks. Then go over with everyone on your trip which rides they want to do. For example in my family some people don't like space mountain, some get sick on Soarin etc. I had a list in advance of how many of each fast passes we were targeting for each day and who would be getting FP's for which ride.
Once you have a list of who likes which rides, put together a plan in advance of which rides you plan on reserving with your FP's. Then the morning of it's just a matter of going online and reserving the fast passes you already have planned.

 

[ewasilau]

Okay, thanks for all of the helpful advice. Yes, we have a package, so I guess that's why I haven't been able to "practice". We do have a list of FP+ and parks and days, so that will help. I have to sit down and finalize the times that we are aiming for (for example, I think we are going to aim for late morning on 3 days, and plan to RD those same parks on those days, and then 3 afternoons - one is arrival day, one is a planned hop, and one is a sleep in day).

Also - a few more follow up questions - we depart on a 9:15 pm flight on day 6. We assume that means an ME bus in the 5:15/6:15 range. We were planning on RDing MK that day, and doing late am FP+, but if we wanted to hop that day (to a second park close to the hotel, we are staying at Yacht Club), then we need to be done with all rides by about 4 pm, right?

Will MDX let me make FP+ reservations if there is a similarly-timed ADR? We have a couple of extra ADRs at this point that we are still deciding on. Should I plan to get rid of those before we make our FP+ reservations tomorrow am? What about the opposite - can you make an ADR for a similar time once you have a FP+ in place?

Thanks!!!

 

[FCDub]

Check out YouTube. There are tutorial videos on there.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Okay, thanks for all of the helpful advice. Yes, we have a package, so I guess that's why I haven't been able to "practice". We do have a list of FP+ and parks and days, so that will help. I have to sit down and finalize the times that we are aiming for (for example, I think we are going to aim for late morning on 3 days, and plan to RD those same parks on those days, and then 3 afternoons - one is arrival day, one is a planned hop, and one is a sleep in day).

Also - a few more follow up questions - we depart on a 9:15 pm flight on day 6. We assume that means an ME bus in the 5:15/6:15 range. We were planning on RDing MK that day, and doing late am FP+, but if we wanted to hop that day (to a second park close to the hotel, we are staying at Yacht Club), then we need to be done with all rides by about 4 pm, right?

Will MDX let me make FP+ reservations if there is a similarly-timed ADR? We have a couple of extra ADRs at this point that we are still deciding on. Should I plan to get rid of those before we make our FP+ reservations tomorrow am? What about the opposite - can you make an ADR for a similar time once you have a FP+ in place?

Thanks!!!

Yes, you can make an FP overlapping an ADR. That isn’t a problem.

Disney Nerd Alert
Read at your own risk!

I found it very helpful to have park, date, attraction, and # of FPs in my list (and I color coded the FPs for each day so I could quickly find the ones that were grouped together in case I had to change the plan on the fly). A friend may have once made all her Sat MK FPs for the Sun after she was to leave and didn’t notice until a few weeks before. Silly friend.

I find it helpful to print out the list so I can cross things out as I go and not have to switch back and forth between windows on a computer. I am logged in on both my phone and laptop and have switched back and forth. I find the phone easier but mostly because I’m faster with my finger than a mouse and I was able to practice and did so mostly on the phone.

Good luck! I’m sure it will all go well.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Yes, you can make an FP overlapping an ADR. That isn’t a problem.

Disney Nerd Alert
Read at your own risk!

I found it very helpful to have park, date, attraction, and # of FPs in my list (and I color coded the FPs for each day so I could quickly find the ones that were grouped together in case I had to change the plan on the fly). A friend may have once made all her Sat MK FPs for the Sun after she was to leave and didn’t notice until a few weeks before. Silly friend.

I find it helpful to print out the list so I can cross things out as I go and not have to switch back and forth between windows on a computer. I am logged in on both my phone and laptop and have switched back and forth. I find the phone easier but mostly because I’m faster with my finger than a mouse and I was able to practice and did so mostly on the phone.

Good luck! I’m sure it will all go well.

Just wanted you to know this gave me a good chuckle.

 

[disneylover102]

Go for FOP, N’avi, and 7DMT first. Other than that, any offer that you do will be fine with the 60 day window. You’re more likely to get hard to get FP+ if you do them later in your trip.

 

[3gr8boys]

Yes, have a printed or written out detailed wish list like PrincessWithABlaster and other PPs.....with your presumed harder to get FP+ marked so you remember to look for those first. When I found times that were close to what I wanted, I booked them and moved on. Once I had checked off everything on my wishlist, I was able to go back and modify the FP+s and get the schedule to match my wishlist almost exactly....just 5 minutes off on the few things that weren't exact.

 

[motherof5]

What advice do you have for a first-timer? My 60 day FP+ window starts tomorrow and I'm afraid that I will log in and it won't work! Or I won't be able to figure it out. I don't think I can practice ahead of time - when I go to "Make FP+ reservations" it lists my party of 5 but says we are too early. On my MDX app on my phone, I see all 5 tickets, but when I go to My Reservations and Tickets through MDE on my laptop, it only lists my ticket. Is that normal? Is it easier to make the reservations on a phone or a laptop? Should I go for hard to get FP+s first? We have 6 day tickets. Is it easy to toggle back and forth between days if I do it that way? Any advice for me? Thanks SOOO much!!

If you can't figure it out you can call and the CM will do it for you. Also if you are staying on property you may be able to do the whole length of your stay. I know I have AP and can do the whole length of my stay on day 1. Hope it works and good luck. Don't get too stressed if you can't get all the FP u want on the first day the other days will be easier. I recommend booking the three fast passes close together even if it's not all the ones you want so once you use all 3 you can book another. I also always seem to have a infant or small child and do the baby swap so my older kids do the ride they like twice in a row versus two different days. This works for Rock n Roller Coaster/ Space Mountain etc..

 

[ewasilau]

Just wanted to say thank you for all of the helpful FP+ advice. I made our reservations last Saturday and was able to get everything we wanted, on the day we wanted them, and almost all at the times we wanted. Our first FoP FP is on trip day 2, so had to get an evening one (but now we are excited to return to the park after a Sanaa dinner and see Pandora at night, so it all works out. (minus not being able to get additional FPs that day) And our 7DMT FP is at 12:45 instead of in the morning. But all else went well and it was easy once I started it. So thanks all!