MNSSHP and Fast Pass Strategy

[sandam1]

A friend and I are headed to Orlando at the end of September. We are only going to be at Disney for one evening to do the Halloween party so I want to make sure we make the best use of our time and our fast passes. We currently have reservations at 6:05 at Be Our Guest. I'm curious on opinions as to whether I should move that earlier (taking up Fast Pass ride time) versus party time if I were to get the opportunity. Thoughts?

My friend is a big ride person while I'm not. This is my third trip to Disney in the past 3 years while my friend hasn't been there since the new Fantasyland opened. My thoughts as far as Fast Pass picks:

1. Space Mountain for my friend, Buzz Lightyear or Tea Party for me
2. 7 Dwarfs for both of us
3. ????
Choice A - Splash Mountain for her and Haunted Mansion for me (which has us crossing the park, probably right before dinner or right at the end of the Fast Pass time)
Choice B - Enchanted Tales with Belle (she may do a Belle costume) or Princess Hall (I'm thinking of an Aurora costume)
Choice C - Haunted Mansion for both of us (again, crossing the park, but not quite as bad as Choice A)

My favorite ride - Big Thunder Mountain - won't be open when we're there (BOO!) so that isn't an option. The Haunted Mansion is a must do at some point during the evening since it is a Halloween party after all.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts. We're not super concerned about special character meet and greets during the party. My goal for the party is to see the parade and fireworks and to do some more rides.

 

[circus4u]

A friend and I are headed to Orlando at the end of September. We are only going to be at Disney for one evening to do the Halloween party so I want to make sure we make the best use of our time and our fast passes. We currently have reservations at 6:05 at Be Our Guest. I'm curious on opinions as to whether I should move that earlier (taking up Fast Pass ride time) versus party time if I were to get the opportunity. Thoughts?

My friend is a big ride person while I'm not. This is my third trip to Disney in the past 3 years while my friend hasn't been there since the new Fantasyland opened. My thoughts as far as Fast Pass picks:

1. Space Mountain for my friend, Buzz Lightyear or Tea Party for me
2. 7 Dwarfs for both of us
3. ????
Choice A - Splash Mountain for her and Haunted Mansion for me (which has us crossing the park, probably right before dinner or right at the end of the Fast Pass time)
Choice B - Enchanted Tales with Belle (she may do a Belle costume) or Princess Hall (I'm thinking of an Aurora costume)
Choice C - Haunted Mansion for both of us (again, crossing the park, but not quite as bad as Choice A)

My favorite ride - Big Thunder Mountain - won't be open when we're there (BOO!) so that isn't an option. The Haunted Mansion is a must do at some point during the evening since it is a Halloween party after all.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts. We're not super concerned about special character meet and greets during the party. My goal for the party is to see the parade and fireworks and to do some more rides.

Not sure about this, but I was under the impression that Fast Pass was not available for any of the special parties.

 

[Laura's Dad]

I hate to say it but you will waste a lot of FP time with your BOG reservation. You are paying for a certain amount of time with your MNSSHP ticket. Even though BOG is a great reservation to get, it will take up your party time. You can set your FP for 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 and you may be able to get these in before your reservation. I would make the last at 7DMT (it will be close to BOG) and do what you want to with the first two.

 

[sandam1]

I hate to say it but you will waste a lot of FP time with your BOG reservation.

I know!!! And it's killing me, but my friend now has her heart set on doing it. Right now, the current battle is convincing her that she doesn't want to wear the full Belle ballgown costume to dinner and then go back to the hotel (Grand Floridian, but still...) to change for the party. So I'm willing to compromise on the dinner.

I was rethinking things and may change our plan of attack. Instead of heading to right, head to left to do Splash Mountain for my friend and maybe Jungle Cruise for me, try to pick up Haunted Mansion and Small World on stand-by, do one of the character interactions as a FP (or do Pirates as a FP before Splash) and then end up with the Mine Train as a FP.

Ugh! This is the part of the trip that I hate! I don't want to be a park commando, but I do want to make sure that we do get the most out of our limited park time.

 

[taiko225]

The latest FP time on a party night is 17:30. You are allowed to get in by 16:00. So if you wish you could probably schedule first one at 15:30 then 16:30 & 17:30 but you need to make sure you can get in by 16:00 else you will loose you first FP

 

[crystalsmom1021]

Can you book fastpases if you are only entering after 4pm for the party ?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Can you book fastpases if you are only entering after 4pm for the party ?

Yes. At the times posted by @taiko225.

 

[crystalsmom1021]

Yes. At the times posted by @taiko225.

When I went in to set up my Fastpass account I do not have Normal Park tickets linked to it yet. There are no numbers on the tickets for MNSSHP.
The party tickets are linked but it is not allowing Fastpass.

 

[hiroMYhero]

When I went in to set up my Fastpass account I do not have Normal Park tickets linked to it yet. There are no numbers on the tickets for MNSSHP.
The party tickets are linked but it is not allowing Fastpass.

Last year there was an extra step in MDE where you had to assign each ticket to a specific person. You can check by going to the MagicBand and Cards and/or Ticket area of your MDE Profiles.

Are you within your 60-day window if onsite?

 

[crystalsmom1021]

Last year there was an extra step in MDE where you had to assign each ticket to a specific person. You can check by going to the MagicBand and Cards and/or Ticket area of your MDE Profiles.

Are you within your 60-day window if onsite?

Yes we are within 60 days and onsite and the tickets are assigned there is no number to key in the fastpass setup

 

[hiroMYhero]

Yes we are within 60 days and onsite and the tickets are assigned there is no number to key in the fastpass setup

If you go to the FP area of MDE, is the Calendar showing booking availability for the specific Party Day? If not, Disney may have tweaked this and FPs may no longer be allowed for Party tickets.

You're the first one to report this. Hopefully others will add their experiences.

 

[crystalsmom1021]

If you go to the FP area of MDE, is the Calendar showing booking availability for the specific Party Day? If not, Disney may have tweaked this and FPs may no longer be allowed for Party tickets.

You're the first one to report this. Hopefully others will add their experiences.

Thank you so much I got it straight now. Woo Hoo 60days

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thank you so much I got it straight now. Woo Hoo 60days

Thanks for replying! I'm glad it worked out!

 

[dawn8179]

Thank you so much I got it straight now. Woo Hoo 60days

How did you get it to work? I'm having no luck.

Edited to add:Nevermind. I figured it out, didn't realize window moved from Midnight to 7:00AM. Have my desired fast passes.