I have a DD10 and DGS4 whom I have legal custody. So. We’ve been park commandos since they were 6 and 1.
Related to being a frequent flyer staying on site (and AP holder):
1. Rope drop, skip middle of day, hit a different park in the evening.
Ride standby for first two hours. If park opens at 9, book first FP at 10. Ride standby until almost 11. Use 10 FP at the end of its window and then 11 FP at the beginning. Explore a bit, hit 12 FP and pretty much leave the park.
On way back to room, book 4th FP at different park (more on this later).
Go back to resort, swim, nap, crafts with kids, Disney Springs, whatever.
Different park in evening, use extra FPs. Relax.
This method of touring allows you to miss the largest crowds, highest temps, and longest waits. It lets you take a midday nap to recharge for evening. It lets you take advantage of a kitchen or kitchenette for lunch.
Every tour plan says this is the way to tour and it works because people are unwilling to get up early to rope drop on vacation. That’s why midday naps were invented.
2. Learn rider swapping (for kids too young to ride). With rider swap, the older kid can double up rides, or you can effectively double the number of FPs. Or both.
Example You and DD book SM, your DW and DGS books Speedway 30 min later. You and DD ride SM with FP and get rider swap. Then DW and DD ride on the ride swap.
Then you go to Speedway and DW and DD (using DGS band which is still legal if grand child is in the park with you) ride Speedway and get ride swap. Next you and DD ride on rideswap.
She rode both rides twice, both adults rode once, and you’ve collectively used 1 of your three FPs.
3. Extra FPs. When you search a time for a 4th FP, you apparently capture a range of options until you choose one or search again. Then those options are released for others to search.
In the meantime hundreds of people are searching and at any given time, thousands of FP options are in play, being held and released.
Also, as people change their plans on the fly, they are releasing their FPs during the day, even premium ones. Plus, WDW releases premium FPs intraday in small amounts.
So. The trick here is to not accept the first choices given with a 4th FP search. Toggle between different time requests and keep releasing and researching. Something good almost always comes up, even if it takes a few minutes.
You aren’t just waiting for someone to dump something good or WDW to add something good. You’re also wading through the random and constant hold and releases.
This is probably the most (shhhh don’t share and ruin it for those in the know) trick I know. Extra FP hunting works, but you have to hunt and not assume that the first choices given to you are the only ones available. They are not.
