My 30 Day FP+ at 1:00 AM Experience

[Missyrose]

I'm looking for feedback on viewing the FoF parade as well. I have FPs scheduled for a very busy Saturday in June (rated 9 on easyWDW). I'm sort of a wimp in the heat so want to avoid standing in the sun for too long. But I want a good spot to photograph the parade.

I'm thinking I might have to ditch the FP. Is that area on the inner island of Town Square?

Is there any talk of that viewing area changing any time in the next couple months?

Can someone recommend a shaded spot to wait and give me an idea of how early I'd have to be there on a level 9 day to get a front row spot?

There are typically shaded spots along Frontierland (on the Pecos Bill's side), you'd probably have to grab a spot in the shade 30 to 45 minutes or so ahead of time. My husband shot the parade from there in December and really liked the spot.

 

[mom2rtk]

There are typically shaded spots along Frontierland (on the Pecos Bill's side), you'd probably have to grab a spot in the shade 30 to 45 minutes or so ahead of time. My husband shot the parade from there in December and really liked the spot.

Thanks Missy. I was thinking of maybe trying to get a spot an hour before parade time. I could tolerate that in the shade. But the more I think of it, if I get to the FP spot 30 minutes early, then wait 30 minutes for the parade to arrive, I'm going to melt. Really.

Have you posted those pics yet in your December trip report? I'd love to take a look at his angle of view.

 

[Missyrose]

Thanks Missy. I was thinking of maybe trying to get a spot an hour before parade time. I could tolerate that in the shade. But the more I think of it, if I get to the FP spot 30 minutes early, then wait 30 minutes for the parade to arrive, I'm going to melt. Really.

Have you posted those pics yet in your December trip report? I'd love to take a look at his angle of view.

We haven't gotten there in the December TR yet, but here's the parade photos from August (they're from the other side of the street in Frontierland). That particular spot was in the sun, but you get an idea of the angle. It was pretty fantastic.

http://www.magicofmainstreet.com/hanging-in-the-magic-kingdom-area/

 

[sharona]

To get 7DMT at 30 days out for day time slots, try booking your party individually for overlapping times. There may not be 3 FP available at 12 pm but there may be one 12:05 - 1:05 and another 12:30-1:30 and another 12:45-1:45 so everyone rides together at 12:45. This worked for me and we got 11:05 and 11:10 am FPs instead of the 8pm slots that were offered for a party of 2.

 

[mom2rtk]

We haven't gotten there in the December TR yet, but here's the parade photos from August (they're from the other side of the street in Frontierland). That particular spot was in the sun, but you get an idea of the angle. It was pretty fantastic.

http://www.magicofmainstreet.com/hanging-in-the-magic-kingdom-area/

Those are outstanding. But I expected nothing less. And I've never shot from over there. So I might have to consider it.

What are yours and Franklin's thoughts on the Wishes FPs? I 'm not concerned about it blocking me from getting other FP's. So if you take that out of the equation, would you do it? We have one day in the parks. I can't NOT shoot Wishes. So I need the best way to shoot it while maximizing our time. The Wishes FP area is looking less and less appealing.

 

[jomass]

To get 7DMT at 30 days out for day time slots, try booking your party individually for overlapping times. There may not be 3 FP available at 12 pm but there may be one 12:05 - 1:05 and another 12:30-1:30 and another 12:45-1:45 so everyone rides together at 12:45. This worked for me and we got 11:05 and 11:10 am FPs instead of the 8pm slots that were offered for a party of 2.

Excellent idea! I wish I could hop in the way back machine and do it over again!

 

[Missyrose]

Those are outstanding. But I expected nothing less. And I've never shot from over there. So I might have to consider it.

What are yours and Franklin's thoughts on the Wishes FPs? I 'm not concerned about it blocking me from getting other FP's. So if you take that out of the equation, would you do it? We have one day in the parks. I can't NOT shoot Wishes. So I need the best way to shoot it while maximizing our time. The Wishes FP area is looking less and less appealing.

We're trying the FP+ areas twice on our upcoming April trip, so Franklin can try the view from each garden. I was more enamored of the Wishes FP+ when you could sit and enjoy the show. The reports of overcrowding have me a bit worried. But I plan to get there early and just chill out before the show (listen to MSEP from afar). I want to see how things are working in those gardens from start to finish for FP+.

 

[mom2rtk]

We're trying the FP+ areas twice on our upcoming April trip, so Franklin can try the view from each garden. I was more enamored of the Wishes FP+ when you could sit and enjoy the show. The reports of overcrowding have me a bit worried. But I plan to get there early and just chill out before the show (listen to MSEP from afar). I want to see how things are working in those gardens from start to finish for FP+.

I hope you'll PM me after your trip and let me know what you guys think of the new Wishes FP+ experience. We have the FP booked but with only one park day I don't want to spend much of it sitting around waiting. I am also discouraged by the recent reports. It's still possible I might ditch it and shoot from behind the castle. But I'd sort of like to see the projection show too.

I have this vision of everyone corralled in the FP pen and me having Main Street all to myself. Although I'm not counting on that.

 

[Missyrose]

I hope you'll PM me after your trip and let me know what you guys think of the new Wishes FP+ experience. We have the FP booked but with only one park day I don't want to spend much of it sitting around waiting. I am also discouraged by the recent reports. It's still possible I might ditch it and shoot from behind the castle. But I'd sort of like to see the projection show too.

I have this vision of everyone corralled in the FP pen and me having Main Street all to myself. Although I'm not counting on that.

Will do!

 

[sweetnjmom]

To get 7DMT at 30 days out for day time slots, try booking your party individually for overlapping times. There may not be 3 FP available at 12 pm but there may be one 12:05 - 1:05 and another 12:30-1:30 and another 12:45-1:45 so everyone rides together at 12:45. This worked for me and we got 11:05 and 11:10 am FPs instead of the 8pm slots that were offered for a party of 2.

I actually tried that for May 3rd and there wasn't any. So I'm OK with an early evening 7DMT now... assuming I get it.

EDIT on 4/6: So I DID get a 7DMT FP+ for May 6th from between 5:45 and 6:45 PM. I'm pretty happy about that. But I did NOT get a FP+ for the 9 PM MSEP. I presume they were long gone before my 30 days... there was availability for the 11 PM one, but my 5.5 year old will NOT be up that late!

I also chose Haunted Mansion and Meet Cinderella. If I manage to hit either of them on our first MK day, I'll change them.

 

[sweetnjmom]

Just in case anyone is interested, I finished making my last 30 day FP+ selections last night (this morning) and overall it went pretty well. I never even tried for A&E or FOF parade, knowing they were unavailable. I got pretty much everything I wanted EXCEPT for a FP+ spot for the 9 PM MSEP on either 5/6 or 5/8. Since Wednesday 5/6 is supposed to be a 3 out of 10 crowd level (per Josh at Easy WDW) that is the night we'll just try to get a good spot and see the parade from wherever. The only reason I wanted it is that my 5-1/2 year old son has difficulty waiting for long periods of time (interactive queues are fine, but sitting down to stake out a parade spot may not be).

There are likely a few picks that weren't my best use of FP+ but my husband and I decided to use them for attractions we can go on as a family. Hopefully DINOSAUR won't completely freak our son out. We ended up picking:

Sun 5/3: Meet Ariel, Peter Pan's Flight, Splash Mountain
Mon 5/4: Spaceship Earth (may change to Character Spot, can't decide), Turtle Talk, Illuminations
Tue 5/5: Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, Muppet Vision 3D (will try for a 4th of Fantasmic after Muppets)
Wed 5/6: Meet Cinderella/Rapunzel, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Haunted Mansion
Thur 5/7: Kilamanjaro Safari, DINSOSAUR, Kali River Rapids
Fri 5/8: Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland Speedway

Edit: our 5/3 rope drop plan is to hit Space Mountain and parent swap (our son is just about the height but he won't ride it). Hopefully the lines at Big Thunder Mountain won't be too long on the Wednesday. We'll have to swap for that one too.