My Fastpass+ Experience

[Rinda]

Some people have mentioned being able to "practice" FastPass+ reservations by making reservations for dates when they aren't planning on going and then canceling them. Is this only for AP holders? On my MDE I don't have the option. It tells me I need to link tickets. I have park tickets on my account, but I also have resort reservations for November. So will I be able to make FastPass+ reservations only for the dates of my resort stay?

 

[itchin2go]

Some people have mentioned being able to "practice" FastPass+ reservations by making reservations for dates when they aren't planning on going and then canceling them. Is this only for AP holders? On my MDE I don't have the option. It tells me I need to link tickets. I have park tickets on my account, but I also have resort reservations for November. So will I be able to make FastPass+ reservations only for the dates of my resort stay?

I'm not 100% on this, but I think since your tix are part of a package, you can't practice.

My tix were part of a package too, and this was my experience. I think when people have tickets linked and no resort reservation, they could start practicing 30 days out. Maybe if you have separate tickets (say, bought through Undercover Tourist) linked, you could practice even if you had a resort reservation? Not sure.

But I think our tix are not "active" until resort check-in.

I guarantee someone else has more precise info, but I wanted to chime to give you my 2 cents.

That said, you can definitely see screen shots of the different pages in the FP choosing process, so you can familiarize yourself with that.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't know if the summer crowds don't know to book as early or what, but I was very surprised at the availability!

A very interesting observation. I have no doubt that the Summer months bring more "newbs" and non-commandos. But I never really thought about the impact that would have on the seasoned "Disney Midnight Runners" (allusion to a one-hit wonder 80's band) who post here. Maybe people who are "in the know" have a greater advantage when booking FPs for the Summer months. Or maybe extended hours mean that there are just that many more FPs available. Or some of both.

 

[Mikie]

Some people have mentioned being able to "practice" FastPass+ reservations by making reservations for dates when they aren't planning on going and then canceling them. Is this only for AP holders? On my MDE I don't have the option. It tells me I need to link tickets. I have park tickets on my account, but I also have resort reservations for November. So will I be able to make FastPass+ reservations only for the dates of my resort stay?

If you booked a package instead of tickets separate from a room reservation, then you cannot practice ahead of time. Your FP selection screen in MDE is all grayed out until your booking window opens. I went to youtube and searched for FP+ walkthrough, which gave me a nice visual of what the process looked like. The actual process of selecting really isn't difficult (it's all the planning and choosing that's tricky!) but I felt much better after seeing what I'd be doing at midnight when it was finally open to me.

 

[DeniseR]

Okay, never been with FPs and have read the thread with information but still am a little confused. You all sound like you can answer a couple of questions I still have. I don't have my window open until next month (July) but want to understand it all first.

1. Do we have to schedule them exactly (or at least) an hour apart? It seems from reading this thread that's what yall are doing.

2. If #1 is true, does that mean if I ride one ride with a FP (say at 9:30) and I am done by 9:45, do I have to wait until 10:30 (if that is the time for my next FP) to ride the next ride? I am wondering how this helps anything. Do you just stand around or try to ride something else in the meantime? What if you get stuck in a non FP line and don't make it to your second FP time? So confused! Help!

 

[AngiTN]

We usually go in the winter and are throwing in a quick summer trip this year. I couldn't believe the difference in availability of FP over our previous winter trips. It was crazy! Our last trip was January, crowds 2-4's and we could only get A&E on our 7th day. At 60 days for the first week of August (crowds 8/s) A&E were wide open, same with parades/wishes etc. I don't know if the summer crowds don't know to book as early or what, but I was very surprised at the availability!

I have found the same thing. My theory (and I have no personal knowledge to know if this if fact or not) is they increase capacity in the summer/when crowds are up. They'll bring in additional sets of friends of A&E to meet, for instance. Off season they may have 3 sets meeting, but high season maybe 6. And say for Big Thunder, in the off season they may have 1 train on the track but high season they have 2, or even 3 (I really have no idea how many trains can run at once, it's just an example) so with the extra opportunities there are additional FP. Plus more hours. So in some cases it's possible you can have a longer line in the off season than you will in high season. Or a fairly equal line.

Find shed up

Hate auto correct

Lol finished up

LOL.. I wondered how the 2nd post cleared things up. Right there with you in the auto-correct hate

Okay, never been with FPs and have read the thread with information but still am a little confused. You all sound like you can answer a couple of questions I still have. I don't have my window open until next month (July) but want to understand it all first.

1. Do we have to schedule them exactly (or at least) an hour apart? It seems from reading this thread that's what yall are doing.

2. If #1 is true, does that mean if I ride one ride with a FP (say at 9:30) and I am done by 9:45, do I have to wait until 10:30 (if that is the time for my next FP) to ride the next ride? I am wondering how this helps anything. Do you just stand around or try to ride something else in the meantime? What if you get stuck in a non FP line and don't make it to your second FP time? So confused! Help!

You have it right. FP have to be in 1 hour increments and won't let you cross over. Only exception to this is a FP for a show. They are not 1 hour windows, usually more like 20 min or so.
You have a 1 hour window to use the FP (plus a small grace period at the beginning and the end) so I've never had an instance where I didn't make a 2nd FP in time

 

[mom2rtk]

I have found the same thing. My theory (and I have no personal knowledge to know if this if fact or not) is they increase capacity in the summer/when crowds are up. They'll bring in additional sets of friends of A&E to meet, for instance. Off season they may have 3 sets meeting, but high season maybe 6.

Do they really have room for that many to be meeting? I've often wondered just how many rooms are back there.

But I have to think that a lot of people have met them on prior trips (they've been in the MK over a year now) and are now just not willing to spend one of their 3 FPs on them again.

 

[AngiTN]

Do they really have room for that many to be meeting? I've often wondered just how many rooms are back there.

But I have to think that a lot of people have met them on prior trips (they've been in the MK over a year now) and are now just not willing to spend one of their 3 FPs on them again.

I have no idea. As I said, I was just using numbers off the top of my head to explain my theory. I have no knowledge on how many pairs are there, or what their capacity is. And I was just using them as an example. Even when they were brand new we had no problems with getting a FP for summer but others couldn't get them at all for off season visits.

And also as I said, I don't know that my theory is correct. It's simply that, my theory on why all FP are easier to come by in the summer, when logic tells you it should be the opposite.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have no idea. As I said, I was just using numbers off the top of my head to explain my theory. I have no knowledge on how many pairs are there, or what their capacity is. And I was just using them as an example. Even when they were brand new we had no problems with getting a FP for summer but others couldn't get them at all for off season visits.

And also as I said, I don't know that my theory is correct. It's simply that, my theory on why all FP are easier to come by in the summer, when logic tells you it should be the opposite.

I agree. My theory last year was that they needed to staff down during party days so they could keep it open until midnight. Who the heck knows.

I just have idle curiosity about how many rooms they even have back there.

 

[drea21]

That makes sense! I bet a combination of longer hours, more staff, A&E losing their steam, and maybe travelers who are just winging a summer trip all play a part. Now since Wishes and the electrical parade have opened for our dates they were wide open too! All that I struggled with our low season trip. I even played around with our CRT reservation and got a pre-park opening time for the same day that we originally had a 9:10am reservation. I could also just be getting lucky this trip when last time I wasn't. My only issue is Beaches and Cream! I mistakenly made my ADR one day too late (when we are already home) and now I'm having a heck of a time getting one on the right day.

I would love to know how many are back there too! I never even thought about more than one back there until we met Tink twice on our last trip and I realized the room was flipped

 

[Rinda]

I'm not 100% on this, but I think since your tix are part of a package, you can't practice.

My tix were part of a package too, and this was my experience. I think when people have tickets linked and no resort reservation, they could start practicing 30 days out. Maybe if you have separate tickets (say, bought through Undercover Tourist) linked, you could practice even if you had a resort reservation? Not sure.

But I think our tix are not "active" until resort check-in.

I guarantee someone else has more precise info, but I wanted to chime to give you my 2 cents.

That said, you can definitely see screen shots of the different pages in the FP choosing process, so you can familiarize yourself with that.

Thank you! That's kinda what I figured. Hopefully it will be easy to figure out.

If you booked a package instead of tickets separate from a room reservation, then you cannot practice ahead of time. Your FP selection screen in MDE is all grayed out until your booking window opens. I went to youtube and searched for FP+ walkthrough, which gave me a nice visual of what the process looked like. The actual process of selecting really isn't difficult (it's all the planning and choosing that's tricky!) but I felt much better after seeing what I'd be doing at midnight when it was finally open to me.

Thank you! I will check out the YouTube thing. The screenshots are nice but seeing it in action will be helpful I think.

 

[RebelScumRunner]

I enjoyed the FP system. It was like a game to me as far as strategy and changing things on the fly.

 

[Mikie]

Okay, never been with FPs and have read the thread with information but still am a little confused. You all sound like you can answer a couple of questions I still have. I don't have my window open until next month (July) but want to understand it all first.

1. Do we have to schedule them exactly (or at least) an hour apart? It seems from reading this thread that's what yall are doing.

2. If #1 is true, does that mean if I ride one ride with a FP (say at 9:30) and I am done by 9:45, do I have to wait until 10:30 (if that is the time for my next FP) to ride the next ride? I am wondering how this helps anything. Do you just stand around or try to ride something else in the meantime? What if you get stuck in a non FP line and don't make it to your second FP time? So confused! Help!

1) the closest you can schedule them is 1 hour. You could choose 9:30, 12:15, 3:10 (or any farther apart) if you want to
2) I wondered the same thing. I finally decided to book mine usually around a planned lunch time (either an ADR or just when I figured we'd grab quick service). I picked things like 10-11, 11-12, 1:30-2:30. Do whatever you like until nearer the end of that first window, say 10:50. Do ride A at 10:50 then proceed straight to ride B, whose 11-12 window is now open. Then go find lunch and we're ready for that last FP. Lunch window can be tighter if it's CS.

 

[Parker Clan]

I did ours yesterday morning too! Although the system was down for 1 hour and 47 mins I am happy to say once it was working I got exactly what I wanted for each ride. August 18th can't come soon enough!!!

 

[CanadianPaco]

Sunday night for me! Monday mornings are always tough - this will just be a good reason to be tired

 

[oceanmarina]

I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight! Last year for our August trip I was so busy at work I forgot to make my selections at my 60 day mark, I was still able to get Anna & Elsa more than once for our trip (although I had to pick a party of 2, not 4 to get them which was just fine for my son & DH who went on Buzz Lightyear instead). Wish me luck!!

 

[maine girl]

Anyone have any luck with getting a FASTPASS for fantasmic the day that you are at the park? There are 2 shows and we will be going to the 2nd show.

 

[Dizzymrslizzy]

I too was very nervous. I got everything I wanted. Multiple 7DMT, and a A&E at a good time.