My window opens tonight

[defendthehill]

My FP+ window opens tonight. I have sat down with my family and we have our strategy/priorities/desires are planned out and ready to roll.

My question for all the Disboard/Disney veterans centers around our strategy. We are a rope drop family. I don't really plan on using many FPs in the morning. We are also a family that goes back to our resort most every day for a mid day break or swim.

So most of my FPs, I am planning on using after our return to the park. Normally starting at 4PM or later.

How has this strategy worked for you??

 

[mesaboy2]

Be aware I am expecting the window tonight to open at 1:00a instead of midnight.

 

[Danielle3699]

We are a rope drop family as well. We were at MK on Christmas Day this past December. Even on one of the busiest days of the year, we were able to accomplish everything we wanted to by being there at rope drop. Then we scheduled our 3 fast passes for after lunch time when we knew it would be packed. Head to the Mine Train as your very first ride, unless you plan to fast pass it.

 

[defendthehill]

Thanks for the heads up on the 1am window. What determines a 1am vs a midnight open?

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Thanks for the heads up on the 1am window. What determines a 1am vs a midnight open?

I believe it depends on how late the park is open tonight/morning. I have read that if MK is open later, the window is open later. Why that makes a difference, I don't know. It was that way all through the holidays.

 

[siskaren]

Thanks for the heads up on the 1am window. What determines a 1am vs a midnight open?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3355242

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Thanks for the heads up on the 1am window. What determines a 1am vs a midnight open?

I would still be present at 12:00 am, but prepare for the 1:00 am window.

 

[mesaboy2]

I would still be present at 12:00 am, but prepare for the 1:00 am window.

 

[davkata]

We use the same strategy as you. RD a park in am, then back to resort and hop to another park later with our FP+ usually 4 pm or later. This worked great for us last year during President's week/Princess half marathon which is a very busy time. We didn't book until around 30 days out and I got all the FP I wanted. We are going the same week this year and I booked earlier so I was able to do our FP at 60 days out. We got all we wanted, including 2 different days for 7 DMT. Didn't want A&E but it was available. I DID NOT go on at midnight, I went on at 7:30 the next morning. Even today, I have been able to change around my FP times with little to no problems. I am no expert, but unless you are a night owl, I wouldn't wait up until 1 am. But that is just my opinion. (Although I am the one when we planned our first trip with our kids who was on the phone hitting redial until I got the Cinderella dining reservation LOL!) Waaay before the online booking ever existed!

 

[soniam]

We did RD and had our FP+ before lunch at MK. This allowed us to get 2-3 more FP+ later for things like JC, POTC, HM, and Pooh. It worked well.

We did Epcot one morning at RD and AK after lunch. We got the first 3 for Epcot, which allowed us to do Soarin twice in a row with less than a 10 minute wait by doing SB first and then our FP+. When we got to AK, stuff was more limited. Didn't try for EE or Kali, but Safari was available around 5pm and Dinosaur and Primevil Whirl were available pretty soon.

I think it ends up being a wash sometimes. There's probably no perfect plan.

 

[defendthehill]

So I waited up till 1am to get my FP+s set up for our trip in March. Took me 30 minutes or so. Then I went back through them to make sure I had them all like I wanted them.

So, at that point it was 1:45AM and I should be tired and ready for bed....but my Disney rush had arrived and I was up till 3AM because I couldn't stop my mind from running full throttle on Disney!!

Now on my third cup of coffee and trying to be productive at work.....