Not so magical bands

[5Hfan]

Regarding pre planning and locking our choices in, I feel the same way about hard ticket items. Should I buy a ticket for MNSSHP and take a chance that it will rain or kids will be sick? (last time at WDW, it rained, was unseasonably cold and kids were sick - yikes). Or do I take a chance on buying a ticket when we get there, choosing the day that looks best, on the hope it will not be sold out.

Same can be said for planning when to go. I angst over that one.

Pre-planning is a mixed blessing.

I think I will like FP+, and knowing I have certain rides locked in sounds fantastic to me - hated rounding up FP with FP legacy. However, it certainly takes away flexibility. But, at least it is free (like FP legacy, glad it is not by purchase like Universal) and once you have bought your ticket, it's available to be used.

I've always waited to buy the party tix, figuring if it sells out I don't want to be there anyways as it will be too crowded for the extra expense...

 

[Kate and Family]

I've always waited to buy the party tix, figuring if it sells out I don't want to be there anyways as it will be too crowded for the extra expense...

Very good point. We will probably be there about 6 days - so surely at least one of those will be a go.

 

[Dizznee Freak]

Just found this at 8:00 AT THE STUDIOS

Arrive between
9:45 - 10:45am
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
1 Arrive between
11:35 - 12:35pm
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Replacement
2 Arrive between
12:45 - 1:45pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Arrive between
4:35 - 5:35pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
1 Arrive between
6:30 - 7:30pm
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
2 Arrive between
8:05 - 9:05pm
Toy Story Midway Mania!

AND THIS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

Arrive between
9:35 - 10:35am
DINOSAUR
1 Arrive between
12:40 - 1:40pm
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
2 Arrive between
3:40 - 4:40pm
Kilimanjaro Safaris®

Sorry not buying that FP's were out days in advance. The only thing grayed out at 8:00 were Soarin' and Test Track. And Epcot has EMH tonight so it is likely the MOST CROWDED PARK today.

So Fastpasses ARE available the day of for people that want to make choices that day. Probably not if you wake up at noon and then decide to look on your phone/computer for availability. But otherwise, you can get FP's for headliners. I just find there is enough negativity without making stuff up.

I appreciate the clarification. As we will be visiting the first week of June with 4 children I am comforted to know that I can potentially book FP+ for a day the nite before in the resort. It is just too iffy 60 days out with children.

 

[surferdave]

I appreciate the clarification. As we will be visiting the first week of June with 4 children I am comforted to know that I can potentially book FP+ for a day the nite before in the resort. It is just too iffy 60 days out with children.

I asked the poster how many she was trying to reserve for in her example because the odds of securing Fastpasses diminishes greatly as you reserve for more people at once. If you're trying to reserve for 4-5 guests at once it could be tough, so be ready to break it down and experience attractions with 1-2 of the kids at once if you're reserving night before or day of.

 

[Missyrose]

I appreciate the clarification. As we will be visiting the first week of June with 4 children I am comforted to know that I can potentially book FP+ for a day the nite before in the resort. It is just too iffy 60 days out with children.

I wouldn't put too much stock in these results, we have no idea how many people PP searched for. If it's one or two, it doesn't really help to show families the next-day availability.

 

[ciera321]

I just find there is enough negativity without making stuff up.

Ouch! I don't usually respond to comments like this, but this just seems downright mean!

 

[mejo]

When planning our trip for today ... We were trying to switch from Mk to dhs or Epcot. As of last night, tsm was gone, soarin and test track all gone... I don't think they hold any for same day reserving guests.... That has not been our experience... Just sayin

I
Can go in right now and make FP for TSMM or rnr for between 1 and 2 today

 

[JanaDee]

Just found this at 8:00 AT THE STUDIOS

Arrive between
9:45 - 10:45am
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
1 Arrive between
11:35 - 12:35pm
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Replacement
2 Arrive between
12:45 - 1:45pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Arrive between
4:35 - 5:35pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
1 Arrive between
6:30 - 7:30pm
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
2 Arrive between
8:05 - 9:05pm
Toy Story Midway Mania!

AND THIS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

Arrive between
9:35 - 10:35am
DINOSAUR
1 Arrive between
12:40 - 1:40pm
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
2 Arrive between
3:40 - 4:40pm
Kilimanjaro Safaris®

Sorry not buying that FP's were out days in advance. The only thing grayed out at 8:00 were Soarin' and Test Track. And Epcot has EMH tonight so it is likely the MOST CROWDED PARK today.

So Fastpasses ARE available the day of for people that want to make choices that day. Probably not if you wake up at noon and then decide to look on your phone/computer for availability. But otherwise, you can get FP's for headliners. I just find there is enough negativity without making stuff up.

So because you searched for spots for 1 or 2 people today (as shown in the results) vs the crowd levels last week, the OP is lying??

Alrighty then.

 

[kmb584]

I just find there is enough negativity without making stuff up.

Seriously?

You weren't with the OP on their vacation so who are you to determine fact from fiction? I don't doubt the experience one bit. It's easier to get same-day FP+ reservations than it is to book them 1-2 days prior (from personal experience) and the attractions/times available are largely centered around the amount of people in a party. Securing a FP+ for 1 person is oodles easier than for a family of 4+.

 

[mom2rtk]

So because you searched for spots for 1 or 2 people today (as shown in the results) vs the crowd levels last week, the OP is lying??

Alrighty then.

Yes, it appears that the OP could have had same day FPs.

As long as they altered which week they visited.

And which park they visited.

And which ride they wanted.

And how many were in their party.

But yeah, it could have totally worked.

As long as they were on board with "Magic someone else's way".

 

[Disney_Princess83]

That is interesting that you experienced FP+ being out DAYS ahead of time. I just checked MDE and was able to get a FP+ TODAY for BTMRR, Space, Splash; the only FP+'s that were grayed out were the Parade and Wishes. I can check the other parks, but I suspect that I will find the same. WDW leaves a certain amount of FP's available for day of for FREE. I just do not believe that you were unable to obtain FP+'s for headliners DAYS AHEAD of TIME.

I'm glad you enjoyed your FOTL passes but they are not CHEAP. What did that run you for a family of five?

Really? I guess the OP just made it all up. So unbelievably rude.

 

[lugnut33]

I
Can go in right now and make FP for TSMM or rnr for between 1 and 2 today

And yesterday at 10 A.M. there were no FP available for Mission Space. What is your point?

 

[redsbe]

OP was looking for the most popular WDW attractions during 9+ crowd days in those parks (TT, Soarin, TSM). In October 2012 with average crowds even FP- for those rides would be gone, except for evening times, by 930am or so. We used RD and/or FP- to ride them once or twice only within the first one hour of park opening- again during low to average crowds. The issue is simply that for both DS and Epcot the number of rides that are popular is so limited as to drive all the crowds to those few selected rides.

And in addition to paying extra for the one Universal passes, a one day one park express pass is an additional $30 per person (and can be used once for an attraction).

I like Universal as well, and been there before and have no issue for people deciding to forgo WDW and go to Universal only or split trip between the two. But lets not compare both or ignore that Universal is also expensive. Again it is about value and experience not actual cost, people have to decide for themselves whether spending less to go to Universal (which actually is not that much cheaper) is worth the value of the experience, which I understand for many people it is. But lets not kid ourselves that Universal is not also trying to milk people for as much money as is possible.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I don't think you have any right to say what is true and what isn't when you weren't there. Apart from the fact the days you were checking were much lower in attendance than when the OP was there, who is to say what they wanted FP for or when?

Personally, using your below example, I wouldn't want ANY of those FP choices at HS. Don't ride Star Tours, RnR (single rider line) or ToT. TSM time is no good (Fantasmic)

For your AK example: Dinosaur is far too early. EE is alright, I'd never ride the Safari at this hour (morning is the best time - animals are far more active)

For both your examples, we personally wouldn't take advantage of them. Instead of heading to Universal, we would head to Sea World.

I guess I believe in "Magic MY Way" not "Magic Their Way."

Just found this at 8:00 AT THE STUDIOS

Arrive between
9:45 - 10:45am
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
1 Arrive between
11:35 - 12:35pm
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Replacement
2 Arrive between
12:45 - 1:45pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Arrive between
4:35 - 5:35pm
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
1 Arrive between
6:30 - 7:30pm
Star Tours® - The Adventures Continue
2 Arrive between
8:05 - 9:05pm
Toy Story Midway Mania!

AND THIS AT ANIMAL KINGDOM

Arrive between
9:35 - 10:35am
DINOSAUR
1 Arrive between
12:40 - 1:40pm
Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
2 Arrive between
3:40 - 4:40pm
Kilimanjaro Safaris®

Sorry not buying that FP's were out days in advance. The only thing grayed out at 8:00 were Soarin' and Test Track. And Epcot has EMH tonight so it is likely the MOST CROWDED PARK today.

So Fastpasses ARE available the day of for people that want to make choices that day. Probably not if you wake up at noon and then decide to look on your phone/computer for availability. But otherwise, you can get FP's for headliners. I just find there is enough negativity without making stuff up.

 

[skylizard]

I don't think you have any right to say what is true and what isn't when you weren't there. Apart from the fact the days you were checking were much lower in attendance than when the OP was there, who is to say what they wanted FP for or when?

Personally, using your below example, I wouldn't want ANY of those FP choices at HS. Don't ride Star Tours, RnR (single rider line) or ToT. TSM time is no good (Fantasmic)

For your AK example: Dinosaur is far too early. EE is alright, I'd never ride the Safari at this hour (morning is the best time - animals are far more active)

For both your examples, we personally wouldn't take advantage of them. Instead of heading to Universal, we would head to Sea World.

I guess I believe in "Magic MY Way" not "Magic Their Way."

This seems to be a running theme with anyone having a negative experience with fp+. There's always someone else who has to come along and call them a liar and tell them how they must've done something wrong.

My family and I are planning on skipping our annual Disney trip this year until the dust settles with fp+. We're looking into spending a few days at Universal and then a few relaxing days at the beach (and saving major $ doing so).

The idea of having to plan out which rides and times I'd want to do at Disney 60 days out just doesn't sound like fun to me. And with a family like mine that ranges from a 6 year old to a 75 year old, things can change way too quickly.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I can understand people being concerned.

Having been on these boards for sometime, I have seen the running theme

1. If you complain about FP before you've used it - "Oh it's not that bad! People are just making a big thing about nothing. Wait until you've tried it!"

2. If you complain and you HAVE used it "Oh it's not the final product yet (it more or less is the final product with maybe a few tweaks but the basis is there)

Apparently no one can say anything negative about WDW without someone coming long and complaining that you're complaining

This seems to be a running theme with anyone having a negative experience with fp+. There's always someone else who has to come along and call them a liar and tell them how they must've done something wrong.

My family and I are planning on skipping our annual Disney trip this year until the dust settles with fp+. We're looking into spending a few days at Universal and then a few relaxing days at the beach (and saving major $ doing so).

The idea of having to plan out which rides and times I'd want to do at Disney 60 days out just doesn't sound like fun to me. And with a family like mine that ranges from a 6 year old to a 75 year old, things can change way too quickly.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I have never, in several trips, found any of the rides sold out days in advance. Much of the time i book FPs the morning of. I know they don't have anymore Anna and Elsa for awhile but that's an anomaly.

Just so folks reading this don't think it's a regular thing to have rides sold out days in advance.

 

[suemom2kay]

I don't think you have any right to say what is true and what isn't when you weren't there. Apart from the fact the days you were checking were much lower in attendance than when the OP was there, who is to say what they wanted FP for or when?

Personally, using your below example, I wouldn't want ANY of those FP choices at HS. Don't ride Star Tours, RnR (single rider line) or ToT. TSM time is no good (Fantasmic)

For your AK example: Dinosaur is far too early. EE is alright, I'd never ride the Safari at this hour (morning is the best time - animals are far more active)

For both your examples, we personally wouldn't take advantage of them. Instead of heading to Universal, we would head to Sea World.

I guess I believe in "Magic MY Way" not "Magic Their Way."

Well I'm very sorry, but I didn't know what times you wanted when I created MY fastpasses. There were other times available throughout the day. Just not wasting my time changing them. The OP said there was no availability DAYS OUT. I have shown availability in 3 parks for DAY OF. I was taking requests for times.

 

[surferdave]

I didn't choose the times because I'm not actually interested in FP's today since I am in PA. Obviously, I did the quick pick just to show availability. There were other times available throughout the day. Just not wasting my time changing them. The OP said there was no availability DAYS OUT. I have shown availability in 3 parks for DAY OF. Go ahead and change the times to your liking.

I knew I should have put a disclaimer that I did not CHOOSE the times in my example.

How many guests were you trying to reserve them for?

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Well I'm very sorry, but I didn't know what times you wanted when I created MY fastpasses. There were other times available throughout the day. Just not wasting my time changing them. The OP said there was no availability DAYS OUT. I have shown availability in 3 parks for DAY OF. I was taking requests for times.

Of course you didn't know what I wanted - which was exactly the point of my post. You don't know what the OP wanted either and to call them a liar is offensive, beyond rude and way over the line. When you were looking up FP times, it was for you. You have no idea what anyone else wants, including the OP.

How many did you try to make FP for? 1? 2? 10? Try making FP for 20 and you'll be lucky getting the same time for everyone a month out.