Nov Trip..How much harder can this get?

[alopez926]

My FP+ window opens tonight for our party of 8 and I cannot get Wishes, Mine Train, A&E, or MSEP as they are all gone according to the DIBB on the dates we will be in MK. I have spent countless hours getting ADRs for our group since Day 180 and I'm not changing our park days now because I don't want to lose them. I'm so worn out by this whole process.

I'll keep this rant short. I know we can't always get everything we want in life and sure, we can wait standby for 7DMT and A&E (which will drive me mad). But so disappointed that this trip has been a misery to schedule since Day 180 at 6AM when technology failed followed by customer service dropping my 7AM call twice. I have lots of first-timers coming with me this trip and I wanted everything to be smooth sailing.

I definitely need a Disney break and will spend my money elsewhere until the new lands open up. Planning a vacation should be a lot more fun than this!

Vent over. Thanks for listening.

 

[Debbie7452]

I'm not an expert, but have you tried booking overlapping FP's for the rides in groups of 4. Say, book FP for 2 or 4 then try to copy that itinerary over to the rest of the group. It must be maddening trying to plan all that for 8 people. I would do pre-park opening BOG breakfast for ride on 7DMT or A&E(if you can get it). At least you'll see the parade and wishes regardless of having a FP+.

 

[alopez926]

I'm not an expert, but have you tried booking overlapping FP's for the rides in groups of 4. Say, book FP for 2 or 4 then try to copy that itinerary over to the rest of the group. It must be maddening trying to plan all that for 8 people. I would do pre-park opening BOG breakfast for ride on 7DMT or A&E(if you can get it). At least you'll see the parade and wishes regardless of having a FP+.

Thanks for the response! I will try booking one at a time in overlapping time frames to see if we can get A&E for the littles and 7DMT for everyone. Way more of a time suck than I was prepared for but I'd rather surf for the individual FP+ than stand in line for 75+ minutes!

 

[theone74733]

Don't give up! I know it can be frustrating, but just be persistent and check the MDE often (maybe 2-3 times a day). Sometimes you have to "manipulate" the system and request Fastpass for 1-2 people only at first. People change their plans all of the time due to Dining plans opening up or people deciding to visit another park that day. I only got my tickets 2 weeks away from the start of our trip and was able to secure both Wishes and 7SDMT for 2 people. It took 3 days checking the system, 2-3 times a day to get it though.

I think getting FP for 7SDMT for 8 people should be doable, but it will probably be tough to get everyone with FP at the same timeframe to ride. Better to do rope drop if you want everyone riding together.

 

[alopez926]

7DMT not even available in onesies...totally sold out both days. Boo. Looks like rope drop for us. Should be a riot with 8 people!

 

[Travis B]

I wouldn't stress too much about it. The various FP+ probably mean a lot more to you than they do to those joining you, especially the first timers. It sounds like you've done a lot of work to make the trip enjoyable and I'm sure they will have a great time - and will probably be blissfully unaware of the amount of effort you put forth.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I feel your pain. It can be stressful. But dont lose hope! For example... i've tried desperately to get FP for MSEP but had no luck, completely sold out for my dates! Kinda my fault, i fell asleep and instead of booking FP at midnight, I did it at 6am. Anyway, low and behold one day i did a random check for MSEP FP at the 45 day mark and they became available!! I couldnt believe it! I was so happy. So please, dont give up.

 

[Lori74]

I wouldn't stress too much about it. The various FP+ probably mean a lot more to you than they do to those joining you, especially the first timers. It sounds like you've done a lot of work to make the trip enjoyable and I'm sure they will have a great time - and will probably be blissfully unaware of the amount of effort you put forth.

i agree! have a great time!!

 

[DisneyOma]

I'm going to try to say this as kindly as I can, because it isn't meant as negative criticism, but OP, you are putting too much value on having FP+ for Wishes and the parade. I don't think they are needed, and are just hyped too much. I think the A&E one is important if you have small children, but it's still do-able without one, it will just have to be a rope drop attraction. 7DMT could be a late evening ride if the group can handle a long day at the parks. I don't think you'd have much luck trying to book FP+ for 8 people at any time though - especially for the most popular attractions? Do you really plan on travelling all day for the entire trip as a group of 8?

We used to split up all the time when we went as a group of 8 - this was before FP+ though. Not sure if we would want to even be a group of 8 for FP+, as we are a diverse group.

 

[nobellybutton]

I can feel your pain we are a party of 4 and didn't get A&E because it was booked by 12:01am on all 8 of my days. I got a 7DMT FP+ which doesn't really work with my ADR that day but I reserved it and if I have gotten a chance to ride the7DMT on my MK day then I might just keep it and hop over. Like PP said don't let it overwhelm you the trip will be amazing no matter what! And for A&E I plan on doing the same rope drop or end of the night. Good luck!

 

[tmj212]

I also have had my fill of this 'extreme' planning! I leave tomorrow, and STILL didn't mange to get all my stars to align for my touring style, but I did manage to get 95% there...I should be happy considering that I refused to be up at 12:00 AM this time for FP+. For me, since we went last Nov and did 7DMT several times, it wasn't worth the extra headache on top pf planning ADRs post 180. And my family aren't big A&E fans, and when we went on our last trip, they enjoyed it but didn't go all crazy like I would have expected, given the time I invested. So this time, I didn't even track the date my window opened...I went in one day, saw that it was open and started booking. Manged to get all I needed (7DMT & AE) by breaking my party of 4 up. First, by having our FP windows spread apart and then aligning them slowly as the days passed until I got them to overlap (ended up with 3 together +1 overlapping), Play around with it the times, dates and numbers. Easiest to do this through the app, not the website. They'll also be a drop thread for A&E & 7DMT that you can stalk for Nov.

I do feel your pain, and won't be back to Disney for at least 3 more years...And as for the 5% that I didn't manage to book? It honestly is bringing me down, when I should be happy to be on my way to Disney in a few hours.

The truth is though, after all my well executed planning, that my family now thinks that the experiences that they had are just a part of the standard Disney magic. They have no idea what I did to get some of the hottest attractions, ADRs, MNSSHP, MVMCP, etc. and probably wouldn't have missed any of it if I didn't book it.

 

[Alice Sr.]

My FP+ window opens tonight for our party of 8 and I cannot get Wishes, Mine Train, A&E, or MSEP as they are all gone according to the DIBB on the dates we will be in MK. I have spent countless hours getting ADRs for our group since Day 180 and I'm not changing our park days now because I don't want to lose them. I'm so worn out by this whole process.

I'll keep this rant short. I know we can't always get everything we want in life and sure, we can wait standby for 7DMT and A&E (which will drive me mad). But so disappointed that this trip has been a misery to schedule since Day 180 at 6AM when technology failed followed by customer service dropping my 7AM call twice. I have lots of first-timers coming with me this trip and I wanted everything to be smooth sailing.

I definitely need a Disney break and will spend my money elsewhere until the new lands open up. Planning a vacation should be a lot more fun than this!

Vent over. Thanks for listening.

You are right, I had a similar experience with scheduling for a larger group not long after the system rolled out and felt the exact same way you do. The planning had always been part of the fun of a WDW trip but with all the changes, I was like whoa, this is not for me. It should not be a part-time job. That being said, I have had three trips since that painful experience and I am happy to say it is back to being a breeze. I hope it all works out for you and you have an enjoyable time.

 

[alopez926]

I'm going to try to say this as kindly as I can, because it isn't meant as negative criticism, but OP, you are putting too much value on having FP+ for Wishes and the parade. I don't think they are needed, and are just hyped too much. I think the A&E one is important if you have small children, but it's still do-able without one, it will just have to be a rope drop attraction. 7DMT could be a late evening ride if the group can handle a long day at the parks. I don't think you'd have much luck trying to book FP+ for 8 people at any time though - especially for the most popular attractions? Do you really plan on travelling all day for the entire trip as a group of 8?

We used to split up all the time when we went as a group of 8 - this was before FP+ though. Not sure if we would want to even be a group of 8 for FP+, as we are a diverse group.

No offense taken. We can definitely live without the MSEP and Wishes fast passes--they were nice to haves. We will likely split up at various points. But this is the first time my immediate family (mom, brother, sister, spuses and kids) will have been on vacation together as a group ever and there were certain experiences we wanted to do together. A&E for the little girls and 7DMT were two of those things. We'll figure it out. I just have chronic planning fatigue.

 

[Cpdiswinter]

When I was there last October, by total randomness, my daughter and I got in line for A&E with 15-20min at rope drop. It was a medium crowd day I think. When we got off the boat, they were just finishing the opening act a little earlier than opening time. We walked through the left side gates and stayed close to the cm with the rope. Anyone who kept trying to go right would get squeezed back because that wasn't the path we were taking. A couple of overbearing stroller pushers were some that were over eager and ended up behind us. It was so easy...we just strolled behind the cm. So if worse comes to worse, you can try that approach...maybe it was just Disney magic for me that day but you could try it. I think the key is timing the early entry though and sometimes they open early.

However with the BOG early breakfast entry, you might want to check if this is even possible now

 

[Princess Roo]

I'm feeling fatigued, too, as the planner for our group of 7 (my immediate family + my parents). This is our first FP+ trip. I have always planned our trips and since we are early-morning people, touring used to be a breeze with rope drop + fast passes. So no one (including me - LOL!) is used to waiting in line for anything. I'm trying to prepare the kids that they'll have to miss some attractions and/or wait in line a long time. We only have 3 park days this trip because we're also doing LEGOLAND. We were also planning to book (not the most popular ones, of course!) ADRs after we booked FP, but it turns out no table service dinners are available in MK *at all* while we are there! I'm assuming something will pop up as it gets closer, but it's hard with a group of 7. Thankfully the adults are all appreciative of my planning and will still be happy!

 

[Cpdiswinter]

I also have had my fill of this 'extreme' planning! I leave tomorrow, and STILL didn't mange to get all my stars to align for my touring style, but I did manage to get 95% there...I should be happy considering that I refused to be up at 12:00 AM this time for FP+. For me, since we went last Nov and did 7DMT several times, it wasn't worth the extra headache on top pf planning ADRs post 180. And my family aren't big A&E fans, and when we went on our last trip, they enjoyed it but didn't go all crazy like I would have expected, given the time I invested. So this time, I didn't even track the date my window opened...I went in one day, saw that it was open and started booking. Manged to get all I needed (7DMT & AE) by breaking my party of 4 up. First, by having our FP windows spread apart and then aligning them slowly as the days passed until I got them to overlap (ended up with 3 together +1 overlapping), Play around with it the times, dates and numbers. Easiest to do this through the app, not the website. They'll also be a drop thread for A&E & 7DMT that you can stalk for Nov.

I do feel your pain, and won't be back to Disney for at least 3 more years...And as for the 5% that I didn't manage to book? It honestly is bringing me down, when I should be happy to be on my way to Disney in a few hours.

The truth is though, after all my well executed planning, that my family now thinks that the experiences that they had are just a part of the standard Disney magic. They have no idea what I did to get some of the hottest attractions, ADRs, MNSSHP, MVMCP, etc. and probably wouldn't have missed any of it if I didn't book it.

Just curious, why is it easier with the app? I guess I'll download it

 

[alopez926]

Just curious, why is it easier with the app? I guess I'll download it

I think it's easier with the app because you can change fastpasses one person at a time. So I booked all 3 FP+ for everyone (even ones I don't want) and am trying to substitute the ones I don't want with the ones I do, one person at a time. I can't seem to figure out how to do that on the website, but the app is a breeze.

 

[jtwibih]

I am beginning to wonder if November is going to be absolutely packed. If you go on the WDW site and look for room reservations for the week before Thanksgiving, you will see very little availability at regular rack rates. Not sure what's changed but I am preparing for heavy crowds even though the crowd calendars say otherwise.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I am beginning to wonder if November is going to be absolutely packed. If you go on the WDW site and look for room reservations for the week before Thanksgiving, you will see very little availability at regular rack rates. Not sure what's changed but I am preparing for heavy crowds even though the crowd calendars say otherwise.

Part of that is because of free dining and RO discounts which causes people to stay onsite that would usually stay offsite. I think the crowds will be moderate, nothing like Christmas but certainly won't be able to walk on rides. I'm still not stressing too much.
Edit: I just checked midweek, taking out the weekends and there is lots of availability, yes a few of the resorts have no availability but most do.

 

[JasonMouse]

I would think MSEP, Wishes, and Illuminations are a waste of fast passes. If you are in the park when these start, it's kind of hard to avoid seeing it. With that said, the system is dumb. We end up getting 3, but rarely use them. The system does not allow us to cancel the ones we don't want, so that's probably just taking up ones people really want.