Off-Site Guest FPP strategies, your thoughts?

[MariaJ]

FPP for on-site guests seems to be a totally different thing than for off-site guests. Their strategy planning and in-park use of FPP seems like it will be very different than off-site guests, who have to plan and tour very differently, with much less flexibility once in the park.

I'm in full planning mode for our trip in two weeks. We've already scaled back our time in WDW and added in 3 days at Universal until this "test phase" has worked all the kinks out of the system. Since we are staying off-site, I'm focusing on the off-site guest planning and in-park use of FPP.

It seems to be successful, off-site guests (OFF/FPP) need to:
--Be at RD to ensure FPP times are available and to avoid growing lines at kiosks, and
--know going in your family's plan for the day, including ADR's, to avoid choosing FPP that conflict with those plans, and
--know going in what rides need FPP and which don't,
--and be able to think on their feet as to timing of those FPP if first, second or even third times blocks aren't available. Because,
--changing FPP times in the park could involve long lines at kiosks since using a smartphone app is not an option, and
-- FPP availability may disappear as day goes on.

And, maybe consider carefully the value of park-hopping unless it's for a show or ADR. Because it's possible that once in the first park the FPP times available might preclude hopping if they are later in the day.

Can you think of other things I should consider?

I really think it might be helpful on these boards to distinguish between the two when discussing. They are two different animals!

I propose we distinguish between the two by using the terms ON/FPP and OFF/FPP, but there's probably a better idea out there! At least until there is a change of policy. It's been a little hard to tease out strategy in the information threads about FPP since we are OFF/FPP and so much advice is about making plans ahead of time using MDE and how to use apps to change plans in the parks.

Thanks!!
Tips for OFF/FPP collected from DIS’er in this thread, compiled here:
Be at RD ½ ahead. Hopefully find CM with ipad to make OFF/FPP reservations.
Ask to watch CM over their shoulder as this will be the first time you will see system in use. Have them walk you through the process once or twice before you tackle a kiosk on your own.

If you can’t find a CM while waiting for RD, you can (and should) do a headliner (like Toy Story or Test Track or Soarin' or Space Mountain) before you visit the CM (if you arrive at RD). Headliners are usually away from the front entrances, so you can still find a CM who will help you 15-20 minutes after RD after your first ride, and there will be limited waiting.

Know exactly what rides you want to fast pass and schedule them for the afternoon. The morning wait times do not justify FP use.

We handed the CM a slip of paper with the rides and preferred times on them and some were skeptical that we could be so precise (but they succeeded in getting us what we wanted), and others were grateful that we were so organized. I plotted everything out the night before and had a pretty good idea where in the parks we were going to be and when. Standing at the kiosk or with the CM is not the time to start thinking about this.
Tip from another thread, if you can either visit ticket booth ahead of time. We have ticket vouchers and are picking them up the night before: When you do pick up your tickets ask for the FP+ planning sheet to take with you to the park. That will greatly speed up the process. Mark in your 3 favorites and a few optional if those are not available.

Another good post on the topic: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3247043

 

[Mamiamjo]

You make a valid point. Although I dislike FP+ for it's limitations even to onsite guests (limit of 3FP+s & tiering restrictions), I can definitely see how it would be even worse for Off Site Guests.

 

[MariaJ]

@Mamiamjo, believe me, I have a hard time figuring out the "plus" in the new system!
But we already promised the kids a day each in AK and MK so I'm trying my best to plan what I can given the new limitations. They are so used to my plans working, I'm stressing about all the unknowns going in! That's why I'm asking for help as I get my mind around how to create a successful strategy.

Me? I'd love just a whole day to spend wandering around the countries in EP! (After Soarin', of course )

 

[JimmyV]

Can you think of other things I should consider?

If at all possible, use a CM with an i-Pad to make your FPs, at least for the first couple of days. People who stay on site (and have taken the time to pre-book) have been able to become familiar with the system. Off site guests may be getting their first look at the interface on the day they first enter the park. The system is not as fast or intuitive as you might think. For example, a typical strategy that has developed is to accept three FP+ for times that are as far away in time as you actually want, (the computer will suggest a trio of times for all your rides instead of allowing you to book each one individually), and then change each one individually. CMs are much faster at doing this than you will be on your first several tries. And if there are any "glitches" in the system, they will know it and tell you (or fix them). If you encounter a glitch, you may take the computer at its word.

For example, on our first day, we were working with a CM who was booking our times. She got tossed out of the system twice while trying to link our passes. That would have thrown me for a loop. She knew that the workaround was to delete all passes and start over. Not sure I would have taken that chance. Then, at 8:05 a.m., she was seeing no open times for Everest. But she knew that this could not be true. Maybe I would have just cursed my bad luck and accepted that fate. So she booked us a phantom FP+ for a ride we didn't want and she told us to see a different CM in about a half an hour and get it changed to Everest. We did, and it worked.

Ask to look over their shoulder as they book you in, because their i-Pad interface is basically the same one as at the kiosk. Have them walk you through the process once or twice before you tackle a kiosk on your own. Using a kiosk, you will run a 50%-50% (80%-20%?) chance of getting behind a person who has no clue and who takes 15 minutes to do what it should take 3 to so. Very frustrating and a waste of RD time.

You can (and should) do a headliner (like Toy Story or Test Track or Soarin' or Space Mountain) before you visit the CM (if you arrive at RD). Headliners are usually away from the front entrances, so you can still find a CM who will help you 15-20 minutes after RD after your first ride, and there will be limited waiting. The most people we ever waited behind was 3.

Otherwise, your strategy is sound. RD is the key to success. All of the "FP+ allows me to sleep in and get to the park at a leisurely pace" people are obviously staying on site. Off site stays are very, very different, at least on high crowd days. And if you are at the Swan or Dolphin, there are reports of special (hidden) CMs who are booking exclusively guests of those resorts, but you may want to ask if that is true, and if so, where to find them in the parks. Or check the Resorts Board of this site for updates.

 

[anniee882000]

We just did Disney as an off site guest. You are doing it right.

Arrive at least 1/2 hour before RD. At MK you could actually book your fast passes while waiting for RD in the area in front of the train station with CM with hand held pads.

Know exactly what rides you want to fast pass and schedule them for the afternoon. The morning wait times do not justify FP use.

Then, head straight to the first rides you want.

Just have a plan and it will go pretty smoothly.

But yeah, later in the day, the FP kiosk lines are LONG! I can't imagine waiting in them to change a fast pass time, so get what you want first thing in the morning.

Also, we didn't have any trouble getting the fast passes we wanted. I mean, they weren't out of them or anything. But we went for FP before doing any rides, and still found the morning lines to the rides to be basically walk on.

 

[JimmyV]

Also, we didn't have any trouble getting the fast passes we wanted. I mean, they weren't out of them or anything.

We were "14 out of 15" by getting or FP+s within 20 minutes of RD. The one we could not get was ETWB. Arrived at RD for an 8:00 opening. Went straight to Space Mountain and rode with a 3 minute wait. Got to the CM with the i-Pad at 8:17 a.m. and the only available time for Belle was 9:15 p.m. Didn't work for us. Otherwise, we handed the CM a slip of paper with the rides and preferred times on them and some were skeptical that we could be so precise (but they succeeded in getting us what we wanted), and others were grateful that we were so organized. I plotted everything out the night before and had a pretty good idea where in the parks we were going to be and when. Standing at the kiosk or with the CM is not the time to start thinking about this.

 

[MariaJ]

This is so very helpful. I am going to keep editing first post to reflect this wisdom....

@anniee882000, sounds like a touring plan, in hand, would be helpful, along with requested times.

Keep 'em coming! So grateful!

 

[anniee882000]

You know, reading this is kind of sad. It's sad you have to plan so precisely to have a nice day at Disney World. It didn't used to be like that.

 

[JimmyV]

You know, reading this is kind of sad. It's sad you have to plan so precisely to have a nice day at Disney World. It didn't used to be like that.

As of now, to get the full benefit of FP+, off site guests must:

1. Plan well in advance;
2. Arrive early, (as close to RD as possible on busy days); and
3. Refrain from park hopping (as trying to get FP+ at the second park will result in disappointment. "Oh Boy! Journey Into Imagination and Captian EO!"

Much of this will change if and when the pre-booking option is extended to off site guests. But as of right now, it is hard to make the argument that there has been any improvement or added flexibility of touring. We used to be RD people some of the time. But after my wife got a look at the kiosk/CM lines at DHS around 10:30-11:00 on the second day of our vacation she insisted that we make RD each day, and I cannot tell you what a change/concession that is for her while on vacation. If FP+ could do that to her, then it can do it to anyone.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Agree with Jimmy V...
- If you are going off-site, do NOT buy a Park Hopper!! You can only book FP+ at the park you are in, so unless you want to spend each evening walking World Showcase or an Animal Kingdom trail and ignoring all rides, don't do it. It's not worth it (and it will save your family quite a bit of money - might as well not overpay Disney for a perk they have rendered temporarily worthless to off-site guests).
- Do NOT Fastpass large "shows"/3D movies/constant movers - stick to the E-ticket rides and the small "events" for all Fastpasses. If the CM offers you Cpt Eo in Epcot or Philharmagic in MK, tell him/her to try again.
- Have Backup rides/events planned for Fastpass for all 4 parks, ESPECIALLY Magic Kingdom. If you ask for all 3 mountains and the CM says he can't get Splash Mountain, would you like Mickey's Philharmagic, say NO, I would like Peter Pan (or Winnie the Pooh, etc), instead. Being ready for the likely unavailability will help you get something of benefit.
- And my best advice - if you are going to the world this year as an offsite guest in crowds of level 8-10, don't go. Let Disney know with your money (and not just your words) that you don't like being treated as the 2nd class citizens collecting scraps leftover from the "valued" guests. If they are honestly giving ride priority (through advance reservations) and ride change priority (through the phone app) to 24 Disney hotels worth of people, while making you wait like cattle for an hour or more on the morning of for fastpass booking and fastpass changes, your time and money are more useful elsewhere.
And for those who say "well, Universal does it and it's okay"...Universal only has 3 hotels for 2 better parks (with more E-ticket rides to spread them on) - Disney has 24 resorts (and counting) for 4 parks, 2 of which have almost no e-tickets to spread people towards.
I've been to the world since 1986...once FP was introduced, my every 3 year trips became every year since the parks became more enjoyable without the hot, interminable waits. I've stayed half of my trips onsite (from deluxe to value) and half offsite...yet, I won't stay at all until 2015...or later...(my last trip was 2012 and I have avoided this "test" like the plague, visiting "other" Orlando in 2013 and a cruise for 2014). When I feel I will have real value for my ticket, either on or offsite, I'll be back...I'd encourage others who feel the same way to do the same - money is the only speech corporations hear...

PS - This saddens me the most b/c I went through Disney's week long corporate program, which showed other business professionals how to offer service the Disney way. Nothing about this entire process and testing has jibed with what I learned from Disney itself less than 15 years ago...

 

[PeterPanic]

I'm going to try an be brief here:

Three weeks ago I visited for two days (MK and Epcot).
I stayed offsite.
I didn't arrive at either park until after 11 AM.
I picked up the Fastpass worksheet that Disney provides (you might be able to find them on line or get them in advance)
I went to the kiosk.
I requested 3 specific FP's and got all three. (two were attractions that I never was able to get before) Jungle Cruise & Peter Pan.
All three were just a little over an hour apart.
I was able to instantly plan what I wanted to see in the area of the attractions, including plan in lunch time.
Saw more attractions between 11 and 6 then I was ever to do before.

Epcot the next day:
Pretty much the same experience as the day before.

I have a problem understanding the lack of Park Hoppers. If all the FP's were for evening hours that would be one thing, but, I didn't get anyone later then 4:30 for all six I got, and that one was Soarin.

I always used Park Hoppers. I would start my day in whatever main park I chose and get FP's for those. I would hop later in the day and never needed a FP for that time of day. I would still get Park Hoppers. If you find that the FP's you got in your first park didn't fit or you didn't need them, you can change those when you get to the second park. You cannot use any of them cause if you use even one, the other two aren't transferable.

Summary: I found that having the 3 FP's in hand at once made planning attractions, meals and down time a no brainer and the best part, no running around collecting FP's.

 

[MariaJ]

If you find that the FP's you got in your first park didn't fit or you didn't need them, you can change those when you get to the second park. You cannot use any of them cause if you use even one, the other two aren't transferable.

I don't understand? You can change them at the second park, but cannot use them?
I must be misunderstanding you.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[siskaren]

I don't understand? You can change them at the second park, but cannot use them?
I must be misunderstanding you.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

What PeterPanic means is that if you use one in the first park, then you would not be able to switch the other two when you get to the second park since all three have to be used in the same park.

 

[PeterPanic]

What PeterPanic means is that if you use one in the first park, then you would not be able to switch the other two when you get to the second park since all three have to be used in the same park.

Exactly, sorry I didn't make that clear. If you do not use any of the three in the first park, you can switch all three in the second.

It's a little hard to imagine how one wouldn't use at least one that got, but if lines are fairly short, or a meal conflicts, or you just lose interest in the park, you might have no need for any of them in the first park.

 

[staggle]

Good news for off site people... I am staying off site in March and just received an email yesterday from Disney inviting me to participate in testing for offsite guests for fast pass plus. I received the invite because I booked my dining 6 months in advanced.

 

[JimmyV]

Good news for off site people... I am staying off site in March and just received an email yesterday from Disney inviting me to participate in testing for offsite guests for fast pass plus. I received the invite because I booked my dining 6 months in advanced.

Any way that you can cut and paste the actual text of the email here? I would be very interested in exactly what it says. Does it specifically state that you will be able to pre-book your FPs in advance, or does it simply say that you will be able to use FP+. Because if it is the latter, then I hate to burst your balloon, but everyone gets to "take part in the test". But if it is the former, then this is a game changer. Off site guests who book ADRs will be given priority over off site guests who do not. That would be a good start! Little help to us, as we booked our ADRs on our 180 day(s) out and still got squat!

 

[ArwenMarie]

There are a few people on the offsite thread saying the same thing about prebooking in a test.

 

[Mamiamjo]

That would even out the playing field somewhat. I still dont like the limit of 3 nor the tiering though.

 

[bdb23]

Good news for off site people... I am staying off site in March and just received an email yesterday from Disney inviting me to participate in testing for offsite guests for fast pass plus. I received the invite because I booked my dining 6 months in advanced.

When are you staying and have you linked anything else besides ADRs?

 

[teachmom]

I have to say that our first off-site stay came at an interesting time! Having been 3 times before (on-site) and always being a rope drop family, our experience did not change significantly. We went to each of the 4 parks at rd, arriving by 8:15 at each. We were able to ride everything that we wanted without a wait at least once. However, we used easywdw and undercover tourist crowd guides to choose the most recommended parks and also visited during a fairly quiet week so our experience might not be typical of off-siters headed into the busy season. I keep reading stories about huge fp kiosk lines and fp return lines and we never once dealt with either of those. My advice to off-site visitors right now would be:
~Arrive before rope drop (which was 8:45 at all parks except MK).
~Head for your priorities first (for us - SM and TM at MK, Soarin and TT at Epcot, Safari at AK, and TSM at HS.) and ride standby
~Make fp choices after your headliner rides and find a CM with an ipad or an out of the way kiosk. If there is a big line, find somewhere else! (Look for the turquoise shirts)
~Don't bother park hopping. This was the biggest change for us. Ended up not hopping even once. In MK, we made our fp choices for the evening, spent the morning at the park, went back to our pool and went back to MK the same evening for Wishes and our fp rides. The first night, we went to Epcot to walk around and try a dry-run at the fp kiosk. There wasn't anything left and we were there before dinner. If we were able to pre-book like onsite, we would have booked our fp's for our evening park, and still gone to rd at another park.

Overall, we had a great trip and are already talking about going back next year. If you're not a rope drop family, however, you may want to become one to make the most of your park experiences during this "test."