Offsite since FP+

[Candleshoe]

We are doing a split stay with our first night on site (even though we'll be sleeping in our Indian Creek home) which allows us the 60D (it's a rolling 60 day from day 3 onward).

It's STILL more cost effective and gives us more luxurious accommodations than staying onsite.

 

[100AcreWood]

As I'm planning this vacation, it occurred to me that park hopping is really a waste of money in my opinion. Since I only have three fastpass+ a day I see no need to park hop. Still debating onsite vs. offsite. I would much prefer offsite but dh wants to wait for a FD promotion.

 

[disneysteve]

As I'm planning this vacation, it occurred to me that park hopping is really a waste of money in my opinion. Since I only have three fastpass+ a day I see no need to park hop.

I disagree. Whether or not you can get a FP really shouldn't play into whether or not you park hop. We were there in August and still park hopped several days. It just fits how we like to see the parks. We would, for example, do Animal Kingdom from rope drop until mid-afternoon, head out and take a break, then go to MK or EC for the evening (since AK is not open at night - yet). Not having FPs didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves, getting on rides and attractions, and seeing nighttime entertainment.

 

[100AcreWood]

I haven't tried the new fastpass+ system so maybe I will return with a different opinion. But if I can't get all of my reservations in the am, they would potentially be spread out throughout the day. Then I would be less likely to park hop. You make a good point about the evening attractions though.

 

[guera]

please pardon my ignorance but can some explain fastpass+ to me. I know resort guests can reserve 3 attractions a day, up to 60 days prior to visit and offsite guest can reserve 30 days out. I am still very confused on a few points.
We are staying offsite (reserved with WBC today!), I plan to purchase tickets through undercover tourist or another ticket broker.
After receiving the tickets I go set up an account on Disney Experience? Will we receive the wrist bands or is that just for resort guest? I thought there were no longer paper fastpasses, so are just the paper tickets used as fp+?
Would it be possible to maybe stay onsite for one day, just to use the reservation fb+?
TIA

 

[disneysteve]

can some explain fastpass+ to me

There is a great thread on the Theme Parks board that goes into the new system in detail. I'd recommend reading that.

Basically, yes, after you get your tickets, you'll set up your account and link the tickets. Then at 30 days out, you can book FPs if you want to. You won't get Magic Bands but you can buy them when you get to the park if you want to, though I have no idea why anyone would do that. Paper FPs are gone. It's all electronic now.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

The current 60 day advantage for onsite guests to book FP won't be luring me to stay onsite any time soon. I went in September (low crowds) and booked everything just fine except no A&E. I was there last week and couldn't get a 7DMT FP for five even though I tried every day for the whole 30 days. We ended up skipping the ride and it was no big deal.

BOG lunch is discontinuing the current FP+ test and starting later this month will be going to the regular ADR system--so that should be better for us offsite people.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We stayed onsite in November with FP+ and have an offisite visit booked for the first week of March with extended family. I booked our FP+ for five park days this week and was able to get all of our headliners, Toy Story, Soarin, SDMT, Splash and Space Mountain with many time choices. I was not able to get A&E or Peter Pan. We're still happy with our choice, we like to stay all together and it would be cost prohibitive onsite.

 

[mom4fun]

Does rope drop work good still, if you can't get fast passes?

 

[robinb]

Does rope drop work good still, if you can't get fast passes?

Yes. We did rope drop successfully without FP+. Our FP's were for later in the day and/or at another park. We were still able to do things at rope drop that we could not do later in the day.

 

[disneysteve]

Does rope drop work good still, if you can't get fast passes?

Absolutely. I think rope drop is more important than ever especially if you don't want to use FP+. Everybody is freaking out about getting Mine Train FPs when all you need to do is head there at rope drop and get on with a minimal wait.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

For our Spring break trip last year, we planned about half of our park days the night before or even early the morning of. It worked out okay.

It all depends what rides you're trying to get.
I agree w most that it's taking away more spontaneity of a WDW vacation. I change my mind a lot. I used to like to say let's do this park instead today.

 

[Tissa]

We are staying offsite for our March spring break trip. At 45 days out I decided to book a one night onsite room with tickets to get the latest promotion. I was able to book my fp+ then and could not get 7DMT for anytime before 7 pm, that does not work for us so I just figured we could try and rope drop it. At 30 days out I checked and a lot of earlier times had opened up and I was able to book it for both our MK days for my party of 4.

This has me thinking that really the one night room was unnecessary and I probably won't do for our next trip. I did book at a resort I have been wanting to try out so we will go ahead and use the room and enjoy waiting for the Magic bands to arrive.

 

[nugov2]

I'd do as Candleshoe suggested and book the throwaway room. That way you get your MB and you 60 days/180+10 days all for a minimal cost. It is worth the extra money.

 

[Brian Noble]

It all depends what rides you're trying to get.

For example, we got all three mountains for an evening hop to MK.

 

[shalom]

There's really no need to park hop then. Once you have those reservations you're almost stuck, right?

Some people hit their first park early and use stand by, and only reserve with FP+ at the second park. That way you're only tied in to one park for half the day.

I'm not enthused about having to reserve everything way ahead of time, either. That's a big reason why I've never done an ADR. But I also don't like being tied to a schedule, so rarely used the old FP system, either (I knew you could return outside the window but didn't). OTOH, I like being able to reserve some of the attractions that weren't covered under the old FP system, and the ability to see new stuff without racing the mobs. So there's a gain with the loss.