Our 4th FP+ of the day...

[serene56]

Toy Story Midway Mania!

We booked it at 4 pm, the CM offered us EVERY single attraction, even Fantasmic, as a choice. We are now holding a 7:05 p FP+ for TSMM this evening, our second of the day!

So for unscientific testing purposes, the additional FP+ is awesome.

I think for now it will be easy to do this-- MOST people in the parks dont know to use the three and go back and get another.

at 7:05 you can get another? did the CM give you choices of times-- say at 4pm was something good for say 5pm to use that so you could get another?

 

[jade1]

I agree, but as I have said before, high crowd days only represent 36% of the year. The other 64% ... this should be possible.

I hope it holds up like this-I know a lot of folks on here travel off peak so maybe they can still cover a lot of previous ground they are used to anyway.

We will still be peak-but travel different than most and even 3 will be a big improvement those late afternoons.

 

[Liljo22]

Don't forget the hours of fun on the phone getting phantom guests evicted from your room on your MDE account and getting yourself reinstated as an adult ....

I enjoy planning our trips but not plotting out our days to the extent that we need to for FP+

It's excessive to me.

If you think its too much planning, you can always treat it as Legacy Fastpass.

With the old way, I would show up at 10am and pull a Peter Pan for 12:15. Sometime after noon, I would pull a Buzz for 1:45. Then sometime around 2 or 2:30 I would pull a Jungle Cruise for 4:45.

If you show up the day of and hit a kiosk and get those three times for those attractions, isn't it the same thing? No over planning involved. No excess. I would even say the new way is easier because you do not need to criss cross all over the park. I could spend the morning in Fantasyland, midday in Tomorrowland, and the late afternoon in Frontier/Adventureland.

 

[2Tiggies]

It really is just too much, too many puzzle pieces going on. Add in the fun of waiting for parades and fireworks to show up on FP at an unknown date.

If you think its too much planning, you can always treat it as Legacy Fastpass.

With the old way, I would show up at 10am and pull a Peter Pan for 12:15. Sometime after noon, I would pull a Buzz for 1:45. Then sometime around 2 or 2:30 I would pull a Jungle Cruise for 4:45.

If you show up the day of and hit a kiosk and get those three times for those attractions, isn't it the same thing? No over planning involved. No excess. I would even say the new way is easier because you do not need to criss cross all over the park. I could spend the morning in Fantasyland, midday in Tomorrowland, and the late afternoon in Frontier/Adventureland.

I hear what you are saying. The gamble is that we are there over 4th of July week so it's going to be a little bit busy The planning for this trip is done for the most part. I will see how easy it is to be flexible on the day and use that as a basis for the next trip.

The difference with legacy FP was that you would pull FP's for times that would progressively get later during the day. There is more chance of them being scattered across a longer time span now. Maybe not. But you don't know. You might have picked the 3 attractions you want for that day and on the day the available times may range from 11 am to 6 pm. Under the old system at least you knew they started in the morning and the later you pulled a FP, the later in the day your return time would be.

 

[Planogirl]

It seems like there isn't much consistency. The fact that some people are able to get fastpasses for an attraction that others can't makes you wonder what the trick is so that we all can get a shot at what we want. It's hard to figure out if Disney is randomly throwing out fastpasses that they held in advance during a random time of day or if people staying in deluxe resorts are seeing options that people in value don't see. I think its scary for us disers because we are used to being in the know, but in this case, its hard to figure out exactly what Disney has going on. Just that fact that the op was able to get a TSMM fp at 4pm tells us something is going on.

It looks like she is staying at Coronado Springs which tells us exactly nothing.

 

[Planogirl]

I hear what you are saying. The gamble is that we are there over 4th of July week so it's going to be a little bit busy The planning for this trip is done for the most part. I will see how easy it is to be flexible on the day and use that as a basis for the next trip.

The difference with legacy FP was that you would pull FP's for times that would progressively get later during the day. There is more chance of them being scattered across a longer time span now. Maybe not. But you don't know. You might have picked the 3 attractions you want for that day and on the day the available times may range from 11 am to 6 pm. Under the old system at least you knew they started in the morning and the later you pulled a FP, the later in the day your return time would be.

Plus this talk of Disney releasing fastpasses throughout the day just makes it confusing. With the old way, you could check wait times and return times and plan accordingly. Now you check the App and you can choose something that shows up or hope that something else pops up later. You have to keep checking and checking in the event that something gets released. That seems like a pain.

Of course that could change tomorrow. I can't wait until all of this is finalized because it's starting to make me feel a bit crazy.

 

[chapie1968]

If you think its too much planning, you can always treat it as Legacy Fastpass.

With the old way, I would show up at 10am and pull a Peter Pan for 12:15. Sometime after noon, I would pull a Buzz for 1:45. Then sometime around 2 or 2:30 I would pull a Jungle Cruise for 4:45.

If you show up the day of and hit a kiosk and get those three times for those attractions, isn't it the same thing? No over planning involved. No excess. I would even say the new way is easier because you do not need to criss cross all over the park. I could spend the morning in Fantasyland, midday in Tomorrowland, and the late afternoon in Frontier/Adventureland.

Yeah, try that during peak times.

The only FP left will be for Carousel Of Progress, people Mover and the Treehouse

 

[wareagle57]

We did 2 FP at mK, missed the third then were able to get a test track FP at 4:45 for 5:10

Were you able to do that FROM MK? Or did you have to go to Epcot to get that reservation?

If you have to be in the park, I feel like it won't be worth making early reservations since many people who park hop take mid-late afternoon breaks at their resort and won't want to jump to another park just to make a reservation.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Were you able to do that FROM MK? Or did you have to go to Epcot to get that reservation?

If you have to be in the park, I feel like it won't be worth making early reservations since many people who park hop take mid-late afternoon breaks at their resort and won't want to jump to another park just to make a reservation.

She stated she did it from a kiosk in EPCOT, not from MK.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Plus this talk of Disney releasing fastpasses throughout the day just makes it confusing. With the old way, you could check wait times and return times and plan accordingly. Now you check the App and you can choose something that shows up or hope that something else pops up later. You have to keep checking and checking in the event that something gets released. That seems like a pain.

Of course that could change tomorrow. I can't wait until all of this is finalized because it's starting to make me feel a bit crazy.

It will never be finalized. But eventually you have to stop letting it drive you crazy.

 

[PAGAS]

We got a 5th FP for character spot at Epcot. We pulled it at 5:20 pm for a 5:25 pm slot. Tes Track was currently down, so it was not available.

We are staying at Coronado Springs and have Premier Passports.

 

[mom2rtk]

We got a 5th FP for character spot at Epcot. We pulled it at 5:20 pm for a 5:25 pm slot. Tes Track was currently down, so it was not available.

We are staying at Coronado Springs and have Premier Passports.

Just curious. What was the standby wait when you went in?

 

[Day-Day]

Has anyone used one original FP, let the other 2 expire, pick up the 4th at the same-park kiosk then check to see if the two original FPs are available to change to a later time?

Before yesterday, when the FP expired it could be rescheduled. I think the new rules state that the 4th FP can be obtained at a different park after at least one of the originals is used and the other two expire.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I had emailed Disney with my concerns about how the FP+ system would affect our family with touring and little kids, etc. First, I got a canned email explanation of the FP+ system, then I got a personal call from a CM at WDW- too bad I didn't answer, I was at work. (I actually received it Friday, but it just showed up today) She explained about the new FP+ additions, and that you could book as many as you want, one at a time after you use up the first 3, the move to another park and book them there. I know we all know this, but it was quite a long message. She gave me her phone number and said she is sharing my email with the department heads in attractions.

I was just happy to hear that Disney is listening! I'm nobody, so I didn't expect them to respond.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Plus this talk of Disney releasing fastpasses throughout the day just makes it confusing. With the old way, you could check wait times and return times and plan accordingly. Now you check the App and you can choose something that shows up or hope that something else pops up later. You have to keep checking and checking in the event that something gets released. That seems like a pain.

Of course that could change tomorrow. I can't wait until all of this is finalized because it's starting to make me feel a bit crazy.

You have to just go with the flow a little bit. Think of your app or the kiosks as the boards where they post the FP return times - either it works with what you're doing, or it doesn't and you go to something else. There will be some disappointments and some wins, but you will still be at Disney!

 

[PEC]

My niece is headed to EPCOT today and is going to try and get a Test Track FP around 3 when her previous 3 are used. Tommorrow I will let you know if she gets it. I don't bother her in the parks. IT is her family vacation with her DH, DD4. The last thing she will want to do is spend it texting, e-mailing or talking to somebody else instead of enjoying the parks.

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm nobody, so I didn't expect them to respond.

Actually, you paid for a park ticket so you could get your FP's. So you're not a nobody. You're a guest/customer/client.

It is good to hear reports of Disney actively responding to correspondence and feedback.

 

[wisblue]

The focus of this thread seems to be on what FPs are available after someone uses his/her first 3.

One question I would ask in connection with this is what 3 FPs you had in the first place, and how much they really helped you.

To get a fourth FP at the earliest possible time requires using 3 FPs in the first two hours (and a few minutes) that the park is open. My experience has been that you can do almost as much, if not just as much, in those first two hours without FP as you can do with them, especially in the MK with its number and variety of popular attractions.

I think even the most ardent detractor of FP+ would agree that the best thing about FP+ is that it allows you to pick 3 of your favorite attractions to enjoy with a FP at times that are best suited to your schedule. Personally, I can't see throwing a lot of that value away just to have a shot at extra FPs for which the selection of attractions and times is likely to be a lot more restricted than it is when you make your 3 reservations in advance.

Even if I planned to spend all day at MK, I would probably schedule my FP+ reservations in the 12-2 range and then see what additional FPs are available at 2, instead of using the first 3 by 11.

 

[frozengurl]

The focus of this thread seems to be on what FPs are available after someone uses his/her first 3. One question I would ask in connection with this is what 3 FPs you had in the first place, and how much they really helped you. To get a fourth FP at the earliest possible time requires using 3 FPs in the first two hours (and a few minutes) that the park is open. My experience has been that you can do almost as much, if not just as much, in those first two hours without FP as you can do with them, especially in the MK with its number and variety of popular attractions. I think even the most ardent detractor of FP+ would agree that the best thing about FP+ is that it allows you to pick 3 of your favorite attractions to enjoy with a FP at times that are best suited to your schedule. Personally, I can't see throwing a lot of that value away just to have a shot at extra FPs for which the selection of attractions and times is likely to be a lot more restricted than it is when you make your 3 reservations in advance. Even if I planned to spend all day at MK, I would probably schedule my FP+ reservations in the 12-2 range and then see what additional FPs are available at 2, instead of using the first 3 by 11.

I agree! For MK I will not change my touring plan for "extra FP's" I will stick to my RD strategy and use FP later in the day!
However, at Epcot & HS I would use my 3 FP from 9-10, 10-11, 11-12 in hopes to get another tier one... That will be my touring plan for those 2 parks for sure! I will still however RD and go straight to the other tier 1 I don't have a FP for, ride it, then head to my 1st FP by 10, then on to my second and third then to the kiosk to try to get my 4th FP a tier 1... If it's there great... I get to ride one of the tier 1's twice if not... Then I'd just get whatever is available

 

[jade1]

The focus of this thread seems to be on what FPs are available after someone uses his/her first 3.

One question I would ask in connection with this is what 3 FPs you had in the first place, and how much they really helped you.

To get a fourth FP at the earliest possible time requires using 3 FPs in the first two hours (and a few minutes) that the park is open. My experience has been that you can do almost as much, if not just as much, in those first two hours without FP as you can do with them, especially in the MK with its number and variety of popular attractions.

I think even the most ardent detractor of FP+ would agree that the best thing about FP+ is that it allows you to pick 3 of your favorite attractions to enjoy with a FP at times that are best suited to your schedule. Personally, I can't see throwing a lot of that value away just to have a shot at extra FPs for which the selection of attractions and times is likely to be a lot more restricted than it is when you make your 3 reservations in advance.

Even if I planned to spend all day at MK, I would probably schedule my FP+ reservations in the 12-2 range and then see what additional FPs are available at 2, instead of using the first 3 by 11.

Yea the strategies will be interesting to hear back on.

Seasons will make a big difference as well. Kinda busy season you may want to use them asap and hope to get more, then again even busier seasons they will go soo fast like FP- did that maybe 3 later will still be better. XMAS week forget it IMO-get 3 good ones at 60 days (30 if poss) for later-then RD if you want-esp EMH AM if there are no FP+'s offered at that time anyway. Slow season looks like any strategy will be pretty workable IMO-so far.

It's noon and RNR and TOT are 10 and 20 minutes.