Our park experiences with no real advance FP+ bookings!

[jeanico2000]

For those who wonder what happens to park-goers who cannot access FP+ in advance, here is the re-telling of our latest Disney experience.

- Who are we? DH, adult DD, and myself. The three of us are true Disney park veterans, with many visits throughout the years.

- Why no FP+? DH and I own a TA and had to pick-up our tickets upon arrival; we were not entitled to make FP+ choices in advance (even though our daughter could have if she wanted. She chose not to so we could visit and ride everything together). We actually picked-up our tickets from Guest Services at Animal Kingdom (closest park to our hotel) on November 9 in the evening, when we arrived in the World. We were able to book a few FP+ then and there, but none of the top attractions were available at this point at Epcot. We were able to secure BTMR at MK for Nov 11th, as well as Journey of the Little Mermaid and Space Mountain.

- Where did we stay? The AKL (pool view, Jambo House), which we truly loved! Only regret? Not having a resort day to relax and explore this beautiful property! Our guilty pleasure? Zebra domes! Yum!

- First park day: Epcot, Monday Nov 10, last day of F&W festival. Power walked to Soarin’ at rope drop, and walked on. Power walked to Test Track, chose single rider line and walked on. DH and DD rode Mission Space Green, also a walk on. By now, we were able to use our first FP+ of the day and rode Spaceship Earth. Ambled over to World Showcase for 11AM opening. Took our time walking around the lagoon, stopping here and there for a taste of something that attracted us. Note: we would buy 1 portion for 3, so didn’t get much to eat by doing this as most of the portions are tiny!!! we soon discovered that doing the F&W tasting properly would have cost us way more than we were willing to spend! Rode the boat ride in Mexico with a 10 minute wait. Stopped at first aid station for band-aids because I developed blisters on both my little toes (despite my really comfortable broken in walking shoes!). Returned to Test Track and rode single rider again with a 10 minute wait. Did Seas with Nemo, our 2nd FP+ of the day. Did Imagination standby, our longest wait of the day at 30 minutes. Used our 3rd FP+ on Listen to the Land. Returned to World Showcase for a bit of night photography before calling it a day. The area, by this time, was fairly busy and we were dead on our feet!

Bottom line? we rode everything we wanted to with minimal waits.

Next up, our MK day!

 

[LSUfan4444]

we rode everything we wanted to with minimal waits.

As long as Anna & Elsa and/or Mine Train aren't on your "wanted to" list, you should have similar success at MK. Even 7DMT won't be that bad if you are there early enough and walk with a purpose. There will be plenty of FP+ availability throughout the day for just about everything else.

Hollywood Studios is quite similar to Epcot. TSM at rope drop, check RnR standby (as you are wlaking there) and decide if you want to do ToT first then RnR single rider, or try RnR first, then ToT, then RnR single rider.

Animal Kingdom is fairly easy as well.

The main issue have is with meet & greets because the lines for them can build so fast you have to decide....do I go to _______ or to go meet ________. If you choose to meet Merida, you lose out on Mine Train and so on.

 

[jeanico2000]

As long as Anna & Elsa and/or Mine Train aren't on your "wanted to" list, you should have similar success at MK. Even 7DMT won't be that bad if you are there early enough and walk with a purpose. There will be plenty of FP+ availability throughout the day for just about everything else.

Hollywood Studios is quite similar to Epcot. TSM at rope drop, check RnR standby (as you are wlaking there) and decide if you want to do ToT first then RnR single rider, or try RnR first, then ToT, then RnR single rider.

Animal Kingdom is fairly easy as well.

The main issue have is with meet & greets because the lines for them can build so fast you have to decide....do I go to _______ or to go meet ________. If you choose to meet Merida, you lose out on Mine Train and so on.

Agree 100% with you on the Meets! The posted wait times were incredibly high at Fairy Tale Hall, but other characters could be met with much shorter waits, including the hilarious Gaston! OMG, what fun! The lines for Tiana and Merida weren't too bad either, depending on the time of day. Anna and Elsa... now that was another story/problem altogether!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Thank you for your report. We have backed off the fps as we don't want to be married to a schedule. We do have fps for the big ones such as Mine Train and A&E but a lot of our fps are for m&gs Because we are chasing princesses with 2 granddaughters this trip.

 

[SuperTink]

Thanks for the report!

Do you remember what that stand-by line was like at TT after you did Soarin'?

 

[jeanico2000]

Thanks for the report!

Do you remember what that stand-by line was like at TT after you did Soarin'?

Not that bad, actually... if my memory serves me right (it doesn't always!), it was between 20 and 30 minutes, while single rider was a walk-on

 

[wisblue]

Nm

 

[wisblue]

Thanks for the report!

Do you remember what that stand-by line was like at TT after you did Soarin'?

We did the same thing on Friday, November 7 with no FPs. After walking on at Soarin we went directly to TT., arriving there at about 9:20. I think the posted wait time was something like 30 or 40 minutes, but don't know what the actual wait time was because we used the single rider line and were whisked immediately into a car. The posted wait time for single rider was 10 minutes, but there was literally nobody else there when we got to the boarding area.

I wouldn't hesitate to get into a line for TT with a 40 minute posted wait in that first hour because there is a good chance that the actual wait will be shorter.

For example, the next day we were at DHS for EMH and did RNRC and TOT first because TSMM had a delayed opening. When we returned to TSMM at about 8:40 the posted wait was 40 minutes, but we only waited 20.

 

[KimBean]

For those who wonder what happens to park-goers who cannot access FP+ in advance, here is the re-telling of our latest Disney experience.

- Who are we? DH, adult DD, and myself. The three of us are true Disney park veterans, with many visits throughout the years.

- Why no FP+? DH and I own a TA and had to pick-up our tickets upon arrival; we were not entitled to make FP+ choices in advance (even though our daughter could have if she wanted. She chose not to so we could visit and ride everything together). We actually picked-up our tickets from Guest Services at Animal Kingdom (closest park to our hotel) on November 9 in the evening, when we arrived in the World. We were able to book a few FP+ then and there, but none of the top attractions were available at this point at Epcot. We were able to secure BTMR at MK for Nov 11th, as well as Journey of the Little Mermaid and Space Mountain.

- Where did we stay? The AKL (pool view, Jambo House), which we truly loved! Only regret? Not having a resort day to relax and explore this beautiful property! Our guilty pleasure? Zebra domes! Yum!

- First park day: Epcot, Monday Nov 10, last day of F&W festival. Power walked to Soarin’ at rope drop, and walked on. Power walked to Test Track, chose single rider line and walked on. DH and DD rode Mission Space Green, also a walk on. By now, we were able to use our first FP+ of the day and rode Spaceship Earth. Ambled over to World Showcase for 11AM opening. Took our time walking around the lagoon, stopping here and there for a taste of something that attracted us. Note: we would buy 1 portion for 3, so didn’t get much to eat by doing this as most of the portions are tiny!!! we soon discovered that doing the F&W tasting properly would have cost us way more than we were willing to spend! Rode the boat ride in Mexico with a 10 minute wait. Stopped at first aid station for band-aids because I developed blisters on both my little toes (despite my really comfortable broken in walking shoes!). Returned to Test Track and rode single rider again with a 10 minute wait. Did Seas with Nemo, our 2nd FP+ of the day. Did Imagination standby, our longest wait of the day at 30 minutes. Used our 3rd FP+ on Listen to the Land. Returned to World Showcase for a bit of night photography before calling it a day. The area, by this time, was fairly busy and we were dead on our feet!

Bottom line? we rode everything we wanted to with minimal waits.

Next up, our MK day!

Could you tell us your dates? Interested in matching up experience with crowd level.

 

[jeanico2000]

Could you tell us your dates? Interested in matching up experience with crowd level.

Epcot on Monday Nov 10th, MK on Tuesday Nov 11th

 

[Kirby]

When you linked your tickets with MDX was it fairly easy? We aren't purchasing our tickets until we arrive also and will be doing it through my phone.

 

[jeanico2000]

When you linked your tickets with MDX was it fairly easy? We aren't purchasing our tickets until we arrive also and will be doing it through my phone.

Our daughter signed in to our MDE account, took the tickets, scanned them with her phone and the numbers just plopped into the account. So, it was 'you blink, you miss' kind of easy (for her... it wouldn't have been quite so simple for me or DH! )

 

[emmasmom77]

We stare our trip on Monday and didn't choose our fast passes till the night before /morning of. Of course no SDMT or Anna/Elsa M&G. BUT on Monday morning before the park opened we got Toy Story Mania, Disney Junior and Little Mermaid. We had the premium party so didn't need a FP+ for sing-a-long.

Tuesday was Magic Kingdom and we got Cinderella and Rapunzel M&G, Buzz and Big Tunder.

Wednesday we had soarin, Nemo and Turtle Talk and got a later FP+ to Test Track.

Animal Kingdom today and wait times are all 5-10 minutes except M&G at outpost with Mickey and Minnie. Which we have a FP+ for that was just available. Changed since my daughter didn't want to go to Nemo musical.

I'm not a fan of having to schedule the times, it takes away from the spontaneity that we enjoy on vacation. Have to be plugged in if you want to check on wait times and change fast passes.

We did meet Elsa first thing on Tuesday in an hour and half wait. It was just sad that we had to or felt we had to run through the park to help cut down our wait time. Miss the days when we could just walk in and take it all in. If we even tried at rope drop we would've been trampled on.

We have MVMCP tonight which is now sold out. Hope to get on SDMT while everyone is at the parade.

 

[SuperTink]

Not that bad, actually... if my memory serves me right (it doesn't always!), it was between 20 and 30 minutes, while single rider was a walk-on

Thank you! Very encouraging!

 

[SuperTink]

I wouldn't hesitate to get into a line for TT with a 40 minute posted wait in that first hour because there is a good chance that the actual wait will be shorter.

For example, the next day we were at DHS for EMH and did RNRC and TOT first because TSMM had a delayed opening. When we returned to TSMM at about 8:40 the posted wait was 40 minutes, but we only waited 20.

Thank you! Maximizing EMH is going to be the key to a successful trip for us!

 

[lustergirl]

Nice report Nice to hear you still had a great time w/o going crazy thinking about fast passes.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

For Did Imagination standby, our longest wait of the day at 30 minutes.

Wow! I can't imagine (no pun intended) waiting half an hour for Imagination!
For years, it has always been a walk-on attraction for us. FP+ has most certainly increased demand for that attraction!

 

[SCDisneyfanatic]

According to Touring Plans, 10 November at EPCOT was a 7/10. It seems you still did a pretty good job accomplishing what you wanted to accomplish. Very interesting!

 

[jerseygal]

For those who wonder what happens to park-goers who cannot access FP+ in advance, here is the re-telling of our latest Disney experience.

- Who are we? DH, adult DD, and myself. The three of us are true Disney park veterans, with many visits throughout the years.

- Why no FP+? DH and I own a TA and had to pick-up our tickets upon arrival; we were not entitled to make FP+ choices in advance (even though our daughter could have if she wanted. She chose not to so we could visit and ride everything together). We actually picked-up our tickets from Guest Services at Animal Kingdom (closest park to our hotel) on November 9 in the evening, when we arrived in the World. We were able to book a few FP+ then and there, but none of the top attractions were available at this point at Epcot. We were able to secure BTMR at MK for Nov 11th, as well as Journey of the Little Mermaid and Space Mountain.

- Where did we stay? The AKL (pool view, Jambo House), which we truly loved! Only regret? Not having a resort day to relax and explore this beautiful property! Our guilty pleasure? Zebra domes! Yum!

- First park day: Epcot, Monday Nov 10, last day of F&W festival. Power walked to Soarin’ at rope drop, and walked on. Power walked to Test Track, chose single rider line and walked on. DH and DD rode Mission Space Green, also a walk on. By now, we were able to use our first FP+ of the day and rode Spaceship Earth. Ambled over to World Showcase for 11AM opening. Took our time walking around the lagoon, stopping here and there for a taste of something that attracted us. Note: we would buy 1 portion for 3, so didn’t get much to eat by doing this as most of the portions are tiny!!! we soon discovered that doing the F&W tasting properly would have cost us way more than we were willing to spend! Rode the boat ride in Mexico with a 10 minute wait. Stopped at first aid station for band-aids because I developed blisters on both my little toes (despite my really comfortable broken in walking shoes!). Returned to Test Track and rode single rider again with a 10 minute wait. Did Seas with Nemo, our 2nd FP+ of the day. Did Imagination standby, our longest wait of the day at 30 minutes. Used our 3rd FP+ on Listen to the Land. Returned to World Showcase for a bit of night photography before calling it a day. The area, by this time, was fairly busy and we were dead on our feet!

Bottom line? we rode everything we wanted to with minimal waits.

Next up, our MK day!

Glad that you rode everything you wanted, minimal wait!
Great reading your feedback on AKL Jambo.staying there soon on split stay!
Yes...heard the Zebra Domes are delic! CAN'T WAIT!

 

[jeanico2000]

Glad that you rode everything you wanted, minimal wait!
Great reading your feedback on AKL Jambo.staying there soon on split stay!
Yes...heard the Zebra Domes are delic! CAN'T WAIT!

You can buy the zebra domes in convenient packs of 4 in the refrigerated section of The Mara... from early morning until late at night (depending on when the fancy strikes!) mmmmmmmmmmm!!!