Overwhelmed planning!

[**Courtney**]

Its been about 8 years since I last visited, and I am finding with all the changes with Fast Pass planning this trip is much more difficult. In past visits, we would just choose which park the night before and go with the flow, which now is more tricky to do! I only have 22 days before I can pick Fast Passes. Does anyone have any tips or tricks they use to plan their trip? I am going with my Fiancee who hasn't been since he was a child, so he is no help and just wants me to plan it. We are going in October and have park hoppers, which I am sure is complicating things more, but with MNSSHP and parks closing early we want to be able to hop around a bit. Any suggestions or ideas would be awesome! Thanks in advance!

 

[sharonabe]

Its been about 8 years since I last visited, and I am finding with all the changes with Fast Pass planning this trip is much more difficult. In past visits, we would just choose which park the night before and go with the flow, which now is more tricky to do! I only have 22 days before I can pick Fast Passes. Does anyone have any tips or tricks they use to plan their trip? I am going with my Fiancee who hasn't been since he was a child, so he is no help and just wants me to plan it. We are going in October and have park hoppers, which I am sure is complicating things more, but with MNSSHP and parks closing early we want to be able to hop around a bit. Any suggestions or ideas would be awesome! Thanks in advance!

I would at least choose the park you want to start in each day and then go from there. If you know where you want to hop to at least for a few days, that would be helpful. If not, then just choose the FP+ you want for your first park. You can get extra FP on day of after you use or skip the 3 you make ahead of time.

If you want to do it as you did in the past, you still can, and just see what FP is available the night before. That might even be a way to decide which park you want to do the next day.

The two rides that almost always require some advance planning and FP+ are the new Flight of Passage at AK and 7 Dwarves Mine Train, although, many are reporting that 7DMT is a little easier to get these days.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Look at park hours (if on-site, go to EMH park, if off-site, avoid them). Since you have hoppers, split your days into thirds. Morning at one park, afternoon break, evening at another. Which park on which day is not all that important, but having a plan so you can get ADRs and FPs is important. You can always change the plan, but better to lay out a scaffold to get those hard to get dining reservations and FPs. Look at which restaurants most interest you and decide on which park based on where you will eat dinner.
To help with better info:
Are you on site or off, where?
Do you have a car or using Disney transport?
Have you made ADRs?
What are your dates?
Do you like to hit parks early (rope drop) or close them?
Do you plan to attend MNSSHP?

 

[Klayfish]

In past visits, we would just choose which park the night before and go with the flow, which now is more tricky to do! I only have 22 days before I can pick Fast Passes.

But that's the thing...it's NOT all that difficult to do. Don't let the whole FP+ thing overwhelm you. You don't need to plan everything really far out. A lot of people do, but you absolutely don't have to. You can pick parks the night before and still get a good selection of FP+. Certainly it's somewhat easier to do it 60 days out, or 30 days if you're offsite, but it is not a prerequisite. Not even close. We are very much "wing it" type people. We also stay offsite, which means we can only book 30 days out. I also can only make 7 days worth of FP+ in advance, and our trip was much longer than that, so many of the days had to be done just one week in advance. With very, very limited exceptions, we had no problems getting FP+. You can even get top tier FP+ hours or minutes ahead if you know how to use the system. Here's what I'd suggest...

Make a rough plan of what parks you might think you want to visit. Do an A,B,C,D,A,B,C,D type rotation if you can't think of anything else. Get FP+ for those parks when you window opens, because as I said there's no question it's easier to do then. But don't feel like you're stuck with that plan, because you absolutely aren't. If you made plans for Epcot on a Thursday, and on Wednesday night you decide you want to do Magic Kingdom instead, go for it. You can switch your FP+ to that park and still get good rides. There are only a small handful of rides that I wouldn't want to switch and give up a FP+ for. FOP and Na'vi in AK, and 7DMT in MK. That's it. Everything else is fairly easy to get with very short notice....even the three hard ones I listed can be done with some work but I wouldn't want to count on it.

Definitely read the FP+ FAQ and learn how to work it. It'll be your friend. Then if you want to have a "wing it" style, you can.

**I'm only referring to the rides/attractions. Not dining. I don't eat at the restaurants, so I can't give much advice there**

 

[mindeola]

You can still do it your old way- you probably won't get hard to get FP, but you will get some.

I plan a starting park. we rope drop ( usually) and start the FP about two hours after park opening. Then your afternoon is free. You can add FP for the next park you plan to hit or stay at the one you are in.

 

[kay1864]

I always recommend RideMax to avoid long lines, and experience the most rides/shows. $20, but well worth it IMHO since it saves you at least 2 hours a day, for $4/day on an average 5-day trip. Here's what we do:

(do this at least 30 days in advance if you're staying offsite, and at least 60 days in advance if you're staying onsite)

1. First, choose "which day/which park", based on the easywdw calendar. I'd check the RideMax calendar as well. (since you have hoppers, you might want to pick the two best parks for some days)

2. Select all the rides you want to do in each park (regardless of Fastpasses). YouTube is helpful for a preview if you're not familiar with certain rides.

3. Of the rides you want, "assign" your 3 FPs (for each park) based on mesaboy's list.

4. In RideMax, select FP attractions (but not times) (Note that RideMax has tiering built in.) Also add in your dining reservations, and it will plan around those. With hoppers, you'll need to run some partial-day schedules.

5. Then in RideMax, select the rides for each park. RideMax will generate the touring plans, including FP+ times. Ridemax will also tell you if you can't fit all your rides into your allotted times.

6. Then on day 30 (or 60), get on MDE to select the FPs, based on the FP times in the RideMax schedule. (after you pick your 3 FPs for each park, you can usually modify the times in MDE)

 

[BrianL]

1. First, choose "which day/which park", based on the easywdw calendar. I'd check the RideMax calendar as well. (since you have hoppers, you might want to pick the two best parks for some days)

FYI, EasyWDW is not currently making crowd calendars for future months. This may change, but they feel it has become too difficult to accurately curate the calendars due to the many changes and erratic scheduling on Disney's part. It's too bad because I always liked their calendar best.

 

[Capang]

As far as FP start here https://www.disboards.com/threads/fastpass-frequently-asked-questions.3491680/ this thread has everything you need to know about FP. Just read the first few pages. You will have a great time. Once you get the hang of mde and FP it becomes really easy to use.

 

[**Courtney**]

Thanks so much everyone! WE are staying on property and will be using Disney Transportation, and plan on doing the Express Transportation if they are still offering it when we go! I think I am going to just plan a little, we only have one reservation for dinner on our last day so it makes it easier than working around a lot of them. Im glad to hear others go with the flow. It all seems so stressful now! I will make a loose plan, and adjust if needed. Thanks everyone for calming my nerves!

 

[DeterminedOne]

I understand your concern. I haven't been in 11 years and planning has always been one of the best parts.
With less than ten days to book our FP+ I started getting nervous - realizing how complicated this whole FP reservation stuff seems. I keep reading reports whereas guests are in the parks making FP reservations for this - canceling FP reservations for that. I don't want to do that! I'm hoping to be off the grid as much as possible while in the World. I still don't have a real plan for which ones I am going to reserve in six days ...
The folks on DIS have been a big help, though answering all my questions.

 

[Klayfish]

I understand your concern. I haven't been in 11 years and planning has always been one of the best parts.
With less than ten days to book our FP+ I started getting nervous - realizing how complicated this whole FP reservation stuff seems. I keep reading reports whereas guests are in the parks making FP reservations for this - canceling FP reservations for that. I don't want to do that! I'm hoping to be off the grid as much as possible while in the World. I still don't have a real plan for which ones I am going to reserve in six days ...
The folks on DIS have been a big help, though answering all my questions.

With the way WDW is set up, being off the grid is going to be somewhat of a challenge. Not saying it can't be done, but it's going to be a lot harder. Sad, but it is what it is. I'm not a tech guy (I don't even text) and I didn't particularly enjoy constantly playing with MDE...though the "hunt" is kinda fun...but the results from what I did were phenomenal and made all the difference in our trip.

 

[Karin1984]

Keep in mind there is no such thing as the perfect plan. Don't be too ambitious to find that perfection.

What is the purpose of your vacation? Racing from ride to show to dinner or to re-live what you experienced 8 years ago/as a child?

What happens if you miss something, the world will not come to an end. Disney World isn't going anywhere, it will be there for a while. And even if it takes another 8 years before you go again, everything will be completely different by then.

Relax, pick what you and your fiancee will like and the rest is a bonus.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I drove myself crazy planning this year's trip. We haven't been since December 2015 and there have been some changes. I obsessed about it for months and wound up throwing it all out the window a couple of weeks ago

I'm not sure what to do about FP this time. I like the concept, but it is annoying trying to plan that so far ahead. In the end I said, "we get what we get." I'm going to pick our favorites first.

I was feeling really overwhelmed, too. Then I realized I was making it hard on myself for no reason. Of course, booking a very quick return trip helped me decide to slow things down for this year. We haven't been on vacation in 2 years, so we refuse to rope drop every day and get all crazy commando.

Good luck, OP!!

 

[kay1864]

FYI, EasyWDW is not currently making crowd calendars for future months. This may change, but they feel it has become too difficult to accurately curate the calendars due to the many changes and erratic scheduling on Disney's part. It's too bad because I always liked their calendar best.

Oh no! I know they went away for awhile for a few months last year, but then came back. Dang.

I guess the OP can use the October 2016 calendar. Or RideMax's.

 

[BrianL]

Oh no! I know they went away for awhile for a few months last year, but then came back. Dang.

I guess the OP can use the October 2016 calendar. Or RideMax's.

They did come back for a while, but have stopped again. I know I miss them!

 

[sharonabe]

always recommend RideMax to avoid long lines, and experience the most rides/shows. $20, but well worth it IMHO since it saves you at least 2 hours a day, for $4/day on an average 5-day trip. Here's what we do:

You trust this guy? I had to at least go check it out and found this:

May 31, 2017
Updated wait time estimates for the new PANDORA attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Disney has also been closing these attractions early on dates when Animal Kingdom is hosting evening Extra Magic Hours (basically every day from now through July 4th), so RideMax will assume this going forward, and won't try to schedule you for these attractions during the last two hours the park is open.

Disney was NOT closing the Pandora rides; they were the ONLY thing open during EMH. So anyone who did use them, didn't have those as an option. Seems strange to me.

 

[kay1864]

You trust this guy? I had to at least go check it out and found this:

May 31, 2017
Updated wait time estimates for the new PANDORA attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Disney has also been closing these attractions early on dates when Animal Kingdom is hosting evening Extra Magic Hours (basically every day from now through July 4th), so RideMax will assume this going forward, and won't try to schedule you for these attractions during the last two hours the park is open.

Disney was NOT closing the Pandora rides; they were the ONLY thing open during EMH. So anyone who did use them, didn't have those as an option. Seems strange to me.

I got curious about that, and I found this on the DIS boards:

[Jun 13 post] They closed the normal line at 9:30 and people were lined up way past the bridge to access EMH benefits. Basically, they cleared the line before 11 and let resort guest into the Que at 11.​

So on that night at least, RideMax was correct--they closed the Pandora line 1 1/2 hours early. AFAIK RideMax doesn't do planning during EMH hours (I wouldn't know since I don't often stay onsite). RideMax wouldn't schedule Pandora for say, 9:45pm, since the ride would be closed--even though the park itself was open for all until 11.

 

[sharonabe]

I got curious about that, and I found this on the DIS boards:

[Jun 13 post] They closed the normal line at 9:30 and people were lined up way past the bridge to access EMH benefits. Basically, they cleared the line before 11 and let resort guest into the Que at 11.​

So on that night at least, RideMax was correct--they closed the Pandora line 1 1/2 hours early. AFAIK RideMax doesn't do planning during EMH hours (I wouldn't know since I don't often stay onsite). RideMax wouldn't schedule Pandora for say, 9:45pm, since the ride would be closed to non-EMH guests--even though the park itself was open until 11.

Ahhhh...now that makes sense. Yes, the ride is closed to all BUT guests who are eligible for EMH. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Old school here.

The only plan we make is what park on what day. If that park gets too busy, we call it day and lounge at the resort pool and return later.
We may try to get fastpasses the day before, if not we hit the big rides at rope drop.

Big Thunder from 9-10
Mine Train from 10-11
Lunch here at 11:30
Peter Pan 1-2
Hairdo appointment at 2:30
Parade at 4
Dinner at 5:30
Dessert party to see fireworks better at 6:30

The above is like a workday schedule. Go with the flow and have some fun. No need to stress out scheduling every minute of a vacation. It's a vacation.....

 

[dreiwhit]

Planning for a Disney trip can be overwhelming. I joking tell my wife that the only equivalent is planning for a military campaign!

What we do, from experience, is to start planning 8-9 months out, and break the planning into little chunks. Just like the old saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at at time." However, we have planned a really good trip six weeks out.

We will also set up a time line with dates of "make ADRs now", or "buy tickets now", or "get lodging now" and other items.

What is weird to me is when all the planning is done and we're in the car heading to Orlando. After all the planning, I get the feeling like this can't be real, but it is!