planning with Fastpass enforcement

[SFMommy]

I'm planning our first trip (Feb 2014) since the fastpass times are being enforced and I'm having a hard time not knowing when our fastpass window will be.

For example, at park opening we will get RSR fastpasses first, then Soarin' fastpasses. What time (approximately) will the return windows be? So hard to know where we will be for lunch and if I should even make reservations. (I love making sit-down reservations for lunch and dinner). And how to schedule in Disney Junior and Aladdin shows too.

Any advice? (Other than just go with the flow...I'm not too good at that!) Thanks!

 

[Geemo]

We have gone a number of times in February. With the lower number of people in the parks, some of the FP machines are not open during the week days.

You might look at HydroGuy's thread of Historical Parks operational hours and attraction info.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2291124

This link may help you if you do not have your dates locked in. We have found certain attractions are down at the same general time each year.

Dates to keep in mind as you book.
Valentine's Day Friday Feb 14, 2014
Presidents Day Monday Feb 17, 2014
Dapper Day's Sunday Feb 23, 2014

Good luck when your planning.

Geemo

 

[SMD]

The best plan is to plan to be flexible. If you like making reservations, you should still make them, when you go to pull a FP, if it is the same time as your reservation, don't pull it. Wait until the time works for you.

Even before FP enforcement I would do things like pull and FP for Space Mountain at 10am. If I get a 10:30 return time and the line is 40 minutes, I'd wait in the line, then ride it again immediately a second time using the FP. I know it's different than collecting FP to ride at your convenience later in the day, but this way I'd get 2 rides and be done with that corner of Tomorrowland for the rest of the day.

 

[jacs1234]

With Radiator springs racers I know you can ask the cm what time the return windows are, so could easily wait a couple of minutes to make sure it's not during our lunchtime, but how do you tell what the return time is for the other fast pass machines?

 

[PHXscuba]

The Mobile Magic app will tell you what the FP return times are for any attraction while you are there -- even from the opposite park. The RSR ones are the hardest to gauge, but will move fast enough that you might only have to let a few people go by if you want a slightly later FP.

When I got Soarin FPs right after RSR ones (first thing every morning over spring break) the Soarin FPs were always about 45 minutes out from when I pulled them. My family was riding Paradise Pier rides while I got both sets, so I just met them in the Paradise Pier area, rode a few more rides, then wandered back over to Soarin.

Save the shows for the afternoon -- you can always get into the next show and it's a nice air-conditioned sitting-down break.

PHXscuba

 

[SMD]

The Mobile Magic app will tell you what the FP return times are for any attraction while you are there -- even from the opposite park. The RSR ones are the hardest to gauge, but will move fast enough that you might only have to let a few people go by if you want a slightly later FP.

Maybe it is different with iOS, but with my android phone, I cannot see the other park. Once the GPS places me in a park, that's the one I can see until I hope. I hesitate to recommend relying too heavily on the app because I would say that about half the time instead of giving the current available FP return time, it just says "Fastpass: Available". Definitely still check if you have the app before crossing the park for a specific FP time, but just don't plan on it always having the right info.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm planning our first trip (Feb 2014) since the fastpass times are being enforced and I'm having a hard time not knowing when our fastpass window will be.

For example, at park opening we will get RSR fastpasses first, then Soarin' fastpasses. What time (approximately) will the return windows be? So hard to know where we will be for lunch and if I should even make reservations. (I love making sit-down reservations for lunch and dinner). And how to schedule in Disney Junior and Aladdin shows too.

Any advice? (Other than just go with the flow...I'm not too good at that!) Thanks!

Note that the RSR FP is not connected to the DCA FP network. So you can get an RSR FP and then go immediately and get say a Soarin FP.

 

[SGDisneyFam]

With Radiator springs racers I know you can ask the cm what time the return windows are, so could easily wait a couple of minutes to make sure it's not during our lunchtime, but how do you tell what the return time is for the other fast pass machines?

Every FP location has the return times listed before you get in to where the machines are.

 

[jacs1234]

Every FP location has the return times listed before you get in to where the machines are.

Ok. Thanks.