Question regarding RD in the a.m, and saving FP+ for p.m. (Christmas trip)

[p1atrick]

Good day. First time poster (at least I think). but mid-term lurker. Love the objective info gleaned from these boards.

We are going the week before Christmas, and have normally been RD people, leaving at around one or so when the masses are in full force. Seems to me that I might wish to create an 'am/pm' touring plan for MK (for example) and possibly save all of my FPP for our return (after 6 pm, until closing). When creating a personalized TP it seems that we can hit a decent chunk of cool stuff (7D, SM, PP, WP, HM, ETWB, BL, Barnstormer, UTS) before our (hoped for) 11:30 BOG ressie...

So my Q is this? What is the flaw in my thinking that we should NOT burn any FPP until after we arrive in the evening? We will then hit the 3 mountains, and then the smaller attractions until the crowds thin out towards closing.

TIA

 

[stamot]

Welcome!!!

I do the same thing when we go to Disney. We do RD and try to do the headliners first. Then leave at 1 or 2pm. Take a rest at the resort and come back to the park after 7pm. We manage to do a lot of thing, specially if the park has extra magic hours at night.

 

[p1atrick]

@Stamot, thanks for the reply. I am known as a thread killer sadly (even on my own threads). Bumping for other smart people to chime in as to my query regarding saving FPP for our p.m. return...

 

[p1atrick]

Bumping for a reply

 

[p1atrick]

One more bump attempt for the fine folks in DisBoards land...

 

[1stvisit0909]

We are going from 12/20-12/26 and I am planning to do the same thing.

I doubt we will be able to get the 4+ FP that week, at least for anything good, and the last time we were there the lines were very manageable until lunch time.
So we plan to do RD commando until lunch time, either leave or take in some shows, and then use FP+ later.

 

[nuzmom]

I think we have similar vacation dates.
We've never been there this late in December, so I've been wondering about this same thing. However, we're thinking of going with FP+ starting just a few hours after RD, and before our mid to late afternoon TS. Hoping to snag a 4th FP+ before we sit for TS. After eating, then we'll focus on shows, less popular rides, and just casual wandering and relaxing. Then do our FP+ and perhaps standby on more popular rides as the crowds subside.

Basically, my reasoning is...

1. we avoid parks with EMHs, especially evening ones, as we've witnessed large crowds during those.
2. we find we lose a lot of time leaving the park, getting to our room, and then returning later.
3. we aren't napping type of people (even in WDW) and find our afternoon resort time isn't all that useful (except when our children were YOUNG!!!)
4. the shorter December hours makes evening hours (at non-EMH parks) somewhat limited and crowds aren't all that thin - verses when parks are open past 11:00pm

But, different touring strategies work for different people. I'll be interested in hearing what other posters say. I'm glad you started this thread.

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

I have been having the same debate about our FPs for our December trip. We're there for 4 nights/5 days, and we won't hit any PM EMH. I think I'm going to opt for late morning FPs in hopes of snagging additional FPs later in the day at different parks...? I just hate that you have to use the first three to get additional. I am not a big thrill rider, so the only thing I want to (or even see the need to...) FP at DHS is TSMM. Seems silly to waste my other two FPs at DHS that day. I think we'll just rope drop it once and call it a day to save our FPs for EP or MK.
I'm just not sure that waiting until our return in the late afternoon/evening is going to work. I like to have my evenings to wander, have dinner, and sort of go on a whim.