Quick observations from last 5 days

[Aristomommy]

First, according to many CMs and locals, summer crowds have not arrived. We are doing a non-EMH park most mornings and it is not busy at all (except A&E and mine train).

With that being said, the FP+ kiosks are awful. By the time we used our 3, the selections have been slim to none. At MK it was mostly rides with 20 min or less wait. Today, at DHS (the only EMH morning park we have done) there was only the choice of Fantasmic or one Beauty and Beast show for a FP+ at 1pm. We took B& B and the app did not give us additional times or choices.

Surprised by people that did not know about FP+ at all and we have tried to help others as we can. We are having a great time and use the wait times app to choose rides rather than FP+.

 

[agavegirl1]

First, according to many CMs and locals, summer crowds have not arrived. We are doing a non-EMH park most mornings and it is not busy at all (except A&E and mine train).

School is still in session here due to the multitude of snow/cold days they have to make up. May be true in other areas as well.

 

[Aristomommy]

School is still in session here due to the multitude of snow/cold days they have to make up. May be true in other areas as well.

Yep, this is true for many states near us. I expected it to be much more crowded than it is.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Glad the crowds are still low for you!

What time did you go to the kiosks?

 

[SillySallySews]

We had no snow days to make up and our kids are still in school until the end of this week.

We got a book from Disney describing FP+, a magnet to remind us what day we could make our choices, FP+ for SDMT is the first thing I see on the Disney website, and every CM I've talked to on the phone for the last couple months has mentioned it. Unless you're planning your Disney vacation from under a rock, it's kind of hard to miss lol! I'm wondering if maybe the choices for a 4th are limited because more and more people are realizing FP+ is available.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We found that to be the case when we were there over Memorial weekend 2014 and the week after too.

Very limited choices for FP+ for the later hours. We also found all the kiosks to be busy and in Tomorrowland in MK there were no real lines - just people moving around cutting in front of others to get to a kiosk. Drove me nuts.

I think most people we encountered knew about booking your FP in advance and that's why everything was limited.

I'm planning out my dates for my Sept. solo trip and making sure I know which park I'll be going to on which date and will be booking my FP+ early because of it. Normally I'm not so structured on a solo trip - it will be interesting to see if I like it or if it drives me insane.

I have one more solo trip I'm planning before my AP expires in 2015 after the September 2014 one. Maybe I'll have learned how to make the system work for me by then.

 

[Aristomommy]

Glad the crowds are still low for you! What time did you go to the kiosks?

Earliest around 1pm and from there into the evening every day. The lines are long and it makes more sense to wait 15 min at an attraction than at the FP+ line without getting anything you really want to do.

 

[Aristomommy]

We had no snow days to make up and our kids are still in school until the end of this week. We got a book from Disney describing FP+, a magnet to remind us what day we could make our choices, FP+ for SDMT is the first thing I see on the Disney website, and every CM I've talked to on the phone for the last couple months has mentioned it. Unless you're planning your Disney vacation from under a rock, it's kind of hard to miss lol! I'm wondering if maybe the choices for a 4th are limited because more and more people are realizing FP+ is available.

I think it's more limited because tour groups and people who did not set up FP+ go in the morning to make their selections. That leaves less choices for 4th FP+ selections. Some kiosks had signs that bowed which ones were limited options. Today at DHS some were limited or not available at 10am.

 

[Aristomommy]

We found that to be the case when we were there over Memorial weekend 2014 and the week after too. Very limited choices for FP+ for the later hours. We also found all the kiosks to be busy and in Tomorrowland in MK there were no real lines - just people moving around cutting in front of others to get to a kiosk. Drove me nuts. I think most people we encountered knew about booking your FP in advance and that's why everything was limited. I'm planning out my dates for my Sept. solo trip and making sure I know which park I'll be going to on which date and will be booking my FP+ early because of it. Normally I'm not so structured on a solo trip - it will be interesting to see if I like it or if it drives me insane. I have one more solo trip I'm planning before my AP expires in 2015 after the September 2014 one. Maybe I'll have learned how to make the system work for me by then.

The lines drove me nuts too. There has to be a better way and Disney will figure it out eventually. But for now, it's not working the way they have intended.

 

[judaloo]

Just got back from a 5 day stay and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised with FP +. Our strategy was to do rope drop at a non - EMH park each day (except our last day was morning EMH at MK). We were able to ride headliners (usually twice) and then fill in with other rides with little wait. Then, once it got a little busier, our FP times came around and we rode, ate lunch and left the park. On our way out, we would hit the kiosk and book a ride for when we came back at night and usually, got what we wanted.

I will; however, add one day's experience that wasn't great, but honestly, Disney made it right. On our Epcot day, we rode Soarin at rope drop and had a FP for TT around 10:40. Our plan was to ride TT and then hit World Showcase when it opened to do Maelstrom and the boat ride in Mexico, have lunch and leave. After we had scanned our FP's, TT was having difficulties and no one came around to tell us. We stood in one spot (outside the building) for 15 min. then, once we finally started moving it took a while to get into the design studio (which we would have skipped, but it wasn't an option!). The queue was so full that once we left the design studio to go and ride, the next group exiting literally had no where to go when the doors opened. All in all, it took us an entire hour to finish with TT with a FAST PASS . It threw off our plans and when we went to schedule a fourth FP for evening, nothing was available. We ended up going to guest relations (at the suggestions of the CM) and we were given another FP to use on anything, at anytime. It was a nice gesture, and we felt a little better about things.

Also, I recommend riding during the parade in MK and also during the first showing of Fantasmic! We were able to accomplish so much during that time, and you can always catch the second parade. Just a couple of touring suggestions that worked for me. We don't park hop, so this really worked for us.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I'm in Richmond VA, and our schools are still in session as well. We had two days added (private school) but many of the public schools got more!

 

[tinkerbella16]

I'm in Richmond VA, and our schools are still in session as well. We had two days added (private school) but many of the public schools got more!

Yup the schools here in NJ are also still in session so I would guess that this is the calm before the storm so to speak. Our school districts last day of school is June 26th!! We had a lot of snow days this year.

 

[Aristomommy]

Yup the schools here in NJ are also still in session so I would guess that this is the calm before the storm so to speak. Our school districts last day of school is June 26th!! We had a lot of snow days this year.

Wow, that seems really late In Michigan, my relatives have an extra week of snow days.

 

[Aristomommy]

Also, I recommend riding during the parade in MK and also during the first showing of Fantasmic! We were able to accomplish so much during that time, and you can always catch the second parade. Just a couple of touring suggestions that worked for me. We don't park hop, so this really worked for us.

The parade was canceled yesterday due to storms. I was hoping there was a way to let go of FPs when exiting the parks (as many left when it started to rain) so others could enjoy them. We braved the rain until it was evident the evening parade would not happen either. Today, Indiana Jones was stopped in the middle of the show due to storms. Even with all of this, we have had a great trip

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Yup the schools here in NJ are also still in session so I would guess that this is the calm before the storm so to speak. Our school districts last day of school is June 26th!! We had a lot of snow days this year.

Same here in my school district in NY. Not only this year. Next year, the last day of school is also on June 26th. Hate it!!

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Thanks for the info Aristomommy...it further makes me convinced that our plan to go in early-June next year is a good idea.

 

[Aristomommy]

Thanks for the info Aristomommy...it further makes me convinced that our plan to go in early-June next year is a good idea.

I was worried when we chose this time of year. Other than MK, the crowds have been comparable to the off season trips we have taken before. I would have never guessed especially with Star Wars weekends going on. I love going to a non-EMH park at rope drop, it seems like a good strategy for us. Less cranky kids with an extra hour of sleep

 

[ree123]

Wow... happy to hear this !! We arrive on Tuesday and I thought for sure we'd be in the thick of Summer Season . Here in Chicago we had a bunch of snow and extreme cold days we used during spring break and president days.

 

[Kimi313]

We were there May 30- June 5 and found the same things. RD at Mk was doable except A&E and SDMT and then in the evenings after wishes Frontierland and Fantasyland seemed to be deserted, we didn't go into Tomorrowland on those evenings so not sure there. But now RD to me at Epcot we chose not to get in line for TT as it was already 60 minutes and we couldn't get a 4 FP+ for it that day after all 3 was gone or on another day when we arrived at noon. We only stood in a Kiosk line one time and after 30 minutes of not moving I left. Hoping there plan is to eventually let you make 4th FP+ by phone, that would be great.

 

[mm1971]

Yup the schools here in NJ are also still in session so I would guess that this is the calm before the storm so to speak. Our school districts last day of school is June 26th!! We had a lot of snow days this year.

Our public schools let out on either June 25th or 26th as well. Glad you were all able to take advantage of the school extensions and get smaller crowds. We go in late August to try to be there when the crowds are a little lower. I'm sure it will get busy once schools are out and around July 4th week.

Hope everyone has a great time!