Refresh is not dead- April 6/7 Weekend Test

[Remy is Up]

Due to being AP holders, we get to WDW every couple of months. Sometimes for longer trips, sometimes shorter ones. We planned this trip to hang out with Family and friends who live in the area even knowing it was a race weekend. We stayed off property for this trip and our impressions are pretty normal from every other trip when it comes to refresh. We made ZERO FPs in advance and made them as we got to the park Saturday and Sunday morning.
Saturday..Arrived at MK after breakfast just after 9 and grabbed HM, JC, POC in that order. Got on HM immediately and moved JC up to within 5 minutes. Got on JC and moved POC up to within 5 Minutes. Now we know how to grab and then move up so many times we will grab a time later in the day and just move up if we want a headliner. But, this was a quick morning because our goal was Epcot for F&G and Food/Drink. While perusing after we scanned into POC, we found the following attractions available for FP that day...Space times as early as within the next 30 minutes, BTMRR times available as early as within the next 10 minutes, Pan times as early as within the next hour, Buzz ( which we grabbed) because it was within 5 minutes, and yes, we even found 7DMT available for later in the afternoon. Went on Buzz and moved to Epcot.
On the way to Epcot, grabbed TT which was active 5 minutes after we arrived, then grabbed the land for 10 minutes later, then grabbed Soarin for 2 hours later and moved it up to within 10 Minutes, grabbed SE within 20 minutes, and lastly grabbed Frozen for 8PM and modified it back to within 10 minutes of our current time.
Sunday- Went into AK without any FPS, grabbed Dinosaur, Everest, PE. Got on Dino and moved PE to within 5 minutes, got on and moved EE to overlap current time. In the EE line, we grabbed Safari for 3 hours later and modified it to be active within 10 minutes of getting off EE. Pulled an FOP for later in the evening and modified it to 20 minutes after Safari was over. Also saw a ton of Navi but had no interest. On the way to Studios, pulled a ToT and rode immediately, then grabbed a RNRC and got it to within 10 minutes. Grabbed a TSM and got it to within 15 of exiting RnRC. Saw tons of SLinky Dog and just didnt want to pull one and modify because we needed to get on the road for the drive home.
So after all we have been hearing about refresh is dead...Based on experience and doing this all the time when we go, this past weekend was no different and we could have pulled any headliner we wanted with a bit of refresh at any time.
Keys we have found: Lots release as people ride things at Rope Drop and cancel or modify FPS. Seems that there is a drop from about 5 till until 10 after at the top of every hour. Maybe the system refreshes, Not sure. The prime time to find the headliners seems to be from 10-3. They get more difficult to grab after 2 and gradually get more difficult each hour that passes.
But it still works for now and unless they change something crazy, as long as the majority of people dont get it or think its a hack they have to pay for, let them keep thinking that way. Works out better for all of us.

 

[Alli76]

How many people??

 

[Daniela Rose]

This was April 6/7 this past weekend?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Refreshing into the future.

 

[Remy is Up]

Sorry, Yes 6th/7th..Ill amend the title..3 people for MK, 5 for Epcot, 3 for AK, 2 for Studios.

 

[Remy is Up]

We have found if your party is bigger than 3 just split into groups and overlap times. We have done this with a group of 8 split into 3-3-2 and had no problems

 

[Anchored]

Similar to what we encountered this weekend.
Group of 4 on Friday with no fast passes pre planned, ended up pulling 12 FP+ via refresh:
Haunted Mansion
Dumbo
Splash
Meet Rapunzel & Tiana
Meet Cinderella and Elena
Ride Ariel
Meet Ariel
Space
Buzz
Pirates
Magic Carpets
Meet Mickey and Minnie
Also watched Tiki Room without FP, the parade, and fireworks

3 of us on Saturday did HS, arriving at 2pm:
Tower of Terror x2
RNRC x2
Star Tours
SDD x2
TSMM
Frozen Sing Along
then we found a FOP in the app so we hopped over to AK and rode that, and got in line for Navi 5 minutes before close and was off the ride in 19 minutes

 

[kimmie316]

Due to being AP holders, we get to WDW every couple of months. Sometimes for longer trips, sometimes shorter ones. We planned this trip to hang out with Family and friends who live in the area even knowing it was a race weekend. We stayed off property for this trip and our impressions are pretty normal from every other trip when it comes to refresh. We made ZERO FPs in advance and made them as we got to the park Saturday and Sunday morning.
Saturday..Arrived at MK after breakfast just after 9 and grabbed HM, JC, POC in that order. Got on HM immediately and moved JC up to within 5 minutes. Got on JC and moved POC up to within 5 Minutes. Now we know how to grab and then move up so many times we will grab a time later in the day and just move up if we want a headliner. But, this was a quick morning because our goal was Epcot for F&G and Food/Drink. While perusing after we scanned into POC, we found the following attractions available for FP that day...Space times as early as within the next 30 minutes, BTMRR times available as early as within the next 10 minutes, Pan times as early as within the next hour, Buzz ( which we grabbed) because it was within 5 minutes, and yes, we even found 7DMT available for later in the afternoon. Went on Buzz and moved to Epcot.
On the way to Epcot, grabbed TT which was active 5 minutes after we arrived, then grabbed the land for 10 minutes later, then grabbed Soarin for 2 hours later and moved it up to within 10 Minutes, grabbed SE within 20 minutes, and lastly grabbed Frozen for 8PM and modified it back to within 10 minutes of our current time.
Sunday- Went into AK without any FPS, grabbed Dinosaur, Everest, PE. Got on Dino and moved PE to within 5 minutes, got on and moved EE to overlap current time. In the EE line, we grabbed Safari for 3 hours later and modified it to be active within 10 minutes of getting off EE. Pulled an FOP for later in the evening and modified it to 20 minutes after Safari was over. Also saw a ton of Navi but had no interest. On the way to Studios, pulled a ToT and rode immediately, then grabbed a RNRC and got it to within 10 minutes. Grabbed a TSM and got it to within 15 of exiting RnRC. Saw tons of SLinky Dog and just didnt want to pull one and modify because we needed to get on the road for the drive home.
So after all we have been hearing about refresh is dead...Based on experience and doing this all the time when we go, this past weekend was no different and we could have pulled any headliner we wanted with a bit of refresh at any time.
Keys we have found: Lots release as people ride things at Rope Drop and cancel or modify FPS. Seems that there is a drop from about 5 till until 10 after at the top of every hour. Maybe the system refreshes, Not sure. The prime time to find the headliners seems to be from 10-3. They get more difficult to grab after 2 and gradually get more difficult each hour that passes.
But it still works for now and unless they change something crazy, as long as the majority of people dont get it or think its a hack they have to pay for, let them keep thinking that way. Works out better for all of us.

Do you grab the next FP after you've used your 3rd one? I've never used them and we're going in June. We're staying off site so can't get them until 30 days out.

 

[Brett Wyman]

It never really was. There were just MDE issues at that time.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Do you grab the next FP after you've used your 3rd one? I've never used them and we're going in June. We're staying off site so can't get them until 30 days out.

Yes, after you use the 3rd one book the 4th one. Also, after you "tap in" for the first FP, start modifying the other 2 to move them up so you can get and use more FPs. When are you going in June?

 

[mamamelody2]

Thanks so much for sharing, OP!

 

[PolyAddict]

Due to being AP holders, we get to WDW every couple of months. Sometimes for longer trips, sometimes shorter ones. We planned this trip to hang out with Family and friends who live in the area even knowing it was a race weekend. We stayed off property for this trip and our impressions are pretty normal from every other trip when it comes to refresh. We made ZERO FPs in advance and made them as we got to the park Saturday and Sunday morning.
Saturday..Arrived at MK after breakfast just after 9 and grabbed HM, JC, POC in that order. Got on HM immediately and moved JC up to within 5 minutes. Got on JC and moved POC up to within 5 Minutes. Now we know how to grab and then move up so many times we will grab a time later in the day and just move up if we want a headliner. But, this was a quick morning because our goal was Epcot for F&G and Food/Drink. While perusing after we scanned into POC, we found the following attractions available for FP that day...Space times as early as within the next 30 minutes, BTMRR times available as early as within the next 10 minutes, Pan times as early as within the next hour, Buzz ( which we grabbed) because it was within 5 minutes, and yes, we even found 7DMT available for later in the afternoon. Went on Buzz and moved to Epcot.
On the way to Epcot, grabbed TT which was active 5 minutes after we arrived, then grabbed the land for 10 minutes later, then grabbed Soarin for 2 hours later and moved it up to within 10 Minutes, grabbed SE within 20 minutes, and lastly grabbed Frozen for 8PM and modified it back to within 10 minutes of our current time.
Sunday- Went into AK without any FPS, grabbed Dinosaur, Everest, PE. Got on Dino and moved PE to within 5 minutes, got on and moved EE to overlap current time. In the EE line, we grabbed Safari for 3 hours later and modified it to be active within 10 minutes of getting off EE. Pulled an FOP for later in the evening and modified it to 20 minutes after Safari was over. Also saw a ton of Navi but had no interest. On the way to Studios, pulled a ToT and rode immediately, then grabbed a RNRC and got it to within 10 minutes. Grabbed a TSM and got it to within 15 of exiting RnRC. Saw tons of SLinky Dog and just didnt want to pull one and modify because we needed to get on the road for the drive home.
So after all we have been hearing about refresh is dead...Based on experience and doing this all the time when we go, this past weekend was no different and we could have pulled any headliner we wanted with a bit of refresh at any time.
Keys we have found: Lots release as people ride things at Rope Drop and cancel or modify FPS. Seems that there is a drop from about 5 till until 10 after at the top of every hour. Maybe the system refreshes, Not sure. The prime time to find the headliners seems to be from 10-3. They get more difficult to grab after 2 and gradually get more difficult each hour that passes.
But it still works for now and unless they change something crazy, as long as the majority of people dont get it or think its a hack they have to pay for, let them keep thinking that way. Works out better for all of us.

I am curious if you were not subject to the tiers at Epcot because you satisfied the 1st 3 at MK?

 

[mom4fun]

So are you better off entering the parks with no fast passes? Or is better to get whatever you can get and modify after you get into the park? We are another group that can’t book until 30 days out.

 

[Shellbells]

Thank you for posting this. I feel so much better about our trip next month. This FP thing has me stressing out a little bit.

 

[randumb0]

So are you better off entering the parks with no fast passes? Or is better to get whatever you can get and modify after you get into the park? We are another group that can’t book until 30 days out.

Get what you can get then modify

 

[JETSDAD]

So are you better off entering the parks with no fast passes? Or is better to get whatever you can get and modify after you get into the park? We are another group that can’t book until 30 days out.

On a normal day for us the first FP is really the most important. After that we tend to start changing times anyways. That being said we still make 3 in advance as a plan B in case we happen to arrive later than expected or there are screwy things going on with FP's that day.

 

[KittieKat]

So you grab a fp, then how do you refresh it exactly to see more times? I've never tried changing the time day of

 

[Tiggerlover91]

So you grab a fp, then how do you refresh it exactly to see more times? I've never tried changing the time day of

Pick the FP you are looking to change, click modify. If it's a headliner and times are open that don't overlap yours it will show. If it's an earlier time you want keep clicking between two times. Like 11 and 11:30. If a later time shows...grab it and keep clicking the time till the one you want shows.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

What if you have a larger group split into two or three groups and modify a FP for the first group, but then you can’t for the other groups? Does this happen a lot? That’s my big worry.

 

[Klayfish]

I didn't know it refresh was ever rumored to be dead???

Yes, if you have a really large group (maybe 6 or more) you can break them up into groups. Sure, you'll run the risk of being able to get something for one group but not the other. However you're odds of getting something are better than doing it as a really large group. We're a family of 5 and I've never had an issue splitting into 2 and 3. I try to stay with all 5 at once, but sometimes it's easier to split.

On refreshing to modify time, if you have an Android (I'll never own a rotten Apple ) you don't need to switch back and forth between two times...you can just hit the same one over and over.