Sept guests, how are FP+ selections for you now?

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi, We have a 1 night stay (pre cruise) planned for late Sept. Unfortunately, we have to have a late afternoon flight arrival, 4:30 pm. We did buy a 1 day ticket since Epcot has EMH 9 - 11pm. I'm thinking by the time we ride DME, check in, and get to Epcot it will be at least 6 or 6:30 pm.

Next weekend I can start booking FP+. Is it possible to fit our FP selections from 7 to 9? If I could even just get 2 in that would be nice. We haven't pre-booked FP+ from home since last Sept when it was in testing phase.

Also if we do online check in, do we really HAVE to check in at lobby prior to going to parks? Can we hop off the bus and run for the bus stop to Epcot? Then check into our room around midnight? FWIW, we are renting DVC points and will have DME checked luggage to be delivered to our room.

At our last stay at BCV in March we were greeted as we got off the DME bus and the CM checked us in on an iPad as we walked to our room. It was the first time we had that experience so is that the norm now?

I'm just trying to maximize our time at Epcot given the short amount of time we have there.

Also if for some reason our flight is delayed, DME bus breaks down, it's pouring rain in buckets or whatever and we opt to not use our tickets, they will still be saved in MDE for future right? It's crazy enough to only have 4 hours in the park but if it's going to be even less I would just save them for a future visit.

thanks!!

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi, We have a 1 night stay (pre cruise) planned for late Sept. Unfortunately, we have to have a late afternoon flight arrival, 4:30 pm. We did buy a 1 day ticket since Epcot has EMH 9 - 11pm. I'm thinking by the time we ride DME, check in, and get to Epcot it will be at least 6 or 6:30 pm.

Next weekend I can start booking FP+. Is it possible to fit our FP selections from 7 to 9? If I could even just get 2 in that would be nice. We haven't pre-booked FP+ from home since last Sept when it was in testing phase.

Also if we do online check in, do we really HAVE to check in at lobby prior to going to parks? Can we hop off the bus and run for the bus stop to Epcot? Then check into our room around midnight? FWIW, we are renting DVC points and will have DME checked luggage to be delivered to our room.

At our last stay at BCV in March we were greeted as we got off the DME bus and the CM checked us in on an iPad as we walked to our room. It was the first time we had that experience so is that the norm now?

I'm just trying to maximize our time at Epcot given the short amount of time we have there.

Also if for some reason our flight is delayed, DME bus breaks down, it's pouring rain in buckets or whatever and we opt to not use our tickets, they will still be saved in MDE for future right? It's crazy enough to only have 4 hours in the park but if it's going to be even less I would just save them for a future visit.

thanks!!

Since they can't overlap, you should be able to get 2 FPs in that timeframe. The third you'll have to schedule for earlier (and miss).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So the last time we chose FP+, it wasn't very flexible with choosing times. It would give choice A, B, C or D with various available times and we couldn't change which one to ride first, 2nd, etc.
Does it allow more freedom to choose now?

It would be great if I could select Soarin then have it list all the available times I could choose. Or if I could search by time and select 7pm then have it list all the FP rides I could choose from at that time.

 

[mesaboy2]

So the last time we chose FP+, it wasn't very flexible with choosing times. It would give choice A, B, C or D with various available times and we couldn't change which one to ride first, 2nd, etc.
Does it allow more freedom to choose now?

It would be great if I could select Soarin then have it list all the available times I could choose. Or if I could search by time and select 7pm then have it list all the FP rides I could choose from at that time.

You can individually edit FPs for either attractions or times after you've made your initial picks for the group. It gives you further choices, but doesn't list every available. You may have to try a number of times and be patient with the system.

I agree that would be nice, but it doesn't currently exist.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So when booking 60 days out are people generally able to get what they want? Are a lot of attractions booked up within hours? Sept isn't a busy time of year but last Sept was pretty crowded due to free dining.

 

[mesaboy2]

So when booking 60 days out are people generally able to get what they want? Are a lot of attractions booked up within hours? Sept isn't a busy time of year but last Sept was pretty crowded due to free dining.

Except for Anna/Elsa, yes. Almost everything else has high availability up until the day of.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Except for Anna/Elsa, yes. Almost everything else has high availability up until the day of.

Thanks!
Lol. We have teenage boys so no Anna & Elsa meets for us.

 

[ShelliRenee]

My window opened up last Wednesday and I was able to get everything I wanted and didn't even wake up early! However, you will be going during Food and Wine and so crowds will be different, especially at Epcot. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!

 

[mousefan73]

We are booked 31-ß8sept.
I did the FPs I believe right at the 60 day or even a day or two late..
Anyways I have no issues.. Booked 7 D mine ride 3 x and even got Anna and Elsa.. Even was able to change the times next days..

The system give you a b and c choices, but you can change them. To be honest, I just think a lot of people are having more technical issues not getting their desired times.. It is a pain in the **** figuring out how to manually change and at times for me the system stalled.

I am just shocked to hear about people not getting some attractions when they try at midnite at the 60 day... wasnt like this for me... I know it's slow season, but I hear this too for my month????

who knows.

 

[kohlby]

I'm going in Sept and A&E was all out 60 days in advance right when the window opened. (Remember, you get to book 60 days from the start of your stay - so that's how people had them taken). I couldn't even get the Minetrain time I wanted when I did a day at 60 days, but I was able to get a fastpass at least. When I did a day at 63 days however, I was able to get the Minetrain time I wanted.

I'm not sure what's going on for Sept. People told me that Minetrain should be easy to get and that I did not have to stay up late to get the time I wanted. I'm glad I did stay up! From reading others posts on a different board, I'm not the only one.

However, it shouldn't be the same issue for TT and Soarin' Also, many people want the earlier ones in some cases so they can get a 4th FP+. It will work in your favor to want late ones.

*I thought changing times was very easy when they were available. It was a little annoying, but not that complicated. Just accept one group of times and then play around with it. If there was one that lined up, then I picked that one. Otherwise, I picked the times I definitely didn't want to make it easier to play around.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Hi, We have a 1 night stay (pre cruise) planned for late Sept. Unfortunately, we have to have a late afternoon flight arrival, 4:30 pm. We did buy a 1 day ticket since Epcot has EMH 9 - 11pm. I'm thinking by the time we ride DME, check in, and get to Epcot it will be at least 6 or 6:30 pm.

Next weekend I can start booking FP+. Is it possible to fit our FP selections from 7 to 9? If I could even just get 2 in that would be nice. We haven't pre-booked FP+ from home since last Sept when it was in testing phase.

Also if we do online check in, do we really HAVE to check in at lobby prior to going to parks? Can we hop off the bus and run for the bus stop to Epcot? Then check into our room around midnight? FWIW, we are renting DVC points and will have DME checked luggage to be delivered to our room.

At our last stay at BCV in March we were greeted as we got off the DME bus and the CM checked us in on an iPad as we walked to our room. It was the first time we had that experience so is that the norm now?

I'm just trying to maximize our time at Epcot given the short amount of time we have there.

Also if for some reason our flight is delayed, DME bus breaks down, it's pouring rain in buckets or whatever and we opt to not use our tickets, they will still be saved in MDE for future right? It's crazy enough to only have 4 hours in the park but if it's going to be even less I would just save them for a future visit.

thanks!!

I found the easiest way to change to the Times I wanted was to book all my fp at a time I didn't want. So you should book them originally all early and then go and change the Times to the times you want. You could book 6-7 7-8 & 8-9 and possibly still make your first one but book the 2 you really want as your last one

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Hi, We have a 1 night stay (pre cruise) planned for late Sept. Unfortunately, we have to have a late afternoon flight arrival, 4:30 pm. We did buy a 1 day ticket since Epcot has EMH 9 - 11pm. I'm thinking by the time we ride DME, check in, and get to Epcot it will be at least 6 or 6:30 pm.

Next weekend I can start booking FP+. Is it possible to fit our FP selections from 7 to 9? If I could even just get 2 in that would be nice. We haven't pre-booked FP+ from home since last Sept when it was in testing phase.

Also if we do online check in, do we really HAVE to check in at lobby prior to going to parks? Can we hop off the bus and run for the bus stop to Epcot? Then check into our room around midnight? FWIW, we are renting DVC points and will have DME checked luggage to be delivered to our room.

At our last stay at BCV in March we were greeted as we got off the DME bus and the CM checked us in on an iPad as we walked to our room. It was the first time we had that experience so is that the norm now?

I'm just trying to maximize our time at Epcot given the short amount of time we have there.

Also if for some reason our flight is delayed, DME bus breaks down, it's pouring rain in buckets or whatever and we opt to not use our tickets, they will still be saved in MDE for future right? It's crazy enough to only have 4 hours in the park but if it's going to be even less I would just save them for a future visit.

thanks!!

I found the easiest way to change to the Times I wanted was to book all my fp at a time I didn't want. So you should book them originally all early and then go and change the Times to the times you want. You could book 6-7 7-8 & 8-9 and possibly still make your first one but book the 2 you really want as your last ones

 

[catra121]

I had zero trouble getting the FPs I wanted in September at 60 days out...I booked in the late afternoon/early evening so I wasn't up at the crack of midnight either. Epcot was a very easy park to book...no issues at all getting the times I wanted.

You will have to book 3 FPs...but you can book the one you don't want to use early in the day when you won't be there and then schedule the other 2 for when you will be in the park. You can try for 6-7, 7-8, and 8-9...but make sure your later ones are the ones you really want to do.

As far as check in...when I went last September it was very easy to check in, put my stuff in the room (you could drop your bags off at luggage services if you don't want to trek to the room) and then hop on a bus to the park. I'll give the times for my arrival day last September to give you an idea. My plan landed at 10:55 and I took Magical Express to Pop Century. I had a FP+ for Peter Pan at 12:15-1:15 (I knew it was HIGHLY unlikely I would make it but was okay with the risk). I checked in at Pop, my room was ready and I even changed rooms from what I was assigned, then I dropped my bags off in the room, turned around and walked back to the bus stop. I was in the park by 1pm and walked off the ride at exactly 1:15 (which means I was on it around 1:12 or so). So it would be possible to be in the park by 6:30 if everything goes smoothly (and even if you are tied up slightly at check in)...but there's also a chance you could have a long wait for ME, a wait to check in, and a long walk to your room. If it was a long walk to the room...I would take any bags you have to luggage services and then wait on a bus.

I would definitely think it's worth it to go to Epcot that night. If you can get two FP+ for your Soarin'/Test Track and one other ride you want then that would be perfect. I would personally try to catch Illuminations too and then stay for EMHs and have a relaxing evening in the park. Sounds like an EXCELLENT way to start off a trip.

 

[wishtdream]

I had little issue getting the fp I wanted for 9/14-9/23 with the exception of A&E and I was able to get them just not at ideal times. I agree with the pp that said to book early then adjust to pick the times you want.