So, AP's are out of luck for certain FPs...

[LaurenT]

It looks like AP holders who are not onsite are just SOL for getting Anna and Elsa FPs. The slots are all taken way before the 30 day mark that we are allowed. I still see availability for TSM and meets with the other characters, but I assume that the Mine Train will also sell out before we are allowed to book....
I'm ok for my August trip cause we're on site, but I'm not the only one out there...and I'm not always onsite.
thoughts?

 

[china mom]

...and we only paid $729 for this privilege.

 

[delmar411]

It looks like AP holders who are not onsite are just SOL for getting Anna and Elsa FPs. The slots are all taken way before the 30 day mark that we are allowed. I still see availability for TSM and meets with the other characters, but I assume that the Mine Train will also sell out before we are allowed to book....
I'm ok for my August trip cause we're on site, but I'm not the only one out there...and I'm not always onsite.
thoughts?

Then it is AP holders and offsite folks that are out of luck. I highly doubt that will be the case going forward though. They are not going to anger 50+% of their park goers by saying A&E FPs are for on site guests only. What you will likely have to do is schedule things like that 30days in advance though. Which does suck.

 

[LSUfan4444]

It looks like AP holders who are not onsite are just SOL for getting Anna and Elsa FPs. The slots are all taken way before the 30 day mark that we are allowed. I still see availability for TSM and meets with the other characters, but I assume that the Mine Train will also sell out before we are allowed to book....
I'm ok for my August trip cause we're on site, but I'm not the only one out there...and I'm not always onsite.
thoughts?

Depending on how many in your group, try and make a FP+ reservation for individuals with overlapping times.

As long as kids meet the age requirement, make one from 1-2, one from 1:15-2:15, one from 1:30 - 2:30 and 1:45-2:45

We're kinda out of luck because our daughter is only 5, but really no big deal to head there at rope drop for us.

 

[ethanwa]

As an AP holder I hate it. I LIVE 5 minutes from the Magic Kingdom. I see the fireworks nightly from my front porch dead-on. There is no reason at all for me to ever stay on-site. So basically I get 30 days instead of 60 because I live too close?

I go to the parks and spend WAY more money in a year than most on-site guests. Just this morning my wife and I had lunch and went shopping at Old Key West Resort. I'm going to Star Wars Rebel Rendezvous, the all-nighter, we go to DTD all of the time to buy stuff, we are doing a Mother's Day dinner in the parks, etc etc etc. I go to the parks once or twice per week at least.

I think it flat out sucks that AP holders only have 30 days while on-site has 60.

How am I supposed to get on Mine Train? See Anna & Elsa? Without waiting hours.

Ethan

 

[china mom]

Depending on how many in your group, try and make a FP+ reservation for individuals with overlapping times.

As long as kids meet the age requirement, make one from 1-2, one from 1:15-2:15, one from 1:30 - 2:30 and 1:45-2:45

We're kinda out of luck because our daughter is only 5, but really no big deal to head there at rope drop for us.

I did try making a single FP reservation for May 16, the earliest I can make them. A & E meet and greet is gone.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I doubt you'll have any trouble getting a mine train FP+ at 30 days out, you probably won't have a problem getting a FP+ for it the same day if you take a spontaneous trip.

Anna and Elsa can only see about 20-30 people an hour, the mine train will probably have a capacity of a couple thousand people an hour. It's an apples and oranges comparison.

I agree it sucks you can't get an A&E FP though, one advantage of the AP is you get lots of chances though. I have a Disneyland AP and love that I never stress about missing anything anymore.

 

[ferd]

FWIW, I'm an AP holder and can only book 30 days out (I've never stayed onsite because I live really close to the parks) and I currently hold A & E FP+ for three different weekend days. It just takes a little perserveance and time overlapping. But it probably helps that the FP+ are for just me and my husband (since our daughter is only 2 she doesn't require a FP+). I assume being a party of 2 helps, but seriously, just chiming in to say not all APs are automatically SOL. It's kind of the luck of the draw with FP+ being added or dumped while you happen to be looking.

 

[sethschroeder]

If your that sore about it, it's a little underhanded but book a fake room and cancel after you get your 60 day FP+ res

 

[disnut8]

It looks like AP holders who are not onsite are just SOL for getting Anna and Elsa FPs. The slots are all taken way before the 30 day mark that we are allowed. I still see availability for TSM and meets with the other characters, but I assume that the Mine Train will also sell out before we are allowed to book....
I'm ok for my August trip cause we're on site, but I'm not the only one out there...and I'm not always onsite.
thoughts?

Not to rain on the parade but I don't care. I live eight hours away, get to Disney World every chance I can, use the Annual Pass as much as I can, stay onsite when I can (these days, not usually). So, I don't get one FastPass I really want. Big deal. I am an Annual Passholder which means I go more than once a year (usually four times). I stop and think about all those people out there who can only go to Disney World a few times in their lives.

And get this - my husband and I went in early March BEFORE we could get any FastPasses in advance. And you know what? We had a great time and used no FastPasses at all. Why could we do that? Because we are going for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, next Memorial Day, next 4th of July, next Labor Day and next Thanksgiving.

 

[Traveliz]

It looks like AP holders who are not onsite are just SOL for getting Anna and Elsa FPs. The slots are all taken way before the 30 day mark that we are allowed. I still see availability for TSM and meets with the other characters, but I assume that the Mine Train will also sell out before we are allowed to book....
I'm ok for my August trip cause we're on site, but I'm not the only one out there...and I'm not always onsite.
thoughts?

I agree. We are AP with a condo behind MK. In July I am bringing my nieces and one nephew on a cousins trip...just me and them. They all want to see Anna and Elsa and I am trying to figure out how this will work. They are a bit older (teens) so I guess we can run there first or stay late (I don't even know how late they greet). I am not going to worry about it until closer and I don't have the FPs because things change all the time. I will figure it out but I do wish the AP FP policy was not so restrictive.

Like other posters, most of the time I am personally ok with the policy. But this trip I have others to please and I am the planner. An no we are not staying onsite just to accomplish this.

Liz

 

[LaurenT]

Not to rain on the parade but I don't care. I live eight hours away, get to Disney World every chance I can, use the Annual Pass as much as I can, stay onsite when I can (these days, not usually). So, I don't get one FastPass I really want. Big deal. I am an Annual Passholder which means I go more than once a year (usually four times). I stop and think about all those people out there who can only go to Disney World a few times in their lives.

And get this - my husband and I went in early March BEFORE we could get any FastPasses in advance. And you know what? We had a great time and used no FastPasses at all. Why could we do that? Because we are going for Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, next Memorial Day, next 4th of July, next Labor Day and next Thanksgiving.

I get your situation. I don't live that close. I'm in NY. So, yes, I go more often than most, but not all the time. We were offsite in Feb and I made do pretty well with same day FPs, but I was not willing to wait 4 hours for my DD to meet Elsa. She'll get to see her in August cause we'll be onsite, but if I didn't have that, I'd be pretty disappointed - only because she's so completely taken by the movie - I know, first world problem.... But that's why we're all here - so.....

 

[DisneyWisher]

Try checking day of at gate opening. I was there couple weekends ago and FPs were gone for TSM when I checked at 8:50am but available when I checked again at 9:05am. Booked and went in to change times and 11 time slots were available

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I believe that AP holders should be able to book at 60 days. It shouldn't matter if you are staying offsite or onsite.

It's a matter of treating AP holders the way they should be treated - with respect since they go more often than the average guest.

And I've already sent Disney an email regarding that for what little good it will do.

 

[Wendybird55]

From some posts I've been reading regarding early FP+ selections...It seems that Disney "opens" a certain amount of FP+ for early bookings, but then releases more the night before or day of. I've read on the boards where many people were able to get their FP+ selections the night before or the morning of.

For instance, I have AP - actually just the voucher now but it is linked to MDE. We're staying onsite but no going until Aug. For the fun of it, I went online to MDE this morning around 8:45 and I was able to choose FP+ selections for today for TSM, Star Tours and Little Mermaid. I had three options to choose from - one had early morning TSM FP, another had Later afternoon TSM FP and the third had early evening TSM FP. From what I gather this is a very busy week at WDW and I was still able to get TSM FP+ day of. Of course I didn't book them and just cancelled.

I am assuming FP+ like Elsa & Anna will always be difficult to get because it is still so new and very popular even if you try 60 days out.

I totally understand and agree with your frustration. APs are a big expense and you should be able to choose FP+ sooner or get your magic bands before your first trip. But there is still hope you will get the FP+ you want.

I may be wrong, but I think as time progresses the FP+ system will evolve and change to accommodate some of these early problems/issues. In the meantime I can see how it can be annoying. I hope you're able to get the FPs you want as you get closer to your trip.

 

[ferd]

I agree. We are AP with a condo behind MK. In July I am bringing my nieces and one nephew on a cousins trip...just me and them. They all want to see Anna and Elsa and I am trying to figure out how this will work. They are a bit older (teens) so I guess we can run there first or stay late (I don't even know how late they greet). I am not going to worry about it until closer and I don't have the FPs because things change all the time. I will figure it out but I do wish the AP FP policy was not so restrictive.

Liz

At this time, it has been said that Anna and Elsa will only be meeting in Fairytale Hall until 'early evening' which everyone is assuming is 5pm. I believe 4:00-5:00pm is the latest time a FP+ has been issued for.

 

[LilyWDW]

I believe that AP holders should be able to book at 60 days. It shouldn't matter if you are staying offsite or onsite.

It's a matter of treating AP holders the way they should be treated - with respect since they go more often than the average guest.

And I've already sent Disney an email regarding that for what little good it will do.

I wouldn't be shocked if, except for the cost of the AP vs the other tickets, AP holders spend on average less money with Disney on a given trip. They don't buy as many souvenirs, they don't stay on property as often, and they may have a car and eat off site.

Disney wants to fill hotels. That is where a lot of the money is. So they made sure that there was some sort of perk for those paying the prices to stay onsite. It makes sense.

 

[china mom]

I wouldn't be shocked if, except for the cost of the AP vs the other tickets, AP holders spend on average less money with Disney on a given trip. They don't buy as many souvenirs, they don't stay on property as often, and they may have a car and eat off site.

Disney wants to fill hotels. That is where a lot of the money is. So they made sure that there was some sort of perk for those paying the prices to stay onsite. It makes sense.

So far, I have always stayed onsite or each of my trips for the past three years as an AP. Yes, I bring a lot of my own food and we don't buy souvenirs but I did a breakdown a while back and I spend more at Disney each year than the average family spends on their once a year trip.

When I went to the travel agent training, I was told that the average trip was $3,000. So far, I have booked three trips for people with price tags of $5K, $5K and $3K

Annual passes (w/WP and more) cost our family of four $2916 so before even booking a hotel or buying single meal, we have spent what an entire average family spends on their once a year vacation to WDW.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Its not about APs...its about creating classes of guests. Its about onsite versus offsite, doesnt matter what your ticket type is.

Disney wants their hotel rooms filled.

Lets just hope this new class system doesnt go further than this

 

[jrjankowski8]

My benefit is paying $300 for a week long resort stay offsite with a marriott time share 15 minutes away.

Couldn't do that Onsite.

That being said, I'm a first time AP and I'm saving all around on hotel and tickets with just two trips.

I've been able to book every thing I wanted in less than 2 weeks and I bought my AP less than 60 days so didn't have the luxury of booking at midnight.

Good thing is we're doing an extended week so I booked the first day of my stay at POP. Was able to book FP for 7 straight days thanks to the AP

I started planning this trip at about 70 days out. Was able to get Star Wars character dinner, illuminations dessert party, BOG lunch, Anna and Elsa FP+ for 2, scifi lunch, etc.

Hardest to get was Anna and Elsa. Took some consistent stalking of MDX but I did it.

So the moral of the story is... It's possible!