Soarin Fastpass

[bill2012]

I've seen mention of the fact that the fastpasses for Soarin' tend to "sell out" rather early in the day. How early?

(I know that it varies, but I'm trying to get a sense. I've also seen that Test Track is closed, which I would think could make things worse.)

Do the FPs run all the way to the hour before closing? If you get one at, say, noon on a busy day, around when is that likely to be for?

If you do a standby line for Soarin' in the evening (but before you need to stake out a viewing spot) how bad is that on a busy day?

I ask all this because we will be arriving in WDW late-morning on Tuesday 8/7 and that will probably have to be our only day at Epcot. Maybe we'll be able to get into our room right away, maybe not. I'm wondering if we will need to head immediately to Epcot to get fast passes, then return to the hotel to get settled (we don't want to be doing that late at night with small kids!), then turn around and go back to Epcot. (We will at least have our car and AAA parking, and are staying at POR, but I'd like to avoid this.)

We have an early (5:10) dinner at Epcot (to see Remy!), and we want the kids to last till the fireworks. So, if it weren't for the Soarin FP issue, I'd prefer to relax at the hotel a while (and go to the pool if we need to wait for our room) and just mosey on over to Epcot in the early PM.

 

[kaligal]

I've seen mention of the fact that the fastpasses for Soarin' tend to "sell out" rather early in the day. How early?

(I know that it varies, but I'm trying to get a sense. I've also seen that Test Track is closed, which I would think could make things worse.)

Do the FPs run all the way to the hour before closing? If you get one at, say, noon on a busy day, around when is that likely to be for?

If you do a standby line for Soarin' in the evening (but before you need to stake out a viewing spot) how bad is that on a busy day?

I ask all this because we will be arriving in WDW late-morning on Tuesday 8/7 and that will probably have to be our only day at Epcot. Maybe we'll be able to get into our room right away, maybe not. I'm wondering if we will need to head immediately to Epcot to get fast passes, then return to the hotel to get settled (we don't want to be doing that late at night with small kids!), then turn around and go back to Epcot. (We will at least have our car and AAA parking, and are staying at POR, but I'd like to avoid this.)

We have an early (5:10) dinner at Epcot (to see Remy!), and we want the kids to last till the fireworks. So, if it weren't for the Soarin FP issue, I'd prefer to relax at the hotel a while (and go to the pool if we need to wait for our room) and just mosey on over to Epcot in the early PM.

Just in case anyone misunderstands, FPs are not for sale. They are free. Not sure when they run out, but I'm guessing between noon and two.

Yes, they run all day. Around noon, they'll be for the end of the day, if they aren't gone. I think. I lost Magic 8 Ball and don't reeeeaally know.

Waits are an hour or more on busy evenings.

Soarin ic currently open one hour later than the rest of the park, so assuming you all aren't too tired, you could even do it after the fireworks. I don't know how that works on EMH nights, though.

 

[Mkebound]

Are you sure Remey is there for Dinner? We had a dinner there last October and were hoping to see Remey. Our waiter told us he only appears at lunch!

When it comes to Soarin, FP's could run out as early as 10:30, but unless it's a super busy day, they should still be some left till about Noon.

 

[dimndgal1]

Soarin' FP have been gone by 11/1130 the two days we were in EPCOT this week. The lines have held pretty steady and we waited 65 minutes at 730p tonight.

Are you sure Remey is there for Dinner? We had a dinner there last October and were hoping to see Remey. Our waiter told us he only appears at lunch!

Remy comes out once at dinner - 520 - and it's not guaranteed due to potential factors. We saw him walking by the restaurant the other night and it looks super cute!

 

[photo_chick]

I've seen the Soarin' fast passes gone by lunch and I've gone and gotten them at 5pm on a busy day when I was sure they'd be gone. It depends on the whims of the crowd that day.

 

[bill2012]

Thanks so much to all for the info! I guess we will head to Epcot immediately after arriving at our hotel. (And if we don't get FPs, somehow I think we'll survive.)

(Re Remy, yes, he is supposed to come out at 5:20 every day but Sunday and visit tables for about half an hour. But the kids don't know, so if he doesn't show, only my wife and I will be disappointed!)

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I think your date is an EMH night at Epcot so most likely Soarin is going to be buzy, especially with TT not operating. It's been a few years, but when we went for EMH at Epcot, once Illuminations ended Soarin was mobbed with everyone else that wanted to ride and even an hour into EMH the lines were really long, and that was with TT operating Not trying to be a downer, but just realistic with our experience.

If you have mobile magic on your phone, you could try to check the app to at least see if FP are still available b4 heading over so you don't waste a trip over. Also, is your DW on board with this idea? It is a lot of effort just to go to a park to get FP's only to turn around and go back to the resort. You may be tempted to stay once you arrive Also, keep in mind FP times are being strictly enforced, so if you do take the time to go to the park to get FP's, will that mean you'll have to be rushing back sooner than you wanted or even having to hang around for your return window?

I surely understand your desire to ride Soarin, it's such a great ride but with younger children, I think you're wise to consider what you said you'd rather do more, that is to check in, relax, maybe swim and then head over later in the day, especially since you want them to last until fireworks. Perhaps some pixie dust will magically sprinkle upon you and it will work out that you'll manage to fit in Soarin without adding additional running around into your day Good luck & ENJOY!

 

[bill2012]

Ugh! That IS an EMH day! I had checked a while back and somehow I thought it wasn't. So it's going to be packed! (I don't suppose the EMH actually incentivizes a lot of people to do other things early in the day and not head to Epcot till late afternoon? Probably wishful thinking!) Well, we'll just play it by ear, and see what our situation is and how everybody feels. Of course, the EMH crowds increase the incentive to get FPs. On the other hand, as you say we may just give up on that and head to Epcot mid-afternoon. The issue is that we have the limitations of a five year old to deal with, but the expectations of a nine year old to satisfy also. C'est la vie!

 

[evnted]

When I was recently at Epcot, I went to the land for lunch at Sunshine Seasons (which was around 12 or so) and fastpass for Soarin' were for about 2 hours before closing. I imagine they were gone by 1. I don't believe Test Track will be open by 8/7 so it'll be easy to prioritize getting fastpasses for Soarin'. And standby? Haha no way I could handle that. I've never seen it below 60 minutes and it's generally at 80. And (not sure how soon or far away it is from common use) but they are developing the ability for guests to receive fastpasses at hotels prior to arriving at the park. So, you can't mosey around the hotel this time but in the future you might be able to. As optimistic as I want to be, it's a bit absurd to go get FP and then leave. You'd be lucky to time it around your dinner and plus it would be a monumental waste of time. You're better going early and coming back right after fireworks to enjoy the hotel, leave later on a DHS or AK day, or just pass on Soarin'.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Ugh! That IS an EMH day! I had checked a while back and somehow I thought it wasn't. So it's going to be packed! (I don't suppose the EMH actually incentivizes a lot of people to do other things early in the day and not head to Epcot till late afternoon? Probably wishful thinking!) Well, we'll just play it by ear, and see what our situation is and how everybody feels. Of course, the EMH crowds increase the incentive to get FPs. On the other hand, as you say we may just give up on that and head to Epcot mid-afternoon. The issue is that we have the limitations of a five year old to deal with, but the expectations of a nine year old to satisfy also. C'est la vie!

It's really hard to say if it'll be packed but most likely it will indeed be a little more buzy. A consideration is if people are only buying base tix's (no hoppers) that if they wish to enjoy the EMH evening, their only park that day is going to be Epcot, so whether or not they do things earlier in the day &/or are at Epcot all day is pretty much a crap shoot of a guess

Did you say you had a car? If so, you COULD always check into the resort, get your park tixs, drive to EPCOT & DROP off one parent & the 2 kids at the front entrance (elimating SOME of the walking ) with the sole purpose of BOTH riding & getting FP's for Soarin. FP's would have to be pulled at optimal time to not conflict with dining ADR's and be late enough after dinner to not be rushing about)

Driving parent goes back to the resort to settle in, unpack, etc. while parent with children rides Soarin (collects 3 FP's) and takes bus back to resort (or calls parent for p/u) How much time this will allow the 3 to relax at the resort, swim, etc. hard to say.

Only you can determine if its worth this much effort just to ride Soarin but if the timing magically works out, when you go back later in the day, then the driving parent could use the FP to ride once with the kids who will then get a second ride using FP. (oh, and non-riding parent can go get another FP somewhere else for all 4 of you while the 3 are riding Soarin!)

IMO, I would go with your original plan to check in, relax, swim and go over later. If the kids swim (and how many kids tell you the best part of the trip was the pool ) MAYBE they'll take an extra long nap before going over for dinner and be able to last into the EMH after Illuminations. Or if the 5 yr old can't, one parent could go back to resort with that child and the other parent could tough out the line with the 9 yr old.

THat is if you aren't planning a rope drop the next morning

Oh the joys of trying to do it all Whatever you do, I'm sure everyone will have a great time

 

[ghtx]

I vote that you don't plan on Soarin'... But you might get lucky. Don't worry, there's plenty else to enjoy!

 

[DebbieB]

Right now (12:43pm eastern), the WDW lines app shows the fastpass time for Soarin as 7:00pm. They predict them to be gone by 1:30pm. Standby is 70 min.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think your date is an EMH night at Epcot so most likely Soarin is going to be buzy, especially with TT not operating. It's been a few years, but when we went for EMH at Epcot, once Illuminations ended Soarin was mobbed with everyone else that wanted to ride and even an hour into EMH the lines were really long, and that was with TT operating Not trying to be a downer, but just realistic with our experience.

If you have mobile magic on your phone, you could try to check the app to at least see if FP are still available b4 heading over so you don't waste a trip over. Also, is your DW on board with this idea? It is a lot of effort just to go to a park to get FP's only to turn around and go back to the resort. You may be tempted to stay once you arrive Also, keep in mind FP times are being strictly enforced, so if you do take the time to go to the park to get FP's, will that mean you'll have to be rushing back sooner than you wanted or even having to hang around for your return window?

I surely understand your desire to ride Soarin, it's such a great ride but with younger children, I think you're wise to consider what you said you'd rather do more, that is to check in, relax, maybe swim and then head over later in the day, especially since you want them to last until fireworks. Perhaps some pixie dust will magically sprinkle upon you and it will work out that you'll manage to fit in Soarin without adding additional running around into your day Good luck & ENJOY!

I know when we were there in May the Mobile Magic app would only let you look at wait times and fastpass return times if you were in that park. I think it would be helpful if Disney would change that so you can look at it if you are on WDW property.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We were at Epcot on the 20th. Got our Soarin' FP's around 12:30, with a return time of 7:40-8:40 and they were out of them by 2:00 p.m.

 

[bill2012]

Thanks. I don't think we'd go through all that shuttling; we're supposed to be on vacation! We'll probably just hang out at the hotel per our original plan, as people have suggested. If anything, we would all go immediately to Epcot for a couple hours (hoping to get FPs; if not, just getting a couple rides in before it's totally packed and really hot), then all come back and settle-in, and then return for dinner. (With the early dinner I doubt FP timing would be an issue.) At any rate, there is absolutely no way that the kids are going to actually nap that day! And no way are we doing EMH for even the 9-y-o. We are in fact planning RD at MK in the morning, with the afternoon for pool and napping. (They WILL nap nicely then!)

 

[bill2012]

Thanks to Debbie and others for the reports!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I know when we were there in May the Mobile Magic app would only let you look at wait times and fastpass return times if you were in that park. I think it would be helpful if Disney would change that so you can look at it if you are on WDW property.

Yes it would be nice but at LEAST you can see on the app if FP's are still available!

Thanks. I don't think we'd go through all that shuttling; we're supposed to be on vacation! We'll probably just hang out at the hotel per our original plan, as people have suggested. If anything, we would all go immediately to Epcot for a couple hours (hoping to get FPs; if not, just getting a couple rides in before it's totally packed and really hot), then all come back and settle-in, and then return for dinner. (With the early dinner I doubt FP timing would be an issue.) At any rate, there is absolutely no way that the kids are going to actually nap that day! And no way are we doing EMH for even the 9-y-o. We are in fact planning RD at MK in the morning, with the afternoon for pool and napping. (They WILL nap nicely then!)

We'll be at RD on Wed too! Look for a woman carrying a lime green Mickey tote that has "TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum" and say hi That day I'll be with DS15, Daunt & Dcousin7 (the hubs & other aunt are going to go drinking around the world in Epcot that day, hopefully they'll find their way over to Hoop De Doo on time for dinner )