Soaring vs FEA Fastpass?

[Regan117]

We're doing breakfast at 8am at Garden Grill and then just hopping in the standby line for Soarin. We got fast passes for FEA just because it's new.

 

[Mainemama]

Hmm, if it just opened today for FP are they going super fast? I tried to book this afternoon and only afternoon times were available. Anyone snag a morning time? I am stuck just rope dropping or I have to totally change our plans to switch out for an afternoon FEA.

 

[Bork]

They are both going to be popular, but I would FP FEA just because Maelstrom had a miserable hourly capacity and I can't imaging they were able to increase that much, while greatly increasing the popularity. Meanwhile Soarin' capacity increases by 50%, theoretically.

 

[Chucky!]

I'm planning on an EMH morning, Soarin' and then Test Track with FEA as an after lunch FP+

On a separate morning hoping to get an Akershus PPO reservation and doing Royal Sommerhaus and FEA with FP+

 

[CheetoGuido]

I too am torn on this. I was originally planning on spending 1 day at Epcot. I assumed that TT would move down to Tier 2 so I am really torn at how to attack this. IF they are opening FEA at 9 am, would it be reasonable to do a 8 am breakfast at Akershus and ride it standby first thing at 9 am and get FP for Soarin' during the middle of the hot summer day? And then try to ride TT when the park is closing and lines are shorter hopefully?

 

[ILUVDizney]

I too am torn on this. I was originally planning on spending 1 day at Epcot. I assumed that TT would move down to Tier 2 so I am really torn at how to attack this. IF they are opening FEA at 9 am, would it be reasonable to do a 8 am breakfast at Akershus and ride it standby first thing at 9 am and get FP for Soarin' during the middle of the hot summer day? And then try to ride TT when the park is closing and lines are shorter hopefully?

This is what we are doing. We have an 8:05 am ADR at Akershus on 7/1 with the hopes that FEA opens at 9:00. Then we have a Soarin' FP at noon.

 

[MegMouseketeer]

We have an 8:05 Akershus breakfast when we go in September, but I was worried about being able to eat in time to jump in the standby for FEA. Will there be enough time to eat (princesses and all) and jump over to the line before the crowds decend around 8:50-9am?

 

[maryj11]

It would be nice if they would have at least a choice of 2 tier 1 rides and 2 of the tier 2 rides to choose.

 

[wilkeliza]

We have an 8:05 Akershus breakfast when we go in September, but I was worried about being able to eat in time to jump in the standby for FEA. Will there be enough time to eat (princesses and all) and jump over to the line before the crowds decend around 8:50-9am?

Probably not. They suggest about 90 minutes for meals if you want to see all the characters. To eat in 45 minutes even at a buffet you will be rushing character interactions and possibly not getting your moneys worth.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Honestly your best option would be to either get a PPO ADR for Akershus or Garden Grill. Those 2 places are the ticket right now...if you get like an 8AM PPO at Garden Grill you are in the same building as Soarin so you just need to eat quickly and then hop in line for Soarin and fast past FEA. Same thing with Akershus, get an 8AM PPO ADR for there and then eat quickly and hop in line for FEA, then FP Soarin...you will be more than likely front of the line at both of these attractions if you were to do that since it takes some time to walk or even run from the gates to either of these attractions.

This is my plan for our next trip...we have I believe 2 Epcot days planned, but my son LOVES Test Track, so planning on a Test Track FP for 1 day and the FEA FP for another day...still going to do PPO Akershus so we can get a good spot for the M&G, and going to do a PPO Garden Grill so my son and hubby can go on Soarin while I take my toddler on Living w/ The Land. I am the type of person that would rather get up early for breakfast and eat quickly rather than wait in line for 90+ minutes, LOL

 

[disneyfav4ever]

We have three Epcot days, we plan on booking Soarin twice and Frozen once, and just use the single rider line for Test Track.

 

[maryj11]

Honestly your best option would be to either get a PPO ADR for Akershus or Garden Grill. Those 2 places are the ticket right now...if you get like an 8AM PPO at Garden Grill you are in the same building as Soarin so you just need to eat quickly and then hop in line for Soarin and fast past FEA. Same thing with Akershus, get an 8AM PPO ADR for there and then eat quickly and hop in line for FEA, then FP Soarin...you will be more than likely front of the line at both of these attractions if you were to do that since it takes some time to walk or even run from the gates to either of these attractions.

This is my plan for our next trip...we have I believe 2 Epcot days planned, but my son LOVES Test Track, so planning on a Test Track FP for 1 day and the FEA FP for another day...still going to do PPO Akershus so we can get a good spot for the M&G, and going to do a PPO Garden Grill so my son and hubby can go on Soarin while I take my toddler on Living w/ The Land. I am the type of person that would rather get up early for breakfast and eat quickly rather than wait in line for 90+ minutes, LOL

Yeah it kind of makes me mad that Disney puts us in the position to have to do a PPO ADR just to get 2 of the 1st tier rides in.

 

[maryj11]

We have an 8:05 Akershus breakfast when we go in September, but I was worried about being able to eat in time to jump in the standby for FEA. Will there be enough time to eat (princesses and all) and jump over to the line before the crowds decend around 8:50-9am?

I posted a similar question except I was asking about an 8:05 Garden Grill and getting to Soarin in time. Several people said they have done it and made it in time and also seen the characters more then once. Some said that it was a waste of money to rush through a character breakfast. So anyway we are doing it and planning on it working.
Oh and I wanted to add that the ones who said it worked for them said to arrive at the gates at 7:30 and try to be one of the first in line at the restaurant because you will get right in. They said it doesn't matter if it is an 8:05 because they usually just start letting them in the order they are in line.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Yeah it kind of makes me mad that Disney puts us in the position to have to do a PPO ADR just to get 2 of the 1st tier rides in.

Thats totally understandable if you are the type of person that wants to sleep in a little later on your vacation or don't want to spend money at 1 of the TS restaurants. For me though it doesn't really alter our plans, lol...I have 2 kids that are up with the birds anyways, and we always get the deluxe dining plan...so we were planning on a PPO ADR for both these places without worrying about 2 of the high priority tiers, lol. Now we just have to work in the attractions with our dining...for me not a big deal, bc my hubby is usually a fast eater so if he gets done first he's already planning to hit the line and hold our spots...Although when we were there last year we finished all our 8AM PPO ADRs within 45 minutes, and that wasn't even trying, lol...we will see how well things go for the next trip, lol, specially with high priority of these 2 restaurants coming into play, lol

 

[MegMouseketeer]

Thats totally understandable if you are the type of person that wants to sleep in a little later on your vacation or don't want to spend money at 1 of the TS restaurants. For me though it doesn't really alter our plans, lol...I have 2 kids that are up with the birds anyways, and we always get the deluxe dining plan...so we were planning on a PPO ADR for both these places without worrying about 2 of the high priority tiers, lol. Now we just have to work in the attractions with our dining...for me not a big deal, bc my hubby is usually a fast eater so if he gets done first he's already planning to hit the line and hold our spots...Although when we were there last year we finished all our 8AM PPO ADRs within 45 minutes, and that wasn't even trying, lol...we will see how well things go for the next trip, lol, specially with high priority of these 2 restaurants coming into play, lol

Can someone hold your spot in line?

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Can someone hold your spot in line?

I am actually not sure of that, I am just going on previous experience from when the infamous sisters were first in Epcot. I figured my hubby would be done eating before us, but we would more than likely be done before the park opened, so he would generally be holding our spot before the park opened. I am not sure how they are going to run things when everything opens