Strategies for FP+

[Asc341]

Hello all, I have a trip to wdw planned for September, and though I can't schedule my FPs yet, I want to have a strategy in mind. We're rope drop people, and we usually try to hit the "biggest" rides first, so that anything else throughout the day is just a plus. While that plan is still the goal, I know that the details change a bit with the new FP system - I would love to hear your strategies!

 

[ameliahyde]

I have the same question. I'm wondering how much things are going to change with the addition of additional FP + after 4/28. I'm hoping that by mid-June we have a better idea. I need to schedule my fast passes in early July for my September trip...

 

[rn448698]

Even with the 4th fastpass change, I'm not changing my strategy. We're going to do rope drop at park with no fastpasses and use fastpasses in the evening. If, however, we're going to World Showcase at night, we're using fastpasses in the morning for a more relaxing day. We always leave the parks around 1 or so, and go back to the pool at our hotel.

For example, I'm thinking I should be able to do the following at MK at rope drop on a Wednesday in two weeks:

Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, IASW, lunch at Be Our Guest, and TTA by 12:30 or so. Go back to AKL and pool for the afternoon. Go back to MK for dinner at Pecos Bill's. Ride PoTC (FP+), HM (FP+) and Jungle Cruise (FP+), finishing up around 8:10, I believe. Ride Dumbo, maybe a character meet somewhere, and then watch Wishes at 10pm. We'll hit up Splash, Big Thunder, and Peter Pan on another evening.

 

[ameliahyde]

I would actually book my FP's first thing if I knew i could get more later which I wanted. For example, I would do rope drop and do some big headliners but then FP things which see long waits almost immediately (ETWB, Peter Pan, Elsa and Anna Meet). My little girls LOVE Peter Pan, Pooh, Ariel's Ride so we try to do rope drop and then get these rides in each a few times before those waits get long. This ensures us plenty of time later to do other rides or Belle. If I could combine an early mix of FP and rope drop, I think it would be even more efficient to add extra FP later.

 

[DisneyWisher]

My question to all Sept travelers is when in Sept....if it's within the first 10 days after Labor Day this is the slowest time of the year. Even headliners are usually 20 mins or less if not walk ons. The later in the month the busier it'll get. Yesterday for the heck of it I booked FPs at 12:45 (Disney time) the earliest I could get a FP for one of the mountains was 5:00. Once that 4th FP goes into effect I think it'll be later. Now this was a busy day but it's not available yet and you can only book from a kiosk. When I was there last month and earlier this month (I'm an AP holder) the lines for the kiosks were 75 people plus deep. I complained to Disney that they are having people stand in line in hope to avoid a line. I'm sticking with my evening FPs. Will get there at RD and reride our favs in the evening.I've been going during the first week after Labor Day for 18 years and never had an issue with long lines with the exception of TSM, Soarin' and probably TT since they redid it. Not even with free dining...it's busy in the restaurants but not so much at the parks.

 

[ARAITHEL]

"post 4/28," my ideas have completely changed about how to use FP+ in September. We were there during the inital pilot testing in 2012, it worked great for us then, even with tiering. I'm thinking we just book FP for the morning and "wing it" in the afternoon, as we generally park hop anyway. We are RD people too and seem to use just a few Fastpasses anyway in September. I hope the crowds/FP lines are similar as they usually are in September for FP+. I think my theory on using FP+ will work great with the new system. September lines aren't that long and we found ourselves, in year's past, thinking the 25-40min waits for the headliners were fine. If I have to wait at a kiosk for the 4th and 5th fastpass, that's OK with me. I'm thankful for the parkhopper option. Good luck coming up with a plan!

 

[wcurry66]

We have a 7day pass with PH (2 adults, a 13 yr old and a 9 year old).

i plan to RD, to as many rides as possible until 10:30-11am. then FPs.
After lunch we may attempt to get another fp, or spend the afternoons at the pool. come back after dinner. Purposely leaving a gap in the afternoon so as to leave us with flexibility

if we chose to spend the afternoon in a park, we should have already rode the "big" rides. Our additional FPs will be based on what we liked

 

[Oathkeeper13]

I like to take things at the park at a more leisurely pace. I see the fast pass system as insurance that you will be able to get on your must do rides and attractions. I am going to schedule based based on how I go through the park, closest must do ride to the entrance goes first etc. Providing lots of free time in between scheduled rides to shop, get snacks, and do some of the smaller rides and attractions. For me Disney is not about riding every single ride, it's about getting to relax and be carefree. I feel like FP+ will allow me to sleep in late and go into the park without having to worry about running to a super popular ride to get fast passes before they sell out. If I know I'll have a spot at Toy Story Midway Mania, The Tower of Terror, and a nice seat for Fantasmic then anything else is icing on the cake.

 

[ameliahyde]

I agree about September. It is so very nice and peaceful, at least compare to many other times of the year! I have a two and four year old, and waiting long periods is challenging for us, particularly my younger daughter. I like to maximize FP to really minimize any waits possible. This is also the very reason we go during a slower time. I was pretty bummed about the new fp initially, but now I'm getting a bigger glimmer of hope. The good reviews and the addition of more fo's make me hopeful!

 

[ameliahyde]

I like to take things at the park at a more leisurely pace. I see the fast pass system as insurance that you will be able to get on your must do rides and attractions. I am going to schedule based based on how I go through the park, closest must do ride to the entrance goes first etc. Providing lots of free time in between scheduled rides to shop, get snacks, and do some of the smaller rides and attractions. For me Disney is not about riding every single ride, it's about getting to relax and be carefree. I feel like FP+ will allow me to sleep in late and go into the park without having to worry about running to a super popular ride to get fast passes before they sell out. If I know I'll have a spot at Toy Story Midway Mania, The Tower of Terror, and a nice seat for Fantasmic then anything else is icing on the cake.

By the way, OathKeeper, do you watch Game of Thrones? A sword on the show was named OathKeeper last night!

 

[Oathkeeper13]

Yes I am a big game of thrones fan. However the my name came from the Disney video game Kingdom Hearts, Oathkeeper was the name of one of the key blades.