Suggestions on My FP+ Strategy, Please!

[PSUGuy]

Next year our 60 day FP+ window will open on a Sunday and I'll be out of range of both cell and internet service, believe me, such places exist in the Pa mountains. At 60 days before our Nov 2 - 11 trip this year FP+ choices were gone for FoP, as WDW resort guests we were able to get them 68 days out. All the other E-Ticket rides were available when our window opened, whenever we wanted them for.

My question, would I be making a mistake if I just blow off the first morning of our 60 day window, going online either later in that day or even at the 59 day mark? No way will we try to walk on FoP at rope drop or any other time, we had FPs for 9 am which is when AK theoretically opened, had to wait at the FP entrance we were so early and the standby line was 165 minutes. Of course, with the 10 day lead we get as resort guests and our 9 day reservation 59 days would actually be 68 so if this year is any indication I should be OK. I'm torn between my desire to lock down all our choices ASAP and wanting to not cut our Sun. trip short. Ideas?

Bill From PA

 

[FastPass Dad]

I recently booked our FP+ for our January 20-27 trip. Early Nov and mid Jan are roughly the same crowd levels so I would expect you to have similar results to me. I was up at 6:45 AM on the 60th day and had plans for 2 AK days, a Monday and a Wednesday (we arrive on Saturday). The earliest available for Monday was 3:05 but I got 10 AM for Wednesday. I was refreshing to try and get a better time on Monday and within a couple of hours, the entire day was gone. If you can't get to a connection by 7 AM, I would recommend planning your AK days for the end of your trip. The earlier in your trip, the more likely they are gone to people who are ending their stay around then and booked a few days earlier, if that makes sense.

 

[Gehrig1B]

You will be fine. We are going for NYE and had no problem getting FOP on 60+3. You should have no trouble getting your fastpasses waiting until later in the day as long as you aren't hoping for day 60!

 

[Herding_Cats]

I was able to secure 9 fastpasses for FoP after "only" getting 6 to start with at day 56, during the week between Christmas and New Years. I picked up 3 more by checking once or twice a day, on days I remembered (and that was NOT every day.) I was able to, at the end of last week, switch 2 passes from NRV to FoP at day....33ish? Is getting on as early as possible your *best* bet for scoring FoP passes? Yes. Is it highly possible for you to still get passes if you are staying for multiple days? Absolutely.

 

[Kevin Chalmers]

Right now, we have a 9:10am FoP FP+ on January 24. If I wanted to modify, there are still FP+ available starting at 3:45 that day. We are sitting at 43 days before the trip and I have to believe, in two weeks, when the 30 FP+ window opens up, they will be gone.

So, basically, what I'm saying is, as long as you don't care what time you ride, you may be ok if it's not a busy time.

 

[KEW]

You will be fine. We are going for NYE and had no problem getting FOP on 60+3. You should have no trouble getting your fastpasses waiting until later in the day as long as you aren't hoping for day 60!

PSUguy, one thing to consider, AK had extended hours that last week after Christmas, regular opening at 8:00 a.m. every day. These hours were extended even before MK's hours were extended. More hours...more fastpasses available.

PSUguy, if you're going next year at a similar time to this past year (early November), I would expect park hours and crowds to be similar...and FP results to be similar. Not sure how much of the crowd Toystory Land opening next year will draw away from AK to HS, but I think that may change when Star Wars Land opens up....