Tell me about YOUR FP+ strategy (especially if it's worked)

[JZCubed]

I understand that there are differing opinions on how to maximize FP+ usage, and I'm wondering what the best one would be for my upcoming trip. We're not really rope-drop people (though we might do that by default once or twice this trip because of ADRs). No park hopping planned this time. Currently, I think I'm favoring the "Do all your FP+ in a block right away when you plan to arrive at the park so that you can get a lot more FP+ for other attractions throughout the day" strategy. But now I'm reconsidering.

What have you done and did it work? What are you planning, and why?

Yes, every family has their own calculus for developing a touring plan.

Expected weather impacts choices (i.e., we avoid some outdoor things in summer to lower exposure to sun and heat).

ADR's impact choices (i.e., is Tonga Toast more important than Rope Drop, is the Fantasmic! package worth it, Character Meals).

How are evenings at Signature restaurants, pool time, and/or fireworks and light shows impacting your FP+ (i.e., we avoid roller coasters after a meal, Grandma skips roller coasters: lunch with Grandma = no roller coasters).

A strategy for obtaining more than 3 FP+ in 3-hours was described above (Post #10).

So the question becomes - how much time do you expect to spend in a Park?

Our calculus - since we no longer go twice a year, but only once each year, we stay an extra day or two for as many as 9-nites. 3 FP+ is as many as we need on most any day, since 9-days is plenty of Park time. 3 FP+ is between 3-6 hours in a Park and that's ordinarily enough for us during these longer stays. We Park Hop or stroll the Boardwalk (mostly spontaneously after picking up our child from Camp after the adults enjoy a Signature).

It would be nice to get a 4th FP+ for some of the Nighttime Spectaculars without the hassle of Park Hopping or purchasing a Dining Package. Kiosk lines are sometimes too long to justify one more FP+ and offers the following: 25 minutes at Kiosk vs. 35 minute Standby.

If you are not into Rope Drop and want to enjoy more Thrill Rides (the ones that necessitate a FP+), then utilizing a strategy of going Late Night makes most sense to me.

 

[Disneymom1126]

We are rope drop people so we don't schedule early morning fastpasses...we usually make them in the 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. time frame. At MK and AK we were still able to get some decent additional FP's. At Epcot and HS the choices were very limited so we typically did shows or walked around World Showcase in the afternoon and then went back to our favorites that didn't have fastpass availability at the end of day to avoid the long lines. We had a lot of success doing this on our last trip and it was Thanksgiving week so not a light-crowd time of year.