The Ultimate FastPass+ experiment!

[AlixaLock]

If you want to try for Fp+ for a BOG lunch (it doesn't affect your 3 Fp+ per day - it is separate from MDE), here is the link:

beourguestlunch.disney.go.com

Thank you so much! We've done BOG a couple of times, so we probably won't take advantage, but I will file that link away for the future!!

What happened to this board? I am so happy to come here and read people's updates so that I can see what is going on. Any information is usually good information. People may book their stuff 60 days out but plans change and days get switched around so I think it is great to see you can switch FP's closer to the vacation date. I know it is only for February but I can't see into the future so I'll take what I can get.

To put a poster down for describing what they are experiencing is a little insane to me.

I'm going at the end of March and hope to have a great trip so thanks for the information and keep it coming.

I have to say I agree. I know there is really no point in in saying so, but I am so disappointed over how snarky and unpleasant certain things have become here. I'm not a huge poster, but I've been around for a while and have always loved the boards.

OP thank you for your curiosity. I am also a very curious person and I can see where you are coming from.

I am enjoying reading about your experiment.

You are very sweet, kind, and helpful.

I like that.

Looking forward to your finished product.

.

Thank you! I will keep everyone posted. For now I am in deep packing mode. No summer stuff anywhere to found. Heading to the attic which is FREEZING, hopefully its all there!! LOL!!

That doesn't seem right to me. Illuminations is Tier 1. I have a hard time believing it would be sold out. There's tons of room in that space for people.

We were in Epcot last week (last day of paper fast pass). Since we were able to pull a paper fast pass for soarin', we decided to change our FP+ from Soarin to Illuminations. So day of, there was plenty of space. Perhaps a Friday is more busy than a Wednesday, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, my point is, I could not 'see' Illuminations as a choice to switch to from Soarin. The weird thing about FP+ and the app is that you can change the TIME or the ATTRACTION but not BOTH at the same time. You have to change one, then change the other. Since Soarin FP+ was for noonish and Illumination is for 830PM and only 8:30PM, switching from Soarin to Illuminations was not possible.

To get Illuminations, we had to 'start over.'

I'm not sure how you were looking for Illumination, but if you start from the beginning, you might be able to get it.

Thanks for pointing out some of the eccentricities of the system. However, this wasn't the case this time. I agree, and I was shocked as well. But alas, it was true. I had no FP+ or ADR's booked for Friday and it did show up. However it was grayed out and listed as "Standby Available." I just verified this again and the same result (again, I have no ADRs or FP booked for Friday since we arrive late.) I think it's more likely then anything that they aren't offering an Illiminations FastPass for tomorrow for some obscure reason, because I see no other reason for it to be fully booked.

I will note your method, though. The system is definitely not as intuitive as it should be. I'll also keep checking and keep you posted! Thanks again!

 

[AlixaLock]

It's not you -- it's them.

So true ... in life and on the DIS boards! Thank you!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

What happened to this board?

Disgusting behavior. Maybe it is time to start reporting all of this stuff, because it is clear that the mods don't do anything about them unless they are reported.

 

[AlixaLock]

I'd be interested on your opinion of how standby vs FP+ lines are at the park.
From some reports it almost sounds like people are standing in a FP line even though the standby line is shorter.

Yes. I'm so curious about the standby lines under the new system! Keep ya posted!

 

[sunkissed4]

Have a great trip OP! It's cold here now, but a serious warm up this weekend! Beautiful weather for the BC.

 

[AlixaLock]

Have a great trip OP! It's cold here now, but a serious warm up this weekend! Beautiful weather for the BC.

Woo Hoo! So excited! It was 11 degrees when I got out of my car tonight, so I will be easy to please!!

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

Thanks for posting your results.

The weather is going yo be fantastic this weekend 70’s and 80’s. We had cold weather for about 2 weeks but the weekend looks fabulous. Enjoy!

 

[3happydancers]

I wasn't trying to prove anything. I was hoping to show my experiences with booking a last minute trip. My trip happens to be in February.

I'm not sure I should bother posting anything else about my experiences, since clearly there is no value in anything I have to say if it doesn't either prove or disprove something. Many people have remarked lately that they are worried that the spontaneity has gone out of the whole Disney experience and it's something that was on my mind, so I thought I'd experiment.

I really meant this to be fun and light ... not sure where I went wrong.

More tomorrow when I have time to sit down and write out the rest of my booking experiences...

AlixaLock, don't let certain people bring you down. Many do appreciate any and all information shared.

Thanks for all your effort. Looking forward to hear how your surprise weekend goes!

 

[tim123]

A good point, thanks for clarifying.

Alright Friday and Saturday are done.

FastPasses were easy to book ... wide open across all parks. I booked (and cancelled, since we won't actually arrive in time to have much park time on Friday) easily and the website is working great tonight. Ironically, the one FastPass that I would have booked and kept for Friday was Illuminations and that was THE ONLY one not available.

It's clear, at least in this current form of FP+, that it is not necessary to book 60-days out.

Dining ADR's were more restricted but not horrible. Wanted Le Cellier but it was fully booked. Debated between Yachtsman and Via Napoli and ended up with Via Napoli. Goes without saying that nothing was available at BOG, 'Ohana or Cali Grill. Most restaurants were available but there was mostly 5pm and 9pm reservations.

It is clear, as it has been for a while, that it is necessary to book the most popular dining 180 days out, but that there are plenty of decent options available later in the game!

One thing that was really annoying ... I hated having to manipulate the dining times to get the FastPass+ times that I wanted. I cancelled dining and then booked a FastPass and then re-booked dining. I know very well how quickly I can get from Soarin' to Via Napoli and Disney os forcing way too much cushion between FastPass and Dining.

Oh, and there was no club level available at Beach Club, but I think we can struggle through! LOL!

More LAter!

make sure you retry to book le cellar 24 hours before you want it…remember people must cancel or pay the penalty…i october I got every reservation I wanted by continually checking sometimes hour to hour!!!

 

[Toniann966]

Yeah, I wasn't aware of this prior to planning, but it was definitely there. Could not book FP+ within a certain time period around my ADR. It was no problem to book ADRs though as long as they didn't directly conflict (which I wouldn't do anyway) so it was more of an annoyance then a problem. This is one, though, that will be more difficult for people dealing with peak crowds!

There is a way around this. You book your fast passes first, then your dining arrangements. For some reason, the cushion doesn't exist when done this way.

 

[china mom]

Prior to our recent trip, I had been worried about getting FP+. I know people who jump on their computers at exactly 60 days out to book the FP+. We didn't have that option because we had not bought our tickets yet. We were there last week and since we are not big planners, we would pick which park(s) we planned to go to the night before and even the morning of, and we had not problem scoring most of the FPs we wanted. I think there was only one ride that was not available at a convenient time.

I think you will find that your last minute trip goes smoothly. Have tons of fun.

 

[famy27]

If you're still interested in Illuminations for Friday, it's available as of this moment.

I have found that FP+ availability is in constant flux, so even if something is "Standby Available" when you check, you might be able to get FP+s if you keep checking/refreshing. I've seen that with TSMM, Soarin', ToT, etc. You may be limited to one time, but if someone cancels, you may be able to grab their spot.

 

[Luckybee]

Who cares what off-site guest can or can't do... I personally hope they never let off-site guests book more than 24 hours ahead of time.

In the end this is part of the complaining I see
I GOTTA BOOK AND LOCK IN FP+ 60 DAYS OUT

Well she showed that its pretty plausible to get pretty much everything from a FP+ point of view even a couple days before the trip.

I cant figure out why they let on site guests book in advance . They should have given priority to offsite guests....who cares about those who stay onsite . Of course I'm not serious nor could I be that self centered.

I'll resist the overwhelming urge to respond further other than to say wow....just wow !

 

[AlixaLock]

If you're still interested in Illuminations for Friday, it's available as of this moment.

I have found that FP+ availability is in constant flux, so even if something is "Standby Available" when you check, you might be able to get FP+s if you keep checking/refreshing. I've seen that with TSMM, Soarin', ToT, etc. You may be limited to one time, but if someone cancels, you may be able to grab their spot.

Thank you! It was "Standby" again last night when I checked, but this morning it's available (as was Soarin' etc ...) Ironically, decided not to book since we decided to do 3-day hoppers and I want to save that 3rd day for Monday.

 

[ougrad86]

Have a great time! Would love a little Florida right now - this is the coldest winter I remember for awhile!