Thoughts on Maximizing FASTPASS in Today's Disney Parks

[Thumper_Man]

We will be in DCA on Sunday, at Rope Drop but no access to EMH. Will we be ok to ride TSMM first before obtaining RSR FP?

That is what I would do. I think it is not only OK but the best choice.

HydroGuy. You have provided a great deal of information on touring DLR and I have used the information wisely that you have provided. This is one bit of information that I unfortunately disagree with you on.

It would be wise to get the RSR FP first, then go ride TSMM. At least these are what our past experiences have taught us to do.

DW and I were just there this past October. FP's for RSR were still going fast and usually gone between 9-9:30 am. On our last trip, we got in line right away at 8:15am for RSR FP's. Once I got through the line, I asked the CM's if I could hold back for a FP return time for the night, since we had never rode RSR at night. They let me wait off to the side. 8:50 am is when I got our FP's for a return time of 8 pm. 15 minutes later, they were all distributed for the day.

We went to TSMM immediately after and the posted wait time was 25 minutes.

 

[HydroGuy]

HydroGuy. You have provided a great deal of information on touring DLR and I have used the information wisely that you have provided. This is one bit of information that I unfortunately disagree with you on.

It would be wise to get the RSR FP first, then go ride TSMM. At least these are what our past experiences have taught us to do.

DW and I were just there this past October. FP's for RSR were still going fast and usually gone between 9-9:30 am. On our last trip, we got in line right away at 8:15am for RSR FP's. Once I got through the line, I asked the CM's if I could hold back for a FP return time for the night, since we had never rode RSR at night. They let me wait off to the side. 8:50 am is when I got our FP's for a return time of 8 pm. 15 minutes later, they were all distributed for the day.

We went to TSMM immediately after and the posted wait time was 25 minutes.

There are two schools of thought and I am not sure myself which is better. Those who get in line for RSR FPs at park opening do end up spending a lot of time in the FP line just to get the FP. Then after they get it as you experienced TSMM can already be a longish line.

Some folks like to ride TSMM first almost a walk-on then backtrack to get RSR FPs. All in all it seems to be the second approach would take less time. I have not timed each one on busy days.

I think your warning about RSR FPs running out is a good one. I have not heard of RSR FPs running out within one hour since last year. More of what I have hear is they usually last 90-120 minutes. But maybe I am misinformed.

Your approach is a sure fire solution. The second appoach to get TSMM FPs first has a little more risk.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

My rule of thumb during the OLD WDW FP system was if the ride is less than a 30 minute wait get on and don't waste your FP or get one for that ride at a later time.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am getting the same vibe from this forum as well.

Are there rides that FP tend to run out on. Like at WDW DHS TSMM runs out of FP by noon on the old system. I know that DRL TSMM doesn't use FP, just using it as an example.

 

[BrynNicole]

More of what I have hear is they usually last 90-120 minutes.

We have gone six separate times in the past year at various on/off peak times and this has been our experience.

Would the depletion of RSR fp's be largely dependent on the closing hours of DCA (essentially the fp's would run out faster if the park closes at 8pm as opposed to 12am)?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

We have gone six separate times in the past year at various on/off peak times and this has been our experience.

Would the depletion of RSR fp's be largely dependent on the closing hours of DCA (essentially the fp's would run out faster if the park closes at 8pm as opposed to 12am)?

Good to know...

Is RSR the only one that is like this, or are there similar rides with these types of issues?

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

Great post! I concur, for our most recent DLR visit we used far less FPs, we hopped, but from here on out I doubt we'll hop. I'm glad we had so many visits under the old way, man those were awesome times, now we'll take things slower, more SR lines, love it for Matterhorn!
Our first FP+ only WDW visit is coming up soon

 

[HydroGuy]

We have gone six separate times in the past year at various on/off peak times and this has been our experience.

Would the depletion of RSR fp's be largely dependent on the closing hours of DCA (essentially the fp's would run out faster if the park closes at 8pm as opposed to 12am)?

RSR FPs changed this summer so my PP is no longer current.

Now RSR FPs are connected and last longer - like 3-4 hours after park opening.

Since RSR is now connected then the advantage of getting FPs first thing is different - it gives you a window which is sooner - allowing you to get other FPs. However, DCA FPs were juts not very helpful on our July trip and we rarely needed them. Only for RSR and GRR really.

 

[GatorChris]

I never really thought of FP in this way. 5-10 min to walk to the machine, then walk back to the ride, then wait. It does seem like I need to be wiser about our FP usage.

I will say this. When it comes to families where you have a little one who can't do all the 40 inch rides, getting FP for as many rides as possible is important. To me, having one parent walk to get a FP while the other parent takes the kids on Casey Jr or another kid ride works because then the big kids can get on those big kid rides faster, reducing the wait time for the parent strolling the toddler around.

Now that my 3yo has reaced 40 inches, the only rides worth using a FP on would be the usual RSR and SM, but also include scary rides like Tower that a 3yo may not want to go on, or Indy and Screamin' which require a greater height.

 

[gmi3804]

Re: Monitoring ride breakdowns when you have FPs for them.

What's the best way to do this? How would I know that Space had a breakdown at some point during the day (or does it have to have been during our specific return time)? Do CMs typically (I know this varies case-by-case) allow anytime returns if the ride broke down at any time during the day?

 

[limace]

This is very helpful-thanks! Haven't been since the policy changed and was trying to figure it out.

 

[HydroGuy]

Re: Monitoring ride breakdowns when you have FPs for them.

What's the best way to do this? How would I know that Space had a breakdown at some point during the day (or does it have to have been during our specific return time)? Do CMs typically (I know this varies case-by-case) allow anytime returns if the ride broke down at any time during the day?

The only practical way to know for sure is to go to the ride. Not sure if Ask Otto would work for this - see http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/07/got-a-disneyland-resort-question-just-ask-otto/

As for your other question the OP answer this:

Pay attention to when your FP rides break down

When you have a FP and the ride breaks down during your window, that typically means the end of your FP window no longer applies. Which means you can use the FP anytime that day - like you could before window enforcement started.

 

[basketballmom]

I remember our first trip after FP return times were enforced. We sorta walked around like, "What do we do now?" haha. We were the type who would have 6-8 sets of FP to use in the evening. We also had no problem criss-crossing the parks to ride, say, Splash and then GRR.

We have ALWAYS been park-at-opening people. I truly believe you can get SO much done in those first two hours..even without FP.

As far as how long we will wait standby, we will usually wait up to 45 minutes. Some rides, such as Indy, have so many things to look at in the queue. Of course, my girls are all older, so I don't have to entertain young children. Queues give us time to plan our next moves, rest a little, snack, and just laugh and have fun together.

This is a great thread! I really enjoy everyone's comments!

 

[SD33]

I'm still using Ridemax and collecting FP's and I feel like my longest wait is usually 20 minutes, max. This post has me rethinking that though. Then again, if Ridemax cuts wait times down to 20 instead of 40, why would I switch? Curious to get your thoughts on this, Hydroguy. I'm open to suggestions. I would prefer creating my own plan but Ridemax has been so good to us lol.

 

[jeffg4]

Does anyone know if you can hold 2 FP's for the same ride? For instance, I get a SM FP at 8:20 AM with a return time of 9:15-10:15 AM. Can I get another SM FP at 9:30 AM? I seem to recall either experiencing or hearing about a quirk where if it is the same ride, you have to wait the full 2 hours before you can obtain the next FP.

 

[HydroGuy]

Does anyone know if you can hold 2 FP's for the same ride? For instance, I get a SM FP at 8:20 AM with a return time of 9:15-10:15 AM. Can I get another SM FP at 9:30 AM? I seem to recall either experiencing or hearing about a quirk where if it is the same ride, you have to wait the full 2 hours before you can obtain the next FP.

Yes you can. In your scenario you can get a second SM FP at 9:15AM.

 

[HydroGuy]

I'm still using Ridemax and collecting FP's and I feel like my longest wait is usually 20 minutes, max. This post has me rethinking that though. Then again, if Ridemax cuts wait times down to 20 instead of 40, why would I switch? Curious to get your thoughts on this, Hydroguy. I'm open to suggestions. I would prefer creating my own plan but Ridemax has been so good to us lol.

If RM works for you then use it. But even with RM I think you can make some small adjustments with FP usage. E.g., RM says "use your FP at 10AM" when the window goes from 9:45-10:45AM. I would divert from the RM plan and use the FP at 10:45AM rather than 10AM and move something else up from your list. If I wanted to maximize. Sometimes I am not that into maximizing and just use the FP at 10AM if that is when I am there.

 

[jeffg4]

If RM works for you then use it. But even with RM I think you can make some small adjustments with FP usage. E.g., RM says "use your FP at 10AM" when the window goes from 9:45-10:45AM. I would divert from the RM plan and use the FP at 10:45AM rather than 10AM and move something else up from your list. If I wanted to maximize. Sometimes I am not that into maximizing and just use the FP at 10AM if that is when I am there.

Excellent point, however, the longer you wait to use your FP, the more risk you run of missing the return window should a ride break down or you have some other issue along the way.

 

[jeffg4]

Yes you can. In your scenario you can get a second SM FP at 9:15AM.

That's what I thought but wanted to verify - thanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

Excellent point, however, the longer you wait to use your FP, the more risk you run of missing the return window should a ride break down or you have some other issue along the way.

That is true matter what FP you have. Taken to its extreme you always use your FP right when the window opens. As I have never had this happen to me personally in 12 years of FP use I would not worry about it for myself. YMMV.

 

[Davey Jones II]

At DL I would say the order is the same as in the past. If you get your first FP within the first hour of park opening you want one of the popular ones which will have windows not too far away early morning.

For me that is usually Space Mtn or Indy. After those two it is ST or Splash.

At DCA RSR is still a special category. But it is disconnected (aka independent). To me the best FP to get first is Soarin. Then probably ToT. GRR is good to get on a hot day if you can get the window in the afternoon. CA Screamin has been disconnected too so you can get that any time.

In general I would lean towards getting FP for a ride that is nearby physically. If you are spending the morning in TomorrowLand then I would tend to get Space Mtn and ST first and save Indy for a little later.

I would tend to get an Indy FP and then ride JC, POTC, etc., which allows some time to pass and maybe the Indy FP window has come up by then.

You said that RSR is now connected? What about Screamin'?

Also, you mentioned that you can maximize by using your FP at the end of the window, rather than the beginning. Please explain why?