To fastpass + or not? This is the question.

[MrsB919]

Dh and I are going down in May for a 4 day getaway. We are planning on going to the parks but mostly are trying to keep it more relaxed and not so planned. My question is if we don't do the fastpass + does that mean that when we do decide to go to the parks that we won't be able to get fastpasses or be able to get on some of the rides we would normally be able to? I have been going to WDW forever and I feel like things have changed so much. I don't want to have to feel like I need to plan my vacation so much so that I need to figure out months before what parks I'm going on what days. Any suggestions on how to keep it relaxed but still be able to do rides? TIA

 

[DebbieB]

Dh and I are going down in May for a 4 day getaway. We are planning on going to the parks but mostly are trying to keep it more relaxed and not so planned. My question is if we don't do the fastpass + does that mean that when we do decide to go to the parks that we won't be able to get fastpasses or be able to get on some of the rides we would normally be able to? I have been going to WDW forever and I feel like things have changed so much. I don't want to have to feel like I need to plan my vacation so much so that I need to figure out months before what parks I'm going on what days. Any suggestions on how to keep it relaxed but still be able to do rides? TIA

You can get fastpasses when you get there. A girl on a facebook group I belong to posted that she arrived around 11:00 the other day at MK and was able to get her 3 fastpass choices, BTMRR, Buzz & Space Mt for that afternoon.

I was playing with it the other day and at around 10:50, I could have reserved a fastpass for Toy Story Mania for 12:15 that day.

There's no need to figure it out months ahead, although it might get more difficult once the AP Holders can reserve in advance.

 

[MrsB919]

That's good to know. I would hate to miss some of my faves. I got the magnet sent that we can book the fastpasses this upcoming week and I was starting to feel pressure.

 

[Shaden]

You can get fastpasses when you get there. A girl on a facebook group I belong to posted that she arrived around 11:00 the other day at MK and was able to get her 3 fastpass choices, BTMRR, Buzz & Space Mt for that afternoon.

I was playing with it the other day and at around 10:50, I could have reserved a fastpass for Toy Story Mania for 12:15 that day.

There's no need to figure it out months ahead, although it might get more difficult once the AP Holders can reserve in advance.

That's good to know. I would hate to miss some of my faves. I got the magnet sent that we can book the fastpasses this upcoming week and I was starting to feel pressure.

do NOT count on this. Seriously.

Disney has been playing with stuff far too much, numbers of FP etc. Crowds have been unpredictable.

We are going for 2 weeks in may, and sure Touringplans has them at 5 days, and we generally like to wake up, and decide what park to go to. BUT, I am not risking it.

For all we know (especially with Mine Train coming online soon) Disney might institute Tiers in MK, or DAK ...

My suggestion, book your FPs now, IF you decide to change them on the day, AND there is availability, then, no harm no foul. But if you don't book them now, and go to book on the day of and find no availability, you will not be happy.

In no way do I like FP+, but I am still trying to use it to the best of my ability.

 

[robndani]

I wouldn't wait until you get there. We just came back 3 weeks ago and the lines to GET your fastpass reservations were longer than some of the ride lines! It was CRAZY! Just make a few here and there if you don't want to feel to "planned"!!!

 

[MrsB919]

do NOT count on this. Seriously.

Disney has been playing with stuff far too much, numbers of FP etc. Crowds have been unpredictable.

We are going for 2 weeks in may, and sure Touringplans has them at 5 days, and we generally like to wake up, and decide what park to go to. BUT, I am not risking it.

For all we know (especially with Mine Train coming online soon) Disney might institute Tiers in MK, or DAK ...

My suggestion, book your FPs now, IF you decide to change them on the day, AND there is availability, then, no harm no foul. But if you don't book them now, and go to book on the day of and find no availability, you will not be happy.

In no way do I like FP+, but I am still trying to use it to the best of my ability.

I wouldn't wait until you get there. We just came back 3 weeks ago and the lines to GET your fastpass reservations were longer than some of the ride lines! It was CRAZY! Just make a few here and there if you don't want to feel to "planned"!!!

This is what I was afraid of. We will be getting AP's this year so we were originally thinking of just going with the flow and park hopping, not so much planning full days or specific days, but now with the fastpass + situation it seems like we will have to have some kind of schedule.

 

[robndani]

It really wasn't a big deal doing ahead of time. A few times during our trip, the standby line was short, so we didn't use fp+ for that ride. A few times we used the app on our phones to change it to something later in the day. I think the little bit of pre-planning will leave you with the freedom to spend the rest of your time there relaxing!

 

[jrtoastyman]

We didn't have any problem changing our choices the day we were there most of the time, so you'll probably have the flexibility to decide when you get there. With that said, you'd be wise to hop online and make some reservations in advance because there's no downside to doing so. Pick a few things, get some times that seem plausible, and book them. You'll most likely have ample opportunity to change them when you get there, but if not for some reason, you at least have some options available to you.

 

[morethananyonex]

I totally agree that you don't know what it's going to be like until you get there. Things can and will run out. There's no penalty for making FP+ choices before you leave and then changing them. On our low crowd early February trip TSMM was gone mid morning as well as ETWB. Soarin was difficult to shift around too.

The possibility of tiers or any possible negative changes is a good reason for booking now too. When the tiers appeared for DHS and Epcot, everyone who already had FP+ selections wasn't effected.

You're much better off loosely planning a bit (just deciding what park you'll be in) and booking things you absolutely don't want to miss. If you don't use them it's no big deal.

 

[JimmyV]

You can get fastpasses when you get there. A girl on a facebook group I belong to posted that she arrived around 11:00 the other day at MK and was able to get her 3 fastpass choices, BTMRR, Buzz & Space Mt for that afternoon.

I was playing with it the other day and at around 10:50, I could have reserved a fastpass for Toy Story Mania for 12:15 that day.

Experiences in February (other than President's Day weekend) are not predictive of what May will be like. And take heed that the Mine Train should be open in very early May. I would not count on getting a same day FP+ for that. Over President's Day weekend, prime FPs were gone by mid morning. We got shut out of Belle at 8:15 a.m. Well, we could have had 9:15 p.m., but what fun is that? As noted above, there is no penalty for booking them and not using them or changing them later. Better that then showing up only to find out that you are only able to get scraps.