Touring without late return FP

[eliza61]

Okay, I'll admit it, we were total late return FP users. We abused the system with permission or omission or whatever but now that I've confessed, I'm a total loss as to how to tour without late FP. We haven't been to WDW since 2009 as it is so I feel a little overwhelmed.


Any advice on how to tour the parks now? It seems MK will be the most difficult with DHS a close second? Our trip is this October.

Hey, it's so easy and so wonderful. I'm a professional winger. when in October are you going, we're hoping to do a few days 10/22-10/25.
Anyhoo,
Here's what you do. Determine which rides are your favorites for us it's buzz lightyear, HM and POTC. We don't have a runner go get fp, we stay together. We generally get our fp for HM, then hit buzz lightyear twice, my sons will go on space mtn, while dh and I meander and then we mosey over to POTC do that. depending on the crowd level we will hit HM stand by.

Now that we have our must does done (say that 3x's fast) the rest of the day is gravy. My family are nto real fans of the Runaway railroad or splash mtn so if the line is short we'll do it, but we don't mind skipping.

Usually by now it's time for our fp on HM or we'll get a snack.

I'm not a commando tourer so the entire boo-ha-ha over fp returns kind of baffles me. we've use them for TSMM and soarin and simply come back at the required time.

 

[DebbieB]

We ran into a lunch issue the beginning of May. We did the Segway tour, it was over about 10:30. We had a lunch ADR in France at noon. We figured we would get a fastpass for Soarin and they come back after lunch. We got to Soarin around 10:45, fastpass return was 12:30-1:30. Too close. So we went over and did Nemo and came back and it was 1:30-2:30 so that was good and we got back there around 2:15. You definitely have to strategize more. We lost a Space Mountain fastpass because we decided last minute to go to Fort Wilderness for lunch and it was expired before we got back.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I will be sure to schedule my next trip during a non-peak time of year and be even more certain to hit the parks at opening time as much as possible to avoid crowds. Then fast pass is not as important.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'm worried, we did a lot of lunch, late brunch ADRs when we visited WDW *10/09* we took a mid day break *nap - all of us, my mom was with us* every day, except our AK day. I'm fine with not having ADRs until evening or none/just 1 or 2 *we had the Dining Plan free in 09 and had an ADR each day.

We were rope droppers and the heat and humidity zapped us, the mid day break was necessary!

We were huge late FP users, have always been @ DLR *and looking forward to doing so again in Oct!

 

[Planogirl]

I only heard about the allowed late return time here but we were in so much of a habit that we didn't bother to change. At least not usually.

Staying within the window without much trouble at MK probably works well for us because of how we tour. We've just recently added SM to our plan but before we always stayed in Fantasyland and Frontierland early in the day. It was pretty easy to criss cross such a small area. Now we stop by SM, get fastpasses and then head on to the other two lands. We also get there at or near rope drop and that makes a big difference.

DHS is a bit of a pain but it always is no matter how we plan. Criss crossing this park is always par for the course. Luckily, we don't like as much there except for the obligatory countless rides on Star Tours.

 

[khertz]

Hey, it's so easy and so wonderful. I'm a professional winger. when in October are you going, we're hoping to do a few days 10/22-10/25.
Anyhoo,
Here's what you do. Determine which rides are your favorites for us it's buzz lightyear, HM and POTC. We don't have a runner go get fp, we stay together. We generally get our fp for HM, then hit buzz lightyear twice, my sons will go on space mtn, while dh and I meander and then we mosey over to POTC do that. depending on the crowd level we will hit HM stand by.

Now that we have our must does done (say that 3x's fast) the rest of the day is gravy. My family are nto real fans of the Runaway railroad or splash mtn so if the line is short we'll do it, but we don't mind skipping.

Usually by now it's time for our fp on HM or we'll get a snack.

I'm not a commando tourer so the entire boo-ha-ha over fp returns kind of baffles me. we've use them for TSMM and soarin and simply come back at the required time.

I didn't think HM had Fastpass?

 

[g-dad66]

I didn't think HM had Fastpass?

You're right that Haunted Mansion doesn't have Fast Passes.

Maybe HM stands for Humungous Mountain??

 

[khertz]

You're right that Haunted Mansion doesn't have Fast Passes.

Maybe HM stands for Humungous Mountain??

That's an attraction I'd love to try!

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I know we won't like the "new" rule. We would hoard FP's in the morning and do some of the popular rides. Then when it got crowded we would hop to another park and do the not so popular rides there. We would then go back to the original park and use all of the FP's at night. That will not work at all. I think the new FP system might make it more difficult to hop and Disney might sell fewer park hoppers as a result. We will have to adjust and play it by ear this trip. Luckily we can still do a childswap.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

With you! We won't be liking the new FP changes either. We don't do ADRs (we just don't want THAT much uber-plannning in our day when we're on vacation), but we do take mid-day breaks back to the resort with the kids. So, our late afternoon/evening touring will be tougher. We'll just have hope that when we arrive at RD, we'll get to do most of the rides we want right away and hope for the best later in the day. We'll also have to be sure to take advantage of the early EMH at the parks.

In our early trips, we didn't know about the ability to use fp after the window, so we'll have to revert back! I'm sure we'll adjust...........eventually!

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for all of the varied responses. I guess it's about this old dog learning a new trick.

Honestly, we just gave up on FP.

Gotta keep checking the phone for the FP time you want...and planning your day/time around that...and then dropping everything to go get it. Also have to arrange your schedule around going back at that particular time. Some we just couldn't get...say for evening, because we'd be out of the park when they were available.

It was too much checking and planning and watching. Just too much.

Wasn't worth the headache.

DH will not enjoy our faces in our phones the entire day. I think it will detract from the fun, almost stress inducing it sounds. This trip should be interesting with regard to touring.


We don't do lunch ADRs but do love our midday breaks. Looks like we'll have to prioritize much more than before.


Thanks for the idea Planogirl to just stay in the same land. Guess we can grab the most popular FP for that area, do what we can in that time frame, and move on. I feel ya on DHS and Star Tours. When at Disneyland my son insists on this at least 2x a day. There isn't enough Aleve in the world to make me ride it more than once per day.



It feels like its been so long since we've even been to WDW, over 3 years, that I'm having a hard time coming up with a game plan. Throw this in and I might have to subscribe to RideMax for this trip.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Just curious. How much of a need is there in Oct for FPs?

Do FPs still run out for TSMM or Soarin in Oct?

Toy Story still runs out! Soarin does too, but not until much later in the afternoon.

 

[rentayenta]

Toy Story still runs out! Soarin does too, but not until much later in the afternoon.

TSMM runs out so quickly but I'm glad WDW offers FP for this ride, Disneyland doesn't



What about Spalsh? I would think it would run out quickly too. And EE? Safari? Argh!!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

What about Spalsh? I would think it would run out quickly too. And EE? Safari? Argh!!

Hey EE has SR, I wouldn't bother with a FP for that, just have everybody hop in the SR line. I don't think Splash @ MK has a SR line, sure does at DL!

 

[nan1217]

We have always hoarded FPs too, but our next trip isn't until 2013 and I'm hoping the new RFID bracelets they are testing now will be in effect.

 

[rentayenta]

Hey EE has SR, I wouldn't bother with a FP for that, just have everybody hop in the SR line. I don't think Splash @ MK has a SR line, sure does at DL!

Single rider is a good idea. Thank you! This will be the first year everyone is old enough to do single rider? Do you ever get paired up with someone in your party?

We have always hoarded FPs too, but our next trip isn't until 2013 and I'm hoping the new RFID bracelets they are testing now will be in effect.

What are those??

 

[nan1217]

What are those??

Here's an explanation for ya.

From http://www.padgadget.com/2012/05/01/disney-uses-ipads-to-speed-up-lines-at-theme-parks/

(I bolded a sentence that amused me. )

For anyone who has ever visited a Disney theme park, you’ll remember the lines the most. Those long, boring lines that cause anxiety, heartache and even a tantrum or two are hard to forget. In 1999, Disney decided to fix the line issue by creating the “Fast Pass.”

Now, the happiest place on earth will get the iPad treatment for those on track to the Fast Pass line.

According to 9to5Mac, Disney is rolling out a new guest relations service that uses the iPad.

The iPad will be the centerpiece for Disney’s revolutionary next-generation “FastPass” system. The current system allows Disney park goers to receive passes, return to popular attractions at a future time, and then bypass the lengthy lines.

The program is starting at Disney World in Florida where employees will be handed an iPad that they will use to scan a radio-frequency identification (RFID) bracelet that park visitors are wearing.

The pre-selected guests will book popular rides for specific times in the future, even before entering the park. When they arrive for their reserve time, they will wand their RFID bands by a sensor, which will send their information to a nearby Disney employee’s iPad.

Personally, I never found the Fast Pass to be all that beneficial anyway. You have to wait longer to come back for the ride than the line is, and when you do, there is still a line for Fast Pass users. Plus, you can’t get another Fast Pass for another ride at the same time, so you still have to wait in line for some ride anyway. I’m not sure how the iPad will help this issue. We will see. The program is being tested over the next few weeks, but according to 9to5Mac, it is a sure thing because Disney has already installed RFID zones at several popular attractions in Disney World.

 

[thelionqueen]

TSMM runs out so quickly but I'm glad WDW offers FP for this ride, Disneyland doesn't

What about Spalsh? I would think it would run out quickly too. And EE? Safari? Argh!!

Good point about TSM @ DCA. We were there when it first opened and there I was looking around for the FP kiosk as everyone was walking past me. Finally asked a CM and he said no FP's..I was like...WHAT???

From then on we've stayed @ GC and get into the park earlier than non-DL resort guests and escorted even to TSM. We're able to walk on TSM and be the FIRST ones in line for California Screamin after we get of TSM. It's quite a site to watch the "general public" rushing over the bridge towards TSM..seriously..it's like that scene from the Lion King in the gorge..lol.

Splash & Space Mtn I would think would be the next most popular rides to fun out of FP's..but TSM is BY FAR the quickest IMO.

 

[jeankeri]

Single rider is a good idea. Thank you! This will be the first year everyone is old enough to do single rider? Do you ever get paired up with someone in your party?


You would be paired up with an odd numbered party in the stand-by line. More than one in your party might be on the same EE train, but how close together is strictly chance.

 

[nkereina]

Just curious. How much of a need is there in Oct for FPs?

Do FPs still run out for TSMM or Soarin in Oct?

Honestly, we just gave up on FP.

Gotta keep checking the phone for the FP time you want...and planning your day/time around that...and then dropping everything to go get it. Also have to arrange your schedule around going back at that particular time. Some we just couldn't get...say for evening, because we'd be out of the park when they were available.

It was too much checking and planning and watching. Just too much.

Wasn't worth the headache.

I agree with this. It's probably the same thoughts we will have considering we were the rope drop - collect FPs - break - go back at night and use FPs type of tourists.

I can see people having this same mindset, though, and taking FPs anyway on the chance they will be in the area to use it and then if they don't use them, no skin off their nose. This stinks for the people who DO want FPs and can't get them before they run out. I think I'd rather have people get FPs and use them when convenient, then take an FP and maybe use it...