Touringplans' FP+ Availability App

[ffugitive]

I do not think I really need the Touringplans app for its other functions, but this seems like a real plus so you can know availability before you walk up to the kiosk for the 4th FP, and also to help monitor what is available so you can change the 4th FP once you have it. Can anyone tell me their thoughts about whether it is worth the $13?

 

[tweak89]

I've used their Lines app a couple of times in the past (and it was fairly accurate).

I totally forgot about that functionality (FP reporting) as it's been a few years since our last visit, but it was quite useful with legacy FP so I imagine it would be equally useful with FP+. But, keep in mind, that it's wait times/FP availability depend on in park users for its data so it's only as accurate as the person(s) reporting in on the app.

 

[ffugitive]

But, keep in mind, that it's wait times/FP availability depend on in park users for its data so it's only as accurate as the person(s) reporting in on the app.

This seems impossible as it reports all the fastpass availability windows for all of the rides. What guests would take the time to report all available time windows?

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I saw some web devs discussing an open API to grab FP+ wait times from. Perhaps that's where TP gets their data, or perhaps they have a tool to scrape the FP+ site by making dummy reservations using an AP.

$13 is a pittance. I'd absolutely spend that much (and I did). The in-park wait times are another cool feature, and I love making plans and optimizing them on the site. Buy it.

 

[tweak89]

This seems impossible as it reports all the fastpass availability windows for all of the rides. What guests would take the time to report all available time windows?

From the website:

"We've been researching Disney crowds for over ten years. Our Disney World wait times use real-time data sent in by users and statistical models prepared by a professional statistician to estimate how long you'll actually wait in line."

BTW, I report times when I'm in line.

 

[DebbieB]

I have it and like it. I have made reports. The FP+ times are for 1 person. So it may say there's a FP available for a certain time but if you go to the kiosk and request it for 4 people it may not be available. They use reports but if they don't have a report they go by a statistical projection so it may not be right.

 

[mjhannaf]

BTW, I report times when I'm in line.

Their wait times are crowd sourced, but I highly doubt their FP+ availability is.

That said, I'm not privy to any open API to get this info, but I've been working on another WDW project that has consumed all my free time

 

[Brian Noble]

I like Lines a lot. It's more usable than MDE for getting wait times, it integrates next-show times into a single screen, and the FP+ availability is a nice touch.

I know they say they crowd-source and predict wait times from models, but I'm not 100% sure that's true these days. They track EasyWDW's Waitz and MDE very closely, and those two both use Disney-provided data. I'm guessing the close correspondence is not an accident, but TP would prefer to be more circumspect than Easy, because the API is probably not, strictly speaking, open, and TP carries more risk because they are higher profile and a business besides.

 

[tookydo]

It's actually 20% off now; there is a coupon code on their website. I just got my subscription for $10.36. For me, the ten bucks is worth it just for the other features I use so if the FP info is correct, then bonus!

 

[ffugitive]

I like Lines a lot. It's more usable than MDE for getting wait times, it integrates next-show times into a single screen, and the FP+ availability is a nice touch.

I know they say they crowd-source and predict wait times from models, but I'm not 100% sure that's true these days. They track EasyWDW's Waitz and MDE very closely, and those two both use Disney-provided data. I'm guessing the close correspondence is not an accident, but TP would prefer to be more circumspect than Easy, because the API is probably not, strictly speaking, open, and TP carries more risk because they are higher profile and a business besides.

That makes sense. Thanks all for the input.

 

[Cyrano]

I am a subscriber and happy with TP

 

[cigar95]

. . . . . and I love making plans and optimizing them on the site. Buy it.

In case anyone's wondering, the personalized, optimized plans can be had as part of a free membership. But the stuff that comes with the paid membership is still well worth the price.

 

[soniam]

Love TP. I have had subscriptions to WDW and DLR. Currently have WDW and Universal. The lines app is nice and works better sometimes than MDX. I like the crowd sourced wait times. Disney seems to inflate the SB times. I don't remember using the FP+ availability this summer. Either it wasn't there, or I just didn't notice it. I'll try it out in March.

 

[SuperTink]

Subscriber here.

I don't use the actual touring plans but I find the wait times, FP availability and "in-park" chat very useful. I got the discount plus another one from Mousesavers and paid about $10 and some change. Totally worth it.

 

[ffugitive]

Went ahead and bought it for both WDW and Universal - about 13 with discounts. Already see the benefit, particularly if the additional same day fastpasses for additional magic bands loophole is not closed before we go next month. In order to get additional fastpasses that work for you, you really need to know where you are going to be and when. I've never done this before, but I have laid out our daily itineraries using Touringplans, so now I know where and when additional fastpasses will be useful. Not sure how I feel yet about having a daily itinerary, but I enjoyed putting them together.

 

[soniam]

Went ahead and bought it for both WDW and Universal - about 13 with discounts. Already see the benefit, particularly if the additional same day fastpasses for additional magic bands loophole is not closed before we go next month. In order to get additional fastpasses that work for you, you really need to know where you are going to be and when. I've never done this before, but I have laid out our daily itineraries using Touringplans, so now I know where and when additional fastpasses will be useful. Not sure how I feel yet about having a daily itinerary, but I enjoyed putting them together.

If you are a planner, I think you'll be hooked. Just don't panic if you are finishing ahead of time Seriously, this is usually what happens to us. We had a day once at AK that got messed up because my plan didn't have the updated times for FOTLK. Either it was a last minute change and TP didn't know, or I didn't re-optimize that plan close enough to the trip. It still worked out. We rode everything we wanted in one day. We just had to follow the spirit of the plan on that day.

 

[Lynn in MI]

I love Touring Plans. Bought it last time I went to Disney in 2012 and renewed it as soon as we knew we were going back this year. It was worth every penny.

 

[cigar95]

. . . . . , particularly if the additional same day fastpasses for additional magic bands loophole is not closed before we go next month.

??????
What loophole is this?

verboten subject?

 

[soniam]

?????? What loophole is this? verboten subject?

Read the "Maximize FP+" thread.

 

[cigar95]

Read the "Maximize FP+" thread.

Oh, that one. Can't even remember what it was any more, just remember that I wasn't interested. (The thread is so old I think I have a post on the second page, and now it's what, 150 pages and still going?)