Trip and Fastpass plan? What do you think?

[33Legend]

We are going with a large group of 13 and staying at Pop Century from Oct. 7-14 (Park days Sun. 8th to Fri the 13th). My 60 day fastpass reservation day is Tuesday.

The kids in our group will be aged 2,3,6 and 8 so it will skew younger for attraction preferences. Below is the park we plan on going to each day and what my current fast pass attractions plan on being.

Sun Oct. 8
Magic Kingdom
Current Fastpass plan: 7 Dwarfs, Space Mt, Thunder MT
*The plan is to rope drop Peter Pan and get a ton done in Fantasyland the first 2 hours. Will try to get the FP times from 10:30 to 12:30. Break around 1:30 and return around 4.

Mon. Oct. 9
Epcot
Current Fastpass plan: Frozen Ever After, Turtle Talk, Spaceship Earth
*Plan is to rope drop Soarin and Test Track and get as much done in Future World the first 2 hours.
Will try to get the FP times from 10:30 to 12:30. Break around 1:30 and return around 4.

Tues. Oct. 10
Animal Kingdom
Current Fastpass plan: Flight of Passage, Kilmanjaro Safaris, EEverest
*Plan is to rope drop Navi River and get Kilmanjaro Fastpass early as we hear the animals are out at that time. Nervous about Flight of Passage. Break at 1:30 and back around 4.

Wed. Oct. 11
Disney Hollywood Studios
Current Fastpass plan: Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Star Tours
*Plan is to rope drop Toy Story Mania and Rock N Roller Coaster.Will try to get the FP times from 10:30 to 12:30. Break around 1:30 and return around 4.

Thurs. Oct. 12
Magic Kingdom
Current Fastpass plan: 7 Dwarfs, Space Mt, Thunder MT
*The plan is to rope drop Peter Pan (or something else significant that we may have missed on Day 1) and get a ton done in Fantasyland the first 2 hours. Will try to get the FP times from 10:30 to 12:30. Break around 1:30 and return around 4.

Fri. Oct. 13
Animal Kingdom/Magic Kingdom (MNSSHP)
Current Fastpass plan: Flight of Passage, Kilmanjaro Safaris, EEverest
*Plan is to rope drop Navi River and get Kilmanjaro Fastpass early. Take a break around 1:30. Got to MK around 4 and stay for the Haloween Party.

My day is Tuesday morning to reserve Fast Pass. My thought is to go for these in this order:
1.FOPassage- Friday
2.FOPassage-Tuesday
3.Frozen- Monday
4.7Dwarfs-Sunday
5.7Dwarfs-Thursday
6.Toy Story-Wed
Then fill in the rest after.

Thoughts on this plan? Would you change the order of the Fastpass attempts when my time opens? I'm obviously worried about Flight of Passage, Frozen and 7 Dwarfs.

Any comments or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mesaboy2]

Your FP booking order looks good to me.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm not going to comment on the FP+ selections as I think you may want to utilize Child Switch for the rides the smaller children can't go on, but I'm not an expert in Child Switch, so I'll wait for someone else to chime in.

I was just wondering if you could clarify what you mean by "break around 1:30 and return around 4". Do you mean you are leaving the park at 1:30 pm? Are you using Disney transportation to get back to Pop? If you leave the park at 1:30 pm using Disney transportation, there's a good chance you won't be back at Pop until 2:15 or so which only leaves a short amount of time to actually relax at the resort and get back to the bus stop at, say, 3 pm to get back to the park by 4 pm.

 

[Danimal]

i'll chime in on the Child Switch. Basically, any ride that has a height restriction (and possibly Na'vi River Journey) offers Rider Switch. If you have a kid who is too little or scared to go on a ride, you can ask for a Rider Switch which is basically a paper FastPass that is good for a week that allows one adult and one guest to come back and ride that ride anytime they want. Your 6 and 8 year old will make out like bandits here. So to help keep your little ones busy, I would plan something like this (using Space Mountain as an example):

12:30 FP for Space Mountain for 9 people. Get 2 Rider Switch passes
12:30 FP for Astro Orbiter for 2 adults and your 2 and 3 year old

Once the rides are ridden, the two adults who went on Astro Orbiter can grab the 8 year old and 6 year old (or another adult) and immediately enter the FP line for Space Mountain (or wait and use it later in the week)

This will maximize rides for the adults and also allow your 6 and 8 year old to hit all the "big" rides twice. Now when I went two years ago, we were allowed to bring 2 guests with us on a Rider Switch. Disney's website currently states one. Not sure if that's a change or if it's just loosely enforced. It makes the planning a little more complicated but totally worth it if you can pull it off!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I would be exhausted with that large a group and that much back to back, but hey, YOLO!

You don't really appear to have much downtime / resort time, other than your short afternoon breaks. That works for some, but wouldn't work for us. We plan a total off day after a couple of big days in a row just to recoup, play around the resort, etc. Or have a day where we don't go "back out" in the evenings. Obviously that's easier to do with four people vs. 13! LOL!

My one serious piece of advice would be your MNSSHP day. Part of me wonders if by that point in the trip the exhaustion/overstimulation level might really be starting to set in with the kiddos. It might not be the worst idea to take the whole AM off or maybe plan on being back at the resort in plenty of time for a long rest. My party days are all about "energy conservation mode" with DS (has been 4-6 in our MNSSHP trips so far).... I find we have a more enjoyable party and can hang longer when he's well rested and ready to go.

Obviously all kids/families are different, but that's what works for us.

Have fun and good luck with the FPs!

 

[10CJ]

I think this is good start but I would probably adjust it a bit Do you have any dining reservations that you are working around? When do you plan to eat lunch? If you are leaving the park, I don't think you are allowing enough time for breaks, especially if you are taking Disney transportation.

Your MK FPs are together in time but all over the park. you will be doing a lot of back and forth which can get tiring with young kids.

FEA FPs do not start until 11. I feel like you will be doing a bit of back and forth with your current EP plan.

I agree with taking advantage of rider switch. It might be easier to book everyone the same FPs to start (but maybe not since it is a large group). I would book at least a few FPs with and adult and the three old to do while everyone else is riding bigger rides. That adult can then ride the big ride with the rider switch pass. I believe it is still good for up to three people.

I would definitely try to book the FOP FPs first. will you have anyone helping you make the FPs?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I think this is good start but I would probably adjust it a bit Do you have any dining reservations that you are working around? When do you plan to eat lunch? If you are leaving the park, I don't think you are allowing enough time for breaks, especially if you are taking Disney transportation.

Your MK FPs are together in time but all over the park. you will be doing a lot of back and forth which can get tiring with young kids.

FEA FPs do not start until 11. I feel like you will be doing a bit of back and forth with your current EP plan.

I agree with taking advantage of rider switch. It might be easier to book everyone the same FPs to start (but maybe not since it is a large group). I would book at least a few FPs with and adult and the three old to do while everyone else is riding bigger rides. That adult can then ride the big ride with the rider switch pass. I believe it is still good for up to three people.

I would definitely try to book the FOP FPs first. will you have anyone helping you make the FPs?

FEA opens at 9 am. Even so, I agree with PP, you should make FEA your last FP+ so you can maximize your FW time and do FEA last so you aren't criss crossing.

 

[33Legend]

I'm not going to comment on the FP+ selections as I think you may want to utilize Child Switch for the rides the smaller children can't go on, but I'm not an expert in Child Switch, so I'll wait for someone else to chime in.

I was just wondering if you could clarify what you mean by "break around 1:30 and return around 4". Do you mean you are leaving the park at 1:30 pm? Are you using Disney transportation to get back to Pop? If you leave the park at 1:30 pm using Disney transportation, there's a good chance you won't be back at Pop until 2:15 or so which only leaves a short amount of time to actually relax at the resort and get back to the bus stop at, say, 3 pm to get back to the park by 4 pm.

Yep-I figured that was on the low end of time for breaks.. I'm still not sure how our 2 year old will react with the breaks. I could see the return to the hotel to nap as effective-but he may be too wired to sleep. Also I'm not sure if he will fade away on the stroller. I agree on adding time to the break period thought. Thanks so much.

 

[33Legend]

i'll chime in on the Child Switch. Basically, any ride that has a height restriction (and possibly Na'vi River Journey) offers Rider Switch. If you have a kid who is too little or scared to go on a ride, you can ask for a Rider Switch which is basically a paper FastPass that is good for a week that allows one adult and one guest to come back and ride that ride anytime they want. Your 6 and 8 year old will make out like bandits here. So to help keep your little ones busy, I would plan something like this (using Space Mountain as an example):

12:30 FP for Space Mountain for 9 people. Get 2 Rider Switch passes
12:30 FP for Astro Orbiter for 2 adults and your 2 and 3 year old

Once the rides are ridden, the two adults who went on Astro Orbiter can grab the 8 year old and 6 year old (or another adult) and immediately enter the FP line for Space Mountain (or wait and use it later in the week)

This will maximize rides for the adults and also allow your 6 and 8 year old to hit all the "big" rides twice. Now when I wentt wo years ago, we were allowed to bring 2 guests with us on a Rider Switch. Disney's website currently states one. Not sure if that's a change or if it's just loosely enforced. It makes the planning a little more complicated but totally worth it if you can pull it off!

This is awesome. Thanks for laying out!

My only concern after a little research is it sounds like there can be rare CM sthat will require FP for the adult requesting child switch. I'm only a little scared to lose a FOP FP if this rare scenario occured. Anyone have that experience recently?

 

[33Legend]

I would be exhausted with that large a group and that much back to back, but hey, YOLO!

You don't really appear to have much downtime / resort time, other than your short afternoon breaks. That works for some, but wouldn't work for us. We plan a total off day after a couple of big days in a row just to recoup, play around the resort, etc. Or have a day where we don't go "back out" in the evenings. Obviously that's easier to do with four people vs. 13! LOL!

My one serious piece of advice would be your MNSSHP day. Part of me wonders if by that point in the trip the exhaustion/overstimulation level might really be starting to set in with the kiddos. It might not be the worst idea to take the whole AM off or maybe plan on being back at the resort in plenty of time for a long rest. My party days are all about "energy conservation mode" with DS (has been 4-6 in our MNSSHP trips so far).... I find we have a more enjoyable party and can hang longer when he's well rested and ready to go.

Obviously all kids/families are different, but that's what works for us.

Have fun and good luck with the FPs!

I agree and thanks-we have considered this. I think we are going to be flexible based on how it goes with the kiddos.

 

[33Legend]

I think this is good start but I would probably adjust it a bit Do you have any dining reservations that you are working around? When do you plan to eat lunch? If you are leaving the park, I don't think you are allowing enough time for breaks, especially if you are taking Disney transportation.

Your MK FPs are together in time but all over the park. you will be doing a lot of back and forth which can get tiring with young kids.

FEA FPs do not start until 11. I feel like you will be doing a bit of back and forth with your current EP plan.

I agree with taking advantage of rider switch. It might be easier to book everyone the same FPs to start (but maybe not since it is a large group). I would book at least a few FPs with and adult and the three old to do while everyone else is riding bigger rides. That adult can then ride the big ride with the rider switch pass. I believe it is still good for up to three people.

I would definitely try to book the FOP FPs first. will you have anyone helping you make the FPs?

I think you are right. I originally went strictly with the most difficult FPs to get (7 Dwarfs, Space, Thunder). I guess a big question is do Space or Big Thunder run out of FP or do you think I would be able to get one after using our 3 by early afternoon?

Then maybe we drop Space and add Pirates or Jungle Cruise to be closer to Thunder. Or drop Thunder and add Buzz Lightyear to be closer to Space.

Does anyone have any insight on how available Space or Thunder will be afternoon of that day?

 

[33Legend]

I would definitely try to book the FOP FPs first. will you have anyone helping you make the FPs?

I hadn't planned on it. Are you saying to have someone else in the party going for it a the same time on a different device-or simply just helping with organization?

 

[10CJ]

I hadn't planned on it. Are you saying to have someone else in the party going for it a the same time on a different device-or simply just helping with organization?

I meant someone else to help you book them. I would try to divide up the days to increase your chances. You try to book the later day FOP and someone else try to book the earlier FOP.

Since you have two MK days I would try to split the park up a bit and book Space and Mine Train and maybe Buzz or Pater Pan on one day then BTMRR on the other day. Are you interested in Splash mountain? I would put that with BTMRR.

 

[33Legend]

I meant someone else to help you book them. I would try to divide up the days to increase your chances. You try to book the later day FOP and someone else try to book the earlier FOP.

Since you have two MK days I would try to split the park up a bit and book Space and Mine Train and maybe Buzz or Pater Pan on one day then BTMRR on the other day. Are you interested in Splash mountain? I would put that with BTMRR.

Sounds good, thanks.

And yes, Splash Mountain is my ALL TIME favorite ride but will be refurbished at that time.

Maybe sub in Jungle Cruise or Pirates instead.

 

[karrit2000]

I think you are right. I originally went strictly with the most difficult FPs to get (7 Dwarfs, Space, Thunder). I guess a big question is do Space or Big Thunder run out of FP or do you think I would be able to get one after using our 3 by early afternoon?

Then maybe we drop Space and add Pirates or Jungle Cruise to be closer to Thunder. Or drop Thunder and add Buzz Lightyear to be closer to Space.

Does anyone have any insight on how available Space or Thunder will be afternoon of that day?

BTMRR FP+ do seem to run out in my experience. I don't do Space Mountain anymore so I don't know about those. I know if I have to reschedule FP's BTMRR can sometimes be almost as difficult as 7DMT to get. I've never been able to score BTMRR as a 4th FP but I also don't do rope drop.

 

[flortlebap]

You shouldn't have any problem getting FOP for the last day of your trip, but it might be slim pickings (or no pickings) for day 3. If you can't get FOP for day 3, I'd substitute NRJ.

 

[Danimal]

This is awesome. Thanks for laying out!

My only concern after a little research is it sounds like there can be rare CM sthat will require FP for the adult requesting child switch. I'm only a little scared to lose a FOP FP if this rare scenario occured. Anyone have that experience recently?

Can't understand why that would happen. FastPass isn't required for Rider Switch (I actually think it exists at all for people that DON'T have Rider Switch). If you think about it, it's really designed to have a family NOT wait in the full line twice simply because one of their party can't ride a ride. It's much more of a pain to wait if you DON'T have FastPass than if you do. Best of luck!

 

[minniegirl19]

One of your mk days I would consider a later break so you get in the festival of fantasy parade!

 

[robl45]

I would consider getting a fast pass for the rapids at animal kingdom, the ride is usually long and the kids love that, although I personally don't care for everest the lines do seem to be shorter for that.