Two observations about FP from our recent trip

[Betty_Baylor99]

Just back from our trip and wanted to comment about FP.

1) It never ceased to amaze me that whenever we'd try to get in the FP line for our rides, there was always a family or group of people trying to scan their MB's ahead of their scheduled FP time. Without fail, they were turned away and instructed to return back at their scheduled window. I know some people don't wear a watch, or forget, but we witnessed so many people trying to get in earlier than their scheduled FP time.

2) Adding the additional FP after the 3rd one on the Disney app is seriously the best thing since sliced bread! We arrived at MK last Sunday around noon for lunch and had our FP's scheduled for 1 (Peter Pan), 2 (Splash) and 3pm (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- our top priority with that day being the last day before BTMR would be closed for refurb). After I tapped the 3rd FP, I was immediately able to pull up a 4th one. It worked like a charm to pull another one up in succession that I pulled up 7 additional FPes for the remainder of the day AFTER using our first 3. My DH and kids got SO spoiled that when we had to go to EPCOT or HS (the FP tiered parks), they started getting annoyed if we had to get in a line that had more than a 20 minute wait because they couldn't understand why I could get a multitude of FP like it was going out of style on day 1. I explained that MK had a lot more rides to equally distribute FPes for than say, EPCOT. And then, trying to explain to DH and the kids why the more popular rides didn't have any more FPes was like talking to a brick wall because they couldn't quite comprehend that demand exceeded supply.

Needless to say, thanks to the DIS boards, I can see how planning everything from FP and ADRs are absolutely necessary to make a visit to Disney somewhat bearable with family members who may not be used to waiting in line.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thanks for sharing your FP success!

 

[RLGNC]

Your #1 made me think of how grateful I was for the 15 minute "grace" period on the back end of the FPs. More than once we were rushing to rides in order to make it there within 15 minutes past the end of our scheduled FP hour! Interesting that people thought they would be able to use the FP before their scheduled hour. Seems like that would kind of defeat the purpose!

 

[stustaff]

i had cast members let us in early on our trip in April.
it was a case of not wanting to miss it and getting there early... why not ask..
I would say Hi i know we are early but we have FP for in 10 minutes and they would let us past pressing something on their screen as we got blue lights on way through.

 

[yaya74]

Just back from our trip and wanted to comment about FP.
My DH and kids got SO spoiled that when we had to go to EPCOT or HS (the FP tiered parks), they started getting annoyed if we had to get in a line that had more than a 20 minute wait because they couldn't understand why I could get a multitude of FP like it was going out of style on day 1. I explained that MK had a lot more rides to equally distribute FPes for than say, EPCOT. And then, trying to explain to DH and the kids why the more popular rides didn't have any more FPes was like talking to a brick wall because they couldn't quite comprehend that demand exceeded supply.

Needless to say, thanks to the DIS boards, I can see how planning everything from FP and ADRs are absolutely necessary to make a visit to Disney somewhat bearable with family members who may not be used to waiting in line.

Same here. My 8 yo and 4 yo were so spoiled by using FP+.

i had cast members let us in early on our trip in April.
it was a case of not wanting to miss it and getting there early... why not ask..
I would say Hi i know we are early but we have FP for in 10 minutes and they would let us past pressing something on their screen as we got blue lights on way through.

We were 10 minutes early to Big thunder mountain railroad. I told the CM that we were 10 minutes early and if we could get in... He made us wait for 5 more minutes.. Oh well.... not the end of the world. we got to check out the cactus outside of BTMR and discovered that the cactus was real!!

 

[Betty_Baylor99]

i had cast members let us in early on our trip in April.
it was a case of not wanting to miss it and getting there early... why not ask..
I would say Hi i know we are early but we have FP for in 10 minutes and they would let us past pressing something on their screen as we got blue lights on way through.

All of the people that we encountered that were trying to scan their MBs early weren't there 5-10 min early...they were all like an hour or more earlier. It seemed like they all thought they could knock out their FP earlier by arriving earlier. I could also tell there were people that were there 5-10 minutes before their FP window because they'd stand to the side and hover

 

[hiwaygal]

I think we've been at least 15 minutes early for every FP we've gotten. Never had to wait or anything like that.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Glad to hear of ur success.
I'm back on the fence about FP again. Booked some FP for upcoming trip.. Lucky to snag mine train BUT it's at 515 at nite and other two end at 11am..
So lines lines n more lines... Ugh.. I don't like the idea I can't get another FP till after 3rd used.... And if it rains?? No ride? Seems crazy to me. Just my 2 cents lol.

 

[NCBadger]

Happy to read comment #2, hope we have as much success as you securing additional FPs at MK.