Unofficial Guide's Strategy Question

[Vanryan]

I have been reading the unofficial guide. I just got to the MK touring plan section. I was reading the Dumbo or Die part, and it says not to use fastpass. Why is that?

 

[Mr.BsMom]

Dumbo has FastPass???

 

[jcemom]

Mine doesn't say use FastPass

 

[Musky]

The only thing I can figure is that it specifically says in Step 14 to leave the park for the afternoon. They must be assuming that if you picked up a fastpass in the morning, your return slot would be in the afternoon while you would be out of the park, if you are following the itinerary to the letter. Because in Step 24, they tell you to use fastpasses for the Jungle Cruise, but this is in the evening after you've returned. Maybe Len Testa can clarify this. Len, where are you?

Musky

 

[Vanryan]

Originally posted by Mr.BsMom
Dumbo has FastPass???

No, Dumbo does not have fast pass. The touring guide I was reading is called "Dumbo or Die" meaning it is a touring guide for parents who want to only see the sites for little kids. It specifically said do not use fastpass for Peter Pan and someting else, I don't remember what it was. I have always had such good luck with fast pass, so I thought that was confusing. Musky's post helps make sense of it though, because the unofficial guide really stresses going back to your hotel for a rest in the afternoon, which could be when your fastpass would be good for. When we have gone back to the hotel I find it's hard to drag my kids out of the pool This always makes me laugh, because I am trying to go to Disney, after all!!! "Kids if you don't get out of that pool and go to the magic kingdom I'm going to spank your bottoms!!" (I don't yell at them, or spank them, it was just for effect in this post.)

 

[w8ting4pooh]

You won't need them. That's why. We did Dumbo, Peter Pan, Pooh, Snow White & It's a Small World. There was NOOOO line for any of them. We went July 4th week. Just go straight for Dumbo first thing and follow the UGuide & you won't need a FP. I think the return time was 9:30 (?) at 9 am but the ride was a walkon. If you just do the ride when the park opens, you won't waste time going back to redeem your FP later on.

 

[lentesta]

Hi folks,

First, thanks for reading the Guide, Vanryan.

I can think of two reasons for not suggesting FASTPASS during the first half of the tour. The first is that FASTPASS probably isn't necessary so early in the day. The wait would need to be around 35 minutes before FP becomes a viable choice, and that's generally not going to happen in the first 30 minutes the park is open. (FWIW, I think that would mean around 1,100 people standing in line at Pan at 9:30 a.m.)

The second reason I can think of is that FASTPASS return times frequently don't begin until 10am, meaning you'd have to hie yourself back to Fantasyland from wherever you are in the Magic Kingdom to take advantage of FASTPASS. We try to limit the amount of backtracking done in the plans, as we know it's a big dissatisfier.

One more thing: Musky's explanation is why we don't suggest FP for the mid-morning attractions - you wouldn't be in the park when it came time to use the FASTPASS.

And finally (this must be really good coffee I'm drinking), we don't recommend FASTPASS in the evening attractions because our data show it's generally not worthwhile, for the same reason listed first above.

Hope this helps. If anyone has feedback on the Dumbo plan, I'd love to hear it.

I'm off to WDW this afternoon until Wednesday, with no DIS or e-mail access until Thursday. If you're in the Magic Kingdom and see someone with an Unofficial Guide shirt, say hi.

Sincerely,

Len Testa

 

[Vanryan]

Thanks Everyone! My kids and I are all so intense that going commando has some appeal for us all. But I'm not such a wack that I'll be too much a commando mommie. Any advice for us? And by the way, how do I get Len's job????

 

[goofy4tink]

We ALL want Len's job Myself, I use the touring plans as a guide. There are some things that we just don't do anymore at the parks, so we pass them by. So, using the plans that way works for us. Also, the more times we go, the less frantic we get about doing it all, quickly!! We tend to stop and smell the roses at this point.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Len,

We've used the touring plans and just love them! The Dumbo or Die is our favorite of course because my DD's are so small.

Thanks for all your hard work!