Useless FPs?

[BrookieM2001]

I was just double checking our FP selections for our June trip and realized that we seem to have several days with fairly useless FP selections. Does this happen to most of you guys on an average trip? Like one day we are only spending an evening at HS, so one of our FPs is Frozen Sing Along, even though the FP doesn't really help at all, but its one of the few rides we plan to ride and i wanted to make sure we are eligible for a day of FP if there are any for TSMM or RNR. On another day, we are exploring WS and only riding FEA before dinner. But again, in hopes of a day of FP for Soarin in the evening, we have booked a couple of morning FPs that we probably wont use, either because they wont save us any time or we wont be in that area of the park in the am. We have only been to WDW twice since FP+, so last time we didnt know the ins and outs and didnt get any day of FP. Do most of you use a FP on things it doesn't really make useful sense for, just to free up that day of option?

 

[only hope]

The tiers are changing at HS when TSL opens, so it won’t be necessary to book unwanted fp to get a 4th for anything but TS rides. You don’t need to book unwanted fp to get day of unless you’re trying to get more than one tier one fp. Leave them for others to use. Once in a rare while at HS or Epcot we will book fp that aren’t really necessary in hopes of getting a second tier one, but we always use them.

 

[BrookieM2001]

The tiers are changing at HS when TSL opens, so it won’t be necessary to book unwanted fp to get a 4th for anything but TS rides. You don’t need to book unwanted fp to get day of unless you’re trying to get more than one tier one fp. Leave them for others to use. Once in a rare while at HS or Epcot we will book fp that aren’t really necessary in hopes of getting a second tier one, but we always use them.

Right, its in hopes of getting another tier one, especially if we wont be riding many rides for that day, like when we are in WS and then want to ride Soarin and TT while everyone else is watching Illuminations. Our Fps that we proably wont use are at 9am and 10am, not during the busy part of the day. We will use the one at HS, but its still basically pointless. We will be there prior to the tiers changing so that wont affect us and we just wont be riding that much that night before the park closes and we are really hoping for a day of TSMM because it will be so hard to wait in a long standby with an infant and 2 kids under 8.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I call those Fastpasses “Throw Away’s” and schedule them early in the day.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Yes - but mostly at EPCOT - if we don't have a SE FP then the line is long - if we do then the line is short.
If we go to EPCOT more than one day - most of the FPs are thrown away.

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, you'll have a lot of "throw away" or "useless" FP+ if you like to utilize FP+ as much as possible. We do nearly everything by FP+, pretty rarely doing standby. So we'll book our first 3 FP+ for the moment we enter the park. We will even modify the times on those, as often 2 of them are throw aways (we enjoy the ride, but it really doesn't need FP+), so we're done our first 3 FP+ within 60-90 minutes of park entrance. That allows us to start grabbing more FP+ for headliner rides.

 

[disneyvoice]

Yes - but mostly at EPCOT - if we don't have a SE FP then the line is long - if we do then the line is short.

This! Every. Single. Trip.

SE is one of our very favorite rides so we don't really mind if we end up having a FP when there is no line. We have had one bizarre FP experience at SE though. There was a small line that was moving quickly but we had FPs. So we get in the FP line and when we get to the "merge" area the CM had us wait until every single person in the stand by line went past us then he allowed us in . . . behind everyone else so we had a longer wait with our FP. We are easy going about things so we just laughed about it since it was less than a 5 minute wait, but it was the only time we have had something like that happen.

 

[cadawson]

Yes, you'll have a lot of "throw away" or "useless" FP+ if you like to utilize FP+ as much as possible. We do nearly everything by FP+, pretty rarely doing standby. So we'll book our first 3 FP+ for the moment we enter the park. We will even modify the times on those, as often 2 of them are throw aways (we enjoy the ride, but it really doesn't need FP+), so we're done our first 3 FP+ within 60-90 minutes of park entrance. That allows us to start grabbing more FP+ for headliner rides.

Could you share how you’ve used 3 FP in the first 60 min? I thought they had to be 1 hour intervals?

 

[quandrea]

Could you share how you’ve used 3 FP in the first 60 min? I thought they had to be 1 hour intervals?

You scan through with your first Fastpass, then immediately modify your next fast pass to an earlier time. Finish ride one, immediately scan through for ride two. Once you’ve scanned ride two, modify your third Fastpass for an earlier time. Exit ride two, scan through for ride three. Once you’ve entered the queue for ride three, choose your fourth Fastpass. Exit ride three, use fourth Fastpass immediately. Select fifth Fastpass and so on.

With this method you will never wait in line. You will move seamlessly from Fastpass to Fastpass.

 

[Klayfish]

Could you share how you’ve used 3 FP in the first 60 min? I thought they had to be 1 hour intervals?

They are at one hour intervals, but you can modify them as you go. We're not rope drop people, if we have a morning in the parks, we won't show up until roughly 9:30am, give or take. We'll set our FP+ as follows: 9:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-11:00am, 11:00am to 12:00pm.

Let's say we're actually stepping foot inside a park at 9:40am. It's already 40 minutes into our first FP+ window, so we go right to it. When we get off, it's probably awful close to 10:00am. So we head right to FP+ #2. Tap in at 10:00am. As soon as we tap in, I hop on MDE and modify FP+ #3...so instead of 11am to 12pm, I'll change it to 10:15am to 11:15am. When we get off ride #2, it's 10:15am, and right in the opening window for FP+ #3 that I just modified while in line for FP+ #2. We're off ride #3 by 10:30-10:40am. While I'm in line for FP+ #3, I'm on MDE grabbing something for FP+ #4. Rinse and repeat. We do it pretty much ever day we're in the parks. Works fantastic.

If we get there earlier than expected, say 9:10am, we just modify #2 while in line for #1, and then continue the process.

The sub 60 minute timeline works best in the summer when the crowds are lower and FP+ is easier to modify. But even during very busy weeks, we can still typically get through all 3 FP+ within 90 minutes.

 

[cadawson]

They are at one hour intervals, but you can modify them as you go. We're not rope drop people, if we have a morning in the parks, we won't show up until roughly 9:30am, give or take. We'll set our FP+ as follows: 9:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-11:00am, 11:00am to 12:00pm.

Let's say we're actually stepping foot inside a park at 9:40am. It's already 40 minutes into our first FP+ window, so we go right to it. When we get off, it's probably awful close to 10:00am. So we head right to FP+ #2. Tap in at 10:00am. As soon as we tap in, I hop on MDE and modify FP+ #3...so instead of 11am to 12pm, I'll change it to 10:15am to 11:15am. When we get off ride #2, it's 10:15am, and right in the opening window for FP+ #3 that I just modified while in line for FP+ #2. We're off ride #3 by 10:30-10:40am. While I'm in line for FP+ #3, I'm on MDE grabbing something for FP+ #4. Rinse and repeat. We do it pretty much ever day we're in the parks. Works fantastic.

If we get there earlier than expected, say 9:10am, we just modify #2 while in line for #1, and then continue the process.

The sub 60 minute timeline works best in the summer when the crowds are lower and FP+ is easier to modify. But even during very busy weeks, we can still typically get through all 3 FP+ within 90 minutes.

Thanks and thanks! I was always afraid of loosing them if I tried to change them like that - I figured the early ones would already be taken. Will give it a try! What size party are you? We have 4, and then 7 when my sister arrives with her kids - I’m managing all FP.

 

[quandrea]

Thanks and thanks! I was always afraid of loosing them if I tried to change them like that - I figured the early ones would already be taken. Will give it a try! What size party are you? We have 4, and then 7 when my sister arrives with her kids - I’m managing all FP.

We are five.

 

[Klayfish]

Thanks and thanks! I was always afraid of loosing them if I tried to change them like that - I figured the early ones would already be taken. Will give it a try! What size party are you? We have 4, and then 7 when my sister arrives with her kids - I’m managing all FP.

We're 5. You won't loose anything by trying to modify. Unless you hit the button to accept a change you make, if you're just looking it doesn't get rid of the ones you have.

 

[foxor]

Yes, you'll have a lot of "throw away" or "useless" FP+ if you like to utilize FP+ as much as possible. We do nearly everything by FP+, pretty rarely doing standby. So we'll book our first 3 FP+ for the moment we enter the park. We will even modify the times on those, as often 2 of them are throw aways (we enjoy the ride, but it really doesn't need FP+), so we're done our first 3 FP+ within 60-90 minutes of park entrance. That allows us to start grabbing more FP+ for headliner rides.

I want to use the fastpass system in this way on our next trip but how would it work with fastpasses that are harder to get and don't usually have additional times available the day of? Does this method of using fastpasses work better on certain rides as well as some parks better than others?

 

[Cloe Colton]

Do you have to physically use the throwaway fastpasses to get the fourth? Like if they just expire and I never use them can I get a fourth or do they have to all be used?

 

[elle101me]

They are at one hour intervals, but you can modify them as you go. We're not rope drop people, if we have a morning in the parks, we won't show up until roughly 9:30am, give or take. We'll set our FP+ as follows: 9:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-11:00am, 11:00am to 12:00pm.

Let's say we're actually stepping foot inside a park at 9:40am. It's already 40 minutes into our first FP+ window, so we go right to it. When we get off, it's probably awful close to 10:00am. So we head right to FP+ #2. Tap in at 10:00am. As soon as we tap in, I hop on MDE and modify FP+ #3...so instead of 11am to 12pm, I'll change it to 10:15am to 11:15am. When we get off ride #2, it's 10:15am, and right in the opening window for FP+ #3 that I just modified while in line for FP+ #2. We're off ride #3 by 10:30-10:40am. While I'm in line for FP+ #3, I'm on MDE grabbing something for FP+ #4. Rinse and repeat. We do it pretty much ever day we're in the parks. Works fantastic.

If we get there earlier than expected, say 9:10am, we just modify #2 while in line for #1, and then continue the process.

The sub 60 minute timeline works best in the summer when the crowds are lower and FP+ is easier to modify. But even during very busy weeks, we can still typically get through all 3 FP+ within 90 minutes.

This!!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

This! Every. Single. Trip.

SE is one of our very favorite rides so we don't really mind if we end up having a FP when there is no line. We have had one bizarre FP experience at SE though. There was a small line that was moving quickly but we had FPs. So we get in the FP line and when we get to the "merge" area the CM had us wait until every single person in the stand by line went past us then he allowed us in . . . behind everyone else so we had a longer wait with our FP. We are easy going about things so we just laughed about it since it was less than a 5 minute wait, but it was the only time we have had something like that happen.

That is weird that the CM did that - must have just started working. We love SE as well - so we usually get a FP for it.

 

[Klayfish]

I want to use the fastpass system in this way on our next trip but how would it work with fastpasses that are harder to get and don't usually have additional times available the day of? Does this method of using fastpasses work better on certain rides as well as some parks better than others?

Yes, it'll work better with rides that have greater FP+ availability, especially rides that have large capacities/fast loading. However, with the exception of FoP (and I'll presume the new two new Toy Story rides), it works fine with the other "headliner" rides. We routinely get 7DMT, Space, Splash, TT, RnR, ToT, TSMM, FEA, Soarin', EE, etc...even Na'vi is becoming easier.

 

[BrookieM2001]

Do you have to physically use the throwaway fastpasses to get the fourth? Like if they just expire and I never use them can I get a fourth or do they have to all be used?

You should be able to just let your window lapse, if I understand right. We are planning to arrive at our WS day at 10, so we have FEA from 10-11. But since we want to throw away our other tier 2s so we can get soarin later in the evening, we have one FP at 9 which is opening time. That one we will let expire before we even get to the park and since it’s rope drop, most people won’t be using FP yet and it shouldn’t inconvenience anyone. Then we will modify our 11-12 FP while in line at FEA so it expires as soon as possible, allowing us to hopefully get a spot for Soarin booked around 11:15 for the evening.

 

[Nakkira]

They are at one hour intervals, but you can modify them as you go. We're not rope drop people, if we have a morning in the parks, we won't show up until roughly 9:30am, give or take. We'll set our FP+ as follows: 9:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-11:00am, 11:00am to 12:00pm.

Let's say we're actually stepping foot inside a park at 9:40am. It's already 40 minutes into our first FP+ window, so we go right to it. When we get off, it's probably awful close to 10:00am. So we head right to FP+ #2. Tap in at 10:00am. As soon as we tap in, I hop on MDE and modify FP+ #3...so instead of 11am to 12pm, I'll change it to 10:15am to 11:15am. When we get off ride #2, it's 10:15am, and right in the opening window for FP+ #3 that I just modified while in line for FP+ #2. We're off ride #3 by 10:30-10:40am. While I'm in line for FP+ #3, I'm on MDE grabbing something for FP+ #4. Rinse and repeat. We do it pretty much ever day we're in the parks. Works fantastic.

If we get there earlier than expected, say 9:10am, we just modify #2 while in line for #1, and then continue the process.

The sub 60 minute timeline works best in the summer when the crowds are lower and FP+ is easier to modify. But even during very busy weeks, we can still typically get through all 3 FP+ within 90 minutes.

Wow. Thanks for that explanation. I hope I remember how all of this works come September! I think I may have to screenshot this! LOL