what to expect in absence of FP availablilty . . .

[happywifeandmom]

wow - it's been 2 years since we've been to WDW - mother that requires scooter and child that has autism (sensory, receptive language, cognitive issues) -

there are no day-time FP available for our trip. will we not have access to these rides/attractions? we intentionally schedule after school starts in September and take DD out of school so she can experience WDW. two years ago we got the GAC and barely needed it for most rides/attractions . . .

getting nervous that we've just dropped a WHOLE LOT of MONEY on a trip that won't be a good use of educational time . . .

Patty

 

[jenthern]

You're going the slowest time of year. If there are no daytime fast passes available, there has to be a technical glitch somewhere. I'd just keep checking.

 

[mom2rtk]

That doesn't sound right.

Try accepting the FP times offered, then go in to modify them individually.

 

[DVCcurious]

For a more specific answer: Yes you can still get a GAC and skip all the lines. You just enter the FP+ line and show them your GAC.

But even if you don't have a GAC you'll be OK because lines will be very short for most rides (Anna and Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are the exception).

There are day time FP+ available. It is literally impossible that there are no FP+ available. Even during Christmas FP+ are available a week out (sure they're for Captain EO and Philharmagic, but it's not like EVERY fastpass is gone). You must be experiencing a system glitch. So try again and double check your 60 or 30 day window math to make sure you aren't checking for FP+ too early.

 

[JimmyV]

will we not have access to these rides/attractions?

If your question is: "Do I need a FP+ to ride certain rides?", the answer is "No". You always have the option of waiting in the standby lines, which, after school starts, shouldn't be very long. But as others have said, try working the system again. There is no way that all daytime FPs have been distributed for a trip that is 2 months away.

 

[mom2rtk]

For a more specific answer: Yes you can still get a GAC and skip all the lines. You just enter the FP+ line and show them your GAC.

But even if you don't have a GAC you'll be OK because lines will be very short for most rides (Anna and Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are the exception).

There are day time FP+ available. It is literally impossible that there are no FP+ available. Even during Christmas FP+ are available a week out (sure they're for Captain EO and Philharmagic, but it's not like EVERY fastpass is gone). You must be experiencing a system glitch. So try again and double check your 60 or 30 day window math to make sure you aren't checking for FP+ too early.

Just a clarification. It's now called a DAS. I'm not certain how it works, but I think they go to the attraction and get a time assigned to return so that they can wait elsewhere as opposed to standing in the line.

 

[JimmyV]

Just a clarification. It's now called a DAS. I'm not certain how it works, but I think they go to the attraction and get a time assigned to return so that they can wait elsewhere as opposed to standing in the line.

This is my understanding as well. You don't "wait in the lines", but you don't "skip the lines" either. If the line at, say, Peter Pan is 50 minutes long when you check in with the CM, they will assign you a time to come back 50 minutes later at which point you board right away. That way, the people in the line who got to the attraction ahead of you all get to ride before you do, but you do not have to spend 50 minutes in the line.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

For a more specific answer: Yes you can still get a GAC and skip all the lines. You just enter the FP+ line and show them your GAC.

But even if you don't have a GAC you'll be OK because lines will be very short for most rides (Anna and Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are the exception).

There are day time FP+ available. It is literally impossible that there are no FP+ available. Even during Christmas FP+ are available a week out (sure they're for Captain EO and Philharmagic, but it's not like EVERY fastpass is gone). You must be experiencing a system glitch. So try again and double check your 60 or 30 day window math to make sure you aren't checking for FP+ too early.

The above answer is completely incorrect. The GAC as it was known does not exist anymore any neither is a pass to skip all the lines. What now exists is called the DAS. You need to go to guest relations and explain to them what your needs are and what prevents you from waiting in a standby line. They will then, according to the info. you give them, either deny you a pass or grant you one. If you do get one it is linked to your magicband or park pass and the photo of the disabled person is taken. You then go to the attraction you wish to ride and ask for a return time based on the actual standby time less 10 minutes. So, for example, if Peter Pan has a wait time of 60 min. at 1:00 pm you will be allowed to return to ride at 1:50 pm. When you return you scan your magicband and enter through the fp line. All members of your party must be linked to be able to ride. The person for who the DAS is for MUST ride or nobody will be allowed on (the reason for the photo) and his/her band must be scanned first at the ride. You can only have one DAS return time at a time and must use it in order to get a return time for a second ride and so on.

 

[Alesia]

What are the exact dates of your trip?

 

[happywifeandmom]

i just LOVE disboards! yes, i had read the rules but it is nice to hear (read) from experience! having said that, i was only looking at option 1 once i put in the date, park and ride(s). option 2 and 3 had something more acceptable (not 8:45p! - we're sawing logs at that point!)

so, has anyone with special needs made the trip and NOT done any FP planning - just winged it? i was kind of hoping that's what we could do, but that might be more stressful than stressing now about what day to go where and ride what . . .

thanks so much for your feedback!

Patty

 

[happywifeandmom]

What are the exact dates of your trip?

Sept 5-9 are our park dates -

 

[jennab]

Oh there is lots of daytime stuff! Take option one then switch the times on the stuff you want (or change attraction). I just did ours the other day for around the same time.

 

[jenthern]

i just LOVE disboards! yes, i had read the rules but it is nice to hear (read) from experience! having said that, i was only looking at option 1 once i put in the date, park and ride(s). option 2 and 3 had something more acceptable (not 8:45p! - we're sawing logs at that point!)

so, has anyone with special needs made the trip and NOT done any FP planning - just winged it? i was kind of hoping that's what we could do, but that might be more stressful than stressing now about what day to go where and ride what . . .

thanks so much for your feedback!

Patty

Just accept whatever is closest to what you want to do (or whatever is furthest from what you want to do...this can actually make it easier to adjust times) and individually adjust your fast passes. It's a pain, but you should be able to get rides for times you actually want them without issue at all.

 

[Magpie]

i just LOVE disboards! yes, i had read the rules but it is nice to hear (read) from experience! having said that, i was only looking at option 1 once i put in the date, park and ride(s). option 2 and 3 had something more acceptable (not 8:45p! - we're sawing logs at that point!)

so, has anyone with special needs made the trip and NOT done any FP planning - just winged it? i was kind of hoping that's what we could do, but that might be more stressful than stressing now about what day to go where and ride what . . .

thanks so much for your feedback!

Patty

Don't forget! You can modify the FP times, after you've chosen a set. In fact, here's what you should do:

1. Pick the option furthest from what you want. Ie, if you want afternoon FPs, then pick the morning option with everything slated for before noon. This leaves the time slots you really want free.

2. Modify your FPs individually, moving them into the time slots you want.

This way, you can have your first FP at 1pm, your second at 2pm, and your third at 3pm!

It makes no sense not to do any FP planning, when the option is there. There's no penalty for missing your FP window, so you might as well make them, even if you don't use them. And when you've used all three, you can even pop over to an in-park kiosk and make a fourth! (And a fifth and a sixth, etc...)

FP doesn't lock you into anything. It's just an option that's there, whether you use it or not. EasyWDW.com lists the FP priorities for each park, if you're having trouble deciding. http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Sept 5-9 are our park dates -

We are going for those exact same dates and Tuesday morning I booked fastpasses for all 5 days. No girls so no Anna and Elsa but no trouble getting anything else.

 

[Alesia]

Don't forget! You can modify the FP times, after you've chosen a set. In fact, here's what you should do:

1. Pick the option furthest from what you want. Ie, if you want afternoon FPs, then pick the morning option with everything slated for before noon. This leaves the time slots you really want free.

2. Modify your FPs individually, moving them into the time slots you want.

This way, you can have your first FP at 1pm, your second at 2pm, and your third at 3pm!

It makes no sense not to do any FP planning, when the option is there. There's no penalty for missing your FP window, so you might as well make them, even if you don't use them. And when you've used all three, you can even pop over to an in-park kiosk and make a fourth! (And a fifth and a sixth, etc...)

FP doesn't lock you into anything. It's just an option that's there, whether you use it or not. EasyWDW.com lists the FP priorities for each park, if you're having trouble deciding. http://www.easywdw.com/category/cheat-sheets/

^This.

OP, There are plenty of daytime fastpasses available for your dates.

 

[happywifeandmom]

so - we have to accept two other FP activities even though we probably won't use them?

Patty

 

[DisneyFive]

But even if you don't have a GAC you'll be OK because lines will be very short for most rides (Anna and Elsa and 7 Dwarfs are the exception).

Just want to add... having visited in September my last 4 visits, lines can still be very long for most of the headliners, in all the parks. Soarin and Test Track are regularly 60-120 minutes for example, Space, BTMRR, and Splasgh easily hit an hour or more. Same with headliners in other parks. Yes, the crowds are definately lowest in Sept but it's still a significant amount of people.

Mornings are awesome though. I agree that standby times can almostbe non existant for the first couple of hours or so for many rides.

Dan

 

[Alesia]

so - we have to accept two other FP activities even though we probably won't use them?

Patty

You have to choose 3 fastpasses.

 

[subtchr]

so - we have to accept two other FP activities even though we probably won't use them?

Patty

Yes, you have to initially book three. So there is only one attraction you want to do?? Can't you find three that you might enjoy?