Which Park Hopping FP Strategy?

[Shanti]

My 12 year-old son and I are going to WDW for a resort & water-parks-focused trip in early August. We will go to the theme parks one day only with Park Hopper tickets.

Our plan is to do Early Morning Magic at MK, then as many attractions as desired until we switch to Hollywood Studios to have dinner at Sci-Fi and ride (at least) Tower of Terror, Star Tours and Great Movie Ride. Then we want to do Fantasmic at 9pm. Then, if we're still full of beans, we'll go to Epcot to enjoy their evening EMH until 11pm.

So, my question is how I should schedule our FPs? Should I book TOT, Star Tours & Fantasmic at HS, thereby keeping us from using any FPs at MK? Or should I book 9am -12pm FPs at MK, & roll from there, hoping for the best at HS?

 

[Robo]

You should have no trouble getting Fantasmic! FP late in the day.
They issue literally thousands of them.

 

[Shanti]

You should have no trouble getting Fantasmic! FP late in the day.
They issue literally thousands of them.

What about TOT?

 

[pens4821]

I would save them for HS. I would think you'd get a lot done at MK and shouldn't need them. Just do the big wait rides right after emm.

 

[CAS239]

Book at HS. First few hours you don't need FP's, so imo scheduling a FP before around 11am is a waste

I save my 3 FP's for the park I hop to to use then when lines are long.

And I would pick Fantasmic as my 4th FP (or later). It can easily be picked up even shortly before showtime. So I'd use that tier 1 on something else, like Toy Story

 

[LSUfan4444]

how I should schedule our FPs?

In this scenerio for these two parks and ONLY ToT, Great Movie Ride, Star Tours and Fantasmic being my Hollywood Studios requirements I would advise scheduling your FP+ at Magic Kingdom some time after lunch.

Hit the morning and until about 11 am or so via standby. Then FP+ 11-12, then lunch then something else from 1-2 and 2-3.

As soon as you enter the attraction for that 2-3 FP+ pull up your phone and start trying to get a FP+ for ToT for later that evening. Star Tours and Fantasmic should both be pretty easy to navigate without FP+. if you can't get a FP+ for ToT book one for GMR and keep seeing if you can change it to ToT throughout the day. If you can, ride Star Tours and GMR via standby and TOT via FP+.

If Toy Story and Rock and Roller Coaster were must do's in Hollywood Studios I'd suggest a slightly different approach but Magic Kingdom looks to be the bulk of your day and FP+ in the middle of the day there could be a a total game changer.

 

[Shanti]

What are people's experiences with getting a TOT FP same day, trying only in the afternoon?

That's a big concern as I've seen extremely long lines for it and we just won't have the time, given that we've got dinner at Sci-Fi and Fantasmic to work around. And we really want to do Star Tours & GMR, too. I'm afraid of not getting these must-dos in.

We aren't interested in riding TSMM or RNR, fyi.

 

[LSUfan4444]

What are people's experiences with getting a TOT FP same day, trying only in the afternoon?

I won't guarantee it but if you keep checking regularly sometime shortly after lunch I'd bet a Dole Whip you can get ToT for some time that evening.

 

[Shanti]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've decided to get the FP's for HS, as we have multiple must-do's there within a limited time, & that's our only park day, so it's our only chance to get it right.

 

[garanorymom]

You should have no trouble getting Fantasmic! FP late in the day.
They issue literally thousands of them.

I am trying to get a fantasmic FP for late July/early June and they are all gone. Will that change day of?

 

[mesaboy2]

I am trying to get a fantasmic FP for late July/early June and they are all gone. Will that change day of?

Fantasmic almost always has availability up to and including day-of. That you can't get one for a month from now implies something is wrong.

 

[OB1]

I normally book my FP to where I will hop to in the afternoon. Since the waits are so much longer then, I like that strategy. The issue is ability to book additional passes. Of course, most of the MUST DO attractions will already be out, so you have to balance the needs & wants. Good luck.