Why can't I book FP+ w/o a ticket?!

[MAGICX2]

I know this has probably been asked before , but I can't find it any where. We are heading down for 3 days in Oct. We won't be able to get our tickets until we arrive. Why do I have to have a ticket to be able to book my FP+ options? Is there something I am missing?

 

[kmb584]

I know this has probably been asked before , but I can't find it any where. We are heading down for 3 days in Oct. We won't be able to get our tickets until we arrive. Why do I have to have a ticket to be able to book my FP+ options? Is there something I am missing?

Because it's the rules? In all reality though it's probably so people without a valid ticket (and no intentions of visiting anytime soon) can't clog the FP+ system.

 

[MightyGitis]

Because it's the rules? In all reality though it's probably so people without a valid ticket (and no intentions of visiting anytime soon) can't clog the FP+ system.

I second the notion of clogging the system. If FP+ could be booked with no ticket someone could book FPs for every day of the year even though they aren't going to be there/ don't have a ticket taking away available reservations from people who have tickets and will be there.

It's the same reason AP holders can only book 7 days worth without a room reservation. Because they could book endless FPs with no intention of using them.

 

[wendybeth75]

I second the notion of clogging the system. If FP+ could be booked with no ticket someone could book FPs for every day of the year even though they aren't going to be there/ don't have a ticket taking away available reservations from people who have tickets and will be there.

It's the same reason AP holders can only book 7 days worth without a room reservation. Because they could book endless FPs with no intention of using them.

Exactly, same reason why every TS has to have CC guarantee now. It prevents people from saying "I might go on Thursday July 8, I will book FP+" OP have you considered buying tickets before you leave, maybe from UT, expedia, Orbitz or direct from Disney?

 

[TimothyG]

I know this has probably been asked before , but I can't find it any where. We are heading down for 3 days in Oct. We won't be able to get our tickets until we arrive. Why do I have to have a ticket to be able to book my FP+ options? Is there something I am missing?

My experience has always been that you can basically get whatever FPs you want early in the morning on the day of. This would especially be true in October. The only snag would be if you needed A&E FPs. You should have availability for most everything else though.

I go a lot and the vast majority of the FPs I make 60 days out are switched out for a different park, attraction or time when I get down there. The beauty of the new system is that you can easily change plans on the fly.

 

[shepd]

Worse than just booking for every day of the year, a really unscrupulous person would create thousands of dummy accounts, book up every single FP for an attraction at a certain time, and then just sail through the standby line. Or keep a single FP for a legitimate account and have a 0 minute FP wait.

 

[2Monkeys]

We are going in October as well, for the Tower of Terror 10 miler. I was very annoyed about the ticket issue, because no one explained it to me when we booked. I called back, and they separated our tickets from our room, and allowed me to go ahead and pay for the tickets so we would be able to book our FP+ at 60 days. The tickets are now connected to MDE, even though we won't pick them up until we arrive.

 

[kaylasmom07]

The fastpass system has always been connected with valid theme park tickets. Even with traditional fastpass you have to have a ticket, and insert it into the machine before it would spit out the fasspass.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

It's the same reason AP holders can only book 7 days worth without a room reservation. Because they could book endless FPs with no intention of using them.

This rule is incredibly frustrating. 7 days at a time simply isn't enough. We are AP Holders and go for 4 weeks at a time but stay offsite. Some FP's are so difficult to get, such as Anna & Elsa and 7 Dwarves. We can only make them for the first week of our trip.

 

[Hopefully]

Because it is the "rule" of the FP+ system. Always has been.
And I personally think it is the correct way to do it. That includes the fact that I am an AP holder.

 

[Brian Noble]

OP: if you bought your tickets in advance, but are picking them up at WDW Will Call, you can still link them to your MDE account. But, if you are not buying them until you get there, you can't make FP+ in advance.

 

[Missyrose]

I know this has probably been asked before , but I can't find it any where. We are heading down for 3 days in Oct. We won't be able to get our tickets until we arrive. Why do I have to have a ticket to be able to book my FP+ options? Is there something I am missing?

Is there a reason you can't buy your tickets until you arrive?

 

[AmyB2006]

This rule is incredibly frustrating. 7 days at a time simply isn't enough. We are AP Holders and go for 4 weeks at a time but stay offsite. Some FP's are so difficult to get, such as Anna & Elsa and 7 Dwarves. We can only make them for the first week of our trip.

I'm sure this is frustrating for you, but I'm conflicted in feeling bad for you.





Seriously just a joke, though, don't get mad. I would love to go to Disney for 4 weeks at a time. That is probably awesome.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I know, I shouldn't complain. The time that we go for is wonderful, we come from so far away (Australia) so only go once every 12-18 months or so so we make it worth our travel time and cost.

I'm sure this is frustrating for you, but I'm conflicted in feeling bad for you.


Seriously just a joke, though, don't get mad. I would love to go to Disney for 4 weeks at a time. That is probably awesome.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I know this has probably been asked before , but I can't find it any where. We are heading down for 3 days in Oct. We won't be able to get our tickets until we arrive. Why do I have to have a ticket to be able to book my FP+ options? Is there something I am missing?

We are in the same boat. So frustrating. I told the kids we were not going back until things calm down. It's been a year and my youngest is begging to go back. She doesn't remember much about the last trip.

I do understand why Disney has that rule because I am guessing people out in the world, without a life, would get a kick out of booking fast passes to clog up the system. What is the world coming to??

 

[seven dwarfs]

The fastpass system has always been connected with valid theme park tickets. Even with traditional fastpass you have to have a ticket, and insert it into the machine before it would spit out the fasspass.

The traditional way worked (for some) because everyone was booking their FP that day while in the park. I think the concern now is by having to wait until the day of, what FP's will still be available.

An example would be, we have bought a voucher from AAA before and then turned it in the day of our arrival to get the actual ticket. I am assuming under this circumstance, one is stuck booking any fast passes until the ticket is in hand. Probably doesn't effect many people but still frustrating to the ones that have this issue.

I also understand Disney doesn't want people holding FP when they don't even have a trip planned.

 

[jade1]

The traditional way worked (for some) because everyone was booking their FP that day while in the park. I think the concern now is by having to wait until the day of, what FP's will still be available.

An example would be, we have bought a voucher from AAA before and then turned it in the day of our arrival to get the actual ticket. I am assuming under this circumstance, one is stuck booking any fast passes until the ticket is in hand. Probably doesn't effect many people but still frustrating to the ones that have this issue.

I also understand Disney doesn't want people holding FP when they don't even have a trip planned.

Disney can give you a corresponding code for your ticket-just enter that in your account.

At least that's what we did with Expedia tickets-and they were originally expected to convert onsite arrival.

 

[aaarcher86]

We are in the same boat. So frustrating. I told the kids we were not going back until things calm down. It's been a year and my youngest is begging to go back. She doesn't remember much about the last trip.

I do understand why Disney has that rule because I am guessing people out in the world, without a life, would get a kick out of booking fast passes to clog up the system. What is the world coming to??

I think it's more due to the fact that their phrasing is 'FP+ is included with theme park admission.'

If you don't have theme park admission you don't have FP+.

 

[MrsDuck]

I think it's more due to the fact that their phrasing is 'FP+ is included with theme park admission.'

If you don't have theme park admission you don't have FP+.

Exactly. In my mind, it makes sense.

 

[SuperRob]

This rule is incredibly frustrating. 7 days at a time simply isn't enough. We are AP Holders and go for 4 weeks at a time but stay offsite. Some FP's are so difficult to get, such as Anna & Elsa and 7 Dwarves. We can only make them for the first week of our trip.

I personally think it should be 10 days ... the same length of the max ticket that anyone can buy.

I get why they're doing it, though. They want to prevent AP holders from grabbing "just in case we go" passes that don't get used.