Why does it have to be MIDNIGHT?

[JimmyV]

Hmm, I'm not exactly sure I understand what you are asking. I meant that if you want to try to get an FP+ for A&E for 3 people and, say, the mine train for another 2 with a large overlap (because you will be together before and after on rides) and you have a tentative time you would like this to happen, e.g., between 10 and 12, there may be a greater opportunity to get that at midnight/1am than the next morning.

That was "the former". Got it.
Here is where the confusion came from. The OP asked why it has to be midnight. Not, "should I book at midnight". So your advice to book at midnight was spot on when addressing the "should I" question. I just wasn't sure if what you were really doing is answering the "why" question . When applied to the "why" question, your post would read that there is something special about starting at midnight that makes timing easier to manage. And obviously, that wouldn't be true. One could effectively manage the time whenever that time is, as long as they do it at the earliest opportunity. It's all clear now!

 

[chiisai]

That was "the former". Got it.
Here is where the confusion came from. The OP asked why it has to be midnight. Not, "should I book at midnight". So your advice to book at midnight was spot on when addressing the "should I" question. I just wasn't sure if what you were really doing is answering the "why" question . When applied to the "why" question, your post would read that there is something special about starting at midnight that makes timing easier to manage. And obviously, that wouldn't be true. One could effectively manage the time whenever that time is, as long as they do it at the earliest opportunity. It's all clear now!

I was actually responding to the person who posted above me who got all they wanted and did it the morning of, not at midnight. I see now I didn't quote the poster.

 

[JimmyV]

I was actually responding to the person who posted above me who got all they wanted and did it the morning of, not at midnight. I see now I didn't quote the poster.

Ahhh. Now it makes even more sense!

 

[Micca]

New Avatars Post Pictures Feature
Why does it have to be MIDNIGHT?

I always figured it was a Fairygodmother Thing

 

[Jfsag123]

I am thrilled it is midnight (11pm my time). I am NOT an early riser and hated getting up for ADRs. I am up past midnight pretty much every night regardless of what time I have to be up in the morning. All about perspective.

 

[leahlefler]

I was one of those who stayed up until 1:00 am to get FP+ reserved. We didn't want A&E, but I wanted to make sure we got the Mine Train! I probably didn't really need to stay up until 1 am, but this is my first trip in a LONG time (last trip was 15 years ago) and I was nervous I wouldn't be able to get them. In hindsight, I probably could have gotten them the next morning, but I was really nervous about getting them!

 

[buzznina]

I was actually responding to the person who posted above me who got all they wanted and did it the morning of, not at midnight. I see now I didn't quote the poster.

Hmmm I understand why people do it and you will have better time options. But for families like us that only really plans the day in general and not hourly you really do not have to be the first ones online. I know a lot of people think that the few times offered when they originally pick their FP's are the only available times. As soon as I make my FPs I go right in and pick times that I prefer. i.e. when I resereved the Mine Ride, it did not even give me a 4th option, replaced with Splash Mtn. But once I had a FP and went to change it I had over a dozen different times to choose from. I changed probably half of our FPs for our upcoming trip in March. BTW; we really really like FP+(except for EPCOT tiering), it was like they made it for us

 

[Angel Ariel]

It can also be very important if your trip is at a particularly BUSY time at WDW.

Or during a time period with a combination of shorter park hours overall, and party nights in MK closing that park even earlier.

Less park hours = less fp availability, yet crowd levels aren't always less.

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

I have to second the motion the 6am is way worse. It is our 3am here on the West Coast and mighty hard to be awake for, either by waking up early or staying up late.

 

[Robo]

Or during a time period with a combination of shorter park hours overall, and party nights in MK closing that park even earlier.

Less park hours = less fp availability, yet crowd levels aren't always less.

Agreed.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I have been lucky enough that last years 60 day window was a Sunday and this years window will also be a Sunday... so I won't have to worry about work. I can stay awake a little past midnight on weekends. Now when it does happen on a weekday, I don't know what I'll do since I am up for work at 4am Mon-Fri.

 

[Planogirl]

Some people have to stay up several nights to try to get what they want. Luckily I'm normally a night owl.

 

[jeepnjudy]

I ap

That was "the former". Got it.
Here is where the confusion came from. The OP asked why it has to be midnight. Not, "should I book at midnight". So your advice to book at midnight was spot on when addressing the "should I" question. I just wasn't sure if what you were really doing is answering the "why" question . When applied to the "why" question, your post would read that there is something special about starting at midnight that makes timing easier to manage. And obviously, that wouldn't be true. One could effectively manage the time whenever that time is, as long as they do it at the earliest opportunity. It's all clear now!

I apologize...I should have noted my "why" was being cynical! And after reading many of the FP+ topics on here and considering I am going at a high peak time (Easter) with a larger party, I needed to sacrifice my sleep to coordinate times as some of the previous posters mentioned and to get FPs for the harder to obtain rides.

 

[Bullseye]

The purple link in my signature addresses the 12:00a/1:00a thing.

So what does that mean? You have to look at MK closing time for day 61 to know what time you can start booking?

 

[mesaboy2]

So what does that mean? You have to look at MK closing time for day 61 to know what time you can start booking?

MK hours on your window open determine the 12:00a or 1:00a time. The purple link kinda fleshes this out.

From that OP:

Dates included below are the ones I currently anticipate to see a 1:00a (or later) booking window. These dates are days that immediately follow late MK hours--for example MK closes late on March 29 (technically March 30) at 1:00a, so those with March 30 openings should anticipate a 1:00a opening.

I've tried to get in the habit of bumping that thread just before midnight on the affected days, so those on the boards can see it easily and hopefully not freak when they see no change in MDX at the top of the hour.

 

[Bullseye]

MK hours on your window open determine the 12:00a or 1:00a time. The purple link kinda fleshes this out.

From that OP:

Ok thanks Mesa....that's what I thought you were saying. I had no idea. Glad to know because I probably would have freaked out come 11pm cst when I couldn't book my FP+ in early April.

 

[mesaboy2]

Ok thanks Mesa....that's what I thought you were saying. I had no idea. Glad to know because I probably would have freaked out come 11pm cst when I couldn't book my FP+ in early April.

You would not be the first, and that's exactly why I maintain that thread.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ok...so I decided on what I do not like about FP +... Having to make my choices at midnight when I have to go to work the next day! I told my colleagues to not even ask me why I was soooooo tired!

Anyone else had the same experience?

Because that's when the day switches?
Because they are trying to make something nice for those not on the east coast? Because they realize that there are many people coming from other time zones and staying up to 12:30 might be easier than waking at 3 or so for ADRs and such?

I dunno, just the way it is. Non east coasters revel in it because the ADR time is so awful, and they'll be dealing with jet lag, so they might as well throw us a bone.

 

[dprincessmom]

I don't do midnight for FP+ and have always gotten what we wanted. Yes at 60 days, no for midnight. Last trip got Mine Train and Anna/Elsa with no problems.