Why hop if I can't use FP+ at both parks?

[rrobinhhalk]

Small rant... seems really short sided of Disney to not let me pick say 2 FP's at Epcot and then one at DHS later in the day. I have a park hopper.. why can't I? So then it is a head scratcher of why even pay the up charge to hop because sure I can get a 4th FP in DHS (at a kiosk, again another fail in my opinon) when I get in the park later in the day but it's likely what I want (TSM) will be gone for the day.
Sorry this whole thing is just annoying to me, if you are going to have people schedule FP's 60 (or 30) days out then let them actual schedule what they want!! And the tiering thing is annoying.. but that's for another post!!
Rant over

 

[vicki_c]

One approach that has been common so far ( at least prior to being able to book additional FPs beyond the first 3) is to do rope drop at one park without FPs, then schedule your FPs for your 2nd park. Then you can get in lower lines early in the morning and ride headliners with FP at park 2 in the afternoon or evening.

I'm not so sure what I think now that you have to use the first 3 before getting a 4th, but prior to that change, I actually thought hopping could be more beneficial (or equally so) as before.

 

[f19810]

Small rant... seems really short sided of Disney to not let me pick say 2 FP's at Epcot and then one at DHS later in the day. I have a park hopper.. why can't I? So then it is a head scratcher of why even pay the up charge to hop because sure I can get a 4th FP in DHS (at a kiosk, again another fail in my opinon) when I get in the park later in the day but it's likely what I want (TSM) will be gone for the day. Sorry this whole thing is just annoying to me, if you are going to have people schedule FP's 60 (or 30) days out then let them actual schedule what they want!! And the tiering thing is annoying.. but that's for another post!! Rant over

With the old fastpass system, you still would have to go to dhs and to the kiosk to get a fastpass. You wouldn't have been able to get a toy story fastpass then either. Did that stop you from getting a hopper before?

 

[LovesTimone]

For us we used our fast passes for the evening when everyone is tired from the day. While on vacation we normally take a break, go back to the resort and swim, or nap maybe both, then head back out use our fast passes then and have a late dinner.

For example have early breakfast at Crystal Palace at MK,( trying to get a ADR before park opening) then hit the rides, then lunch around, head back to the resort for a rest, then back out to use our fast passes, and a late dinner.

I have some friends that have teenagers they prefer to sleep in or head to the pool in the mornings and don't really get started until lunch time, so once they hit the park its lunch time, then ride time, this is when they use their fast pass during that mid-day crush, then they head over to Epcot they eat at a different world showcase restaurant every night, then they ride more rides, then back into the MK or whatever park has EMH till midnight or whatever closing time is.

I think that one day probably in the near future you will be able to book in separate park for different rides and shows.

 

[bare necessities]

With the old fastpass system, you still would have to go to dhs and to the kiosk to get a fastpass. You wouldn't have been able to get a toy story fastpass then either. Did that stop you from getting a hopper before?

This!

 

[snayak]

With the old fastpass system, you still would have to go to dhs and to the kiosk to get a fastpass. You wouldn't have been able to get a toy story fastpass then either. Did that stop you from getting a hopper before?

Exactly! FP+ isn't so different from FP- except that you get to pick 3 FP before entering with park. (With FP- you got to pick 0 FP before entering the park).

From various trip reports and anecdotal stories, folks were able to get (many) more than 3 FP+ if they toured commando style, similar to what was possible with FP-.

Also, same as before, for your 4th+ FP you have to physically be in the park and get a FP from a kiosk...I don't see this as a bad thing at all, it will limit FP availability to those in park (or those who pre-booked and just didn't show).

I do hope Disney allows us to book the first 3 FP+ across parks if we have hoppers (A&E and 7DMT in the morning, TSMM at night)...I don't see why this isn't possible from a technical perspective. But booking the 4th+ via kiosk instead of MDE is perfectly fine with me...call me greedy but I want all the FP availability I can get when I'm touring in a particular park!

 

[Toad_Passenger]

We still hop because we enjoy meals in France, England, Mexico, and Japan, but we're not going to do 4 separate Epcot days.

Hopping allows us to fit those meals in, while still experiencing the other parks.

 

[mom2rtk]

They need to find a way to allow hopping without defeating the purpose of the tiering. Otherwise people would use it as a means to get around it.

FWIW, I'm guessing a big improvement is coming when they finally allow people to book from the app, so at least you could see what is available at the park you are considering hopping to.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

Yeah, it's pointless unless you have an annual pass.

 

[MaxsDad]

FWIW, I'm guessing a big improvement is coming when they finally allow people to book from the app, so at least you could see what is available at the park you are considering hopping to.

that would be a huge plus for those of us who still like to make spur of the moment choices. We often don't know which park we would want to hop to, so booking a fp on our app before we hop would be great.




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[PSUGuy]

For many years our plan has been to hit a park at ropedrop, tour until lines exceed 25 mins or so then we hop to WS. By that time FP- would be gone or so far in the future as to be useless. Now FP+ allows us to ride Soarin' and other rides when we get to Epcot. We're benefiting from the change and hopping is a better strategy.

Bill From PA

 

[WINTER]

One approach that has been common so far ( at least prior to being able to book additional FPs beyond the first 3) is to do rope drop at one park without FPs, then schedule your FPs for your 2nd park. Then you can get in lower lines early in the morning and ride headliners with FP at park 2 in the afternoon or evening.

I'm not so sure what I think now that you have to use the first 3 before getting a 4th, but prior to that change, I actually thought hopping could be more beneficial (or equally so) as before.

This is what we are trying in July. I figure fastpass with rides I would want to do after my chosen 3 would be gone anyway.

 

[nkereina]

The podcast crew has mentioned that they suspect this change to be coming down the line, sooner rather than later. The addition of the additional FP's through the kiosk is only a recent addition, so this one should be coming up shortly.

But as PPs have pointed out, the advantage of booking ahead of time is an entirely new concept on it's own. Before, you'd have to physically be in the park to get a FP. So it's really no different now except that you have the option to book ahead of time if you want to. To be upset with Disney that you can't book in multiple parks ahead of time is without merit.

 

[CarlaLovesDisney]

One approach that has been common so far ( at least prior to being able to book additional FPs beyond the first 3) is to do rope drop at one park without FPs, then schedule your FPs for your 2nd park. Then you can get in lower lines early in the morning and ride headliners with FP at park 2 in the afternoon or evening.

I'm not so sure what I think now that you have to use the first 3 before getting a 4th, but prior to that change, I actually thought hopping could be more beneficial (or equally so) as before.

I used this strategy. It was a little bit unnerving to go to a park for rope drop and know that I will have no FastPasses but it worked out ok. I rode some headliners in the first hour and then left in the early afternoon to use my Fast Passes in the next park. I must say it was wonderful being able to ride Toy Story Mania at 5pm.

I know that the new system has a lot of frustrating aspects to it, but it just takes some tweaking to your touring plans.

 

[mslhb]

Because we love to hop! We will always get park hoppers. Often we will hop to Epcot just to have dinner and walk around the World Showcase. Also since we typically stay at a MK area resort we will hop there just to do a specific attraction, meet a character or get a snack. I realize we are waiting standby then but I will just check my lines app to make sure it is reasonable before we go. I just like the freedom of hoppers and found us working our FP+ strategy around that. I didn't feel hindered at all.

 

[bucky1023]

I still park hop and LOVE it! I am super excited because on my next trip I have FP+ for HS in the evening one day after going to MK in the morning. I never stay at HS after lunch since TSMM FP were always gone late morning/early afternoon, but this time I will be able to ride TSMM and not have to worry about it

Also I usually stay at Epcot resorts, so after doing MK at rope drop instead of dealing with buses (my mom uses a scooter and not great on steering off/on the buses) we take monorail to front of Epcot stroll to the back (grab a drink or two) and head out of IG.