Will an underplanner survive FP+?

[MickeyWaffles]

Help!

I am a serial WDW underplanner, and I like it that way.

When my family goes to WDW, we make one TS ADR per day. I know we'll be in a specific park around that time. Other than that, my family likes to go where the spirit moves us. Our touring plan is essentially ... no touring plan. I love the surprise of not knowing what I'll be doing every moment I'm there. For me, it's magical NOT knowing. And it's worked for us with legacy FP, even during busy times. I've never missed something I wanted to do, aside from an unexpected closure toward the end of our last night once.

Last time I was at WDW, it was shortly before FP+ was implemented. I understand the value of holding 3 FPs per day but despise the idea of committing to ride times ahead of time.

Will I survive FP+? Someone talk me off the edge.

 

[MissDisneyDora]

Yes! you will survive without advanced FP+ bookings, I would recommend getting to the parks early though and trying to get the most popular attractions out of the way before crowds pick up. If you are looking to get your Fastpasses on the day there will still be availability (I'm always switching mine around at the last minute)however you may not be able to get them for some of the more popular attractions (7DMT for instance) and the ones you do get may be for a bit later in the day meaning that you may not be able to get 4th or 5th Fastpasses.

Hope that helps...I've done a bit of both when travelling and have had amazing times either way.

x
Dora

 

[MataHari22]

You don't mention when you're going. If it's during a busy time, I would make FP+. You could always make them and if you don't need them, don't use them. I despise waiting in line when I could go right through with FP+.

 

[BudgieMama]

You'll survive, sure, but you might not do everything you want without waiting.

My brother and his wife went in June with no pre-planning. They waited an hour for It's A Small World and never got on Splash Mountain because they wouldn't wait for if. They survived, but they now admit they wish they'd taken on board the advice about FP+ that they'd asked me for and then promptly ignored!!

 

[BudgieMama]

An additional thought: as you know which parks you want on which days, why not schedule your FP+ anyway? You don't have to use them if they don't suit your mood/plans on the day, but you can switch times around (depending on how busy it is), cancel them, swap attractions: but they're there as a back up that no one is going to force you to stick to.

 

[faedust]

I'm the same way. When I went last year (week before Thanksgiving during free dining) I had never used the new system and completely procrastinated on getting them set up ahead of time. The Mine Train and Toy Story Mania were the only ones I really cared about and they were gone when I started playing around with the app about a month before. We waited in TSM for about 90 mins and 7DMT for almost 2 hours. I'm not waiting to get them this time.

 

[kerplop]

You'll survive. Whether or not you'll be pleased with the decision to go without FP+ and "wing it", that's another story. Get them and if you don't use them, no harm no foul.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that you plan more than you give yourself credit for. You plan parks and meals, so you really know what you are doing on any given day. The first time I was planning my FP I worked myself into a frenzy. I studied the park maps ( I cannot even read a map! What a mess that was!) plotted out touring plans online, and basically created a monster of myself. I have no idea why I did that. We tour like you, so why was a FP so difficult?

This time my FP booking was much different. The only Must DO was A&E for my two Princesses, but since I knew what attractions we like, I just booked them in each park we were going to be in. Done. I figure if we make them we are ahead of the game. If not? Well who cares? Not booking them would mean SB anyway, so no harm no foul.

I suggest that you think about how you generally tour each park, book the FP on attractions that your family usually likes, and then forget it til you get to the park. I bet that if you waited until the day you go, you would not get the headliners so you have lost nothing.

 

[mom2rtk]

You won't lose anything by scheduling some FPs.

Worst thing that would happen is that you pass on using them.

Once you get there, if you decide you want something different you can try to change them. The high demand attractions might be low on options, but you never know unless you try.

But before you decide to just pass on the option, be sure to consider the experience in this post:

You'll survive, sure, but you might not do everything you want without waiting.

My brother and his wife went in June with no pre-planning. They waited an hour for It's A Small World and never got on Splash Mountain because they wouldn't wait for if. They survived, but they now admit they wish they'd taken on board the advice about FP+ that they'd asked me for and then promptly ignored!!

 

[Nancyg56]

You won't lose anything by scheduling some FPs.

Worst thing that would happen is that you pass on using them.

Once you get there, if you decide you want something different you can try to change them. The high demand attractions might be low on options, but you never know unless you try.

But before you decide to just pass on the option, be sure to consider the experience in this post:

Exactly. I don't think you can ever lose by having them planned, nd if you want to change them once you arrive at the park, it may become clear why having them in place was a good idea. THey cost nothing, and you lose nothing by having them. Once booked you are done.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I feel your pain. We are the same way on vacation (since in theory it should be a break from the over structured day to day) but Disney has eliminated that ability. You're at least a step up with having ADRs but we really liked being able to decide where we wanted to go either the night before or over breakfast that morning. Unfortunately Disney has made it so your vacation must be more structured than boot camp so it's FP+ or spend your entire day waiting forever. You don't want to be one of the poor people who now wait 30 min or more for Figment.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Thank you for your input, everyone! Really really helpful. I'll book them, and swap out/change as needed. You all successfully talked me off the ledge