Will FP be gone if we wait to purchase day of arrival?

[Lulu348]

We will be on springbreak next week and plan to do one day at Disney. The current plan is to be at Hollywood Studios at opening (8:30) and then get the 3 Fastpasses then. But I read somewhere that there might not be any if we wait until that day. Is that true?

Would it be better to decide the day we want to go on Sunday (probably mid week) and then get our FP? do you think there will be some even at that late day, since it's a big spring break week?

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

You are going to have difficulty getting day of fastpasses if you want headliners. Book as soon as you can buy your tickets. If you have them now, book FP now. You can always change them.

 

[Lulu348]

Thanks. Another question: If I'm going next week, do I have to know the exact day we are going with our one day plus hopper pass?

 

[siskaren]

Thanks. Another question: If I'm going next week, do I have to know the exact day we are going with our one day plus hopper pass?

Yes. You book your fast passes for a specific day.

 

[Lulu348]

Thanks. Well, it looks like the FP must be geared more towards disney resort guests or those who can plan further in advance. Not so good for the spur of the moment guests. We've always been disney resort guests when the kids were young. This is the first time we've just driven over for a day. I hope it's not a big disappointment if we can get get FP's, as we lived by them before.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

What FPs are you planning on wanting? That will make a difference. Just try to get them at the very least the afternoon before.

You have to consider, spring break is one of the worst times of the year to go FP-less, unfortunately.

 

[lizard1]

You said you are going to get a park hopper, right? If so, I would RD DHS (hopefully not on an EMH day) and hit the rides you plan to ride (assuming TSM first, TOT, RNR). I would save your FP for your second park because booking them this late, you may not have any options for early FP anyway (especially for the headliners).

 

[Lulu348]

Lizard...great idea. Yes, TOT and RNR. The EMH is MK next week.

 

[grecorj]

Thanks. Well, it looks like the FP must be geared more towards disney resort guests or those who can plan further in advance. Not so good for the spur of the moment guests. We've always been disney resort guests when the kids were young. This is the first time we've just driven over for a day. I hope it's not a big disappointment if we can get get FP's, as we lived by them before.

Non-Disney resort guests can make FP selections up to 30 days in advance.

I would suggest there are plenty of times during the year when a "spur of the moment" visit would work well - just not peak times like Spring Break/Easter week. The same can be said for many destinations. A NY City hotel room on New Years Eve for example.

For most people traveling to WDW involves a plane ride or long car drive. Planning is essential.

Good luck.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that you can still get a lot done at rope drop but don't be late. If you go to MK later in the day you should also find a lot available but forget about Epcot. At least that was our experience last week.

 

[wisblue]

IMHO, the "advantage" of getting to the park at opening is greater than the "advantage" of being able to make FP reservations in advance.

The guests who get their first 3 FPs same day or the day before will obviously have fewer choices than the guests who make them earlier. But, from my own experience in August and November (generally crowd level 5 and 6 type days) FPs were available for several rides that I would consider "headliners", just not for the very most popular rides like RNRC, TSMM, Soarin, TT, and 7DMT. Availability will presumably be lower at the very busiest times of year like Christmas and the peak of spring break, but I haven't seen many, if any, reports that there are no headliners available same day. But then, I consider attractions like the mountains at MK, POC, HM, Mission Space, Tower of Terror, the Safari, EE, and Dinosaur to be headliners.

The best solution for guests who can't make their FP reservations in advance is to get to the park early and do the attractions for which same day FPs are not available. Then you will still have your 3 FPs to use later when the crowds get larger. It is also a good idea to avoid parks that have AM EMH unless you are an onsite guest who can take advantage of them. Of course, during the holidays there is often no way for an offsite guest to do this at the MK because there are usually AM EMH every day. But, when those EMH begin at 7 AM, an offsite guest can still accomplish a lot by getting there ready to enter at 8.

A guest who arrives at opening and uses an efficient touring plan will still be able to do more than the guest who arrives later or tours inefficiently or both. The limitations on FP+ reservations that so many people dislike (only 3, tiering, and no more than one for any one attraction) serve the purpose of significantly mitigating the advantage that guests who make FP+ reservations in advance have over other guests.