FastPass+ Booking Window is Tonight at 4AM

[mhvolk89]

Hey,

You guys were so helpful during my last couple questions I thought I would run a couple things by you. Tonight at 4am we hit our 60 day mark so we can book our fastpasses. We are going September 6-9th and staying at Coronado Springs. It is my wife and I. It is her first time at WDW and my first time back since I was little. We are arriving at 530am on a flight from Los Angeles. The plan is to take the DME to the hotel and see if the room is ready ( I know probably wont be) and then eat breakfast and head to Animal Kingdom. I wanted to run these by you for our 3 days and see any suggestions for the fastpasses Ill try to book tonight:

Day 1:
Animal Kingdom
1. FOP
2. Kilaminjaro Safaris
3. Dinosaur
*We are doing the Rivers of light dining package at Tiffins at 535pm.

Day2:
Epcot
1. Frozen
2. Mission Space
3. Spaceship Earth

Day3:
Magic Kingdom
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Space Mountain
3. Big Thunder
*We have Be Our Gues Dining reservations for breakfast at 955am.

Can you guys help me figure out if these are strategically good choices and the timing of when I should get them. (Especially on the first day at AK)

 

[RMichael21]

Hey,

You guys were so helpful during my last couple questions I thought I would run a couple things by you. Tonight at 4am we hit our 60 day mark so we can book our fastpasses. We are going September 6-9th and staying at Coronado Springs. It is my wife and I. It is her first time at WDW and my first time back since I was little. We are arriving at 530am on a flight from Los Angeles. The plan is to take the DME to the hotel and see if the room is ready ( I know probably wont be) and then eat breakfast and head to Animal Kingdom. I wanted to run these by you for our 3 days and see any suggestions for the fastpasses Ill try to book tonight:

Day 1:
Animal Kingdom
1. FOP
2. Kilaminjaro Safaris
3. Dinosaur
*We are doing the Rivers of light dining package at Tiffins at 535pm.

Day2:
Epcot
1. Frozen
2. Mission Space
3. Spaceship Earth

Day3:
Magic Kingdom
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Space Mountain
3. Big Thunder
*We have Be Our Gues Dining reservations for breakfast at 955am.

Can you guys help me figure out if these are strategically good choices and the timing of when I should get them. (Especially on the first day at AK)

I can tell you that it is extremely unlikely that you'll get a FOP FP on Day 1 of your trip. They were completely gone when I checked for Day 3 of our late June trip 60 days out. Of course, you may have more luck because you're a party of 2 going in September, but it's still unlikely. Therefore, I'd rope drop it and grab a FP for NRJ. We arrived in June about 50 minutes prior to EMH opening and there were about 30 people ahead of us in line for FOP and we were done with both rides in Pandora by about 8:25 (with an 9am normal opening). For DAK in general, I would try to book the FP later, as you wouldn't want to take the chance with delays or cancellations.

Personally, I would try to move your BOG ADR to lunch time, as those first two hours in the park are crucial. I'm not sure what time the park opens, but I would prefer a break from the heat and the crowds during lunchtime. As far as FP goes for both MK and Epcot, though, they look great!

 

[mhvolk89]

I can tell you that it is extremely unlikely that you'll get a FOP FP on Day 1 of your trip. They were completely gone when I checked for Day 3 of our late June trip 60 days out. Of course, you may have more luck because you're a party of 2 going in September, but it's still unlikely. Therefore, I'd rope drop it and grab a FP for NRJ. We arrived in June about 50 minutes prior to EMH opening and there were about 30 people ahead of us in line for FOP and we were done with both rides in Pandora by about 8:25 (with an 9am normal opening). For DAK in general, I would try to book the FP later, as you wouldn't want to take the chance with delays or cancellations.

Personally, I would try to move your BOG ADR to lunch time, as those first two hours in the park are crucial. I'm not sure what time the park opens, but I would prefer a break from the heat and the crowds during lunchtime. As far as FP goes for both MK and Epcot, though, they look great!

.


Thanks so much for the info! I really appreciate it. What should I do as a back up if I dont get FOP in terms of my Fastpasses? Should I change it to River Journey?

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

Hey,

You guys were so helpful during my last couple questions I thought I would run a couple things by you. Tonight at 4am we hit our 60 day mark so we can book our fastpasses. We are going September 6-9th and staying at Coronado Springs. It is my wife and I. It is her first time at WDW and my first time back since I was little. We are arriving at 530am on a flight from Los Angeles. The plan is to take the DME to the hotel and see if the room is ready ( I know probably wont be) and then eat breakfast and head to Animal Kingdom. I wanted to run these by you for our 3 days and see any suggestions for the fastpasses Ill try to book tonight:

Day 1:
Animal Kingdom
1. FOP
2. Kilaminjaro Safaris
3. Dinosaur
*We are doing the Rivers of light dining package at Tiffins at 535pm.

Day2:
Epcot
1. Frozen
2. Mission Space
3. Spaceship Earth

Day3:
Magic Kingdom
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Space Mountain
3. Big Thunder
*We have Be Our Guest Dining reservations for breakfast at 955am.

Can you guys help me figure out if these are strategically good choices and the timing of when I should get them. (Especially on the first day at AK)

In the Animal Kingdom it will be very difficult to score a FP+ in your first day for FOP. If you do, great for you and your wife! If you don't do it immediately after park opening and you should wait between 15-45 minutes. Then change your FOP fastpasses to Navi River Journey at around 9pm. Kilimanjaro Safaris is ok but Dinosaur isn't in a big need for FP+. I would suggest swapping it to Expedition Everest and experience Kali River Rapids early in the morning after Pandora and the Safaris.

Epcot is ok but Frozen Ever After doesn't have the huge wait times and it is now much easier to get to even without FP+ as long as you arrive before midday. I would swap it for Test Track and rope drop Soarin.

Now for the Magic Kingdom. What are you going to do with Splash Mountain? Even in September it has sufficient waits. You can always rope drop the Mine Train and Peter Pan's Flight and change your FP+ for Splash Mountain. UNLESS, you are planning to be at Splash Mountain right at park opening (then you could knock off Big Thunder Mountain quickly and then I don't know you can get a FP+ for Peter Pan or something else). I would also move my breakfast reservation a liiiiittle further during the day like 10:30 AM as those first 2 hours are the ones less crowded.

 

[mhvolk89]

In the Animal Kingdom it will be very difficult to score a FP+ in your first day for FOP. If you do, great for you and your wife! If you don't do it immediately after park opening and you should wait between 15-45 minutes. Then change your FOP fastpasses to Navi River Journey at around 9pm. Kilimanjaro Safaris is ok but Dinosaur isn't in a big need for FP+. I would suggest swapping it to Expedition Everest and experience Kali River Rapids early in the morning after Pandora and the Safaris.

Epcot is ok but Frozen Ever After doesn't have the huge wait times and it is now much easier to get to even without FP+ as long as you arrive before midday. I would swap it for Test Track and rope drop Soarin.

Now for the Magic Kingdom. What are you going to do with Splash Mountain? Even in September it has sufficient waits. You can always rope drop the Mine Train and Peter Pan's Flight and change your FP+ for Splash Mountain. UNLESS, you are planning to be at Splash Mountain right at park opening (then you could knock off Big Thunder Mountain quickly and then I don't know you can get a FP+ for Peter Pan or something else). I would also move my breakfast reservation a liiiiittle further during the day like 10:30 AM as those first 2 hours are the ones less crowded.

I love Splash Mountain, however my wife doesnt do it here in California. She doesn't like big drops. Thats why I planned to single rider Everest by myself and try to do Splash by myself later in the day as well. Is it hard to score FOP 60 days in advance? Why because it is the first day of the trip? The only problem is I could only find Be our guest reservations for breakfast on the first day and there is the halloween party( so it closes to regular guests like us at 6) on the second day. I also thought Animal Kingdom would be an easier park on the first day to conquer verus MK since we are flying in and would be tired. Any suggestions?

 

[JohnyKaz2078]

I love Splash Mountain, however my wife doesnt do it here in California. She doesn't like big drops. Thats why I planned to single rider Everest by myself and try to do Splash by myself later in the day as well. Is it hard to score FOP 60 days in advance? Why because it is the first day of the trip? The only problem is I could only find Be our guest reservations for breakfast on the first day and there is the halloween party( so it closes to regular guests like us at 6) on the second day. I also thought Animal Kingdom would be an easier park on the first day to conquer verus MK since we are flying in and would be tired. Any suggestions?

Yes AK is good for the first day. You could be able to score a FP+ if you booked it in the first hours of your 60-day window (I know in California it starts like 4am but you could try at 9am or 10am). In the worst case scenario you will end up with an early evening Fastpass, which is better than nothing. Then you can rope drop Navi River Journey and you won't have a problem with the other AK rides.
If you can't move your breakfast reservations its ok. Just try to ride as many rides as possible before your breakfast.

 

[nickys]

Yes AK is good for the first day. You could be able to score a FP+ if you booked it in the first hours of your 60-day window (I know in California it starts like 4am but you could try at 9am or 10am). In the worst case scenario you will end up with an early evening Fastpass, which is better than nothing. Then you can rope drop Navi River Journey and you won't have a problem with the other AK rides.
If you can't move your breakfast reservations its ok. Just try to ride as many rides as possible before your breakfast.

Typically FoP is only available on day 3 or more of a trip.

It may be possible to grab one my constantly modifying the River Journey FP and getting lucky, but very, very few people have managed to book FoP for their first day.

 

[mhvolk89]

Typically FoP is only available on day 3 or more of a trip.

It may be possible to grab one my constantly modifying the River Journey FP and getting lucky, but very, very few people have managed to book FoP for their first day.

Why is it only possible usually on Day 3 of a trip when Im staying on until 4am California time to book 60 days in advance. It doesnt make any sense to me.

The only other option I have besides trying to modify River Journey is to switch my day 3 which is MK to the first day but we are arriving from LA at 530am. (We also got a Be our Guest reservation for that morning of the third day) I thought AK would be the easier part to start out with as it has a small number of rides.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nickys]

Why is it only possible usually on Day 3 of a trip when Im staying on until 4am California time to book 60 days in advance. It doesnt make any sense to me.

The only other option I have besides trying to modify River Journey is to switch my day 3 which is MK to the first day but we are arriving from LA at 530am. (We also got a Be our Guest reservation for that morning of the third day) I thought AK would be the easier part to start out with as it has a small number of rides.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Because people can book for the length of their stay, up to 14 days ahead.

This ride is still so popular that everyone is trying to get an FP, often multiple ones. Your day 1 is someone else’s day 14. And even amongst those who are only there for a week, your day 1 is their last full day in the parks. So they’ve had a week’s jump start to book them ahead of you.

 

[mhvolk89]

Because people can book for the length of their stay, up to 14 days ahead.

This ride is still so popular that everyone is trying to get an FP, often multiple ones. Your day 1 is someone else’s day 14. And even amongst those who are only there for a week, your day 1 is their last full day in the parks. So they’ve had a week’s jump start to book them ahead of you.

I understand now, thank you Nickys. It seems super unfair, but what can you do. Im surprised Disney hasn't made it that you cant have multiple Fastpasses for that ride through your trip. Especially at the 60 day window. But I will take your advice to do River Journey and then try and modify a few times a day.

 

[nickys]

I understand now, thank you Nickys. It seems super unfair, but what can you do. Im surprised Disney hasn't made it that you cant have multiple Fastpasses for that ride through your trip. Especially at the 60 day window. But I will take your advice to do River Journey and then try and modify a few times a day.

If someone pays to stay for 2 weeks or more though, is it fair to restrict them to what FPs they can book? The length of stay booking is a perk of staying onsite. The pros and cons of FP+ have been widely debated, but if you return to booking a day at a time, the benefit would disappear to a huge extent. And they won’t get rid of it.

Good luck. Keep an eye on opening times. If they extend park hours, then they will release more FPs for those extra hours about 2 days later.

 

[mhvolk89]

If someone pays to stay for 2 weeks or more though, is it fair to restrict them to what FPs they can book? The length of stay booking is a perk of staying onsite. The pros and cons of FP+ have been widely debated, but if you return to booking a day at a time, the benefit would disappear to a huge extent. And they won’t get rid of it.

Good luck. Keep an eye on opening times. If they extend park hours, then they will release more FPs for those extra hours about 2 days later.

Hey guys,

I got FOP!

I ended up getting:

Day 1:

1. Kilamanjaro Safaris
2. Dinosaur
3. Flight of Passage!!!

Day 2:

1. Spaceship Earth
2. Mission:Space
3. Frozen Ever After!

Day 3:
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Big Thunder Mountain
3. Space Mountain

Overall, Im really excited, especially the FOP, however we have to do it right after our Tiffins reservation before Rivers of Light. Im really thankful and excited. Thanks for all of your help!

 

[nickys]

Hey guys,

I got FOP!

I ended up getting:

Day 1:

1. Kilamanjaro Safaris
2. Dinosaur
3. Flight of Passage!!!

Day 2:

1. Spaceship Earth
2. Mission:Space
3. Frozen Ever After!

Day 3:
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Big Thunder Mountain
3. Space Mountain

Overall, Im really excited, especially the FOP, however we have to do it right after our Tiffins reservation before Rivers of Light. Im really thankful and excited. Thanks for all of your help!

Fab! Well done.

How much time do you have between eating and ROL? The line for FoP takes around 30 minutes typically. You may want to see if you can push Tiffins a bit earlier, depending how much time you have, rather than be rushing dinner and racing to get to ROL. Make sure you know where the entrance for ROL dining package guests is beforehand.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Hey guys,

I got FOP!

I ended up getting:

Day 1:

1. Kilamanjaro Safaris
2. Dinosaur
3. Flight of Passage!!!

Day 2:

1. Spaceship Earth
2. Mission:Space
3. Frozen Ever After!

Day 3:
1. Seven Dwarfs
2. Big Thunder Mountain
3. Space Mountain

Overall, Im really excited, especially the FOP, however we have to do it right after our Tiffins reservation before Rivers of Light. Im really thankful and excited. Thanks for all of your help!

Well done! And FoP is right by Tiffins so that will be easy, you don’t have to run to the other side of the park or anything.

 

[mhvolk89]

Fab! Well done.

How much time do you have between eating and ROL? The line for FoP takes around 30 minutes typically. You may want to see if you can push Tiffins a bit earlier, depending how much time you have, rather than be rushing dinner and racing to get to ROL. Make sure you know where the entrance for ROL dining package guests is beforehand.

My Tiffins ROL Package is at 535pm right now. Do you guys think we will be fine for FOP (we have Fastpass at 725-825pm) and Rivers of Light is at 845. That was the only FOP available. Im still shocked i got it. lol

 

[Tony the Tigger]

My Tiffins ROL Package is at 535pm right now. Do you guys think we will be fine for FOP (we have Fastpass at 725-825pm) and Rivers of Light is at 845. That was the only FOP available. Im still shocked i got it. lol

The harder part will be getting to Rivers of Light on time IMO.