Advanced FP booking

[The Mighty Tim]

Hi all

I'm heading to WDW at the start of September. Though this will be my 8th visit, it will be my first with the new FP+ system. The rest of my party have explicitly stated that they don't want to book fast passes in advance of the trip because based on our last visit around the same time of year, Fast Passes for the most part were not necessary due to fairly short queues, but most importantly they don't want to book too many things in advance, leaving little wiggle room in the schedule.

Though I can see where they are coming from, and I do agree with them, I am also mindful of the fact that things have changed in the three years since we last visited. So, I'd like to know, especially from anyone who was there last September, do we really need to book any Fast Passes in advance or can we wing it and see what happens whilst we are there?

Many thanks!

 

[Rob562]

My answer would be: As long as you're buying your tickets in advance, there is absolutely no harm in pre-booking your FP+ choices. They can be changed or cancelled even day-of.

If you end up not needing them, that's great. But if you don't book them and then find that you can't get on the Mine Train or RnRC without a 60-minute wait, you're gonna wish you had booked ahead.

-Rob

 

[JaneGood]

I would (and have) go ahead and get the fast passes in advance. Especially for rides like Soarin and the toy story one. If you show up and want to cancel them, you can do that, but you can't book quite a few of them once it gets close to the trip, let alone the day of.
And most of all, its not like you have to use the fast pass if you have it, so if it holds up your schedule too much once you are there, just don't use it

 

[CaptainAmerica]

The rest of my party have explicitly stated that they don't want to book fast passes in advance of the trip because based on our last visit around the same time of year, Fast Passes for the most part were not necessary due to fairly short queues, but most importantly they don't want to book too many things in advance, leaving little wiggle room in the schedule.

There's nothing to worry about there. Booking them doesn't lock you into anything. You might as well book them and then just ignore them if you don't feel like using them.

I personally love booking, moving, and tweaking in advance. It builds excitement for the trip.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

You might as well book them and then just ignore them if you don't feel like using them.

While I understand the point that you're making is all about not being tied down to anything, I disagree with what you're saying.
By booking the FP and then ignoring them is doing somebody else out of a FP that may assist their own touring plans.

Book them. If you decide that you're not going to use them, cancel them and give someone else a chance to benefit from them.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

By booking the FP and then ignoring them is doing somebody else out of a FP that may assist their own touring plans.

Yeah, but it adds one extra standby guest who gets to ride that day. It's has no impact on the ride's actual capacity so it's a net wash.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Yeah, but it adds one extra standby guest who gets to ride that day. It's has no impact on the ride's actual capacity so it's a net wash.

I know, but cancelling them allows one extra guest to experience an attraction without waiting in line

 

[The Mighty Tim]

Thanks for the advice. I'll pass it on to the rest of my party and see what they say.