Are you a FP pro or do you even bother?

[Jessica Meier]

I must admit, I am not a big user of the FP system. I will grab one if I want to ride something as we are passing by or I may go straight there (in the case of Epcot and Soarin) when we arrive at opening of the park. But I am definitely not a pro at it. I tend to ride a ride once and when I have I don't usually go back that same day. Just curious as to what my friends are like when they are in the parks.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I'm a casual user. I will get a FP for the big ride first thing in the morning but the rest of the day we wing it grabbing FPS if needed.

 

[Jessica Meier]

Pretty much the same here. Good to know I am not the only one.

 

[englanddg]

I too am casual about them. I grab them if it's convenient to do so. I am not the sort that rushes back to Sourin' or Toy Story to snag one, but if it fits with our general plans, I will meander over that way and pick one up.

They do not define what rides we do and in what order though...and if we decide we don't want to use them, we give them away before the window is up to someone else walking around.

 

[Pooh Lover]

We are pretty hard core users. We will always grab one for the attraction in the area with the longest wait and, depending on the return time, will do a couple lesser attractions while waiting and then do it all over again in another area.

 

[Jessica Meier]

We are pretty hard core users. We will always grab one for the attraction in the area with the longest wait and, depending on the return time, will do a couple lesser attractions while waiting and then do it all over again in another area.

We always seem to get a time 2 or 3 or more hours in advance and it drives me nuts to wait in that area for that long because I feel like I am missing out somewhere else.

 

[Pooh Lover]

We always seem to get a time 2 or 3 or more hours in advance and it drives me nuts to wait in that area for that long because I feel like I am missing out somewhere else.

True and this is where my DH and I run into conflict. I don't mind coming back to use the FP but my DH calls that "doubling-back" and he HATES this. I either try to grab lunch, get in some shopping or if the ride is one of our favorites, we'll wait in the line and then use the FP to go on again.

 

[copcarguyp71]

We go back and forth between full commando using FP and casual depending on the particular park and crowd levels. We got on EE seven times in one day last year using FP since DD is addicted to that ride. I don't mind but DW bailed out after ride #4 LOL!

 

[ShookieJones]

All over the FPs.
We use them all day long as long as they are available.

We've never really run into an issue having to wait around etc. because we've usually got a plan in mind when we're getting them.
for example:
Grab an FP for Splash, ride it, Get on BTMR then either ride it again or peruse a shop in Frontierland and then use our FP to hop on Splash.
I'm actually getting pumped up imagining this in my head...I gotta get a life.

 

[Jessica Meier]

All over the FPs.
We use them all day long as long as they are available.

We've never really run into an issue having to wait around etc. because we've usually got a plan in mind when we're getting them.
for example:
Grab an FP for Splash, ride it, Get on BTMR then either ride it again or peruse a shop in Frontierland and then use our FP to hop on Splash.
I'm actually getting pumped up imagining this in my head...I gotta get a life.

No share your wisdom oh wise Shookie! I would like to use them more efficiently.

 

[jw24]

I feel that if I'm going during a crowded period, I'll realistically have only one or maybe two times to go on a ride so I'll need the FP more than ever. Smaller crowds would be a different story but I don't think my plan would change though! This is why I get up really early and be among the first people in the crowd to avoid the crowds that will fill the park later! My maximum wait time on a personal level is 30-40 minutes so anything more than that merits a Fastpass. I mean, choosing to get in a standby or Fastpass line depends on your personal limits. A patient waiter can probably wait for up to 40-45 minutes or if they're really patient, even more than that. An impatient one, probably much less. (I'd estimate 25-35 minutes being their window.) Anyway, my basic strategy is that I look at any new recent attractions that have been added and typically ride those first to beat the crowds if they interest me. Then, I'll glance over the Fastpass attractions that interest me the most and prioritize first the rides I know from experience will have the FPs run out by mid-afternoon like Soarin' and Peter Pan's Flight. (Considering how I don't like roller coasters or thrill rides, that does make my planning easier!) Basically, if I get most or even all of the FP attractions ride done before the afternoon, I'm in good shape, which happens most of the time!

 

[zurgandfriend]

We'll usually do one a day, e.g. FP Toy Story mania first thing in the morning then tour DHS until our FP time.

 

[Alley7728]

Ditto what pooh lover said. That is us to a t.

 

[Susan Savia]

There's only a few rides we use FP for......Buzz, Test Track, Toy Story, Safari.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

While we never go in with a concrete touring plan...we do have a good idea of "how long is too long" for standby... and have a system for waiting and FPs for most areas of most parks. We're very flexible with it and have learned which standby listings are overstated (i.e. TSMM); however, there is no way I will wait 45 min for Splash when I could pull a FP and do 5 other things (i.e. Country Bears, HM, IASW, Carousel, etc.) with minimal waits before our FP window opens.

Edit...and I will make the opening run for TSMM, Soarin', etc. It really helps set a tone for those days.

2d edit...alt. if Splash is 45 min but BTMRR is only 20...we will likely pull the FP for Splash, wait for BTMRR, and then use some of those other things in the area as filler until the FP is ready. That way we've covered that portion of the park.

 

[draybook]

Live by the FP!! We bogart those things as soon as the time window allows us to. It doesn't even have to be in the same area as us, I'll power walk over and grab those suckers.

 

[luv]

I use the occasional FP, but usually ride popular stuff before closing.

Openings are good, but require getting up early and dealing with the rope drop insanity, so that's pretty rare for me.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Have it down to a science. I never wait more than 30 minutes for a ride. As soon as we head into the park, one member of our group, usually my father, goes and gets Fastpasses for a ride. We use the My Disney Experience app to check various wait times and FP times and as soon as we can get another ticket, we do. We get a lot done this way, especially in MK, DHS, and AK (for AK, sometimes we just wait and do all Expedition Everest FPs since usually we can get on the rest of the rides with little trouble). Usually having my dad go get them for all of us works because he walks so fast. Granted, we do it logically (for example, we don't rush across for Space Mountain FPs if we're riding Pirates) but we use them. A lot.

I once got on Everest 13 times in one day with a combination of FPs and rider switches when my brother was still too scared to ride it...

 

[real mad hatter]

Big,big big user..Grab a FP before joining the queue...Love looking at people's expressions when I'am walking in the FP lane at Buzz.. See ya later alligator...

 

[ddbowdoin]

Certainly a big user, but how does one become a "pro"?

It's really just some simple planning, and a quick dash to the queues to pick up the FP.

I personally like the grabbing a FP, waiting in standbye, then coming back for my FP time... ending the day with another standbye line. This strategy usually comes into play at TSM.