Release of cancelled FastPass+ Reservations

[zarpman]

Pardon me if this has been answered before; I did some searches and couldn't find anything concrete:

Is there a specific time that cancelled FastPass+ reservations get released back into the wild? Got a trip in a few weeks and was only recently available to make the reservations. Let's say that someone has a reservation for a particular princess hug that they no longer need. When they cancel this reservation, does this slot open up immediately? Is it made available the following day? Do we know such wizardry of the FastPass+ system yet?

 

[Tom]

Nobody knows how the logic in the software actually works. Given the immense amount of data, I doubt inventory is tracked in that sort of real time. And since reservations are virtual, it's not necessarily a 1:1 ratio.

So, if you're wondering if you can coordinate the release of your FP+ with someone you know trying to get it, you have a better chance of winning the lottery

 

[zarpman]

Hrmm. Perhaps I should stop hammering the site and buy a scratch off instead.

 

[BigTxEars]

Great question but I agree Stephen Hawkings most likely could not work out the math on that transaction

 

[BigTxEars]

Great question but I agree Stephen Hawkings most likely could not work out the math on that transaction

But if it's Frozen M&G I will cancel mine at a pre determined time and you can try to snag it. All I ask in return is a Disney Gift Card with say $5000 on it

 

[sjhym333]

My understanding is that when a FP reservation is cancelled it goes back out for availability. A CM told me that when trying to find an attraction that is booked fully or you want a different time just keep checking the system and many times you will find what you are looking for. Since other guests are constantly changing plans things open all the time. The other day I had a later in the evening FP for Splash Mtn but we ended up at the MK earlier then expected and we were able to change our other 2 FP+ reservations easily but Splash was all later times. I kept refreshing and all of a sudden an earlier time popped up that worked for us.

 

[Tom]

My understanding is that when a FP reservation is cancelled it goes back out for availability. A CM told me that when trying to find an attraction that is booked fully or you want a different time just keep checking the system and many times you will find what you are looking for. Since other guests are constantly changing plans things open all the time. The other day I had a later in the evening FP for Splash Mtn but we ended up at the MK earlier then expected and we were able to change our other 2 FP+ reservations easily but Splash was all later times. I kept refreshing and all of a sudden an earlier time popped up that worked for us.

Yes, this is true. But it's not necessarily "real time" and it's not a 1:1 ratio. If person A deletes a FP+ reservation, person B (who may be sitting beside them, waiting) will not necessarily have instant access to HAT specific reservation.

They're virtual, and determined by a computer system that's constantly assessing current entitlements vs capacity. So, of course you'll find new FP+ reservations all the time, but that's because thousands of guests are booking and dropping them every minute, and the servers are recalculating availability every time there are changes made...dynamically.