Summer FP+ time selection

[DVCPluto]

I've been debating how to use FP+ for our upcoming trip in August. Today is day 61, so I'm no longer able to be indecisive and would love some feedback.

Would you book FPs early and try to get more FPs through out the day?

or

Would you book FPs close to ADRs so that your day can be more flexible? For example, if it's super hot, go to the parks later and be able to use the pool instead.

Some of our ADRs are early, but for dinners, I'm hesitant to book early FPs in case we want to take our time and hang by the pool in the morning/early afternoon. Our past 2 trips have been in the winter and we have been able to stay in the parks all day. If anything, we were too cold. A trip in late August will be very different.

We're staying at BLT and our ADRs:
8/16: 7:00 Chef de France
8/17: 6:15 Coral Reef
8/18: 1:00 Crystal Palace
8/19: 8:50 a.m. 'Ohana
8/20: 6:30 Whispering Canyon
8/21: 9:30 a.m. Chef Mickey
8/22: 1:35 Tusker House
8/23: 1:05 Mama Melrose
8/24: 7:00 Garden Grill
8/25: 6:00 Be Our Guest

Appreciate any thoughts!

 

[Weather_Lady]

Do you plan to arrive at rope drop in the mornings? If so (meaning you'll be able to hit a few headliners first thing, with minimal waits) I'd schedule FP+ for mid-morning (2 or more hours after rope drop, but only if you're sure you'll still be there), or for late afternoon, in the park where your dinner ADRs are. In other words, you'll be "saving" your FP+ for the most crowded and busy times of day. After they're used, you can try for more if you wish, but I wouldn't count on getting too many great ones at any time of day. When we last visit3ed in May 2014 (granted, it was much less busy at that time of year than it will be for you), we spent each day touring in two 4-5 hour blocks (rope drop to lunch, and 4pm-9pm), with a 3-hour swim/nap break in between. We generally used our FP+ just before leaving the morning park, and/or just after arriving in the evening park. Between those FP+ and rope drop arrivals (sometimes with morning EMH), we never really "needed" to get any additional FP+. By the time they were gone for the day, we'd hit all the headliners, and crowds would be starting to diminish anyway. (YMMV. )

 

[DVCPluto]

Do you plan to arrive at rope drop in the mornings? If so (meaning you'll be able to hit a few headliners first thing, with minimal waits) I'd schedule FP+ for mid-morning (2 or more hours after rope drop, but only if you're sure you'll still be there), or for late afternoon, in the park where your dinner ADRs are. In other words, you'll be "saving" your FP+ for the most crowded and busy times of day. After they're used, you can try for more if you wish, but I wouldn't count on getting too many great ones at any time of day. When we last visit3ed in May 2014 (granted, it was much less busy at that time of year than it will be for you), we spent each day touring in two 4-5 hour blocks (rope drop to lunch, and 4pm-9pm), with a 3-hour swim/nap break in between. We generally used our FP+ just before leaving the morning park, and/or just after arriving in the evening park. Between those FP+ and rope drop arrivals (sometimes with morning EMH), we never really "needed" to get any additional FP+. By the time they were gone for the day, we'd hit all the headliners, and crowds would be starting to diminish anyway. (YMMV. )

I guess that's where my hesitation was... would there even be FP+s left over that we would want to use. I think I'll stick with my plan of blocking out time according to ADRs. And if we have an ADR outside of the parks, then I'm looking at it differently anyway.

Thanks for your opinion!! It helps to hear some feedback before I start booking.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I've been debating how to use FP+ for our upcoming trip in August.

When you're initially making your FP selections you will be given four different time options to select from.
Having chosen Option 1, 2, 3 or 4 they're then saved and confirmed. You can then go back into the FP selection and choose a different time slot for any or all of them. It really is that flexible.
To answer your question, it all depends on your plans for the day. If you're at the park at rope drop then you won't need them much before late morning. However, if you're planning a lazy morning you'll need you're FP for early afternoon once you get to the parks