What time to schedule FP

[BlackCauldron]

Wasn't sure if this was better placed here or in the FP thread. If this is wrong feel free to move.

We have a trip booked for September 2016. It will be our son's first time in the World and he will be 4 when we go. We have been many times prior, but out last trip was just before he was born, during the days of legacy FP.

I am trying to figure out what time of day we should plan our FP. My plan was to hit the parks at opening, have lunch, leave around 1 to head back to the hotel for nap/rest, and then return to the park (or a different park) around 5. Even though I am anticipating a mid-day break, if our son doesn't need one we will just keep going and ride whatever has short waits.

Should I front load my FP reservations from 11-1, or should I schedule them for later in the day from 5-8? Getting a 4th fastpass isn't much of a big deal for me.

Also, does anyone think it's worth using one of our fastpasses for the FOF parade? We are going to be there for 12 days so I don't feel so bad about "wasting" it. Is the separate viewing area good enough to use a FP on? Or should I just hop up on the City Hall steps and plop him on my shoulders.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Wasn't sure if this was better placed here or in the FP thread. If this is wrong feel free to move.

We have a trip booked for September 2016. It will be our son's first time in the World and he will be 4 when we go. We have been many times prior, but out last trip was just before he was born, during the days of legacy FP.

I am trying to figure out what time of day we should plan our FP. My plan was to hit the parks at opening, have lunch, leave around 1 to head back to the hotel for nap/rest, and then return to the park (or a different park) around 5. Even though I am anticipating a mid-day break, if our son doesn't need one we will just keep going and ride whatever has short waits.

Should I front load my FP reservations from 11-1, or should I schedule them for later in the day from 5-8? Getting a 4th fastpass isn't much of a big deal for me.

Also, does anyone think it's worth using one of our fastpasses for the FOF parade? We are going to be there for 12 days so I don't feel so bad about "wasting" it. Is the separate viewing area good enough to use a FP on? Or should I just hop up on the City Hall steps and plop him on my shoulders.

Since you have a longer trip and with your planned afternoon break, I'd load all of your reservations into the late-morning window, but I'd also be sure to keep them physically close to one another. For example, I wouldn't advise getting a FP+ for Big Thunder, Peter Pan, and Space Mountain all in the same day because it's too much of a hassle to hit them all when you're scheduling in quick succession.

Also note that the MDX system won't allow you to overlap your Fastpass windows initially, but you can have overlap after your initial selection by tinkering with each return window.

I wouldn't bother with a parade or fireworks FP unless it's for an evening show and you've already used your first three. There's just too much opportunity to easily secure a good viewing spot that it's not really a benefit.

 

[MickeyMomV]

I would add them for whatever park you plan on starting at and make them first thing for the popular/hard to get rides (7DMTR, TSMM, Soarin', can't think of any must haves at AK). Leaving at 1 you can start them at 9 or 10 and be ok due to the no overlapping of times. If you are doing AK in the morning then I would look at the evening park for the FP. Once they are done I would use your MDE app and add something for the evening park.

The mid day break is great, not only for your kids but for you as well. We don't always need a break from the heat as much as we need a break from the people and uncontrollable kids. Powering through 12-14 hours in rarely good for anybody.

 

[BlackCauldron]

Can you elaborate on this? I thought that the FP windows were an hour each. So, I would book them for 10-11, 11-12, and 12-1. How can I tinker to move those?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Can you elaborate on this? I thought that the FP windows were an hour each. So, I would book them for 10-11, 11-12, and 12-1. How can I tinker to move those?

That's the default. But you could book them for 10:30-11:30, 11:00-12:00, and 11:30-12:30 if you wanted. It won't let you do that initially, but you after you make your initial selections.

I would add them for whatever park you plan on starting at and make them first thing for the popular/hard to get rides (7DMTR, TSMM, Soarin', can't think of any must haves at AK). Leaving at 1 you can start them at 9 or 10 and be ok due to the no overlapping of times. If you are doing AK in the morning then I would look at the evening park for the FP. Once they are done I would use your MDE app and add something for the evening park.

The mid day break is great, not only for your kids but for you as well. We don't always need a break from the heat as much as we need a break from the people and uncontrollable kids. Powering through 12-14 hours in rarely good for anybody.

Starting at 9:00 is wasteful because there are no lines yet.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

That's the default. But you could book them for 10:30-11:30, 11:00-12:00, and 11:30-12:30 if you wanted. It won't let you do that initially, but you after you make your initial selections.

You sure about that? I remember overlapping times not being available when I first made my selections (when I went to modify them). And I just went back and looked, and absolutely no times were available that overlapped with something I already had selected. Could be no overlapping times are available, but there was plenty of availability otherwise.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You sure about that? I remember overlapping times not being available when I first made my selections (when I went to modify them). And I just went back and looked, and absolutely no times were available that overlapped with something I already had selected. Could be no overlapping times are available, but there was plenty of availability otherwise.

I've done it, so I'm sure that it at least was the case at some point in the past. Maybe it's changed.

 

[MickeyMomV]

That's the default. But you could book them for 10:30-11:30, 11:00-12:00, and 11:30-12:30 if you wanted. It won't let you do that initially, but you after you make your initial selections.

Starting at 9:00 is wasteful because there are no lines yet.

For my trip in October it wont allow any overlap. Thinking about it when I was there in Feb for 11 days it did not allow any overlapping then either.

At 9:05 all of the rides I listed above will have lives of 30 to 45 minutes. At 9:30 they will all be at least an hour.

 

[MickeyMomV]

You sure about that? I remember overlapping times not being available when I first made my selections (when I went to modify them). And I just went back and looked, and absolutely no times were available that overlapped with something I already had selected. Could be no overlapping times are available, but there was plenty of availability otherwise.

I have to agree with you. October will be our 4th trip since FP+ and I don't remember being able to overlap any of the time periods on any of the trips. It seems like that was a carry over from the previous system.

 

[lunchbox1175]

we like getting ours done with by noon-1:00. This way we can get additional ones if we want, or if we decide to park hop, we can then get them at that park as well.