People often cite FastPass+ reservations as the most stressful part of planning, so today I want to discuss what you need to know that will hopefully help you feel less stressed.
I also have a quick tip that will let you visit some attractions before the parks open as a bonus to a dining reservation.
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These are notes from this episode. There's much more info included in the audio so be sure to listen to the episode for a better explanation.
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FastPass+ help
General touring advice
- Show up at least 45 minutes before park opening
- Follow a touring plan until lunch time, and visit popular attractions either within the first hour or later in the day with FP+
- After lunch, do “anytime” attractions, use FP+, take breaks
General FP+ info
- Onsite guests can make all FP+ 60 days before their trip begins beginning at 7am eastern
- Offsite guests can make FP+ 30 days before each day of their trip beginning at 7am eastern
- Most FP+ give you a 1 hour window (except for shows which will be shorter)
- Show up anytime within that time frame (can usually be 5 minutes early and 15 minutes late)
- Can’t overlap FP+
- Can make 3 FP+ ahead of time for 1 park. Once those 3 are used, you can get a 4th in any park, then a 5th, etc.
On-site guests booking 60 days ahead
- Log out, log back in to make sure the site will show you the full trip dates
- Can use multiple devices at once
- Make FP+ in order of difficulty, not chronologically
- Only really need to worry about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Frozen Ever After, and the 2 new Pandora attractions (Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey)
- End of your trip will give you better odds
- After making difficult FP+ reservations, go back and add in other FP+
Everybody else (offsite guests and and onsite guests who are not booking 60 days in advance)
- Will have a hard time booking Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Frozen Ever After, and the 2 new Pandora attractions (Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey)
- Either plan on doing those at rope drop OR keep checking constantly for openings
Quick tip of the day
Many pre-park opening breakfast reservations will allow you to visit an attraction before the park opens. Check this list for where and when that often happens.
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We went two weeks ago and though we booked 60 days das out, still couldn’t get FP for 7DMT and FOP at that point. Our saving grace ? They extended their hours. Once they did that, bam I was able to FPS for 7D and FOP for both of our AK and MK days. Ended up riding 7D twice and FOP twice as well. Thank heaven Disney changed their hours. That’s the only other tip I might add to the great tip list you have. Watch if Disney changes their park hours and if they do keep checking your MDE account for them to release more FPs.
I heard you talking about getting breakfast at be our guest before the park opens and then being able to ride the seven dwarfs mine train? I was wondering if this still works with the way they now open magic kingdom and just leave each world closed until after the opening show?
Yep, still usually happens, even with the new opening show. The lands outside of the hub are closed off until after the opening show, but if you’re eating at Be Our Guest or Cinderella’s Royal Table, they often let you ride SDMT before the park opens.
Why can I only book one fast pass for the entire morning? There are times available and it says I already have a fast pass for that time but I don’t. Are you not able to get another one as long as the times don’t overlap? This is a nightmare.
Hi Shannon,
You mentioned in the podcast that when you’re looking for a “sold-out” fastpass+ you leave a tab open and check back periodically. What page of the site do you generally hang out on for this? I’m guessing you often have to re-log on and re-select? We got our selections for this trip but I’m curious because I also sometimes plan last-minute visits. Thanks!
Side note: you’re awesome.
Hey, Kirsten! This is the link that I refresh – https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/fastpass-plus/select-experience
Depending on how much time goes by between refreshing, you may have to re-enter the day and park, but often times it will just remember the day and park you selected and refresh the FP+ availability on that page.
So helpful- thank you! <3
Hi Shannon,
I am visiting at end of May. Was wondering if it was worth aiming to use 3 fast passes early in day and then rebook more or is very little left for on the day booking? Your podcast seems to indicate it is better strategy to make use of lower queues early in the day and use book fast passes in the afternoon?
Hi, Simon – the touring plans that I linked to in the show notes indicate how I’d suggest using FP+ reservations. Late morning or early afternoon is usually how they’re planned out.
We are planning to go to wdw Feb 2018. We will be staying on site for 2 nights and then a time share for a week with 2 more park days that week. Will I be able to book all of my fastpasses 60 days out since we are on site for the first part of our trip or will the off site days have to be 30 days?
Thanks!!!
Great quick tip! Yes, we always stay off-property so I couldn’t get a FP for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train but after our 8am Be Our Guest Breakfast, we got right in line and waited only 10 minutes! Great ride!
Glad you got that to work for you! I wish I had been more clear about connecting the quick tip to the main topic, because, yes, if you struggle to get FP+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Frozen Ever After, the breakfast is a nice alternative to get a jump on the standby lines.