FastPass+: Will your Strategy Change?

[MrPeetrie]

We're not returning for another 11 months so I have plenty of time to figure things out. By then, many of the growing pains associated with implementing this new program will have been worked out. But for those of you attending in the very near future, facing the front lines for the rest of us as you embrace (or refute) the new system, I was wondering: will you ride strategy change?

When you reach your 60-day mark and are planning your trip, are you going to utilize one of your FastPlass+ reserves on Pirates of the Caribbean, a ride you would normally just walk on? Or are you going to take a chance and use it on your usual FastPass rides (for us, Peter Pan, with its boring queue). Will you reserve Haunted Mansion? (We've never used FastPass on this ride!) Or will you take a chance that standby lines will be similar as past trips and use your reserve on something you KNOW will have a long line -- Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, new Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride (when open). I know there will be limitations on the number of big-ticket rides you can reserve in a day, so that will play a part.

We are off-peak travelers (if there is such a thing any more). Our first full day at the Magic Kingdom usually starts at Adventureland with us hitting Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Tiki Room and Aladdin's Carpets all without much wait at any of these.

We usually work our way around and up Frontierland and make our way to Fantasyland. That's where we normally start using FastPasses. We grab a FastPass for Peter Pan, then go ride Mickey's Philharmagic, It's a Small World, and possibly grab lunch before returning to Neverland.

We then grab a FastPass for Winnie the Pooh (or Dumbo) and go ride Tea Cups or Haunted Mansion (or both), use our FastPass and finish our day in Tomorrowland.

But I'm reading initial posts and reviews and I am no longer certain that will be a doable plan anymore. I'm reading the Pirates, due to the new FastPass line, now has 45-minute waits or longer when it would normally have 15 or 20. Same with other rides. Are you going to reserve a ride on that? What if you don't and you arrive and it's 75 minutes? Will you wait? What if you do and it's a walk-on? Will you try to make a FastPass+ change? Tricky!

I'm curious to see if this new program will alter your strategy. If you have already, tell us how you handled things.

[Belle of the Ball 051411]

We will use FastPass+ on rides we know will have a long line (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Soarin', etc.).

[Kenny1113]

I'm not sure about strategy yet, but I can tell you that I am considering purchasing tickets prior to arrival. That is a change in SOP for us, usually we get our tickets when we get there.

[MrPeetrie]

I'm not sure about strategy yet, but I can tell you that I am considering purchasing tickets prior to arrival. That is a change in SOP for us, usually we get our tickets when we get there.

Interesting point. We have to adjust our ticket purchasing strategy, as well. We usually purchase APs one at a time and have the vouchers sent to our house. To participate in FastPass+, we can't do that. We must purchase them and leave them at will call so we have a confirmation number to link them to MDE. A minor change, but one none the same.

[Ms. Mode]

We will use FastPass+ on rides we know will have a long line (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Soarin', etc.).

Ditto for us! Actually, I look forward to making the FP+ ressies for our next trip in just a few days! Wonderful to be able to make Soarin' FP without being in the park for rope drop!

[MNNHFLTX]

Honestly, I'm not even going to think about this until my next trip to Disney World, which probably won't be for at least a year. I'm just glad that Disneyland is not (yet) participating in the Fastpass + and Magic Bands. It will make the trip there next month more enjoyable.

[Opus X]

Oh, i cant wait to use it...it will certainly make our trip..MUCH more enjoyable.
We go back in May 2015.

[vicster]

How do you think this will work - we're leaving this Friday and our friends are staying at CBR and we're staying at WL. Apparently they're testing FastPass+ at moderate resorts so they got the bands and we did not. Will they be able to include us in their FastPass reservations if we're linked in MDE? If not it will really mess things up.