There is some terminology that doesn’t really exist outside of Disney. ADRs, MagicBands, Memory Maker, PhotoPass, FastPass, and so on. One of those terms can be a little confusing for people who have never been to Disney. So let’s explore how FastPasses work.
Yet more FastPass experiences will open up tomorrow, May 21. Tomorrow is shaping up to be a very busy day for the FastPass service!
Yesterday we posted information about the changes coming to the FastPass system and how these changes will make things easier for guests. The update is now available!
Something that guests of Disney World have been waiting for has finally happened. It will definitely help with planning and days in the park. I’m talking about making FastPass reservations on your phone and it’s now a possibility.
When FastPass time comes around it can be a little intimidating, because you are trying to get the FastPass times you want. However, there are thousands of other people trying to get their ride picks and times as well. So it’s good to know what you want before FastPass time rolls around.
There is some terminology that doesn’t really exist outside of Disney. ADRs, MagicBands, Memory Maker, PhotoPass, FastPass, and so on. One of those terms can be a little confusing for people who have never been to Disney. So let’s explore how FastPasses work.
As it gets closer to your FastPass (FP) selection time, it’s a good idea to plan out which attractions and shows you want your FastPasses for. If you are staying on property you can make your FP reservations 60 days from your arrival date and if you are not staying on property you can make your FP reservations 30 days from your arrival date,
There are certain attractions and shows that will book up fast. For example, in the Magic Kingdom the Anna and Elsa Meet and Greet and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are both very popular. If your traveling is interested in either of those then I would make sure those are the first ones you try for when your FP reservation window opens.
To make it easier, try to plan out where you are going to be on what day. You will already have some of this planned out, if you made advanced dining reservations. Knowing where you will be on what day will help you to narrow down your FP choices for that day. Each person in the traveling party will get three FPs per person/per day.
We already had a spreadsheet started for our dining selections, so we knew where we wanted to be on what day. That made it easier when planning for FPs. Since we are traveling with kids, we decided to go with one kids ride, one big kid coaster, and one meet and greet. Plus, we know we are going to be at a lot of the parks at rope drop, or soon after, most days. Since the lines are significantly shorter in the morning, we’ll do some of the more popular rides when the park opens.
So, I would recommend talking to everyone that is in your traveling party. Try to come up with a list of FP selections for everyone and not everyone has to have the same FPs. If someone wants to go on Space Mountain, but another person doesn’t like roller coaster they can make their FP reservation for a tamer ride during the same time period (as long as the same time period is available for both selections). To help with organization, make a spreadsheet with the days you are going to be in each park and your dining reservation times.
I know I talk about spreadsheets a lot, but they really do help when you are planning for your Disney trip. It makes it so much easier to keep track of everything. Disney trips can be a little intimidating to plan, especially if it is your first trip.
Thanks for reading!
*Liz*
I have talked about planning in past posts and how helpful it is to a Disney World trip. Once you have planned your trip and you have everything set, you can start planning your days in Disney. I know it may seem like a bit much to plan all your days out, but it does help.
If you do not want to plan your whole day, then I would concentrate on which attractions you do not want to miss. Some parks, like Magic Kingdom, have more rides than say Hollywood Studios, but it is still helpful to have a plan of action before you visit each park.
My traveling party learned this on our last trip. Our first park day was at Hollywood Studios and we had not planned anything. We didn’t even look at a map before we went. So it felt like we were just going in circles all day, because I was the only one that had been there and the others didn’t really know what was there to see. We had two wasted days at Hollywood Studios (didn’t plan the second day either).
After the Hollywood Studios fiasco, the adults decided to plan out the next day at whatever park we were visiting. Once we started planning which attractions we wanted to see and looking at the maps, we had a better handle on how to plan out the day. Granted, things always happen to throw you off your plan, but being flexible helps. For instance, we had FastPasses (FPs) for Enchanted Tales with Belle, but it was down when it was our time to go. We were told we could come back when it opened and still use the FPs or we could get FPs for another attraction. We held out for awhile and decided to see the other attractions on our list. After checking My Disney Experience multiple times on our phones we saw that Belle was back up and running. So we headed over and had a great time!
Things happen. Attractions break down and need to be fixed. It is good to have an idea of what everyone wants to see and where everything is located in the park. That way if you do have a hiccup in your day, you know where you can head to next and you are not left standing there staring at a map and scratching your head. This is especially helpful for Magic Kingdom. There are over 40 attractions just in Magic Kingdom park. Unless you are a park commando, you will need at least two days to see everything Magic Kingdom has to offer.
If you do not mind getting up early, I would recommend getting to Magic Kingdom for rope drop. It is good to be at each of the parks before they open, but this is especially true for Magic Kingdom. You will be able to fit in so many of the attractions on your list within the first couple of hours, because the park won’t start getting busy until later in the morning into the afternoon. Plus, you get to see the opening ceremony!
It can seem a little daunting to have to plan out each day the night before, but we actually had a lot of fun with it! We would put the kids to bed, throw some laundry in, and break out the maps. We were like kids on Christmas Eve! Planning out the next day got everyone excited for the fun we were going to have the next day in the parks.
If you are staying in Disney World for over a week, it can be a little easier to have a relaxed plan of action. As I said earlier, two days at Magic Kingdom and Epcot can be very helpful when you want to see a majority of the attractions. So, the longer you are there, the more you can break up the days. I know this isn’t an option for a lot of people, due to Disney’s ever rising prices. So if you are there for a week or less, just pick the attractions that you really do not want to miss.
There is a lot of planning that goes into a Disney World vacation, because there is so much to do. When you think about the cost of a Disney vacation, planning out your days will give you a better chance at seeing everything you want to see. Have fun with it! Mix up some drinks and have a little planning party with all the adults in the traveling party. Relax, enjoy, and get excited for your next fun day in Disney World! Happy planning!
Thanks for reading!
Liz ⁰o⁰
