You’re going to Walt Disney World. You’ve done your research. You know the drill: get to the park at rope drop to ensure that you have short lines for the most important rides, and schedule your FastPass+ (FP+) experiences as early as possible in the day so that when they are used you can get more. This is a brilliant strategy for first-timers and others who want to maximize the number of rides and attractions in any given day. There is, though, another way to enjoy the parks, especially if you’ve been there many times.
I grew up in Florida and spent my childhood, teenage, and early adult years going to Walt Disney World. Even though I now live in Arizona, my family and I travel there at least once per year. We have done all of the rides in all of the parks. Of course, we have favorites that we like to do several times each trip. But having been there so many times, we don’t feel the urgency that we once felt to “get there and get it done” as soon as possible each day.
This is where FP+ works amazingly well for us. I am the only morning person in my family, and I have dragged them to many, many rope drops. Since the advent of FP+ I have decided it is acceptable to compromise. Now, we sleep in and enjoy breakfast before heading to the park of that day. We schedule our FP+ experiences for later (typically the first one at 11:15am or so). This allows us to enjoy our favorite rides at a time that is more convenient for us. We use our FP+ selections and then find a FP+ kiosk or use the My Disney Experience app on my phone to schedule another one. Then we have lunch or a snack, and do the next one. Then we repeat the process.
Sometimes we can’t get the ride we want at the time we want. If that happens, we just pick another. After all, it’s Walt Disney World. It’s all good! Usually, though, we get what we want and depending on where we are in the park, by the time we walk to the next FP+ location our window has opened and we walk right to the front of the line.
I know this strategy is not for everyone, and I’m not by any means advocating giving up rope drop – in fact, I still require my family to do it at least once per trip! But know that if your family wants to experience a more leisurely vacation at Walt Disney World, it is certainly possible.
DIStracted Tip – Once you exit your third FP+ experience, you may obtain another FP+. You do not need to wait until the time window closes.
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