1:00 am for FP+ Really?!!

[kathyclownfish]

My date for getting my FP+ is in a couple days. We are 3 adults. I don't need any of the Frozen attractions. Couldn't I just wake up at 7am the next morning and pick my FP+ and get everything I want? The holdiay season is exhausting and staying up til 1:30 doesn't sound that appealing to me.

 

[mesaboy2]

My date for getting my FP+ is in a couple days. We are 3 adults. I don't need any of the Frozen attractions. Couldn't I just wake up at 7am the next morning and pick my FP+ and get everything I want? The holdiay season is exhausting and staying up til 1:30 doesn't sound that appealing to me.

If you want Anna/Elsa M&G, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, or any MK parades or Wishes, then being ready when the window opens is your best shot. You don't have to of course, but those are the ones that go the quickest. You might be fine waiting until morning, or you might not.

Note that if your booking window opens on January 1, then I am expecting it to be at 2:00a.

 

[Mikie]

I know my one experience does not make a scientific conclusion. . . . BUT it looks you are going at a low-to-moderate crowd time and have a small party. My trip was October (moderate to moderate+) and I had 12 people. I booked the hard-to-get 7dwarfs at midnight because I was still up. I waited until around 2pm on our 60 day to book all our other FPs for the trip and had no trouble getting my desired times for all 12 of us. I'm pretty type A about planning and afraid of "missing out" on something good, but in your case I wouldn't hesitate to go ahead and sleep and make your FP choices well-rested and on your own timetable. Only caveat is if you have a MUST do AND you are limited by a really structured day (ADRs, private tours, inflexible break time, etc)

 

[kermiebudge]

Our window opened at 12:00 a.m. Christmas Day and I was up at 1:30 a.m. making FP+ reservations (SDMT and TSM were the ones I was most concerned about getting hold of and didn't want to take any chances).

That said, I have already modified my selections 3x and each time I do, there are still plenty of SDMT and TSM windows open throughout the entire day.... So, it appears I was all bugged-out on caffeine overload Christmas Day for no good reason as I didn't need to be up at 2 am making these reservations after all!

But you never know...so if it'll 'break' your trip not to get a FP+ selection for a very specific time, better off not chancing it.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

If you want Anna/Elsa M&G, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, or any MK parades or Wishes, then being ready when the window opens is your best shot. You don't have to of course, but those are the ones that go the quickest. You might be fine waiting until morning, or you might not.

Note that if your booking window opens on January 1, then I am expecting it to be at 2:00a.

I was on at 1am last night. Anna and Elsa was only available on the last day of the trip. Mine Train times were spotty.

We got everything that we wanted. I would advise doing it at 1am too.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My date for getting my FP+ is in a couple days. We are 3 adults. I don't need any of the Frozen attractions. Couldn't I just wake up at 7am the next morning and pick my FP+ and get everything I want? The holdiay season is exhausting and staying up til 1:30 doesn't sound that appealing to me.

Absolutely!

I have been playing around with MDe and FP+ Reservations this month since DH and I have APs. While just the 2 of us, had no issue getting premium options during one of the busiest weeks of the year (this week).
No way will I ever do the middle of the night hustle because I don't find it necessary and for the one or two practically impossible things ( per FP+ urban legend), rope drop and a short wait is totally fine. (My 5 family members did that for 7DMT--wait was ~30 minutes 2x on two different mornings. Totally acceptable for a new popular attraction, IMHO.)

Sleep if you want. 1am is NOT critical. Save the 2 coveted FP+ reservations that are A+E and the Mine train.

 

[davkata]

I waited until the next morning at a reasonable hour and got what I wanted including 7DMT. I have since changed a bunch around with plenty of availability. We are going President's week, so it's a busy week, too. We went the same week last year and didn't even book our resort until a month out, so I didn't have the 60 day window and we got all we wanted then, too. Meet and Greets, parades, fireworks, etc. are not our priorities, mostly the coasters and thrill type rides. My answer is no, don't get hung up on being on right at midnight or 1 am unless you can not do without a certain ride or M & G and it will "ruin" your trip.

 

[mesaboy2]

Absolutely!

I have been playing around with MDe and FP+ Reservations this month since DH and I have APs. While just the 2 of us, had no issue getting premium options during one of the busiest weeks of the year (this week).
No way will I ever do the middle of the night hustle because I don't find it necessary and for the one or two practically impossible things ( per FP+ urban legend), rope drop and a short wait is totally fine. (My 5 family members did that for 7DMT--wait was ~30 minutes 2x on two different mornings. Totally acceptable for a new popular attraction, IMHO.)

Sleep if you want. 1am is NOT critical. Save the 2 coveted FP+ reservations that are A+E and the Mine train.

Not urban legend. There are quite a few reports of these practically impossible FPs being um, practically impossible. And rope drop for A&E without FP is in most cases not going to result in a short wait.

I am aware that some people have success too. But there are enough other experiences in my opinion to refute your claim that this is "urban legend". (How ironic is it that a poster who seems to enjoy refuting absolute statements answers with "Absolutely"?) I will otherwise not engage you. There is no point and would be a huge waste of time for both of us.

 

[Angel Ariel]

And rope drop for A&E without FP is in most cases not going to result in a short wait.

I realize the OP said they weren't interested in Frozen, so I know this won't apply for them.

I just wanted to add to this - if you want to do RD for A&E, then you need to be there well before RD. We arrived as the opening show began at 8:40 (opening was supposed to be 9am, not advertised that it was opening early) - we were at the back of the RD pack. We tried heading straight to A&E, as we wanted to leave MK earlier than the 4:30 FP+ we had managed to get for them from the cancellation thread here. It was a 45 min posted wait by the time we entered the line. When we'd moved up only about 10 ft or so, it was up to 90. Our wait likely would have been at least 60 mins (not what I'd consider a short RD wait).

We decided to get out of line and head to adventureland instead and keep the FP+ time later. Worked out for us, as killing time for that FP+ led to us going to Monsters Inc and having THE BEST experience ever there due to the "Knock Knock. Doctor" (Dr. Who) shirt DH was wearing.

Anyway, my rambling point is that A&E at RD may be workable, but you need to get there *well* in advance of RD to really have a shot at a shorter line.

 

[mesaboy2]

I realize the OP said they weren't interested in Frozen, so I know this won't apply for them.

I just wanted to add to this - if you want to do RD for A&E, then you need to be there well before RD. We arrived as the opening show began at 8:40 (opening was supposed to be 9am, not advertised that it was opening early) - we were at the back of the RD pack. We tried heading straight to A&E, as we wanted to leave MK earlier than the 4:30 FP+ we had managed to get for them from the cancellation thread here. It was a 45 min posted wait by the time we entered the line. When we'd moved up only about 10 ft or so, it was up to 90. Our wait likely would have been at least 60 mins (not what I'd consider a short RD wait).

We decided to get out of line and head to adventureland instead and keep the FP+ time later. Worked out for us, as killing time for that FP+ led to us going to Monsters Inc and having THE BEST experience ever there due to the "Knock Knock. Doctor" (Dr. Who) shirt DH was wearing.

Anyway, my rambling point is that A&E at RD may be workable, but you need to get there *well* in advance of RD to really have a shot at a shorter line.

Good point, that example does not apply to the OP. I was in this case referring to anyone reading who might get the false impression that certain FPs are easier to get than they actually are. They can often be quite difficult for guests who don't fit a specific profile.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Good point, that example does not apply to the OP. I was in this case referring to anyone reading who might get the false impression that certain FPs are easier to get than they actually are. They can often be quite difficult for guests who don't fit a specific profile.

Oh I know, I was just trying to add to what you were saying for the same reason (others who may be reading).

We were hoping RD would have worked out for A&E..and, if MK had really not opened until 9am, maybe it would have been a little better at least...but we had no idea MK was opening earlier that day, so we pretty much arrived like 5-10 mins before RD, which was definitely not enough time to get us a shorter A&E line.

Those who really want RD to make A&E work without a long line, really should probably get to the parks more like an hour before RD.

 

[mesaboy2]

Oh I know, I was just trying to add to what you were saying for the same reason (others who may be reading).

We were hoping RD would have worked out for A&E..and, if MK had really not opened until 9am, maybe it would have been a little better at least...but we had no idea MK was opening earlier that day, so we pretty much arrived like 5-10 mins before RD, which was definitely not enough time to get us a shorter A&E line.

Those who really want RD to make A&E work without a long line, really should probably get to the parks more like an hour before RD.

Or get in line to see them in the last hour or so before a late park close.

A&E remains among the toughest FP to get, and among the toughest attractions to see with a short wait. That is not urban legend as claimed above.

 

[Mama Steph]

I have booked FP+ at the last minute for 2 trips. One trip was July 4th week and the other is for next week. I have been able to get SDMT for both trips. For July, I booked it 2 days beforehand. For this trip, I just booked SDMT today for Jan 4th and 6th.
I was also able to get A&E 2 days out in July. Not interested in this trip so I haven't paid attention.
I may be the exception but it's worked for me. Obviously, I wouldn't recommend waiting this long, it was just the way it worked for me.

 

[kathyclownfish]

Thanks everyone. Great information! I think I am sleeping in! =) Hubby gets up at 5:30 am for work, so that is when I will make my FP+. I'll let you know how I made out tomorrow afternoon.

thanks again!

 

[mesaboy2]

Thanks everyone. Great information! I think I am sleeping in! =) Hubby gets up at 5:30 am for work, so that is when I will make my FP+. I'll let you know I made out tomorrow afternoon.

thanks again!

I hope you get everything you want.

 

[cmusschoot]

I am heading to the world in 20 days (MLK weekend). High crowds Sat Sun and Mon and moderate Tues/Wed.

We are staying on property so I could have booked a while back - I just didn't.

I JUST booked our FP+, I had no trouble getting 7Dwarfs on Sunday early afternoon for our group of 7.

The parades were all gone...but I wasn't looking for any of those.
Hope this helps - I am not sure I would stay up - or get up to book fast passes, and I am a crazy planner.

I was more concerned for dining reservations
Good Luck.

 

[Nole95]

My date for getting my FP+ is in a couple days. We are 3 adults. I don't need any of the Frozen attractions. Couldn't I just wake up at 7am the next morning and pick my FP+ and get everything I want? The holdiay season is exhausting and staying up til 1:30 doesn't sound that appealing to me.

We're going for marathon weekend in two weeks. I did not make any of my FP+ reservations until the morning after my window opened. I for SDMT without any issues.

At EPCOT, I was able to get whatever time I wanted for TT as well.

I guess it all depends on what time of year you are going.

 

[Claki]

Did the time change recently? For both of my trips I scheduled at midnight eastern. Why do you have to wait until 1 a.m.?

 

[mesaboy2]

Did the time change recently? For both of my trips I scheduled at midnight eastern. Why do you have to wait until 1 a.m.?

Follow the breadcrumbs, starting with the green link in my signature. Short answer is it's because MK closes at 1:00a.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Did the time change recently? For both of my trips I scheduled at midnight eastern. Why do you have to wait until 1 a.m.?

On mesaboy2's other thread, it's explained that Disney considers a day to be from park opening until the last park's regular hours end. Then, a new day begins. MK closes at 1:00 so the new day begins at that time.