SDFP: CHANGES COMING!! Beware the 7th of June?!

[bwbuddy5]

4. Am I missing any other scenarios?

A side note, it you're staying in a resort on the Boardwalk, you could go into Epcot at opening before the rest of the fam, get your SDFPs for Epcot for later, then join the fam for a trip to another park where you already have your FP+s to begin the day.

 

[jsmla]

I haven't read the whole thread but in February I used my DH's old MagicBand for SDFP. He's a Robert and there's no way I could be mistaken for a guy. I used it everywhere for 8 days with no problems.

 

[ScrapYap]

A side note, it you're staying in a resort on the Boardwalk, you could go into Epcot at opening before the rest of the fam, get your SDFPs for Epcot for later, then join the fam for a trip to another park where you already have your FP+s to begin the day.

It wouldn't be worth missing rope drop at your primary park.

And even early morning hours can be swelteringly hot at WDW - so that walk (though relatively short - and even fun if you're not in a rush) can be a punishing energy-drainer. But then, in my opinion, park hopping is often punishing and time and energy draining. Other people enjoy it a lot.

Since availability is random, you might end up getting better SDFP choices at noon at Epcot than you would at park opening.

 

[bwbuddy5]

It wouldn't be worth missing rope drop at your primary park.

And even early morning hours can be swelteringly hot at WDW - so that walk (though relatively short - and even fun if you're not in a rush) can be a punishing energy-drainer. But then, in my opinion, park hopping is often punishing and time and energy draining. Other people enjoy it a lot.

Since availability is random, you might end up getting better SDFP choices at noon at Epcot than you would at park opening.

Agreed, don't think I would do it either, but I actually stole the comments from a podcast spoken by a dad of a "non-rope-drop" family, heaven forbid!

 

[otterpop]

Thanks to everyone for your comments so far!

It wouldn't be worth missing rope drop at your primary park.

And even early morning hours can be swelteringly hot at WDW - so that walk (though relatively short - and even fun if you're not in a rush) can be a punishing energy-drainer. But then, in my opinion, park hopping is often punishing and time and energy draining. Other people enjoy it a lot.

Since availability is random, you might end up getting better SDFP choices at noon at Epcot than you would at park opening.

Good point! My thoughts are that we would do rope drop at one park, head back to hotel to swim, nap, relax, and then head to second park in afternoon... being that it will be 1,000 degrees outside and 99.9999% humidity, we're going to try to minimize the usual commando-style and try to get the most we can out of using SDFP's.

 

[canyoncam]

How long would you say you spent at the kiosk refreshing each time? Trying to get a sense of what you mean by "several" times

The longest was for Everest at AK. Maybe three or four minutes total. This was because I would see it pop up but not a diabke time. Then it wouldn't show at all. I probably refreshed close to two dozen times, before I got what worked. In the case of Splash one day it NEVER showed up after a dozen tries so I moved on and tried when I passed another kiosk. Same thing. Realized it was not gonna happen. Obviously with ticketed FP you can refresh on your phone way more easily and I know I spent at least ten minutes while in line for Everest to get another FP for Everest immediately after we'd get off. Well worth it as your in line anyway and it was peak time for Everest.

 

[Sierra024]

i'm sorry in advance if this was already asked, I have read and re read and haven't seen this question asked. we are a military family headed to Disneyworld this june. we are staying off base and just completed our regular fast pass reservations each morning (really regretting not staying on site to get to do it all in one day and getting the 60 days out instead of 30, live and learn I guess lol) when I came across this thread about the SDFP so I started reading. I haven't been able to find anyone to loan me their old Disney entry cards or their magic bands, so that leaves me debating about buying the 12.99 magic bands and creating a 2nd MDE under my husbands cell phone to link them to so that at he kiosks in the parks we could try for some SDFP, but my mother who happens to collect gift cards has a set of entry cards that look just like the cards I purchased thru the military shades of green and sent to me that I paid $209 each for, but they have never had days on them, never been used or activated in the park. She thinks the person who traded her for them worked at Disney and took them before they were ever sold or days added to them. She sent 4 of them to me and they look just like my real cards but I have no clue if they will work for SDFP the same way used tickets work. anyone have any clue if they might work or not? I also read online that there is a kiosk outside of the gate at Hollywood studios but other websites say the only kiosks are inside the gates, if there is a kiosk outside of HS then I could go there and give the cards a whirl the day before we go to a park for the first time so then I would know whether to buy magic bands beforehand. I'm hoping maybe someone has seen this kiosk outside of HS? thank you for any help
Joy

 

[Dashcomplete]

I created 4 phantom children for 4 extra bands

Thanks for this update! This is similar to my trip-we have a package stay but added 2 phantom children,

Thanks for the report @canyoncam. Just curious for those of you who create phantom children, do you ever run into any questions or issues when you are physically checking into your room and there are no children present?

 

[bwbuddy5]

She sent 4 of them to me and they look just like my real cards but I have no clue if they will work for SDFP the same way used tickets work. anyone have any clue if they might work or not?
Joy

The OP has the things to look for as far as cards to make sure they will work. Also, you can often find used gray bands on Ebay for just a couple of dollars, which will serve the purpose as long as the seller had entered them on their MDE (and make sure if buying multiples that they're not clones)

 

[canyoncam]

Thanks for the report @canyoncam. Just curious for those of you who create phantom children, do you ever run into any questions or issues when you are physically checking into your room and there are no children present?

Never. I had the split stay and niether FD asked about it. Also about two years ago I had a friend of 18 years of age on my reservation who couldn't make it and was not asked then either. If you have done online check in most likely you don't even need to stop by FD anyway. In my case I did stop at FD and niether batted an eye.

ETA that if anyone did I probably would have said either they were being dropped off by relatives later or that they just plain couldn't come last minute. Things do happen. And I think that is why CMs don't ask.

 

[Donna feetham]

Quick question about phontom that I have linked to my MDE account that have tickets linked but not used.
Can I still book fast passes 30 days out and not use these tickets to enter the park. They are unused tickets
I could before, but don't know if the system has been updated
I wanted say thank you for all the great info that I have been able to access.

 

[mommyboys3]

Just back last night from another great trip. I wanted to post our experience with SDFP. i had bands that were 3-1/2 years old. I really didn't think that they would work, but they did. We didn't get to use them a lot because my boys really only like the headliners but we were able to get a few. Here's what we were able to get:

1) AK: We were there during EMH & I was surprised that the kiosks were open then. I could have gotten just about everything at night, but we were leaving early afternoon to go back to the resort to swim & had dinner reservations at Ohana so weren't returning to the park at night.

2) HS: I was there during EMH & I was able to get TSM, ToT & StarTours at night. Around 11:30 I was able to get a 4th FP on our primary bands to RnR for at night.

3) MK: Around 9:30 I was able to get Tomorrowland Speedway for 10:45 & Buzz for 12:30. I also could have gotten Big Thunder Mountain & Splash at night but didn't.

4) EP: Around 9:30 I was able to get Mission Space for 11:00, Soarin for 5:45 & Living with the Land for 4:45

We didn't go back to the parks at night as much as I thought we would so we didn't used the old bands a lot, but it was definitely worth it. I really didn't think the batteries would still work but all 5 bands worked fine.

 

[rtbreneman]

Just an FYI. I don't know if posting this is against the rules (I apologize in advance if so) but touring plans does have a nice "fastpass availability" tracker which can give you a reasonable idea of what will be possible to get as SDFP once you arrive to any given park. For example, this is what they show as of 2:24 CST for a few of the MK rides for tomorrow.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Quick question about phontom that I have linked to my MDE account that have tickets linked but not used.
Can I still book fast passes 30 days out and not use these tickets to enter the park. They are unused tickets
I could before, but don't know if the system has been updated
I wanted say thank you for all the great info that I have been able to access.

I believe that would be a violation of Disney Terms of Service. Read beginning of first post of this thread. Orange/amber colored text, fifth paragraph.

 

[Donna feetham]

ok thanks I get it.

 

[otterpop]

Quick question about phontom that I have linked to my MDE account that have tickets linked but not used.
Can I still book fast passes 30 days out and not use these tickets to enter the park. They are unused tickets
I could before, but don't know if the system has been updated
I wanted say thank you for all the great info that I have been able to access.

I remember reading another post about a week ago saying that they did the same thing and their FP's did NOT work...I'll see if I can find the OP...

 

[superman007]

I remember reading this question somewhere, but I don't think there was ever an answer...

What is the best way to maximize the benefit of using both FP's and SDFP's in one day at two parks?

We're going at the end of July and if we wanted to do rope drop for Park #1 until early/mid afternoon and then Park #2 for the late afternoon and evening, what would be the best strategy of using SDFP's and hopefully getting a Tier 1/popular rides for Park #2? We are DW vets, but this will be our first time using SDFP's and have two sets of phantoms already in place (so depending on what's available we could potentially get 6 SDFP's per person).

1. Should we book our regular FP's for Park #2, do rope drop rides at Park #1, get and do SDFP's for Park #1, then head over to Park #2?
2. Should we book our regular FP's for Park #2, get SDFP's for Park #1, do rope drop rides at Park #1, do SDFP's for Park #1, then head over to Park #2?
3. Should we book our regular FP's for Park #1, do rope drop rides at Park #1, do FP's for Park #1, then head over to Park #2 and get SDFP's when we get there?
4. Am I missing any other scenarios?

I realize that there are a lot of variables involved, some luck and no guarantees, but I'm also guessing that there is a strategy to possibly maximize the benefits/chances of getting FP's and SDFP's for the "popular" rides at two parks in the same day...

Thanks for any comments and suggestions!

Evan

I don't think there is an easy answer. It depends on what parks you're splitting and what rides you're wanting to hit up. How many days might also matter. For example, if you're going to Epcot in the afternoon and just want to hit up world showcase you should use FP+ reservations for the first park.

 

[ArielSRL]

I remember reading another post about a week ago saying that they did the same thing and their FP's did NOT work...I'll see if I can find the OP...

I think it was deleted bc that discussion is no longer allowed on the DIS bc it is against Disney TOS now.

 

[ArielSRL]

Just back last night from another great trip. I wanted to post our experience with SDFP. i had bands that were 3-1/2 years old. I really didn't think that they would work, but they did. We didn't get to use them a lot because my boys really only like the headliners but we were able to get a few. Here's what we were able to get:

1) AK: We were there during EMH & I was surprised that the kiosks were open then. I could have gotten just about everything at night, but we were leaving early afternoon to go back to the resort to swim & had dinner reservations at Ohana so weren't returning to the park at night.

2) HS: I was there during EMH & I was able to get TSM, ToT & StarTours at night. Around 11:30 I was able to get a 4th FP on our primary bands to RnR for at night.

3) MK: Around 9:30 I was able to get Tomorrowland Speedway for 10:45 & Buzz for 12:30. I also could have gotten Big Thunder Mountain & Splash at night but didn't.

4) EP: Around 9:30 I was able to get Mission Space for 11:00, Soarin for 5:45 & Living with the Land for 4:45

We didn't go back to the parks at night as much as I thought we would so we didn't used the old bands a lot, but it was definitely worth it. I really didn't think the batteries would still work but all 5 bands worked fine.

Thanks for sharing. Just an FYI: the batteries are only needed for the ride photos. For FP and ticket entry, they will always work bc no battery power is needed for that. Or at least that's what I've read.

 

[mommyboys3]

Thanks for sharing. Just an FYI: the batteries are only needed for the ride photos. For FP and ticket entry, they will always work bc no battery power is needed for that. Or at least that's what I've read.

I just checked & no ride photos on my account with the old bands so I think you're right about that. Thanks...good to know.