Best strategy for FP+ on a solo trip

zpbarn01

Mouseketeer
Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Wondering what everyone's strategy is for FP+ on a solo trip? I am about 2 weeks out from my first solo trip and curious what I can expect!
 
Well, availability will start getting slim now, so start by prioritizing and have a few backups. I just booked, for this Friday, three fastpasses. Barely got some. I was supposed to be there yesterday but ran into issues with transportation last minute so had to postpone and change everything. Two weeks out you can still get decent fastpasses and times, though you may have to check back for better options that may come open.
 
I was able to get a Na'vi River Journey FP+ and most everything else is wide open (no Flight of Passage or Mine Train, which is expected).

I've never experienced Pandora so that is my #1 priority and everything else is wide open. If I plan on utilizing single rider when available...what is considered the next best FP+ selections to get?
 
I'd try again for FoP starting a day or two before the day you expect to be in AK, same for the Mine Train and your MK day(s). One thing I found when I had a single day is that if I booked all three available FP+ at Animal Kingdom that morning, I was more likely to get a scheduling conflict error if I tried to search for FoP to add as a third. I ended up just booking Na'vi that morning and leaving the other two slots open. I never managed to get a FoP FP, but had great success showing up an hour before the park opened and going straight into the mob line for it. Plenty of people will also tell you to go right before park closing, as the end of day wait times are usually exaggerated.

I can't really speak to prioritizing FP+ off my head too well, especially when I don't know what's a higher priority for you in general. If you want to ride Peter Pan, though, you'll need to either go at rope drop or use a FP to avoid a big line; I mention that because I don't find that ride's huge popularity intuitive when it's so old and relatively low-tech.

The big thing that really, really worked for me was actively searching and re-searching for FP+ throughout the day while I was in the parks. Whenever you're in line or on a bus, check for FP+ availability. If you see a FP for the next ride you want but the time is later in the day than you were looking for, book that FP anyway. Then use the "Modify FP" button to keep searching for earlier times (it's quicker than running a full FP search every time). I was able to book multiple headliners and then move them up to an earlier time slot that way.
 


depends upon what you like - would use the single rider at test track (epcot) and expedition everest (AK) - I happen to still love kilimanjaro Safari (AK) - saw the Rivers of Light -
 
Really depends on what you want to ride and when. For me - if I'm not rope dropping MK - I'd get a FP for Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, and POTC. These are the rides I love - but hate waiting in line for. If I am headed to rope drop - I'll probably do PP then, and now the third FP is BTMRR for me. I never ride Space Mountain - so it's not in the mix. But - on occasion - I might rope drop and head to Adventureland - and now my FP's are different.

For AK - Navi or FOP - then Safari. Beyond that - I always get FOTLK because I usually want a mid-day show and I hate showing up in advance to get a seat. But I don't ride EE, Kali, or Primeval Whirl on solo trips. I haven't managed to book a solo trip far enough in advance to score a FOP FP - but I did RD for it. Went on a couples trip in January - that was booked in advance - and we scored FP's for FoP, Safari, and Dinosaur. He rode EE single rider.

For EPCOT - I use single rider for TT - usually get FP for Character Spot. Can't ride Mission Space so its not in the mix. I usually don't book solo trips far enough in advance to get FP for Frozen ride. Might get one for Soarin.

For DHS - for me - its been TSM - but next trip will be after Toy Story Land opens - so hopefully the new coaster. I don't ride RoR. ToT - I rarely ride and never on solo trips. Star Tours - despite my love of SW - makes me sick - so I don't FP it - but that is good choice. DO NOT plan RoR single rider. That line is miserable. I won't ride that ride at all - and my significant other has tried that twice - and the wait was longer than standby.

When heading to ONE park for the day - MK is the only one I've ever added a 4th or 5th FP later in the day. When hopping - it depends on the plan - usually I book FPs for first park - and hope to get something in the second park later in the day. I have done that for EPCOT once or twice. But sometimes hopping means hitting a couple rides at rope drop - and then booking everything in the second park.

So - it's really imagining how YOU want plan your days. RD or not. Close or not. Park hop or not.

If you don't know - just pick your favorite rides and don't worry about strategy. Folks get FP's for Small World..... me - I just find time when the line is 15 minutes or less during the day.
 
For DHS - for me - its been TSM - but next trip will be after Toy Story Land opens - so hopefully the new coaster. I don't ride RoR.

Just want to point out that RnR’s single rider line can be almost as slow as standby in my experience (but YMMV of course). And when TSL opens it’ll become a tier 2 FP so you could theoretically get any new TSL ride (which will all be tier 1 on June 30) FP and then get both RnR and ToT if that’s what you want to do.
 


It should be noted that for right now, Toy Story Mania’s fastpass line is shut down, but it may be open again by your trip.

Everyone has their favorites but for AK best bets are Navi or Flights of Passage(this one has the longer lines) an the Safari, MK is 7DMT, Epcot is Frozen, Soarin, or Test Track, and HS is Tower of Terror, Rock and Roller Coaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Star Tours. These are the longest lines overall.
 
I don't have one. When I go solo it's all about taking it slow and easy and not worrying about things. Actually, it's the same way when my son goes with me but more so when I'm solo. I will book FPs when I'm on the way to the park and will check when I'm standing in line for a ride and if something is available within 30 min. after I'm supposed to get off the ride, I'll book it but I don't like to have to worry about being somewhere at a certain time.
 
what is considered the next best FP+ selections to get?
What are your favorite rides?

I usually get a FP for Haunted Mansion in MK, Spaceship Earth in Epoct, Tower of Terror in HS and Safari in AK.
 
Thanks for the advice on RnR. I love that ride and would have went straight for single rider.
 

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