Need opinions on doing Magic Kingdom without fast-passes; would you or not?

[Bete]

Would like to know if there are any guests still willing to just wing it. I'm especially interested in those who would do it with little ones, ages 5 and 3.

If you wing it would you kindly state how long you stay in the park and how many attractions you do.

 

[Redarrow5150]

I believe you need to let others know of your dates. Personally I think at best you should have an outline of what you want to do. Why "wing it" when spending this kind of money?

 

[ChristineOH]

Why wouldn't you do FP? Even if you can't pre-book, you can do a lot with same day availability.

 

[10CJ]

Sure, I think there plenty of rides for that age that don't "need" a fastpass. They might be a little better with it, but I think there is still stuff you can do. Would you rope drop. Would you be going in the morning then hopping to the park with fastpasses? Why can't you book fastpasses?

 

[kcpinwdw]

There are several ways to look at this, of course. If you are going in with a plan to completely wing it, show up to the park mid morning or later, no intention of trying for fast passes, and have no plan on what to see or what to do--- well I'd take a pass on that day. But if you have a good plan, show up early, have reasonable expectations, and just want to be flexible by taking whatever FPs come up for the day--- sure, I'd do that. Often I find on a well timed, well-planned day we don't even need (all) our FPs-- so I'll change them the fly.

 

[OKW Lover]

Would like to know if there are any guests still willing to just wing it.

Yes, we regularly just wing it. But we are local and visit very frequently. If it was a "once in a lifetime" visit, thenI'd probably want to plan a bit more carefully.

 

[Bete]

A little more info: This is not for me, but for someone who has not been in 10 years. I can't convince this person about the value of fastpasses.

I would say they would go during the summer but not during a holiday time.

 

[ChristineOH]

A little more info: This is not for me, but for someone who has not been in 10 years. I can't convince this person about the value of fastpasses.

I would say they would go during the summer but not during a holiday time.

Were you clear that the FP don't cost any extra? I find that most people who tell me they don't need them think they have to pay for them like at Universal or pretty much any other amusement park.

 

[Bete]

Were you clear that the FP don't cost any extra? I find that most people who tell me they don't need them think they have to pay for them like at Universal or pretty much any other amusement park.

Cost is not the issue; they know it's free.

 

[Meglen]

Why not just book some early ones and if you use them great if not you can book more after the 3 timers run out.

 

[MainMom]

Cost is not the issue; they know it's free.

Well, it’s their trip. I would just let them know that they can download the app in the park and add fast passes any time they are there that day. They may change their mind once they see wait times.

 

[iluveeyore]

We just went last week and are seasoned and local Disney visitors, and I could not believe how busy it was for January. For our MK day on Tuesday, we did rope drop as planned to get on a couple of attractions without a FP, and then used our fastpasses as everything got busy. After about 10 am, most attractions, like Pooh were 25 min wait or more, and then after that it just got busier, up to 60-80 minutes, at which time we went to the shows instead of rides (Philharmagic was about a 20 min wait). We still managed to get quite a lot in that day, but without the fastpasses we would have skipped Haunted Mansion and Pirates, two of our favorites, and would have missed out on Seven Dwarves Mine Train. I would use whatever you can book, and then hopefully won't have too long of a wait for everything else. Going on rides during the parade or fireworks is usually a great time with less waits as well.

 

[tjmw2727]

Nope I wouldn't - why wouldn't someone just book three FP+ they think everyone in the party will enjoy knowing they have the option to not ride or change them if need be? This way even if its crazy crowded you will at least ride 3 attractions with minimal waits. With the price of tickets - especially a one day MK (which it sounds like the OP's friend may have planned) ticket IMHO its silly not to book the 3 FP+.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

If you are going to wing it, arrive 1 hour before rope drop and follow a touring plan as prescribed by various resources. You should be able to do a good number of things with medium waits until about noon. From noon on, the lines will be between 45 - 120 minutes for the headliners.

At age 3 and 5 you would skip Space Mountain, for example, but you would want to do Peter Pan first thing as it is a well known "slow loader".

 

[ChristineOH]

Cost is not the issue; they know it's free.

You can lead a horse to water...

Most people aren't going to be the FP wizards that people who read the Disboards are, but most people who are told about the system would at least book their three and use them, even if they do it inefficiently.

But... I know some people who went in a huge family group, and they didn't even make it to the park in time to use half of their FP, and they just didn't care. They still said they had a blast.

 

[ChristineOH]

If you are going to wing it, arrive 1 hour before rope drop and follow a touring plan as prescribed by various resources. You should be able to do a good number of things with medium waits until about noon. From noon on, the lines will be between 45 - 120 minutes for the headliners.

At age 3 and 5 you would skip Space Mountain, for example, but you would want to do Peter Pan first thing as it is a well known "slow loader".

I think anyone who is going to "wing it" probably isn't going to be the type to be there an hour before RD and follow a touring plan!

That's what WE would do... but don't think that's what THEY will do.

 

[Bete]

This person goes to Disneyland a lot. It seems there it's not as intense with doing fast-passes.

I think I agree with the previous posters. I've informed them it's not the same as Disneyland and it would be useful and productive to do fastpass at Disney World.

Also, perhaps after a day of no fastpasses they will change their minds.

I was curious here to find out how many people still wing it at Disney World or not. I think as a previous poster stated if you are a regular on disboards you are probably using fastpass.

 

[10CJ]

Cost is not the issue; they know it's free.

Do they not want to be tied to a schedule? even then I would still try to book day of fastpasses.

or do they object to the entire system and therefore refuse to use them?

 

[hertamaniac]

You could wing it, but the FP system is pretty easy.

 

[Bete]

Do they not want to be tied to a schedule? even then I would still try to book day of fastpasses.

I think this is part of the dilemma.

Also, this person truly feels it's unnecessary. Why spend the time to do it, if it's unnecessary.

This same person probably did over a dozen trips in the past to Disney World and never used fastpass. So, this person feels I did without before; so, I will do the same again.

Also, since the concentration will be more on the baby rides and shows she doesn't feel it's important.