Trial Club Level Fastpass+ Purchase Program Planning & Discussion

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm very intrigued by this "seating" for HEA. It sounds like you sit on the fake grass and watch the show. Do people try to stand? Are ECVs allowed in the area?

I wouldn't worry.
Originally when I called, the CM said the number of reservations was limited. As I said earlier, when we went (probably will change in the future) the CM had a paper list of names. There were maybe 40 names on the list? But only about 10 people actually showed up.

You do know though, that the VAST majority of people watching HEA stand to see the show, right? I've ALWAYS had to stand to see MK fireworks (in the hub) on prior trips. MOST guests not only stand, they also hold their phones up to videotape the show (though I can't figure out why they think that's worthwhile). Plus, MANY parents put their toddlers on their shoulders. More or less the whole hub is crammed FULL of strangers standing shoulder to shoulder, with CM's continuously shooing away late-comers.

It was Easter week, so that's as crowded as MK gets. MK was SO crowded that they not only had the Main St. back alley open, they actually had the a portion of the back alley taped off as a viewing area! (Up between the Plaza and the Tomorrowland Terrace bathrooms.)

So we thought we were crazy lucky! Not only were we able to sit, some folks near us were laying on their backs we all had so much room!

That said, even with all the space, if you sit on the ground/fake grass, then you can't see the bottom 1/4th of the castle. The second night, we stood for much of the show so we could see better.

I'm sure an EVC would be fine in the reserved area. The entry was plenty wide, and part of the reserved area was paved (pathway).

(I hope that all makes sense.)

 

[travelgirl77]

they also hold their phones up to videotape the show (though I can't figure out why they think that's worthwhile).

Not to take this thread into a different path, but all the YES to this comment! That is all.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It would be $900 for my family of 6. I’m still on the fence about this, because obviously that is not cheap. On the other hand, knowing you could have 3 days squared away would be really nice.

I don't buy most of the upsells/recent price changes, and have even posted negative comments about some of them (For example, I strongly DISLIKE that WDW took away the no-expire ticket option! Grr!)

However, this upsell was worthwhile, IF you are already planning to stay at a deluxe when you go, and IF you think CL is worthwhile. We only choose CL when we plan to use the lounge a fair amount, and usually only during LOW price seasons. If my group preferred buffets, then I wouldn't choose CL. I will further qualify my response to say I would not/did not pay Easter rack rates to stay in WDW CL hotel room all week. I wouldn't pay $900+ per night! (Easter week rack rates)

The second big takeaway I hope I've communicated clearly is that this package = committing to doing 6 rides, plus an evening show every day you do this package, and that is not for everyone! As I said twice, only a handful of folks made it to HEA. While you have some ability to cancel this package, you can't get a mid-day refund if you don't use all 6 FP.

I've been to WDW enough times to know that no trip is perfect. This trip we were very lucky to have gotten near-perfect weather. Still, by the third day, we were all quite tired!

We also didn't attempt to pair this package with any ADR's! Once we were done with our FP, we were free until the PM shows, and we appreciated every minute of our afternoon breaks.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Not to take this thread into a different path, but all the YES to this comment! That is all.

Yes, I think it is very relevant for folks to understand what it means to have a reserved area of the hub, and what the hub looks like during HEA.

Having plenty of personal space was a huge luxury, but the areas all around us were still full of commotion and distractions.

This trip was far from our first trip to WDW, so maybe I'm a little different, but sometimes I get distracted by the folks around me. I feel I learn something valuable (about humanity) every time I go to a theme park.

One thing I found particularly distracting, yet also oddly humorous, was the continuous stream of utterly self-absorbed folks that kept trying to stop where they were not supposed to stop.

The MK hub was an absolute ocean of people. The CM's were not allowing people to even enter the area at all.

The CM's now tape off every acceptable viewing area, and ALL of those areas were completely FULL of people standing shoulder to shoulder.

However, they had also kept a few pathways within the hub, and NOBODY was allowed to sit on any of the metal railings.

Nevertheless, folks kept trying?!?! I couldn't help but notice them. How could anyone be THAT self-absorbed? NOBODY else is allowed to stop, but you really think YOU get to sit on the railing? REALLY?

It just blows my mind. Very insightful and totally baffling at the same time!

 

[Meghan4]

I don't buy most of the upsells/recent price changes, and have even posted negative comments about some of them (For example, I strongly DISLIKE that WDW took away the no-expire ticket option! Grr!)

However, this upsell was worthwhile, IF you are already planning to stay at a deluxe when you go, and IF you think CL is worthwhile. We only choose CL when we plan to use the lounge a fair amount, and usually only during LOW price seasons. If my group preferred buffets, then I wouldn't choose CL. I will further qualify my response to say I would not/did not pay Easter rack rates to stay in WDW CL hotel room all week. I wouldn't pay $900+ per night! (Easter week rack rates)

The second big takeaway I hope I've communicated clearly is that this package = committing to doing 6 rides, plus an evening show every day you do this package, and that is not for everyone! As I said twice, only a handful of folks made it to HEA. While you have some ability to cancel this package, you can't get a mid-day refund if you don't use all 6 FP.

I've been to WDW enough times to know that no trip is perfect. This trip we were very lucky to have gotten near-perfect weather. Still, by the third day, we were all quite tired!

We also didn't attempt to pair this package with any ADR's! Once we were done with our FP, we were free until the PM shows, and we appreciated every minute of our afternoon breaks.

I booked CL before I heard about this package. Having breakfast, snacks, and drinks available to us was very appealing. Also, we are a family of 6, so few rooms would fit is. All that aside, I had not planned any after dinner activities yet. We are going the last week in September, so I’m hoping crowds will be lower. I know I have time to decide, my 90 days would be July 1st.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I booked CL before I heard about this package. Having breakfast, snacks, and drinks available to us was very appealing. Also, we are a family of 6, so few rooms would fit is. All that aside, I had not planned any after dinner activities yet. We are going the last week in September, so I’m hoping crowds will be lower. I know I have time to decide, my 90 days would be July 1st.

With 6 people, fastpasses do come in handy. Though crowds won't be as thick that time of year.

Still, the extra FP will be very handy in HS when the new Star Wars area opens!

For us at AK, next trip we could easily skip the Na'vi River ride. It was sweet being able to bypass the 3+ hour wait for FoP, plus the long Safari line. Beyond those though, the rest of AK isn't so bad most of the year. (We were surprised to see a substantial wait at DINOSAUR. On our last trip the DINO standby was under 15 minutes in the afternoon.)

IMO, I don't think I'd bother using this package at Epcot.

If you happen to have the free dining, then I suppose you'd want to book some dinners- or combine credits for signature meals.

Otherwise, I'd tend to book my ADR's on the days that I'm not doing this package. On our last morning, it was very nice to eat a leisurely breakfast without having to rush off anywhere.

 

[JJ2017]

With 6 people, fastpasses do come in handy. Though crowds won't be as thick that time of year.

Still, the extra FP will be very handy in HS when the new Star Wars area opens!

For us at AK, next trip we could easily skip the Na'vi River ride. It was sweet being able to bypass the 3+ hour wait for FoP, plus the long Safari line. Beyond those though, the rest of AK isn't so bad most of the year. (We were surprised to see a substantial wait at DINOSAUR. On our last trip the DINO standby was under 15 minutes in the afternoon.)

IMO, I don't think I'd bother using this package at Epcot.

If you happen to have the free dining, then I suppose you'd want to book some dinners- or combine credits for signature meals.

Otherwise, I'd tend to book my ADR's on the days that I'm not doing this package. On our last morning, it was very nice to eat a leisurely breakfast without having to rush off anywhere.

You mention Epcot not being a good use of this package. I was thinking the opposite for our trip coming in November. We plan one full Epcot day and would like to use the extra Fast Passes so we can secure Test Track, Soarin and FEA. Then, experience Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and one other (5 and 7 year old) with regular FP+. Also planned on a later start here, with an Akershus breakfast - maybe 10:30 ish and ending with F&W around dinner time (and Illuminations). I am so new to all of this and have never been to Epcot with the family, so this is what I was thinking in my "newbie" mind.

 

[kungaloosh22]

As I said earlier, when we went (probably will change in the future) the CM had a paper list of names. There were maybe 40 names on the list? But only about 10 people actually showed up.

Do you have thoughts about how crowded this area would be on a night when most of the people on the list show up? I'm trying to get a sense of how this area compares with the garden view dessert party. In theory it's the mirror image, but that's highly dependent on crowds.

If that's too hard to estimate, no worries! And thanks for all your reporting on your experience.

 

[travelgirl77]

You mention Epcot not being a good use of this package. I was thinking the opposite for our trip coming in November. We plan one full Epcot day and would like to use the extra Fast Passes so we can secure Test Track, Soarin and FEA. Then, experience Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and one other (5 and 7 year old) with regular FP+. Also planned on a later start here, with an Akershus breakfast - maybe 10:30 ish and ending with F&W around dinner time (and Illuminations). I am so new to all of this and have never been to Epcot with the family, so this is what I was thinking in my "newbie" mind.

As with a lot of things, I think it is just different strokes for different folks. We have hoppers so we will be in two parks (or more) each day. I am definitely using this program for Epcot simply because of the tiers and if you and your kids have not been, then I highly suggest you do as well. I used my extra FPs for epcot for the same rides as you for the afternoon/evening and then catching Illuminations, while using my other FPs in the morning at MK, and perhaps securing a 4th FP. So many ways to do this which can be fun and nerve-wracking (just ask me how many times I have rearranged our schedule since booking extras on Monday

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

@Chef Louis



Awesome info, thank you!!!

 

[prgal0715]

I called DSS at 9am and booked all my regular and extra FP's for July 1, 2 and 3. No problem getting the new TS attractions at the times I wanted or getting both Pandora attractions. The whole process took about 25 minutes, mostly because I'd already laid everything out on an Excel spreadsheet! (Yes, I'm *that* person.) The call might have been a few minutes shorter but the CM and I kept chatting about all things Disney. Overall, a great and very easy experience.

 

[OhioWDWDuo]

I called DSS at 9am and booked all my regular and extra FP's for July 1, 2 and 3. No problem getting the new TS attractions at the times I wanted or getting both Pandora attractions. The whole process took about 25 minutes, mostly because I'd already laid everything out on an Excel spreadsheet! (Yes, I'm *that* person.) The call might have been a few minutes shorter but the CM and I kept chatting about all things Disney. Overall, a great and very easy experience.

Great! My booking day is tomorrow so glad to hear that it was an easy experience. Did you happen to book the MK firework area for July 3? A few weeks ago, DSS wasn’t sure if that would be available due to the holiday. Thanks!

 

[EEva]

Hi @Chef Louis Can you share how the check in for ROL viewing went? Where it was located and how early you arrived?
I've appreciated your reports!

 

[prgal0715]

Great! My booking day is tomorrow so glad to hear that it was an easy experience. Did you happen to book the MK firework area for July 3? A few weeks ago, DSS wasn’t sure if that would be available due to the holiday. Thanks!

I didn’t - I have RoL for the 3rd but might switch that to Illuminations. The CM I spoke with said the 3rd/4th of July spectaculars at Epcot and MK are unreal. She said RoL is “cute.” Lol

 

[ReadyToGoBack]

I apologize if I missed this in a previous post, but has anyone been able to schedule this for their checkout day? I do have 3 nights booked in a club level room, but it works much better with my schedule to have these extra FPs on the last day.

 

[disneylover102]

I apologize if I missed this in a previous post, but has anyone been able to schedule this for their checkout day? I do have 3 nights booked in a club level room, but it works much better with my schedule to have these extra FPs on the last day.

Yes, you can do it for your checkout day.

 

[Chef Louis]

Hi @Chef Louis Can you share how the check in for ROL viewing went? Where it was located and how early you arrived?
I've appreciated your reports!

We went to the section in Robo's map below labeled fastpass entrance S which was incorrect. We were then taken to an entrance that was closer to the aisle in-between section I and H. A cast member there checked us in and brought us down to the E section. We arrived 15 minutes early. Knowing that they filled the section in closer to start I would probably would allow a bit more time though.

 

[Chef Louis]

MK day 4-8

• FP+ PP 10:15am
• FP+ Seven 11:25am
• FP+ Space Mountain 12:25pm
• pulled FP Pirates 1:00pm
• pulled FP Little Mermaid 1:45pm
• Extra FP BTMR 3:00pm
• Extra FP Splash Mountain 4:00pm
• Pulled HM 5:25pm
• Storm System rolled in and left to the contemporary for a break
• Extra FP Seven-did not make it called the after hours number and received a voice messaging service. Left a message haven't heard anything back.
• Arrived at 8:30 for HEA one other family watched it with us.
• Pulled quite a bit till midnight and rode a bit more on walk ons. The park really emptied out after the storm and once HEA was over.
• Went to Seven at 11:45pm, figured we'd give FP a try. CM said we were a couple hours tardy but let us through. Stand by had a posted wait of 30 minutes.

Edit- Talked to DSS they told me that even the after hours are only open so long. I called at 8:00pm Eastern. Also if it happened again Guest Services or your Club level Concierge could make a change.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I didn’t - I have RoL for the 3rd but might switch that to Illuminations. The CM I spoke with said the 3rd/4th of July spectaculars at Epcot and MK are unreal. She said RoL is “cute.” Lol

You probably know this but just making sure... they only do the special fireworks at MK on 7/3 and 7/4. Epcot is just 7/4. Sorry if you already knew that!

 

[baler31]

Was able to book night time viewing for special fireworks on 7/3 and Illumination on 7/4. Prior to this I was told they did not know if the viewing areas would be available.