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Aside from the Intercot, the most useful guide I have used in the past is the Unofficial Guide. i really liked the strategies to use in each park to minimize wait times. I assume they have updated their guides to adjust to the new fp system. Has anyone tried them? I am feeling a little blue about having to learn a new approach.
I used the Unofficial Guide plans and app (Lines) for our June trip. We never waited in line for more than 20 minutes and it was the week before July 4. This was my first trip with FP+, so I was also very nervous before this vacation.
Attendance has been down lately... Line are shorter than usual, but doesn't mean there won't be waits. I'm not really sold there's a great strategy anymore, pick the rides you want and try to get the times that work best for your schedule. While it's still possible to get more than 3, I'm not sure I would plan on it as normally by the time you are eligible, the ones you want are long gone.
Off the top of my head, getting popular ride fastpass times later in the day should allow you to go standby when lines are shorter, but prevents you from getting more fastpasses later in the day.
I totally agree with DizneyRox. The last time I was at Disney by time I used my initial 3 fast passes each day, the only FP+ that were available were for shows that you usually do not need a FP for anyway, like Mickey's Philharmagic, Wishes, and Fantasmic.
My personnel strategy is to get a FP for the things I really want to do, than just tour like I used to tour prior to the original FP system. Which is:
First thing in the morning/ Late at night: Extremely Popular and Low capacity attractions
Late Morning/ Early Evening: High capacity attractions (things with omnimovers and boats)
Afternoon: Shows and shopping, or in the summer go back to the resort for a swim.
Our strategy is to rope drop a park enabling us to ride everything we want with virtually zero wait. We set up our FP's for later evening ..... we typically leave the park around noon-ish for a swim or nap, freshen up and hit the parks to close 'em using the FP's .....
Went to EPCOT yesterday (9/8). Went with two fast passes. One for Soarin at 9:15, and one for Character Spot at 10:45am.
World showcase did not open until 11am, however, Frozen ride opens when the park opens. Went straight to Frozen. Had about a 20 minute wait in line for it (standby line). This was my first time on the ride, I particularly was not impressed, but can see how small children will love the ride, and will take my grandchildren on it. But then again, I was a die-hard Maelstrom lover.
Left Frozen, and went to Soarin. Rode Soarin, and stopped for a quick breakfast at The Seasons in The Land.
I now wanted to get Test Track tickets, but remember, you HAVE to use up your first three passes before you can get another and I only had used two passes (the only two I had obtained)
Looked at wait times, Spaceship Earth was a walk on and yep, fast passes were available and could be used as soon as I walked there. Boom… all three fast passes now used.
Secured Test Track Fastpass. What I noticed throughout the day yesterday, was that MOST rides had less than a 10 minute wait ALL day long. Soarin, Test Track, and Frozen were the only three that seemed to get a long wait time, but even those three at times only has a 15 minute wait.
So, depending on when you are going, do not stress over these fast passes. If there is a ride you REALLY want to get on, but were not able to secure fast passes, go straight to it.
I try not to make fast passes late in the afternoon, early evening. You have to make and use all three before you can secure another one. But as the last poster said, it works better for them to have later fast passes.