5. Try for same-day FastPass+ late in the evening

A lot of people simply don’t have the stamina to last all evening, and they decide not to book FastPass+ that many hours into the future. Although you won’t be able to get a second same-day reservation until you use the first, this can be a great way to score hard to obtain FastPass+ reservations during the summer season.

6. See the second parade

The first parade or evening show of the night is almost always the most crowded, since a lot of people tend to leave right after. Instead of fighting for a prime viewing spot, take advantage of this time to ride Standby on some of the most popular attractions. Later, you can see the second performance at your leisure, even walking up to a reasonably good spot at the last minute.

7. Stay until park closing

The parks tend to clear out fast after the fireworks or first closing show performance, with people leaving in droves and clogging the transportation network. While you are waiting for the second parade, or even after it if the park is still open, book another FastPass+ and enjoy short Standby lines until your window opens.

This strategy is especially valuable during evening Extra Magic Hours, which can last until the wee hours of the morning. Even the most die-hard fans often have trouble staying that late, making it possible for those who are still awake to take in numerous popular attractions in a short span of time. Some summer visitors even claim that they get more done in the last hour of the night than in the first hour of the morning.

8.  Don’t over plan

FastPass+ and the dining reservations system heavily reward those who do a great deal of advance planning. Failing to plan at all could be a disaster for a summer vacation, forcing you to spend hours in Standby lines and not get to everything you had hoped for. However, summer is a peak season, which means that the amount of street entertainment and alternative things to do ramps up dramatically. Leave enough time in your schedule for magical moments and lucky happenstance events that you would walk right on by if you were completely booked. Slow down, remember that the parks are open for many extra hours each day, and take time to look around.

What do you think? Have you done a summer trip with FastPas+? How did the crowds and longer park hours alter your planning strategies? I personally think that 3 per day makes sense on a slow day, but that we should be able to reserve 4 or even 5 FastPass+ times on days when the parks are open especially long hours. Would that help clear out some of the congestion, or make Standby waits even worse? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!