AK...do I stay or do I go? Your advice needed

M

MagicKatMe

Member
Background: I'm heading to Disney at the end of January for a solo trip. I've been to Disney a number of times, but not in years and never to AK. Epcot's always been my park of choice. Also, I love Illuminations. I can't stress that enough. Love. Illuminations.

The situation: I will be hitting AK my first park day, hitting EPCOT the next day. However, I have a park hopper and my plan was to stay in AK that first day until about 5 and then leave early and head over to EPCOT to catch Illuminations. That way I could see it twice on my trip....or once in case there's bad weather the next day, etc. But sunset isn't until 6 and I'm hearing that Pandora is amazing at night.

Question: Would you stay at AK or would you go? How spectacular IS Pandora at night? Worth staying for or, eh, not a good reason to stick around?
 
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justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
I personally would say it’s worth seeing Pandora at night however if you love illuminations, it is going away next year while Pandora will probably always be here. With that in mind, maybe you should see it twice. However, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SKIP FLIGHT OF PASSAGE. No matter how long the line is. I must also emphasis Navi River Journey, while cool, is not usually worth the wait. I would advise against skipping Flight Of Passage under any circumstance. Even if it meant missing illuminations once.
 
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M

MagicKatMe

Member
Original Poster
justintheharris said:
I personally would say it’s worth seeing Pandora at night however if you love illuminations, it is going away next year while Pandora will probably always be here. With that in mind, maybe you should see it twice. However, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SKIP FLIGHT OF PASSAGE. No matter how long the line is. I must also emphasis Navi River Journey, while cool, is not usually worth the wait. I would advise against skipping Flight Of Passage under any circumstance. Even if it meant missing illuminations once.
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Thank you! And yes, Flight of Passage is on my must-do list, but I appreciate this emphasis. I will wait, no matter what. :D
 
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justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
MagicKatMe said:
Thank you! And yes, Flight of Passage is on my must-do list, but I appreciate this emphasis. I will wait, no matter what. :D
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I always emphasize it because I’ve heard from many people “oooooooh the lines in pandora were so long but we did one of em. It was like.. the river journey or something” and I instinctively blurt out “you made a big mistake.” I just don’t want anyone to make that mistake lol
 
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JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
justintheharris said:
I personally would say it’s worth seeing Pandora at night however if you love illuminations, it is going away next year while Pandora will probably always be here. With that in mind, maybe you should see it twice. However, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SKIP FLIGHT OF PASSAGE. No matter how long the line is. I must also emphasis Navi River Journey, while cool, is not usually worth the wait. I would advise against skipping Flight Of Passage under any circumstance. Even if it meant missing illuminations once.
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So, in that instance, rope drop AK and go straight to FOP, unless you can get a FP earlier in the day. (I have a FP for around 6 but I'm not planning on park hopping.) Make sure you're at the gate at least 30 minutes prior to opening.
 
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JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
Now you've got me thinking about doing the same thing. And the only night I could do that is, you guessed it, my AK day:
  • 12/9: In HS. At Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Dessert Party. Show starts at 8:30. Impossible to get to Epcot in time.
  • 12/10: In Epcot. Seeing CP at 8:15. Decided on ADR at Tokyo Dining at 9:00 for a dessert and after dinner drink and to watch Illuminations from balcony. (I know. I could go up there without an ADR)
  • 12/11: At MVMCP that night.
  • 12/12: My AK day. Seeing ROL at 6:15 and have FP for FOP between 6:25 and 7:25. (Following my own advice, I plan to rope drop FOP and NRJ in the morning. If I can. I'm at MVMCP the night before. Ugh) So, if finish riding FOP hopefully no later than 7:25, I have two hours before Illuminations at 9:30. To give myself more time, I may forego seeing ROL and get in the FP+ queue for FOP at 6:20 sharp. Then head straight out of the park after exiting the ride.
  • 12/13: Check out. At MK until mid-afternoon then check in to Universal through 11/16.
 
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M

MagicKatMe

Member
Original Poster
JohnD said:
Now you've got me thinking about doing the same thing. And the only night I could do that is, you guessed it, my AK day:
  • 12/9: In HS. At Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam Dessert Party. Show starts at 8:30. Impossible to get to Epcot in time.
  • 12/10: In Epcot. Seeing CP at 8:15. Decided on ADR at Tokyo Dining at 9:00 for a dessert and after dinner drink and to watch Illuminations from balcony. (I know. I could go up there without an ADR)
  • 12/11: At MVMCP that night.
  • 12/12: My AK day. Seeing ROL at 6:15 and have FP for FOP between 6:25 and 7:25. (Following my own advice, I plan to rope drop FOP and NRJ in the morning. If I can. I'm at MVMCP the night before. Ugh) So, if finish riding FOP hopefully no later than 7:25, I have two hours before Illuminations at 9:30. To give myself more time, I may forego seeing ROL and get in the FP+ queue for FOP at 6:20 sharp. Then head straight out of the park after exiting the ride.
  • 12/13: Check out. At MK until mid-afternoon then check in to Universal through 11/16.
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That's so funny.... I'm splitting my stay and heading to Universal for three days, too!
 
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