Pandora Rope Drop or FP+??

[Hankster]

We are visiting AK on 12/11/17 and the park has early EMH. I am debating going to Pandora for rope drop versus avoiding the crowd hitting all the other attractions with the hope of getting FP+ for FOP in the afternoon and standby for river. Any thoughts on this strategy?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Both. FP+ for one of the rides and rope drop the other one.

 

[DfromATX]

I'm with Captain America... rope drop the boat ride and FP FOP about 9 or so if you can get it that early.

 

[Coaster Lover]

We are visiting AK on 12/11/17 and the park has early EMH. I am debating going to Pandora for rope drop versus avoiding the crowd hitting all the other attractions with the hope of getting FP+ for FOP in the afternoon and standby for river. Any thoughts on this strategy?

I had the same thought... we're going in August.. park has EMH from 8-9 am (most all of the park) and 10 pm until Midnight (Pandora only). We have a 9:05 am River's of Light breakfast package for Tusker House. It'll be the kids first time at Animal Kingdom so we're hoping to take a leisurely stroll into the park right at 8 am, get some pics in front of the tree of life, then head back to Kilimanjaro Safari while everyone else (mostly) goes to Pandora and Everest. Figure we should be able to get a nice morning ride (before it gets too hot, while the animals are still relatively active) then catch breakfast at 9 am. We have FPs for Everest and Dinosaur before lunch. We got a FOP FP for 3:30 and figure we'll just watch the app for the best opportunity for River Journey (ideally when the line is an hour or less... which in recent days/weeks has been in the mid-afternoon which would be convenient as we would already be in that area for FOP). I figure if we can get all that in before dinner, it gives us several hours after dinner for a more leisurely pace to hit some other things before ROL. We have the opportunity (with park hopping) to hit AK again later in the trip, but hoping to get as much done the first day as possible!

 

[rufio]

If you can actually manage to snag a FP for FoP then by all means get it! I'd do it at rope drop too

 

[BigRedDad]

Rope drop FoP and FP it for about 30 minutes after opening. Get the 2 rides in and be happy.

 

[correcaminos]

Both. FP+ for one of the rides and rope drop the other one.

This!
I would say rope drop for River and FP+ for FoP.

Then come back in the evening to see it as it goes dark.

 

[bh_trade]

we're hoping to take a leisurely stroll into the park right at 8 am, get some pics in front of the tree of life, then head back to Kilimanjaro Safari while everyone else (mostly) goes to Pandora and Everest

Was there one week ago today. Very few head anywhere other than Pandora at the open, EVERYBODY goes straight to FOP. Quoted wait times were >2 hrs by 8:15am

 

[Chef Mickey]

No need to rope drop Na'Vi River...it's consistently down to 30min during various times of day.

Rope drop FOP and ride it until you can't ride it anymore. FP very difficult to get for it, but get that if you can as well.

 

[Bairstow]

Was there one week ago today. Very few head anywhere other than Pandora at the open, EVERYBODY goes straight to FOP. Quoted wait times were >2 hrs by 8:15am

Hopefully this will abate somewhat by the end of summer. The most horrendous crowds at the last Potter expansion lasted about 4 months, if I recall.

What was the situation at the Frozen ride 6 months after opening?

 

[Coaster Lover]

Was there one week ago today. Very few head anywhere other than Pandora at the open, EVERYBODY goes straight to FOP. Quoted wait times were >2 hrs by 8:15am

Good to know!

Slightly off topic, but out of curiosity, anyone know if they will release a truck on Kilimanjaro Safari if it's not completely full or will they hold the truck? Our plan is to be back to Kilimanjaro Safari by about 8:20 and I know it's a 20-25 minute long attraction, but we have breakfast reservations (right there at Tusker House) at 9:05. I just don't want to get back there and then have them hold the truck 10 minutes or so waiting for enough people to trickle back there to fill a truck and then risk being late for breakfast.

 

[DfromATX]

Was there one week ago today. Very few head anywhere other than Pandora at the open, EVERYBODY goes straight to FOP. Quoted wait times were >2 hrs by 8:15am

Same goes for 7DMT and Fantasyland (or at least it was last year when we went). I would consider doing Pandora later, but the problem with that (if you do Fast Passes later) is you can't get any others until you use them all. Otherwise, I'd consider doing Pandora later instead of first thing. I would love to avoid the rush. Do you think it will die down some by next year?

 

[disneygeek90]

Good to know!

Slightly off topic, but out of curiosity, anyone know if they will release a truck on Kilimanjaro Safari if it's not completely full or will they hold the truck? Our plan is to be back to Kilimanjaro Safari by about 8:20 and I know it's a 20-25 minute long attraction, but we have breakfast reservations (right there at Tusker House) at 9:05. I just don't want to get back there and then have them hold the truck 10 minutes or so waiting for enough people to trickle back there to fill a truck and then risk being late for breakfast.

You should be fine. I don't think they would hold it up more than a minute or two. They need to keep the pacing for the other trucks en route.