Should I rope drop for FOP??

[Canuckgirl78]

I book our FPs tomorrow but already know there are no FPs for FOP on the day we go to AK
I'm thinking about doing a rope drop for it but have some concerns.

I've read even if you RD to FOP you might still have to wait 2 hours, but I've also read the wait might be 30 minutes if you get there early. Do the wait times for FOP really fluctuate this much when you RD depending on crowd size? Is it more based on when you arrive at AK (e.g., if you arrive 90 minutes before AK opens, you'll be on the the ride in the first 30 mins, but if you arrive 15 mins before AK opens, you might have to wait 1-2 hours)? Do EMH days make a difference?

Also, to give some context, it'll be 4 of us including my DH, DS (who may not want to ride it) and a DD (who can't ride it as she's too small). We're going on Tuesday, Dec 19, which is a non-EMH day, so the park opens at 9am, and TouringPlans is forecasting it to be a crowd level 6. Ideally we would do a rider switch, and DH would go on FOP in the afternoon (and maybe our DS will go on it too if we don't think it'll be too scary for him).

I have a feeling our options might be limited to:

1. We take an Uber to AK and arrive around 7:30am. We RD for FOP (kids would be in the stroller so they don't get trampled and don't have to complain (as much) about just standing in line). I would ride FOP, DH gets rider switch pass to use later in the day. We then go to Kilimanjaro Safaris for a 10am FP (assuming that's possible??). We do NJR later with a 4pm FP, and DH (& DS?) use their RS pass to ride FOP.

OR

2. We take the bus to AK and arrive around 8:30am. We use 9:30am FP for Kilimanjaro Safaris. We do NJR with a 4pm FP when crowds are little more manageable and we can walk through Pandora. No FOP experience for us.


Thoughts???

 

[Joshcbf]

Lots of experience here and great advise and knowledge. I'm a bit more amateur than some of these pros but my experience on Tues. was great! 2toddlers and 6 adults RD @ AK arriving at 8:07am (late as usual : ) with 2 strollers and 5 bags! With a slight hustle and eating breakfast on the run (but for the love of all Please resist the urge to run and shove people. The only negative was the amount of 35-50yr olds willing to hurt a child for a ride is still infuriating and beyond my comprehension!!!) We were thru security and in by 8:20! Followed the mob to Pandora holding area briefly then escorted to line up. We ended up on the bridge to Africa! (Seemingly so far away from FOP) The brief fist sight of Pandora was more incredible than imagined! Shorter story, we were on FOP and off at Exactly 9:07AM! It took NO time out of our "normal" AK day! We did NRJ @7:30 when it was getting nice and lit up. The most stunning park land I've ever seen! Worth every second and Cent! IMHO! Good luck to you!

 

[DisneyMann]

But if we wait 1 hour for rope drop it wouldn't sacrifice time in the park.

Exactly. While it stinks to stand in line like that, you guarantee yourself little to no wait for FOP at rope drop. Then u go about your day.

 

[danheaton]

I have heard rare cases where people could get a FoP FP on the day if they're diligent. However, I wouldn't count on it. I'd suggest doing the early RD, though I might even do it earlier than 7:30. From what I've heard it's a madhouse. I couldn't do it with my kids and wife (who aren't early risers), but I would do so if I was going solo. It's a big commitment, but a lot of people are raving about FoP.

 

[disneygeek90]

I have heard rare cases where people could get a FoP FP on the day if they're diligent. However, I wouldn't count on it. I'd suggest doing the early RD, though I might even do it earlier than 7:30. From what I've heard it's a madhouse. I couldn't do it with my kids and wife (who aren't early risers), but I would do so if I was going solo. It's a big commitment, but a lot of people are raving about FoP.

They won't even open the bag check till around 7:30 for a 9am opening. I don't think you could go much earlier even if you wanted.

 

[Seeshark]

I went in early August on a Sunday. We got to the park at 7:20am for a 9am opening. There were about 50 people there, give or take. Hung out at the no-bag security check for a bit, then they let us through to the front entrance around 8am. Sat there for a bit, and then around 8:30 they let us go to the area just before the Pandora entrance at the bridge. Then they "walked" us in just before 9am. We ended up being one of the first in line. Meanwhile, the line behind us really built as it got closer to 9am. But then we were done with FOP (which was awesome) and then hopped on Na'vi and we were done with both by 9:10. I wasn't planning on staying there all day (it was blazing hot), so it was nice to get through those and move on to the rest of the park and be out of there around lunchtime. So in the end, we still waited 90 minutes, but I think that 90-minute wait where we moved to a couple different locations and got through everything before the wait at the ride became two hours was the way to go for us. And then we ended up snagging a FOP fast pass for that night, so we came back (after an afternoon nap) and did it again at a more leisurely pace. Posted picture below of the line looking back from the bridge just before 9am.

 

[Seeshark]

I went in early August on a Sunday. We got to the park at 7:20am for a 9am opening. There were about 50 people there, give or take. Hung out at the no-bag security check for a bit, then they let us through to the front entrance around 8am. Sat there for a bit, and then around 8:30 they let us go to the area just before the Pandora entrance at the bridge. Then they "walked" us in just before 9am. We ended up being one of the first in line. Meanwhile, the line behind us really built as it got closer to 9am. But then we were done with FOP (which was awesome) and then hopped on Na'vi and we were done with both by 9:10. I wasn't planning on staying there all day (it was blazing hot), so it was nice to get through those and move on to the rest of the park and be out of there around lunchtime. So in the end, we still waited 90 minutes, but I think that 90-minute wait where we moved to a couple different locations and got through everything before the wait at the ride became two hours was the way to go for us. And then we ended up snagging a FOP fast pass for that night, so we came back (after an afternoon nap) and did it again at a more leisurely pace.

FullSizeRender

• Seeshark
• Aug 16, 2017

Pandora line shortly before park opening, Sunday, 8/6

 

[NelleBelle]

OMG!! That is a large crowd!! How much pushing and shoving was there? We've usually avoided rope drop because of all the people who feel the need to push ahead to be first in line.

 

[Seeshark]

It really wasn't too bad. They have a wall of cast members at the front of the line that pace you as you walk to the rides to keep things from getting too crazy. Still, it did feel a little hairy - some of the walkways are a bit narrow - but if someone pushed ahead a little bit, I just let them go. There's no prize for being first. I figured even if was the 100th or even the 200th person on that day, it's wasn't going to be that much of a wait...

 

[NelleBelle]

Thanks for sharing your picture!

 

[HappilyEverAfter71]

I went mid July this year (on a Friday I think - no EMH) and we rope dropped it. We were at the park entrance by about 7:30. We were at the Pandora area entrance by around 8:30 where they held us for a bit and off the ride by 9:15. I'd say it was worth it as we are early risers anyway. I agree with others that it gives you less time wasted once you're actually in the park. It's a great ride but I wouldn't wait the average 3 hrs for it.

 

[SalD]

We were there in September. First, I would highly recommend you do not obtain a FP for FOP, the que is outstanding and I would not want to miss that. Their were four people in our party, we went to AK the day they had extra magical hours in the morning. We boarded the first bus from our hotel (Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary) and even though there was a decent line awaiting FOP, once the attraction opened it moved pretty fast. We actually saw FOP and the Navi River Ride in about 90 minutes. FOP was outstanding and I would not miss it.

 

[AMA_jackie]

I book our FPs tomorrow but already know there are no FPs for FOP on the day we go to AK
I'm thinking about doing a rope drop for it but have some concerns.

I've read even if you RD to FOP you might still have to wait 2 hours, but I've also read the wait might be 30 minutes if you get there early. Do the wait times for FOP really fluctuate this much when you RD depending on crowd size? Is it more based on when you arrive at AK (e.g., if you arrive 90 minutes before AK opens, you'll be on the the ride in the first 30 mins, but if you arrive 15 mins before AK opens, you might have to wait 1-2 hours)? Do EMH days make a difference?

Also, to give some context, it'll be 4 of us including my DH, DS (who may not want to ride it) and a DD (who can't ride it as she's too small). We're going on Tuesday, Dec 19, which is a non-EMH day, so the park opens at 9am, and TouringPlans is forecasting it to be a crowd level 6. Ideally we would do a rider switch, and DH would go on FOP in the afternoon (and maybe our DS will go on it too if we don't think it'll be too scary for him).

I have a feeling our options might be limited to:

1. We take an Uber to AK and arrive around 7:30am. We RD for FOP (kids would be in the stroller so they don't get trampled and don't have to complain (as much) about just standing in line). I would ride FOP, DH gets rider switch pass to use later in the day. We then go to Kilimanjaro Safaris for a 10am FP (assuming that's possible??). We do NJR later with a 4pm FP, and DH (& DS?) use their RS pass to ride FOP.

OR

2. We take the bus to AK and arrive around 8:30am. We use 9:30am FP for Kilimanjaro Safaris. We do NJR with a 4pm FP when crowds are little more manageable and we can walk through Pandora. No FOP experience for us.


Thoughts???

If you miss part of the queue consider yourself lucky. Last week i toured with a hardcore Avatar fan club and the concensus was that the queue is fluff and filler. I couldn’t wait for these folks to experience the queue and they all found it laughable. Granted it takes place after the yet to be released final movie but that’s a great stretch. I’ll belive that the sequels are actually happening when I see them with my own eyes. I’ve been on FOP and in the land 20-30 times since opening and it contually breaks my heart. In my opinion Avatar has destroyed a masterpiece of a theme park. We have gone for our last time.

I talked with CM who suggested doing RD. WDW has been opening AK early to let those wanting FOP to get in line without having to race to the queue. WDW Magazine suggested same thing plus time spent in queue is full of info.

 

[Allym146]

I talked with CM who suggested doing RD. WDW has been opening AK early to let those wanting FOP to get in line without having to race to the queue. WDW Magazine suggested same thing plus time spent in queue is full of info.

My plan was to rope drop it this past monday. I am not a morning person, coupled with sleeping really poorly the first 2 nights of our stay, so I opted to grab a bus over to AK when I saw on the app that it was an 80 min wait around 7:00pm on Sunday. I was at AK from HS by 7:30 and in line by 7:50. The wait was 95 minutes at that point. The que was amazing, especially at night. I feel like if I was with other people it would have made it go by even quicker but no one else in my group was going to ride it. I'd wait ~95 min again in a second, even more so if I was in line with friends!

Also, I am so glad I didn't rope drop because I got about 3 hrs of sleep Sunday night and AK was absolutely packed Monday. I think I would not have enjoyed it as much for sure.

 

[Canuckgirl78]

Another option is to wait until the end of the day. We got in line at 8:30 pm on a day when closing was at 9 and ROL was at 8:15. Even with the dreaded technical difficulties announcement that the ride was operating at reduced capacity we were walking out of the park at 10pm. There are no more fast passes once the park closes and we were in line before ROL attendees joined the line, 90 minutes was much shorter than the 150 minute wait time posted when we got in line.

Unfortunately, we won’t be staying until the park closes because of our kids. We have ADRs at Boma at 6pm and my plan is to just go back to our resort afterwards so the kids can have a bath and get to sleep at a decent time. Also, the next day will be our first MK day. & I definitely want us to wake up early to RD it so we can see the park in a somewhat leisurely manner the first time!

 

[NelleBelle]

I'd totally wait in FOPif the line was only 90 min! At night would be really cool to visit, IMHO. We've yet to visit Pandora but night would seem all that more special to look at the details!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Video of rope dropping FoP..

 

[DarthVader]

But if we wait 1 hour for rope drop it wouldn't sacrifice time in the park.

But you are sacrificing time, you need to get their extra early and that's time you could be using elsewhere.

I see this as, should I wait in line for 60 to 90 minutes for the luxurary of only waiting in line for 30 minutes for a ride? I'm not sure how that meshes when I can wait in line for 2 hours for the ride during the day.

This was taken by someone else in another thread talking about the crowds waiting for the rope drop. I forget which thread, but I saved it show my wife, and we both came to conclusion that if this the result of a waiting for the rope drop at AK, we're not going to deal with with it.

 

[Bairstow]

What has been the experience lately for those taking advantage of extra magic hours?