Avatar advice needed

[justcin711]

So I am bringing my son to AK for one day to see the Avatar land (he loved the movie) but I haven't gotten FP+ for FOP. I have one for the Navi ride. I don't know if I should keep looking for one or not because I know he will want to see the full queue and FP+ skips all that. We are planning on going 12/21 if that matters and there is no way we will be at rope drop before 8am. He has been to Disney many times but not since Avatar was added so that will be the main focus. Any thoughts on how best to manage this without hours of waiting?

 

[Wubar]

No rope drop and no FP+? Based on other posts on this forum, your best bet might be to try and get in line close to park close, when actual wait times can be shorter, even if the posted wait time is often inflated to discourage potential riders.

 

[justcin711]

No rope drop my DH and I are locals so we live 45 minutes away...hard to be there an hour or so before rope drop to be in front of the crowds lining up and i know he will want to see the queue...thinking about lining up before closing but worried about when then cut off the line

 

[Wubar]

No rope drop my DH and I are locals so we live 45 minutes away...hard to be there an hour or so before rope drop to be in front of the crowds lining up and i know he will want to see the queue...thinking about lining up before closing but worried about when then cut off the line

If you are in line a minute before park close, you can ride. Barring technical shutdowns, they won't kick you out of line to close early.

 

[asuburbanman]

I would do your best to get there at rope drop. It's honestly your best bet. Then you can spend time enjoying Pandora or other areas in the evening.

I would keep refreshing the app after you use your three fast passes. There may be a chance of picking one up that day. Try to use fast passes as early as you can.

I highly recommend using the mobile app to order food in Pandora as well.

 

[DekrRini]

Are you able to get FP+ for both FOP and Na'vi on the same day? I didn't think that was possible because they're both on the same tier. And I doubt you could get them as a 4th FP. When I was there in December, the lines were crazy long. FOP was a great ride. It wouldn't be worth the hours long wait for me, but others clearly have no problem with it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Are you able to get FP+ for both FOP and Na'vi on the same day? I didn't think that was possible because they're both on the same tier. And I doubt you could get them as a 4th FP. When I was there in December, the lines were crazy long. FOP was a great ride. It wouldn't be worth the hours long wait for me, but others clearly have no problem with it.

You cannot as part of the 3 prebooked FP, but there are no tier limitations after those are used.

 

[Capang]

Get in line at closing or check wait times throughout the day. Sometimes the line drops in the afternoon or early evening but since you are going at a holiday time that may be different. We've waited the longest just over 2 hours. It's a great ride, but I wouldn't wait more than 2 hours if possible.

 

[sharonabe]

I would do your best to get there at rope drop. It's honestly your best bet. Then you can spend time enjoying Pandora or other areas in the evening.

I would keep refreshing the app after you use your three fast passes. There may be a chance of picking one up that day. Try to use fast passes as early as you can.

I highly recommend using the mobile app to order food in Pandora as well.

If people get there AT rope drop, they are going to be waiting an hour or two in line. In order for a first in the morning ride to work well, you have to be AT the gates about one hour BEFORE rope drop.

Not saying you don't know that, but I've seen posts here and on the FB DIS page where people got there AT rope drop expecting to ride within 30-45 min.

 

[nacho113]

So I am bringing my son to AK for one day to see the Avatar land (he loved the movie) but I haven't gotten FP+ for FOP. I have one for the Navi ride. I don't know if I should keep looking for one or not because I know he will want to see the full queue and FP+ skips all that. We are planning on going 12/21 if that matters and there is no way we will be at rope drop before 8am. He has been to Disney many times but not since Avatar was added so that will be the main focus. Any thoughts on how best to manage this without hours of waiting?

I second Wubar...No rope drop, no FP and Christmas week...expect a very long wait.

As others have said, maybe try close to closing time. Your probably still looking at close to 2 hours but better than daytime waits in the 4-5 hour range.
Current wait time for FOP shows 240 minutes (4 hours)
Basically no chance of FOP being available as a 4th FP

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Rope drop can be the busiest time of the day for this attraction. I checked several days recently and the wait times were up to 210 within 10 minutes of park opening. The waits were down to 30 within 10 minutes of park closing on the same day.

Just keep in mind that posted wait times are intentionally exaggerated at night to discourage late riders.

 

[bcactus]

When I went in August we arrived at 7:50 for a 9:00 opening. We were off both rides at 9:20 but they did to route us through the full queue for FOP

 

[Echo queen]

So should FOP top your FP List for AK? What is the top 3 FP choices currently? Thanks

 

[sharonabe]

So should FOP top your FP List for AK? What is the top 3 FP choices currently? Thanks

Not just for AK, it's the top of ALL your FP. Most people are doing FoP, 7DMT, and then either FEA or Test Trak.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Another vote to push for being early to rope drop. At least an hour early. In early August I arrived at 7:30a for the 9am opening and "walked on" FoP when the rope dropped. If you don't consider waiting at security, then the tapstiles, and finally the rope for 90 minutes before park opening waiting.

When I walked out of FoP at 9:01am, they opened a bit early, the wait was posted as 150 minutes.

And keep checking for FP's, a friend of mine picked up an evening FP for FoP around noon one day.

Otherwise, be patient and prepare for some crowds and waits.

Wishing you a successful visit!

 

[justcin711]

I appreciate all the advise! I will try for rope drop but I'm not sure we can make it an hour before park opens to line up. I think I may try for closing time...Avatar is truly the only thing on his must do list so if we have to wait in a long line at least its at he end of the night

 

[Babsy]

I would do your best to get there at rope drop. It's honestly your best bet. Then you can spend time enjoying Pandora or other areas in the evening.

I would keep refreshing the app after you use your three fast passes. There may be a chance of picking one up that day. Try to use fast passes as early as you can.

I highly recommend using the mobile app to order food in Pandora as well.

You cannot as part of the 3 prebooked FP, but there are no tier limitations after those are used.

YES!!! both of these are so right!

We had to cancel our original FP+ for FOP in Nov, due to flight issues and arriving a full day late at WDW. Two days later in the AK we were finished our three FP+ for the day so I kept refreshing like crazy. It paid off and we were able to get 2 FP+ for FOP for only 50 minutes later. We were elated! I could hardly believe it!

It's not a guarantee but obviously worth a try. ( FWIW, My back up plan was to jump into the standby line shortly before closing.)

Good luck!

 

[DekrRini]

You cannot as part of the 3 prebooked FP, but there are no tier limitations after those are used.

That's what I thought. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[justcin711]

For everyone recommending rope drop...if we do somehow make it that early do you go through the normal line or the fastpass line? It will be important for him to see the details in the normal queue

 

[clayfolks]

We got in line at 8:25pm on a 9pm closing night. The posted wait time was 85 minutes. We went through the regular queue and were finished with the ride and out of the ride building by 9:00.