Avatar flight of passage... When do i ride it?

[ChristineOH]

HELP!
Is it possible that today is my Fastpass day and FOP has no availability? I got Fastpasses easier the end of May!!! I am doing something wrong?

No. I easily got an early morning FP for our second park day in mid-June. But those FP were booked before Pandora opened.

Once Pandora opened and the extremely positive ride reviews came out, FP for FoP became extremely difficult to book.

 

[mtemm]

I agree with Christine. I had no trouble booking FOP fp for our July trip because they were done before pandora actually opened. In fact, I originally booked for Na'vi because previews had talked about the queue being amazing for fop so didn't want to miss it. Later that day I thought better and was easily able to change to FOP. Doesn't seem like that is a possibility anymore. This was day 63.

That said, keep checking/trying. You might get lucky!

 

[NH-to-FL]

I would vote for rope drop if you are willing to be there early. I did a rope drop visit to Pandora last Friday. I was waiting at the security checkpoint at 7:30am for a 9am opening. I was done riding FoP at 9:01am when the wait time showed 150 minutes. Basically a 90 minute wait for FoP. I went over to Navi River and was back in Pandora by 9:21am. See my detailed trip report here:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/first-visit-to-pandora-8-4-17.3623699/

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm worried about figuring out where to go because it's been over 17 years since I've been to animal kingdom but I was thinking it would be obvious to just move with the crowd??

I liked the fact that at RD I knew where I needed to go instead of trying to read the crowd and then react. While a large bulk of the people will head to FoP, there is a split that will happen for those to want to head to NRJ. I'm not saying that a scouting trip is a "must", I just found out that it was helpful. Pandora contains a large number of interweaving pathways and it's a little confusing the first time you're there as to where things are located, even with the signage.

Also keep in mind that at RD you will likely to routed towards the extended queue area for FoP instead of the actual start of the queue. This basically hooks right after you enter Pandora and will take you on the same path as the side exit towards Harambe.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We rope dropped last Wednesday. Opening was at 9. We got to the tapstile line at 7:35 and were off the ride and out of Pandora at 9:12. Sure we waited in a crazy crowd with 1000s of our new (sweaty) best friends but we didn't waste hardly any park time and got to experience the ride. This was the crowd behind as at the entrance to Pandora

View attachment 260122

This is one reason why I would not want to RD FoP. Ick.

I am one who counts the time I have to wait to get into the park as time spent in line (if I am specifically there early to ride a specific attraction). I would much rather actually stand in the Pandora line for 90 minutes than have to get to the park an hour early and wait in line to get into Pandora and then get in line for FOP. Time spent is about the same, but in the FoP line, you have a lot of nice things to look at and it is nice and cool and shady- as opposed to being hot waiting outside and staring at someone's baseball hat.

I like wandering into AK a little late because it is so much more pleasant with fewer people around.

I also have an AP, though, and I can go into the park several times within one trip. I don't have to squeeze everything in to one day. If I had only one day at AK and I wanted to do everything I possibly could, then RD may be the best way to ensure maximizing park time.

 

[REEREEG]

Also keep in mind that at RD you will likely to routed towards the extended queue area for FoP instead of the actual start of the queue. This basically hooks right after you enter Pandora and will take you on the same path as the side exit towards Harambe.

Can you explain the 2 parts of the line a little more?

If we get in early enough the first day we will scope it out - otherwise we won't have time before rope drop crowds...

 

[100acreHiker]

HELP!
Is it possible that today is my Fastpass day and FOP has no availability? I got Fastpasses easier the end of May!!! I am doing something wrong?

Today was my window to book FPs. It's just two of us but only a two day ticket. I was on at 7am sharp and could not get a fp for even one of us. Very disappointing. Sort of the point of the trip and now rethinking it...

 

[johnsgrl]

What about if you have a ECV? I can get there an hour early, but do I take my ECV right through the line, or do I have to park it, and walk through the entrance?

Yes, you can take your ECV through the line, though with all of the switchbacks it an interesting drive! You will be able to ride it up to the point where you are being sent into the scanning room, and you will get a room on the first floor.
We were there for opening weekend and it was very difficult since there was a mad rush to FOP and so many people cut me off that we totally lost sight of our kids and they ended up riding without us as it was nearly impossible to keep up with them in the crowds.
I made a comment to one lady who cut me off about people separating families in their rush and she said "tell me about it", then she warned a young man in front of her to watch out for the grumpy lady on the scooter, wish I could have seen her face when he said "she's my Mom" HA!

 

[Fat01]

This is one reason why I would not want to RD FoP. Ick.

I am one who counts the time I have to wait to get into the park as time spent in line (if I am specifically there early to ride a specific attraction). I would much rather actually stand in the Pandora line for 90 minutes than have to get to the park an hour early and wait in line to get into Pandora and then get in line for FOP. Time spent is about the same, but in the FoP line, you have a lot of nice things to look at and it is nice and cool and shady- as opposed to being hot waiting outside and staring at someone's baseball hat.

I like wandering into AK a little late because it is so much more pleasant with fewer people around.

I also have an AP, though, and I can go into the park several times within one trip. I don't have to squeeze everything in to one day. If I had only one day at AK and I wanted to do everything I possibly could, then RD may be the best way to ensure maximizing park time.

So, you would rather stand in the Pandora line (a long line) for 90 minutes in the sweltering Florida heat, versus standing at the very front of the line at 8am (when it's cool) with a cup of coffee for say 60 minutes, waiting for RD. Well, that is not what I prefer. For me, I get there at say 7:45 am and am one of the first handful of people there. I sip my coffee, eat my pastry, use my smart phone, talk to my companions and enjoy the Florida morning which as most Florida mornings is rather nice. At RD, I do the ride, I walk right on and am out of there a little after 9am. So, 60 mins. of quality coffee / pastry time at the front of the line on a cool Florida morning and then right on the ride. MY 60 mins. waiting was before park hours, your 60 mins. was during park ours which you pay for. In essence you paid $ to stand in line sweating and I did not. In closing, whether you do Pandora or Safari at AK, or Soaring or Test Track at Epcot, you are far better off doing RD.

 

[firefly_ris]

Logged in at exactly 7am and no FP available for our 3 day visit, which I was assuming. I'm going to keep checking the app as the days go by, but otherwise coffee and rope drop sounds OK to me.

There were also no FPs for Frozen or 7 Dwarves right at 7am either. I purposely made all of my FPs except for the 3rd/last day all in the afternoon/evening so we can play mornings by ear and see which park we want to try to rope drop, or just take it easy and forget about those until we come back with the kids

 

[Fat01]

Logged in at exactly 7am and no FP available for our 3 day visit, which I was assuming. I'm going to keep checking the app as the days go by, but otherwise coffee and rope drop sounds OK to me.

Yup, rope drop with coffee and pastry in hand on a cool Florida morning at the front of the line with family is pretty bearable. Just be sure you bring your coffee and pastry as you will not find it available there, that early in the morning.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

This is one reason why I would not want to RD FoP. Ick.

I am one who counts the time I have to wait to get into the park as time spent in line (if I am specifically there early to ride a specific attraction). I would much rather actually stand in the Pandora line for 90 minutes than have to get to the park an hour early and wait in line to get into Pandora and then get in line for FOP. Time spent is about the same, but in the FoP line, you have a lot of nice things to look at and it is nice and cool and shady- as opposed to being hot waiting outside and staring at someone's baseball hat.

I like wandering into AK a little late because it is so much more pleasant with fewer people around.

I also have an AP, though, and I can go into the park several times within one trip. I don't have to squeeze everything in to one day. If I had only one day at AK and I wanted to do everything I possibly could, then RD may be the best way to ensure maximizing park time.

This pic was from a one day trip on 8-2-17. We drove down Tuesday night, went to AK, DHS and MK Wednesday and drove home Thursday. I left the decision up to DS15 whether he wanted to go for FOP or not. He said he was up for it so we did it. For a one day trip I didn't want to waste park time waiting in line so we wasted time before any park opened and still had the whole day. We have never made rope drop on any trip before so this was a "one time thing" for us.

 

[Geoff_M]

Can you explain the 2 parts of the line a little more?

If we get in early enough the first day we will scope it out - otherwise we won't have time before rope drop crowds...

Take a look at the map below. This is how they were running things in July and I believe it still works the same way. The blue arrow starts on the path that you will wait on at RD. It running past Tiffins right before entering Pandora. The start of the normal queue for FoP (where the FP+ line starts and they post the wait times) is marked with the blue pointer and the black star. With no crowd, the quickest way to get to FoP would be to go straight into Pandora, and then turn right after The Colors of Mo'ara stand. HOWEVER, at RD they have been lining up the herd along the red line and then have people file into the regular queue that way. The red arrow is the extended queue for FoP. Given this arrangement, at RD, you will likely follow the blue arrow in order to get you into the queue for FoP.

The start of the red path above is on the rear exit of Pandora that leads to the FoTLK theater. When we did RD when we got to the AK gates at 30 minutes before posted opening, we were held for the RD by Tiffins and when they opened Pandora we followed the blue path and found the end of the queue to be at the start of the path to FoTLK. Our wait was only around 40 minutes to get on the attraction.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

So, you would rather stand in the Pandora line (a long line) for 90 minutes in the sweltering Florida heat, versus standing at the very front of the line at 8am (when it's cool) with a cup of coffee for say 60 minutes, waiting for RD. Well, that is not what I prefer. For me, I get there at say 7:45 am and am one of the first handful of people there. I sip my coffee, eat my pastry, use my smart phone, talk to my companions and enjoy the Florida morning which as most Florida mornings is rather nice. At RD, I do the ride, I walk right on and am out of there a little after 9am. So, 60 mins. of quality coffee / pastry time at the front of the line on a cool Florida morning and then right on the ride. MY 60 mins. waiting was before park hours, your 60 mins. was during park ours which you pay for. In essence you paid $ to stand in line sweating and I did not. In closing, whether you do Pandora or Safari at AK, or Soaring or Test Track at Epcot, you are far better off doing RD.

Actually, I'd rather show up at FoP with my fastpass at 9 pm, right after a lovely sunset safari on KS. That's the way to go.

Then, a few days later, meander past the massive lines of people in the RD FoP line and head over to Satu'li Canteen and have a lovely, leisurely breakfast of a goat cheese frittata and some absolutely divine herb crusted beef while I admire the decor and enjoy the peace and quiet of the near-empty restaurant. Then head over to FoP with my fastpass and stroll right past the folks standing in the 210 minute line and walk right on FoP.

Which is exactly what I did.

But I also chose to wait in the FoP one EMH evening (120 minute posted wait- actual 60 minute wait) because so many had commented on what a great queue it was. They were right. It is a great queue. Definitely worth an hour of park time (and it was actually an hour of time I would otherwise have gone back to the resort- so did I pay for that time? And since I have an AP, am I paying for park time RIGHT NOW as I sit at home? So complicated... ).

Just want to add that Soarin' is also amazing at EMH. Did that, too. On the crazy and crowded 4th of July evening at Epcot, I watched Illuminations and the special 4th fireworks then headed over to Soarin'. Rode it twice with a 5 minute wait each time.

Glad your RD experiences have been great. I have had better luck with PPO breakfasts and EMH. To each his own.

 

[Bete]

What in the world would happen here if someone had an emergency situation? None of us can predict when this could happen.

I'm glad for the picture, here. I may rethink this part.

I haven't been to Disney World in 5 years and I'm making a trip this year toward the end of the year. I've taken over 40 trips through the years. I was there for the opening of Toy Story Mania. I have never experienced this at the parks.

I will try for FP but if I can't make that work out there is no way I'll be doing this attraction, this year.