Best place to wait while some ride FOP

[Shermonica Simon]

My older daughter and I have a fastpass for FOP at 9am. Even with the FP, my understanding is that it will be about 30 minutes before we finish the ride. My mom and younger daughter will not ride. My younger daughter is tall enough but will not be riding. My mom had to close her eyes during the"scary" part of Sorin so she will not be doing FOP. We will be there in August. Where is a good place for them to wait that is air conditioned. I thought of Satu'li Canteen but it doesn't open to 10. Any recommendations as to where they can wait that is not in the sun. By the way my mom will be in the ECV. The stand by wait for Navi is about 30 minutes according to touringplans, but I am concerned that it may be too much for my mom to handle the 4 year old by herself while waiting for that ride. Even with a FP they would be out in about 5-10 minutes and still need a place to wait while we are on FOP. Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

We waited in the gift store. There weren’t seats but it was cool in the ac! And lots to look at in there.

 

[CAS239]

The gift shop and check out stuff in there or just go around and check out the land. If NRJ isn't an option and the quick service isn't open, then those are the only two options aside from leaving Pandora

 

[Shermonica Simon]

Thank you! Is the gift side big. Will it be easy enough to maneuver an ECV in the gift shop?

 

[ears2BWV]

The gift shop is a pretty good size. It only can get a little crowded around the banshees, which is near the entrance. Everything else seemed pretty spaced out. It's not like the Star Tours gift shop, even on 2 feet I feel like I'm packed in there.

 

[Rxdr2013]

My husband and my 2 kids waited for me near the front of the park. There was a nice bench to sit at and some animals i think to look at. We rope dropped AK that morning and the mobs of people getting to the Pandora area was ridiculous. I don't know where they would have gone. They probably would have got run over! So they just waited to the side pretty much as soon as we got thru the main gate so I was the only one having to fight thru the crazy lines. I don't know what time the park opens when you are planning on going having a FP will definitely be easier for you to take some time to get to the ride, we did not have a FP.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Thank you! Is the gift side big. Will it be easy enough to maneuver an ECV in the gift shop?

The shops that are a little beyond the park entrance can easily accommodate the ECV. That way she avoid the crowds heading to Pandora. The Mickey and Minnie meet and greet is air conditioned if she wants to take the little one there.

 

[LA Poolboy]

As I recall there is a little seating area right outside the ride exit/giftshop. Should have some shade but not a/c.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

We did rider swap last year and I waited with my little one on a bench near the gift shop under some trees while I enjoyed a refreshing adult beverage from pongu pongu or whatever its called.

 

[cgattis]

My husband and my 2 kids waited for me near the front of the park. There was a nice bench to sit at and some animals i think to look at. We rope dropped AK that morning and the mobs of people getting to the Pandora area was ridiculous. I don't know where they would have gone. They probably would have got run over! So they just waited to the side pretty much as soon as we got thru the main gate so I was the only one having to fight thru the crazy lines. I don't know what time the park opens when you are planning on going having a FP will definitely be easier for you to take some time to get to the ride, we did not have a FP.

That is an excellent point. Maybe they could wait there and then head back once the initial crush dies down. Most of the path is shady in the morning and there are some pretty views along the way.

 

[KenHutch]

Have you thought of the Satu'li Canteen? They can rest in air conditioned comfort and the food is way above what you would expect from a counter service restaurant. You could ride and they could rest in comfort and try they blue desert thing my girls loved so much.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We sat on a rock wall in the shade right outside of Satu'li Canteen.

 

[Denise W]

Have you thought of the Satu'li Canteen? They can rest in air conditioned comfort and the food is way above what you would expect from a counter service restaurant. You could ride and they could rest in comfort and try they blue desert thing my girls loved so much.

The OP said it doesn't open until 10:00 and her FP is for 9 am.
Denise

 

[nancipants]

There is a covered seating area with fans outside of Satuli Canteen. Obviously not in air conditioning, but I've sat outside there before and was fine.

 

[MomOTwins]

They should go ride Safari! It also takes about 30 minutes, there won't be any wait right at 9am, and there is a shortcut path between FOP and Safaris. Even if you have plans to ride it together later in the day, you always see different animals every time

 

[kimmyg26]

Why not have them ride something like the Safari while they wait or go to It's Tough To Be A Bug?
There are plenty of things to do that a relatively close by.