Does Pandora still open earlier than other AK Lands?

[SJSloan]

I’ve heard reports of Pandora opening about 20 minutes earlier than other areas in AK. So for a regular 9am opening it would open around 8:40am.

Any recent reports of this still being the case?

If so, if we are there at 7:45am for opening and head to FoP would we be able to make a Tusker House ADR at 9:40?

According to a popular site as long as we are wishing the first couple hundred we should have plenty of time but I have no experience with Pandora Rope Drop.

 

[OB1]

They normally start early. As long as there is not an EMH on that day, you should be able to ride and make Tusker House in time. Arriving as early as you plan, I would estimate a 30 minute ride time, and you may even be on the first run. HOWEVER, it gets a bit crazy with the masses heading towards FOP, but you should be good to go.
If the walkway is open to Africa, that will really help, but often in the morning that walkway is the backup line for FOP. HOWEVER, you will be walking in the direction of the line, and you can just walk past the end. You will end up in Africa by the Lion King.

 

[goofy4prez]

I'm glad I have FP+ already for FOP. I have a Tusker House ADR at 8:00 in a few days. After breakfast, while the mass of people are running (or very fast walking), dodging, pushing, weaving and cutting off one another, I'll be heading the other direction to enjoy an almost empty line for EE and ride it a couple of times and then head over to Pandora and use my FP for FOP and Navi. I'm getting too old for these RD's anymore. LOL

 

[mckennarose]

I’ve heard reports of Pandora opening about 20 minutes earlier than other areas in AK. So for a regular 9am opening it would open around 8:40am.

Any recent reports of this still being the case?

If so, if we are there at 7:45am for opening and head to FoP would we be able to make a Tusker House ADR at 9:40?

According to a popular site as long as we are wishing the first couple hundred we should have plenty of time but I have no experience with Pandora Rope Drop.

We were there a few weeks ago and yes, they allow people in the park around 8:30 AM. 7:45 should be a good time to rope drop. As long as there isn't EMH that morning.

We've been to AK a few times by 8:20-8:30 AM (not to rope drop FOP, we had FP, we're just early risers) and the rope drop crowds had already been let in. There are still MASSIVE amounts of people heading to Pandora before 9AM....a lot of them running. I think they aren't aware that rope drop starts before 8 AM.

..............
If the walkway is open to Africa, that will really help, but often in the morning that walkway is the backup line for FOP. HOWEVER, you will be walking in the direction of the line, and you can just walk past the end. You will end up in Africa by the Lion King.

A few weeks ago we had a FP for FOP at 9:25 AM. We walked onto to Navi (no line at 8:50 AM), did our FP (got in line 5 min early), got off FOP and grabbed a Lumpia and walked toward Africa around the same time the OP would be heading up to TH. And it was open with the FOP line already up the bridge. The CM was holding the sign about halfway up. And yes, there were people rushing past us trying to get to the end of the line. Definitely not as unpleasant as the "running with the bulls situation" at rope drop heading to Pandora, though.

Keep in mind that there is usually a wait a little past your ADR time for TH after you check in. Enough time to grab a Bloody Mary from Dawa! It's a nice treat after the rope drop madness.