Early AM Flight of Passage Wait time

[Elmo007]

Its 61 days out and I still could not get a FP+ for Flight of Passage. If I get to Animal Kingdom early, realistically how long a wait can I expect for standby? The park opens at 9am with no EMH, what time should I arrive to minimize the wait?

Thanks

 

[goaljira]

We got to AK at 8:15 on Friday, and had approx 50-75 people ahead of us on the bridge holding area, and by the time we were moved on i'd estimate 3 times as many behind us. It was 9:12 when we walked off, and went straight into the queue for NRJ and had done that by 9:35 too.

When we came off FOP the wait time was listed as 120 minutes, and from the way the crowds built up behind us at the gate and in the holding area i'd say anyone arriving after 8:30 would have been waiting close to this.

 

[Elmo007]

Thanks. Guess i can sleep another day. I am newbie for AK. Is the holding area before they scan tickets or do they let people in early and we just all flock up into Pandora

 

[Aurora0427]

I'd arrive by 8am

 

[goaljira]

Thanks. Guess i can sleep another day. I am newbie for AK. Is the holding area before they scan tickets or do they let people in early and we just all flock up into Pandora

We queued at the gate to scan tickets, then about 8:20 they let people in to the park but held them on a bridge by Tiffins until around 8:45? Then you follow the CM down to Pandora and into the queue for FOP so the first people are in for when the park officially opens and the rides start.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Has anyone here had experience doing this when there are EM hours? Does it work similarly, just earlier? We don't mind getting up early and waiting to be allowed to enter--I'm just wondering what time we should get there.

 

[housemartin71]

We were there a few weeks ago for both EMH and regular rope drops. We arrived at EMH at around 645 for 8 am and at 730 for 9 am. For EM we ended up about fifth at our tapstile and at regular we were first. They let us in around 720 and 815 respectively and held us at the bridge for about 15 minutes. The CM told us that if you are on the bridge you will wait no more than 15 minutes. We were about 7 rows back during EMH and at the front the other time. We were on within the first or second ride and off before 8 and 9 on the two days. The process was almost identical except that during EM they held us at one end of the bridge and then slowly walked us across the bridge after about five minutes. During the regular day we were stopped at the far end of the bridge to begin. By the time we got off the line for standby snaked out of the queue and into pandora. The wait times were up at 100-120 minutes almost immediately.

 

[1GoldenSun]

We were there a few weeks ago for both EMH and regular rope drops. We arrived at EMH at around 645 for 8 am and at 730 for 9 am. For EM we ended up about fifth at our tapstile and at regular we were first. They let us in around 720 and 815 respectively and held us at the bridge for about 15 minutes. The CM told us that if you are on the bridge you will wait no more than 15 minutes. We were about 7 rows back during EMH and at the front the other time. We were on within the first or second ride and off before 8 and 9 on the two days. The process was almost identical except that during EM they held us at one end of the bridge and then slowly walked us across the bridge after about five minutes. During the regular day we were stopped at the far end of the bridge to begin. By the time we got off the line for standby snaked out of the queue and into pandora. The wait times were up at 100-120 minutes almost immediately.

Thanks! This is great to hear!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

An alternate strategy is to wait until later in the evening when the line gets short. We find this option to be a more efficient use of our time than trying to fight through the masses in the morning or waiting outside of a locked gate for an extended period of time.

Here's a recent example from FoP:

At 9:30 am, the posted wait was 210 minutes with an actual wait of 240.

At 9:30 pm, the posted wait was 60 minutes with an actual wait of 30.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We arrived at AK around 8:20 to 8:30 last Thursday morning. We went straight to FOP at rope drop. We weren't too far back in the crowd. The "wait time sign" said "60 min" when we went thru the entrance to the ride. I guess they were anticipating the incoming crowd, because from the time we went thru the entrance to the time we actually got onto the ride was about 23 minutes.

 

[Elmo007]

Thanks all. I think I will try the early arrival route. I was hoping to have dinner over at Disney Springs. I just cant believe that I could not get a fast pass 61 days out

 

[NH-to-FL]

I did a rope drop visit to Pandora a few weeks ago. I was waiting at Security at 7:30am for a 9am opening. This resulted in what amounted to a "walk on" to FoP. Yes it was still a 90 minute wait but for some reason it didn't feel that bad. It was actually three waits: the short wait for Security to open, a wait at the tapstile, and then the wait at the rope headed into Pandora. Basically you will wait around 60-90 minutes if you arrive near rope drop. After FoP I headed over to Navi River and rode with a short wait. I was finished both rides by 9:17am. Here is my trip report:

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

 

[BrownHP800]

In early August for 9am opening we got to AK just a little before 8am and it was already very full. They let us through the tapstiles about 8:15am and everyone headed for Pandora. So we all filed in line. About 8:40 let let us in and started forming a line. We rode and were off the ride by 9:20.

Posted wait time when we got off was 120 minutes.

 

[Haley R]

We are planning on doing Disney After Hours the night before our AK day. We are taking our 9 yo niece who has never been to Disney. Should we rope drop or just wait until later in the day?

I would be okay riding it just once. I've done rope drop and my husband and I ran to where the CMs were waiting. I just don't like the idea of trying to do that with a 9 yo and her mom. I also don't know how she will do going to After Hours until midnight and waking up the next morning for AK (I don't have kids lol).

 

[psaund9860]

Its 61 days out and I still could not get a FP+ for Flight of Passage. If I get to Animal Kingdom early, realistically how long a wait can I expect for standby? The park opens at 9am with no EMH, what time should I arrive to minimize the wait?

Thanks

We were at A/K on Thursday - 10/19. We arrived at 8:30 and was let in. The line at 8:30 went from the entrance back to near the Lion King theater, then looped back to the entrance to Pandora.....longest line I've ever seen. I go to WDW 7-8 times a year for 3-4 days each trip. Been doing this for 20 years. The line moved fairly quickly since no FP+ had been activated this early. Arriving at the entrance que the wait was 180 minutes. Without FP+, you need to arrive an hour before opening to avoid the long wait.

 

[Haley R]

We were at A/K on Thursday - 10/19. We arrived at 8:30 and was let in. The line at 8:30 went from the entrance back to near the Lion King theater, then looped back to the entrance to Pandora.....longest line I've ever seen. I go to WDW 7-8 times a year for 3-4 days each trip. Been doing this for 20 years. The line moved fairly quickly since no FP+ had been activated this early. Arriving at the entrance que the wait was 180 minutes. Without FP+, you need to arrive an hour before opening to avoid the long wait.

Was the original park opening supposed to be 9 then?

 

[psaund9860]

Was the original park opening supposed to be 9 then?

yes....9AM

 

[jecon]

We were at A/K on Thursday - 10/19. We arrived at 8:30 and was let in. The line at 8:30 went from the entrance back to near the Lion King theater, then looped back to the entrance to Pandora.....longest line I've ever seen. I go to WDW 7-8 times a year for 3-4 days each trip. Been doing this for 20 years. The line moved fairly quickly since no FP+ had been activated this early. Arriving at the entrance que the wait was 180 minutes. Without FP+, you need to arrive an hour before opening to avoid the long wait.

So if the park closes at 8pm - what time do you recommend getting in line?

 

[jecon]

So if the park closes at 8pm - what time do you recommend getting in line?

oops! wrong reply! Sorry about that!

 

[jecon]

An alternate strategy is to wait until later in the evening when the line gets short. We find this option to be a more efficient use of our time than trying to fight through the masses in the morning or waiting outside of a locked gate for an extended period of time.

Here's a recent example from FoP:

At 9:30 am, the posted wait was 210 minutes with an actual wait of 240.

At 9:30 pm, the posted wait was 60 minutes with an actual wait of 30.

So it the park closes at 8 pm - what time do you recommend getting in line?