FoP morning wait

[snowwhite84]

We will be at WDW in October, our first trip in the era of no FP+. As I’m not certain G+ will be up and running for our trip, I’ve been paying attention to standby wait times. Right now on a Saturday at 8:30am, FoP is 35 minutes, which I think is fantastic. Is this typical? I do understand we are in a lower crowd period right now.

ETA: we will be staying on property, so will be able to take advantage of the 30 minute early entry.

 

[Marionnette]

We will be at WDW in October, our first trip in the era of no FP+. As I’m not certain G+ will be up and running for our trip, I’ve been paying attention to standby wait times. Right now on a Saturday at 8:30am, FoP is 35 minutes, which I think is fantastic. Is this typical? I do understand we are in a lower crowd period right now.

ETA: we will be staying on property, so will be able to take advantage of the 30 minute early entry.

You're going to see the crowds and wait times creep up in the next couple of weeks. This is the so-called "lull before the storm". Once the 50th anniversary rolls around you'll see wait times that are much longer.

 

[snowwhite84]

You're going to see the crowds and wait times creep up in the next couple of weeks. This is the so-called "lull before the storm". Once the 50th anniversary rolls around you'll see wait times that are much longer.

Sounds right!

 

[Nabas]

You're going to see the crowds and wait times creep up in the next couple of weeks. This is the so-called "lull before the storm". Once the 50th anniversary rolls around you'll see wait times that are much longer.

Although there are no rooms available for the 50th or that weekend, the Disney website shows most rooms available Sunday to Thursday for the 4 weeks after that, including at Value Resorts (which usually fill up first) and the Beach Club (which usually is sold out for Food and Wine Festival).

There are no room discounts and the media have been covering Florida’s COVID numbers in depth. I expect these have affected attendance.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you try this (and FOP is worth the effort, in our opinion!), make sure you allow enough time to get to the front gate to take advantage of the early entry - whether it's the buses to get there, or if you drive and park. It often seems to take longer than you realize to get to the AK entry. Of course, if you get there 90 minutes early, you're defeating the purpose of trying to reduce the wait time for the attraction! Good luck - hope you get to enjoy it.

 

[snowwhite84]

If you try this (and FOP is worth the effort, in our opinion!), make sure you allow enough time to get to the front gate to take advantage of the early entry - whether it's the buses to get there, or if you drive and park. It often seems to take longer than you realize to get to the AK entry. Of course, if you get there 90 minutes early, you're defeating the purpose of trying to reduce the wait time for the attraction! Good luck - hope you get to enjoy it.

Yes, I agree with this! When rope dropping I always try to find that sweet spot if getting there early enough to minimize my wait while not being there so early that it defeats the purpose of trying to cut out waiting. It’s a delicate art!

 

[Marionnette]

Although there are no rooms available for the 50th or that weekend, the Disney website shows most rooms available Sunday to Thursday for the 4 weeks after that, including at Value Resorts (which usually fill up first) and the Beach Club (which usually is sold out for Food and Wine Festival).

There are no room discounts and the media have been covering Florida’s COVID numbers in depth. I expect these have affected attendance.

Current crowds have been at a 1 or 2. Touring Plans is still showing crowd levels of 3-5 from a couple of days after the 50th through the end of the year, with Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks hitting 10s at most parks. Although I think that the COVID numbers in Florida may have an influence on crowds, I'm sure they've taken this into account. The crowd numbers would be much higher if not for that.

As to hotel room availability, I think it's a reflection of no discounts and very few onsite perks. That just shifts guests to offsite hotels. DVC has very little in the way of availability, as it should at this point.

 

[kevind2112]

If you try this (and FOP is worth the effort, in our opinion!), make sure you allow enough time to get to the front gate to take advantage of the early entry - whether it's the buses to get there, or if you drive and park. It often seems to take longer than you realize to get to the AK entry. Of course, if you get there 90 minutes early, you're defeating the purpose of trying to reduce the wait time for the attraction! Good luck - hope you get to enjoy it.

Yes and no. Yes, you are not reducing your actual wait time for the ride. But, you’re also not wasting valuable park time in line. I’d rather spend 90 minutes pre-open than 90 minutes of park hours!

 

[Meriweather]

In March (spring break), I waited about 20 minutes at rope drop. I am not a fast walker, so didn't get to the line as fast as I would have liked, but that was acceptable to me.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Yes and no. Yes, you are not reducing your actual wait time for the ride. But, you’re also not wasting valuable park time in line. I’d rather spend 90 minutes pre-open than 90 minutes of park hours!

Yea, but that pesky sleep time can be of value, too!

 

[Nabas]

Current crowds have been at a 1 or 2. Touring Plans is still showing crowd levels of 3-5 from a couple of days after the 50th through the end of the year, with Thanksgiving and Christmas weeks hitting 10s at most parks. Although I think that the COVID numbers in Florida may have an influence on crowds, I'm sure they've taken this into account. The crowd numbers would be much higher if not for that.

As to hotel room availability, I think it's a reflection of no discounts and very few onsite perks. That just shifts guests to offsite hotels. DVC has very little in the way of availability, as it should at this point.

I agree but a 3-5 crowd level is well below normal for this time of year.

The OP states they are going in October and asks how will this affect FOP wait times. They are seeing 35 minutes for early September.

It’s not going to be 35 minutes in October, but it’s also not going to be the 180 minutes I’ve seen in October’s past.