FOP with no FP

[KBoopaloo]

For people who have done RD, when they open the turnstiles are being running like mad to get to FoP or is it an orderly walk? I just saw an Epcot RD video and people were sprinting to get to Frozen, combined with a Calvary of people on motorized scooters and parents rushing with strollers.

Some people definitely did run but I never felt like I was going to be mowed down. I think the bigger issue would be if you have anxiety in a large crowd. Once we got near Pandora, it was a good chunk of time waiting on the bridge in a mass of what felt like a thousand people. It can also be tricky to keep your party together once they open the bridge.

I would probably do the late night option before the rope drop option if I were to go again without a fP.

 

[obbut]

Brian from touringplans has a youtube video about this-he walks you through exactly how to do it. I think he was off the ride before the park officially opened. Search youtube for touringplans & pandora & it should appear.

 

[King Dominic]

Thank you everyone. Yes we are staying onsite and we will try and arrive an hour early (7 AM). I hope arriving this early will help with the 2-3 hour waiting. My DH doesn't think anything is worth waiting that long. LOL

When we went in November, the wait time was consistently over 4 hours. Luckily, we had a fastpass and didn’t have to wait. As soon as we got off the ride I told my wife, I wouldn’t wait 4 hours for anything but I’d wait 2 hours for that.

 

[King Dominic]

In the meanwhile, when you have a spare few moments, go to MDX and try to get FP+s for that day. Just keep refreshing. You might be pleasantly surprised when you're able to score them. Just because you can't get them right now doesn't mean they won't appear. I've had a lot of success with this strategy. Including the day of. And the day before. And 40 days out.

I ‘ve had A LOT of luck for many fastpasses and even ADR’s just by checking every so often as the trip approached. Like you said, even sometimes the day of or before.

 

[KelNChrisKYDis]

For people who have done RD, when they open the turnstiles are being running like mad to get to FoP or is it an orderly walk? I just saw an Epcot RD video and people were sprinting to get to Frozen, combined with a Calvary of people on motorized scooters and parents rushing with strollers.

That was not our experience. People (including us) were walking briskly, but it wasn't chaotic. The worst was EMH rope drop at DHS and everyone was running to Toy Story. My poor 5 year old was almost mowed over by The Stroller Brigade. I had to run to catch up with someone to ask where they were running... the man I asked (who was at least 70 and was running like a marathoner) told me and my DH & I pulled off to the side as we had a FP for it later that morning. I can appreciate everyone wanting to get the most they can out of EMH but sometimes they're just barbaric.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I’m with @Babe the Blue Ox. My advice during a busy time would be to pop in line 30 minutes before Park close.

That way you’ll only miss 30 minutes of Park time, can avoid the stress and drama of the FOP dash, and after the official park closing time you won’t be up against FPs (which is true also for AM EMH).

If I had a free half hour at AK at the end of the day, I would probably first go ride Everest a couple of times then get in line for FoP closer to closing time.

If I had a full hour, I may chance getting in the FoP line with the hope that I could get out and back on again before closing time.

 

[VeeHam]

Thanks everyone. We are going to get to the park and hour early and walk quickly. I'll keep checking to see if a FP becomes available. I doubt we'll stay till closing.

 

[zoicca]

Arrive 45 minutes before park opening and you'll be on within the first 30 minutes. Note, however, whereas Disney is quite good about controlling crowds running to the attractions, this is not the case at AK. When we went (last week) it was a free for all, with middle-aged men and women zipping past us in a full on sprint.