FOTL - This weekend?

[SaveTheSeaTurtles]

I am anticipating extended wait times even for FOTL with a very busy 4th of July weekend at the parks.
Can someone tell me approx. what I can expect in this regard? We are planning to get to the parks approx. 30 min. before posted opening time. Will this help? Is it necessary if we have FOTL?
Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[robvia]

Last week IOA opened at 08:30am, so you can bet they'll do the same for the July 4th holiday. Show up at 08:00am and be first in line. The wait goes real quickly, and before you know it, you'll be first into the park. At 11am, the place becomes a zoo as everyone arrives. The walkways become crowded, and it's very hot out. You'll want to leave and go back to your hotel room to rest around noon. FOTL waits average 10-15 minutes at this time. Come back at night, and stay until 10pm when they have fireworks.

 

[gschmerl]

When we've been there for July 4th, we got there at park opening (even with staying on site). As robvia said, the park gets SO crowded after 11:00 that's it can even be hard to get around. We never waited more than 20 min. for an attraction with our magic room key. Go early...go back and enjoy the hotel pool...go back to the parks at night.