How bad is FOP RD in May 2018?

[molangtsum]

Would like to know how long the waiting time is for FOP RD on a recent non-EMH day

 

[mesaboy2]

Like any other day, it depends on where you are in the RD crowd. A 15-minute difference in your arrival time can mean a 60-minute or more difference in FOP wait time. The earlier you arrive relative to the RD crowd, the less you will wait.

 

[subtchr]

Would like to know how long the waiting time is for FOP RD on a recent non-EMH day

Define "rope drop" for you.

If it means that you arrive 60-90 minutes before opening time, putting you toward the front of the rope drop crowd, your wait once the ride is open (which will likely be before scheduled opening time) will be minimal, from walk-on to 15 minutes.

If it means you arrive 30 minutes or less before opening, you could wait an hour or more.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Would like to know how long the waiting time is for FOP RD on a recent non-EMH day

They will open the park 45 minutes before the scheduled opening time. Get there 75 minutes before scheduled opening time and you should be walking off FoP at the scheduled opening time. Being late to the gate is not an option, because if you arrive at the scheduled opening time you are VERY late for rope drop, and the wait for FoP may already be 3 hours.

 

[molangtsum]

Define "rope drop" for you.

If it means that you arrive 60-90 minutes before opening time, putting you toward the front of the rope drop crowd, your wait once the ride is open (which will likely be before scheduled opening time) will be minimal, from walk-on to 15 minutes.

If it means you arrive 30 minutes or less before opening, you could wait an hour or more.

Well, I plan to take the first shuttle bus from my hotel to AK but seems like the 1st bus is 1 hr before the opening hours...

I guess the earliest I can reach is 45mims before opening...

 

[brockash]

Well, I plan to take the first shuttle bus from my hotel to AK but seems like the 1st bus is 1 hr before the opening hours...

I guess the earliest I can reach is 45mims before opening...

If you are staying on Disney property, there are buses before that. They will tell you and advertise buses starting an hr prior, but they generally start around 630am... We've used them early many times.

 

[kaetra]

For me, Waiting at the rope drop line is the same as waiting in the ride queue. So I just plan on 90 minutes waiting either way. Then if it’s less, bonus. FOP queue has neat stuff too. I’d rather wait there I think.

 

[fastpoint]

For me, Waiting at the rope drop line is the same as waiting in the ride queue. So I just plan on 90 minutes waiting either way. Then if it’s less, bonus. FOP queue has neat stuff too. I’d rather wait there I think.

I understand that waiting is waiting. But I do think waiting at RD is slightly more acceptable for me because the only opportunity cost is not sleeping in..Whereas during park hours, if I spend 1 1/2 hours in an actual que I am thinking about all the other activities I could have done in that same amount of time. Before the park opens though, I don't mind waiting.

 

[blemon]

I've been stalking this topic as well. Here's what someone posted on a FB group I am a member of:

"So we arrived at animal kingdom at 7.30 am it was going to open at 9am! We had no bags to check so waited at the entrance where you scan your magic band, the crowd was busy so we picked what we thought was the shortest line and waited.
8.10 am they let us scan our magic bands and enter the park, we made our way to pandora, where we were met on the bridge by a wall of 8 cast members who held us there until 8.40am, they slowly marched us along to the pandora standby line where we had to fall into a single line and enter the ride building
We were about 20 in line and were sent to the number 4 section
(These sections are like when you ride soaring a,b,c etc)
We then rode the ride and were outside in the park at 9am, the queue time as we exited said 60 mins"

I looked up the date and the Touring Plans crowd calendar predicted a 5 on that day and it ended up being a 7.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

For me, Waiting at the rope drop line is the same as waiting in the ride queue. So I just plan on 90 minutes waiting either way. Then if it’s less, bonus. FOP queue has neat stuff too. I’d rather wait there I think.

There have been several recent reports of 30 minutes waits close to the end of the day. I like that option better than 90 minutes.

 

[DSLRuser]

search on youtube for "Pandora Flight Of Passage Rope Drop"....omg.....my eyes can not unsee the carnage of people.....4 hour wait @ 8:22am....that is 22 minutes into the start of EMH

 

[DSLRuser]

"So we arrived at animal kingdom at 7.30 .......We then rode the ride and were outside in the park at 9am"
.

so...a 90 minute wait @ rope drop....no thanks

 

[molangtsum]

If you are staying on Disney property, there are buses before that. They will tell you and advertise buses starting an hr prior, but they generally start around 630am... We've used them early many times.

I am staying at Holiday Inn though, at Disney Springs area... Not a Disney resort... Will the buses for those property also start so early?

 

[ChasingDreams]

How are the lines at the rest of the park if everyone rushes to Pandora; we have a FP around 10:30 and was hoping to use EMH to ride some of the other rides (dinosaur, meet and greet with Mickey, safari) before heading over. I have a little one and the thought of being in that RD crowd is a bit nervewracking and we are hoping to head in the opposite direction

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

How are the lines at the rest of the park if everyone rushes to Pandora; we have a FP around 10:30 and was hoping to use EMH to ride some of the other rides (dinosaur, meet and greet with Mickey, safari) before heading over. I have a little one and the thought of being in that RD crowd is a bit nervewracking and we are hoping to head in the opposite direction

I was looking yesterday at wait times and they looked great at 8:45. EE was 3 mins, KS was 15 mins. I didn't notice the M&G but everything outside of Pandora was pretty light and the overall crowd yesterday was on the heavy side of moderate.

 

[blemon]

I am staying at Holiday Inn though, at Disney Springs area... Not a Disney resort... Will the buses for those property also start so early?

We are staying off property at a timeshare and we're just going to get an Uber or Lyft to the parks. I would check with your hotel on if they have transportation to the parks.

 

[subtchr]

I am staying at Holiday Inn though, at Disney Springs area... Not a Disney resort... Will the buses for those property also start so early?

Nope, not likely. I'd spring for an Uber or Lyft that day.

 

[ginny65]

I've heard mixed reviews about Navi River Journey. I'm wondering if we should skip it, and at rope drop, head over to ride Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids standby and then head back to Pandora for our 9-10 FP+ for FoP. Or do you think we could do Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids as a walk-on in between our 9-10 FoP FP+ and before our 10-11 Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ if we are at FoP by 9?

 

[blemon]

I've heard mixed reviews about Navi River Journey. I'm wondering if we should skip it, and at rope drop, head over to ride Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids standby and then head back to Pandora for our 9-10 FP+ for FoP. Or do you think we could do Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids as a walk-on in between our 9-10 FoP FP+ and before our 10-11 Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ if we are at FoP by 9?

I only had a 30 day window for FP and I was able to get the time that I wanted. My trip is in two weeks and there are still Navi FP available. I'm sure you could get same-day FP as well.