How do you plan during new openings?

[Purple & Pink Mommy]

We are going to WDW June 2-7 (or 8th if I can change our flights). With the news Pandora is opening the week prior, I am beyond excited as the movie is one of my favorites. I am excited to just to see the land. However, my girls will be 7 1/2, and almost 6 at the time of travel. They have no idea of the movie and will not stand in line for hours for a ride. My DH could care less. I am not counting on getting a FP+ for attractions as I don't always have the best luck. How do you handle such an exciting opening of new attractions? What should I expect and how should I prepare my family? What impact would this have on our touring style (we would normally arrive right around rope drop, although not super early, and stay as long as we can)? In the past, how did SDMT, A & E, FEA, affect your trip/touring style, etc? Since I am the vacation planning officer, I try to be prepared and plan for most situations. Thanks!

 

[ChasingLeslie]

We're going in July and the opening of Pandora isn't really going to change my touring. I'll try to get FPs for the new rides, if one/both are FP eligible. We'll do Tusker House breakfast, ride the safari, and hopefully hop over to Pandora for morning FPs. Then, we'll try to get the other rides with 4th+ FPs. Otherwise, we'll go to Pandora after breakfast and pray the RD crowd isn't massive.

We were able to get a FP for Frozen Ever After last year and visited the Sommerhaus right after our breakfast at Akershus.

 

[gap2368]

I would plane your trip as if PL was not open and just enjoy it if you do go back into pandora land know it will be very crowded

 

[loves to dive]

I'll be going in Sept. and I'm not planning on doing any planning differently than normal. If the land is open by then, I'll just figure it out when I get there.

 

[HopperFan]

Well first we have to hear how they plan to handle the FP+ situation, that might dictate what you can do.

I would pick one Pandora ride you want to do, book for you AND book your DH and girls for something else they might enjoy.

 

[Farro]

I'll be going in Sept. and I'm not planning on doing any planning differently than normal. If the land is open by then, I'll just figure it out when I get there.

It's opening May 27th.

We are doing two full days/nights there in October - which we would have done anyways as Animal Kingdom is our favorite park. Now with Pandora open, AK is sure to be open a few hours after dark. Win win for me. Even if Pandora is crazy crowded and hard to deal with, I still can enjoy the rest of the park at night - riding Everest in the dark while everyone else watches River of Light and checks out Pandora. Love it!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

7D opened in late May 2014. We were there on June 1 of that year and found short waits on the new red simply by waiting until later in the evening.

We rode twice in a half hour with the longest wait at 20 minutes.

 

[Purple & Pink Mommy]

Thanks everyone! I am looking forward to AK at night since the last time we went it closed at 5 or 6. I expect crowds, but hope it will be manageable.