Not getting a FOP fastpass? I am crazy?

[WaterLinds]

It also concerns me that Touring Plan estimates that even with a FP for FOP, we’ll still wait about 25 minutes for FOP later on, while if we use FP for other rides, they’ll be essentially walk-ons. I’m thinking that I'd rather show up earlier and wait at rope drop!

I think that TP includes the pre-show time in their wait estimate for FOP, so that’s why it looks so long. You’re going to have that preshow whether you do it standby or FP, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that in your calculations.

I’m not sure what the right answer here is, though! If you don’t book it, then yes, keep an eye out for hour changes, both for ROL times/rides at closing, but also if they move opening up an hour then you could grab a FP for first thing, RD Navi and do FOP without the backtracking.

If you opt to grab an afternoon/evening FP, I’d consider it a chance to eat dinner at Satuli unless you have other dining plans. If you’re backtracking anyway that’s a good reason to do so! I might grab the FOP FP tomorrow anyway just to have. Having a tier one makes searching for them later that much easier (since when you try to modify it will have those options at the top, I believe), and you willlikely be able to get one of the other rides later if you change your mind...once FOP is gone it’s hard to get if you decide you want it!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

It's really hard to do AK without some backtracking. We usually find ourselves going around the loop twice and still have some back tracking. Definite get the FOP FP if you can. Then work the other rides as best you can based on the time you get FOP. If you're able to RD it you can always drop the FP and get something else. But I think you'll be able to get at least a couple other rides in at RD if you end up just doing Navi.

 

[bit413]

No. Unfortunately, it's only day 2 (which couldn't be switched). However, I've been following this and everyone reporting back the past few days, and it does look like there will be some availability. Probably in the afternoon or evening, however.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=835236

I did my fastpasses for that week today. We had a day on the 29th with plenty of FP for FOP. I also tried to get another FP for FOP the day after we arrive. All that was left was after 4. I went to the day after that and had plenty of available.

 

[bit413]

Actually, we'll be there March 24th. I've tried to convince my family we can skip this, but they LOVE it. Hopefully we'll be able to get a 4th FP for it or we'll have to single-rider EE probably.

There were FP for Kali today for the entire week. It looks like it will be open.

 

[Pkltm]

So our family also loves all the rides at AK, we have been on both Pandora rides and I would not ever pass up a FOP fastpass, if they have them you need to grab them! It inevitable that you may have to wait in line for Dinosaur, EE, Kali, there are so many rides. I find banking on Rope Drop can be so hit or miss, especially to attempt to do both Pandora rides.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Don't give up the opportunity to FP FOP. Every other ride you want to do is much easier to find FP's for than FOP (with the possible exception of Navi). Every other ride is also much easier to find low waits in stand by at some point during the day (rope drop, during RoL, later in the afternoon, etc...). Having that FP for FOP is like having an insurance policy! Don't leave home without it.

 

[Babsy]

If you can get a FP+ for FOP, I would definitely grab it whatever time it is. It is easier to modify it to a better time later, if necessary. But at least then you do have a FOP FP+. If not, you may end up in a very long line in order to see FOP and this is a nice ride to experience. It is best to book early and rope drop NRJ if possible. You will have 2 more FP+ for other rides. And you can always try for a 4th FP+ for a ride like Dinosaur, which is often available as a 4th FP+. Even if you don't get a Dinosaur FP+, the line would likely be less than the line for FOP.

Let us know how it works out for you! Good Luck!!!!!

 

[sndral]

I vote you don’t bother getting a FP for FOP, that gives somebody else a better chance to get one - you can wave at them as they go through the FP line as you wait 90 minutes in the standby queu lol.
I’m biased, I think Disney hit a home run with FOP, IMO it’s the best ride they’ve built in years, so it’s worth it to me to rearrange my day to take advantage of the chance to ride it without a long wait.
I’ve never understood how getting to rope drop an hour early to join 90% of the rope droppers and head straight to FOP to wait half an hour to get on the ride isn’t really a 90 minute wait for a ride, albeit you’re waiting outside the park gates rather than in the FOP standby queu for most of it.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I vote you don’t bother getting a FP for FOP, that gives somebody else a better chance to get one - you can wave at them as they go through the FP line as you wait 90 minutes in the standby queu lol.
I’m biased, I think Disney hit a home run with FOP, IMO it’s the best ride they’ve built in years, so it’s worth it to me to rearrange my day to take advantage of the chance to ride it without a long wait.
I’ve never understood how getting to rope drop an hour early to join 90% of the rope droppers and head straight to FOP to wait half an hour to get on the ride isn’t really a 90 minute wait for a ride, albeit you’re waiting outside the park gates rather than in the FOP standby queu for most of it.

It IS a 90 minute wait for a ride, but you're not missing out on any other rides while you're doing that waiting.

 

[sndral]

It IS a 90 minute wait for a ride, but you're not missing out on any other rides while you're doing that waiting.

Ah, ok, so you are more efficient with your waiting!
Me, I FP and sleep instead, so what do I know

 

[Divaofdisney]

I was not able to get a FP for FOP for any day of our trip. We are doing the extra magic hours on 3/11 and hoping to get there early enough to get there as quickly as possible. I was pretty bummed and hope that the wait won't be terrible by time we get there. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

It IS a 90 minute wait for a ride, but you're not missing out on any other rides while you're doing that waiting.

But time isn't free, and those that arrive that early probably aren't still around later in the day when the lines do get really short. I'd trade that 90 minute wait before the park opens for the 20 minute wait after the park closes.

 

[Mome Rath]

Ah, ok, so you are more efficient with your waiting!
Me, I FP and sleep instead, so what do I know

I think it is personal preference, as I am an early riser anyway, so I rope drop it, and I have a FP for it.... then I refresh for more... and then I cry when I have to leave... lol But really, getting there at rope drop allows me to get past security, into the park and back into a land all before park open; waltz on both FoP and NRJ (which I love for different reasons), and then you can pretty much go get on whatever else you want, then use whatever FP's you have, then start refreshing for more.

I do like that Disney is now set up that different touring styles will still work.

I was not able to get a FP for FOP for any day of our trip. We are doing the extra magic hours on 3/11 and hoping to get there early enough to get there as quickly as possible. I was pretty bummed and hope that the wait won't be terrible by time we get there. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The last few trips I've hit AK rope drop on a Monday around and hour early (so if it is 8am EMH, get there around 7am), if you do that, you'll be fine. Just don't be intimidated by the line that forms, I've seen people walk off, and that's a no-no. In the earliest morning it moves fast, and goes through the FP queue and not the standby, hence the line looks longer than it is. The other thing is; you can usually get same day FP's for FoP if you refresh on the FP app to find open times.

 

[Divaofdisney]

Thanks so much for the advice. We will plan to get there around 7 extra magic hours start at 8 AM. I don't walk as fast as my daughter but I will walk as fast as I can. We do have FP for NRJ and Rivers of Light so we are good with that. Hoping to get to ride at least twice if the line isn't too long.

 

[Mome Rath]

Thanks so much for the advice. We will plan to get there around 7 extra magic hours start at 8 AM. I don't walk as fast as my daughter but I will walk as fast as I can. We do have FP for NRJ and Rivers of Light so we are good with that. Hoping to get to ride at least twice if the line isn't too long.

No worries, walking will be alright. I've seen a few runners, and a few more faster than light walkers, I go with my own mother most times and we definitely just walk steadily lol. If you ride FoP at rope drop and get off the ride, there will be about a 2 hour wait for it already at that point! So, if you want to go twice, definitely aim for rope drop and then either an FP or get in line right before closing if you stay that late.

Hope you have a lot of fun!

 

[DWillowBay]

If you're not going to FP FOP, but are committed to riding, you need to budget at least 2 hours for both the line and the pre-show and the ride. That is FAR MORE inefficient use of time. IMHO

 

[Mome Rath]

My timeline is; rope drop on an EMH day (we're up anyway at that time, so why not?); let off at AK bus stop heading to the gate at around 7:05/7:10 for an 8am EMH opening. Through security and at the tapstiles, into the park early (they open before 8, and the ride usually starts before 8 as well), into line, on the ride off the ride, and it's about 9:05/9:10, on to NRJ and on and off in about 15 min.

So, if you are going to use an FP, you still have to get to the park, go through security (which takes longer depending on when you show up), through the tapstiles, back into Pandora, into the FP line, and wait in the FP line. So, the only thing you "gain" is a shorter wait in the FP line by using FP (you use the same line when rope dropping), and from my multiple experiences, that may mean 10 min less or so, you may gain a short bit of time during the wait at the tapstiles depending on the congestion when you get there, and you are not taking up paid for open park time by waiting.

And, if you park hop, do all that during EMH and when done with FoP and NRJ it's park open for the general public, so it's time to head out and go to a less crowded park, where FP's are booked for the headliners. There's more than one approach, it all depends on touring style.

 

[WhitneyMB]

Thanks for all the responses. You all have changed my mind! If I see a FP for FOP that's before our afternoon break, I will grab it. We're still planning on getting to AK at 7:45am for a 9:00am opening, and hoping to ride FOP and Navi at opening. You all have convinced me that the flexibility of having it might be a good thing ("an insurance policy") and we can always make someone else happy by modifying it day of to something else we haven't gone on yet, if we decide that will work out better. If something goes wrong at rope drop, I imagine that I'll be really glad that I got it!

 

[Pookie9922]

That ride is breathtaking. Seriously the best ride of our trip. Which was supposed to be a one-and-done trip and now I'm trying to figure out how to come back...just for that ride. (I live by DL and have all the rest. lol) Ride it early and ride it often.

If you don't want to backtrack, I'd suggest our itinerary. Our AK day worked out pretty much perfectly because I was trying to fit in as much as possible with minimal backtracking until the end of the day - I managed a 9:00 FP for FOP. (AK was our 60+5 day) Rope dropped Navi and then went directly on FOP. (We actually tried to get in line for FOP first and the wait was already 90 minutes. I think we arrived at 8:15 for a 9:00 opening and the park was already open) We then did the park clockwise with a FP for Safari at 10:00 and an Everest at 2:00. We were able to do everything else we wanted (Lion King, all the animal trails, Kali, lunch at Yak & Yeti, Dinosaur, ROL and even repeated Everest right after ROL) and then went back to Pandora to catch FOP again at the end of the day with only a 30 minute wait. (90 posted). I was so happy with our itinerary. However, if I were to ever go again, I would probably skip Dinosaur and Lion King and the animal trails and opt to ride FOP 3 times by RD'ing it, FP during the day and going at closing. It's addicting!

(I'm also trying to figure out how to beg Disney to build it at Disneyland so I don't need to travel for it! )

 

[Disney_Alli]

If there are two RoL shows or the show ends before park close it is very possible to get back over to Pandora and ride it with a much shorter wait in line. On our AK day I couldn't initially get FoP FPs but finally managed to modify our Navi ones into an afternoon time that worked perfectly for us. We then watched RoL which ended something like 30 minutes before park close and headed straight for FoP when it let out. The wait was posted at something like 180 minutes still (this was Dec 2017) but we were off the ride in just under an hour (but after the park closed) and had a beautiful relaxing walk back to the gates... after a security CM escorted me into the closed first aid to get a bandaid for the toe my stupid Converse had rubbed all day lol. But we had a lovely chat with the CMs and and not only walked out of a closed park but through areas we wouldn't usual have had access to after close thanks to our little extra adventure.