***Official*** Pandora: The World of Avatar Information Thread

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think 6 is way early. It will be hot too to stand outside the gates for 2 hours. Someone just posted that they do open the gates a little early from time to time. I'm assuming they probably open them at 7:30 or so if it is scheduled to open at 8. I'm planning on getting there at 7:30 unless others tell me that is too late.

Agree. Getting there at 6am means a two-hour wait just to not have... a 2hr (plus) wait? I'd skip it before I would do that, personally.

 

[TXMemaw]

Were there a ton of people already inside when you got there at 7:50?

It was crowded at the security check point but once we got to the tapstiles and into the park, it wasn't too bad. Everyone was at Pandora though. The SB time was 60 minutes for NRJ when we got in the line at 8:02 and 10 minutes later, it was already up to 120 minutes. I'm not sure what the SB times for FOP were. We had a FP for that so I wasn't paying attention. I talked to several people in lines on Sunday who also got to the park early but did other attractions outside of Pandora and they said those were walk on's for the first 60-90 minutes that the park was open.

 

[JerseyJanice]

@PrincessV OT, but I love your avatar.

 

[PrincessV]

@PrincessV OT, but I love your avatar.

Thank you! It explains perfectly how I usually feel when trying to plan a WDW vacation lol!

 

[wareagle57]

Yup - http://blog.touringplans.com/2017/0...ing-extra-magic-hours-disneys-animal-kingdom/

Looks like a few other things to do!

I thought this was only for opening weekend?

 

[JerseyJanice]

That doesn't surprise me. My guess would be that they wanted to see how the initial expansion does before adding to it. I think FoP is going to be a top 5 ride resort wide for the foreseeable future and will convince them that another Pandora E-ticket ride would be a good idea. Also agree that it won't happen until after Star Wars is in the finishing stages.

I would have expected them to have some kind of Avatar themed show. Live shows tie up a lot of guests at one time. Maybe there is one in the works. If so, I hope it's as good as Festival of the Lion King or the old Tarzan show, and not lame and boring like Nemo.

 

[yulilin3]

This is such a great thread! Thank you to everyone who's been contributing such great info!

I've been trying to keep up so I'm sorry if my question has already been covered but how has parking been for the night EMH? My husband and I are going for a short trip in two weeks and have a lot to squeeze in in a short time period. For one day we have FoP and other AK FPs earlier in the day and then I was thinking of heading over to MK to catch Happily Ever After before heading back to AK for EMH to see Pandora at night and hopefully ride NRJ. I'm wondering if this is crazy and if we'll have trouble finding parking. We're WDW pros but trying to see all the exciting new stuff in just a few days is throwing my planning off.

You can park at AK in the morning, bus to and from MK so you don't have to move your car

 

[Canesfan3234]

Thank you for this info! We do want to do the other non-Pandora stuff and have a fast pass for the safari, EE, and Navi River ride. So hopefully we will still get to walk around Pandora, but also enjoy the other sights and sounds of AK!

because of your fastpass, you will get to walk around pandora without waiting in the long line.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

because of your fastpass, you will get to walk around pandora without waiting in the long line.

That is fabulous to hear!

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

Any word on if they are selling out of the interactive Banshees? My son is definitely going to want one of those!

 

[snoopy352]

Agree. Getting there at 6am means a two-hour wait just to not have... a 2hr (plus) wait? I'd skip it before I would do that, personally.

While I agree that getting there at 6am is too early, this line of thinking is a bit faulty b/c you are waiting in line when nothing else is open, thus not wasting precious park time while waiting vs. wasting precious park time if you were to wait between 8 and 10.

 

[wilkeliza]

Any word on if they are selling out of the interactive Banshees? My son is definitely going to want one of those!

They are not selling out of the Banshees but are getting lower on supplies of specific color combos (the blue one see in the promo photos). They also seem to run out of the stands you can buy.

 

[Canesfan3234]

Any word on if they are selling out of the interactive Banshees? My son is definitely going to want one of those!

no idea, but if you are only going for half a day, you won't get into the store to buy a banshee. the line to get into the store has been 2+ hours long

 

[Canesfan3234]

While I agree that getting there at 6am is too early, this line of thinking is a bit faulty b/c you are waiting in line when nothing else is open, thus not wasting precious park time while waiting vs. wasting precious park time if you were to wait between 8 and 10.

there's also not as much sun to deal with at 6 am

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

While I agree that getting there at 6am is too early, this line of thinking is a bit faulty b/c you are waiting in line when nothing else is open, thus not wasting precious park time while waiting vs. wasting precious park time if you were to wait between 8 and 10.

I fully understand that. I arrive early to get in as many rides as possible, and to avoid standing around in lines in general. Getting there at 6am for an 8am opening would be a non-starter for us.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

no idea, but if you are only going for half a day, you won't get into the store to buy a banshee. the line to get into the store has been 2+ hours long

Do you know if the lines stay that long during the EMH at night for resort guests?

 

[Camama]

I fully understand that. I arrive early to get in as many rides as possible, and to avoid standing around in lines in general. Getting there at 6am for an 8am opening would be a non-starter for us.

Lots of good points. I am thinking if waiting 2 hours at 6 can save us a 3-4 hour wait if we get there closer to open then we have saved 1-2 hours. Either way is not ideal.

 

[Canesfan3234]

Do you know if the lines stay that long during the EMH at night for resort guests?

I don't know. I would assume the line is shorter but I would guess that those who got into line before EMH started aren't going to be turned away. You are going for EMH anyway so it doesn't hurt to try, but I wouldn't count on being able to get in.

 

[danikoski]

Lots of good points. I am thinking if waiting 2 hours at 6 can save us a 3-4 hour wait if we get there closer to open then we have saved 1-2 hours. Either way is not ideal.

If you are driving yourself, I'd get there at 6 or 6:30 and pick up breakfast on the way. Eat breakfast in the car and then at 7 or 7:15 go get in line. That way, if there's a mob of people, you can get in line earlier, but if there isn't, you can relax in the car until you need to go stand outside.

 

[Hopefully]

I don't know. I would assume the line is shorter but I would guess that those who got into line before EMH started aren't going to be turned away. You are going for EMH anyway so it doesn't hurt to try, but I wouldn't count on being able to get in.

Reports of both nights on opening weekend are that they stop allowing non resort guests in the FoP Standby line about 9 PM. That way the line clears and they start letting the EMH resort guests in the line around 11. So yes, you could be turned away if you are not already in line.
Also the EMH FoP Standby line has been closed around 12AM so again lots of folks not getting to ride.