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

[ucfknight]

I just saw a post elsewhere from someone asking if the leg restraints on the ride have been removed. They swore they did not feel them lock in, looked over at their son and did not see them and thought they saw where they used to be. Someone else who has ridden with the leg restraints for certain also rode this week and said now that you mention it they didn't notice them but didn't think about it till now. That they may have in fact been gone. So, any insight from those here? Are they gone? @rteetz you heard anything?

I rode it twice on Sunday and the leg restraints were definitely there both times. They are there for safety reasons so I can't imagine they'd do away with them.

 

[Lesley Wake]

You could always go into the queue and stop where the cutoff to the FP+ line is (it is inside the first cave when you get inside). You can just stand off to the side and waive everyone past you until a cast member comes to drop the rope to the full standby queue.

Not a bad idea! We will just be a party of 2 so not too hard to stand off to the side. We have multiple FPs for FoP but are going to do RD to see the standby queue.

 

[ucfknight]

Would they let you just stand there? Im picturing a situation where a large group tries to do this... wouldn't it block things?

There were no cast members anywhere in the queue line when I was there for rope drop on Sunday. So there wouldn't be anyone telling you to move. I'm not sure what Disney's official policy would be for guests who demand to wait in a longer line. I'm just offering it as an option that might work. You could always just duck under the rope at that point to stand in the part of the queue not being used yet in order to get out of the way.

 

[Gentry2004]

What time is it advisable to arrive for a 9am open if you plan to rope drop Navi? Is 8am still necessary?

 

[ucfknight]

What time is it advisable to arrive for a 9am open if you plan to rope drop Navi? Is 8am still necessary?

Getting to bag check by 8:40 should be sufficient if you only care about Na'Vi. 99% of the rope drop crowd is there for one ride only: FOP. This past Sunday I did rope drop for FOP and then went to Na'Vi afterward. We got in line for Na'Vi at 9:15 am and were on the ride by 9:25. So sleep in a bit and let the lines at the park entrance and then the entrance to Pandora die down a little as everyone funnels into the FOP queue.

 

[vikkil70]

Had been away for a few days so catching up on what has been going on in Pandora. We have two AK days and 1 evening planned for our trip in August. I got a FOP FP for later in our trip but purposely did not get one for our first AK day because we were excited to see the queue. Our plan was to get there at 8:00 to beat the huge lines. Now I hear that the earlier groups are bypassing most of the queue, ugh. We are a party of 5 so not sure if we would be too much in the way if we tried to get to the side and wave people by until they opened the full standby queue as someone earlier had mentioned. Maybe we will try to hang back a little at rope drop. We still have a month so will look forward to hearing of others' experiences. This last week has brought lots of new information for a trip a month away, GMR closing, Mission Space probably not re-opening by the time we go and now the change of line management for FOP. I totally understand why they do it, I wish you had the choice of which way you wanted to go. First world problems, I know. Most people want to find ways to skip the long lines and I want to walk the entire queue, but preferably without a 2 hour wait, lol.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Had been away for a few days so catching up on what has been going on in Pandora. We have two AK days and 1 evening planned for our trip in August. I got a FOP FP for later in our trip but purposely did not get one for our first AK day because we were excited to see the queue. Our plan was to get there at 8:00 to beat the huge lines. Now I hear that the earlier groups are bypassing most of the queue, ugh. We are a party of 5 so not sure if we would be too much in the way if we tried to get to the side and wave people by until they opened the full standby queue as someone earlier had mentioned. Maybe we will try to hang back a little at rope drop. We still have a month so will look forward to hearing of others' experiences. This last week has brought lots of new information for a trip a month away, GMR closing, Mission Space probably not re-opening by the time we go and now the change of line management for FOP. I totally understand why they do it, I wish you had the choice of which way you wanted to go. First world problems, I know. Most people want to find ways to skip the long lines and I want to walk the entire queue, but preferably without a 2 hour wait, lol.

This is us too! I purposely did not get a FOP on one day because I planned on rope dropping so I could see the full queue without the horrible wait. I do not want to rope drop and miss seeing the queue since I have FP for FOP later in the trip, I'm only doing the craziness of the rope drop crowd to see the entire queue. I want to see the avatar.

 

[patrickpiteo]

This is us too! I purposely did not get a FOP on one day because I planned on rope dropping so I could see the full queue without the horrible wait. I do not want to rope drop and miss seeing the queue since I have FP for FOP later in the trip, I'm only doing the craziness of the rope drop crowd to see the entire queue. I want to see the avatar.

Did this July fourth week same exact plan.. definitely work seeing the full queue at least once..

 

[conandrob240]

We have night FPs for FOP (7:45-8:45pm). Plan to do that and maybe Rivers of Light then try for NRJ. How has evenings been for NRJ?

 

[nas1861]

This thread has been so helpful. I thought I'd pay it forward with my review. I lost my magicband on Dinosaur 20 minutes before my FOP fastpass. When I got over to Pandora, the fastpass line was really long going past the canteen and halfway up the pathway. I got up to the front and explained the loss of my magicband and showed the fastpass on the app on my phone (download the app, it could definitely save your day). I was very nervous about FOP but really wanted to try it. I was worried about fitting on the ride and worried about the ride itself because I don't like heights and I am a ride whimp. I got on the bike And the back restraint clicked no problem. The legs were a bit of a problem. My calves are big and they were extra swollen today. At first the leg restraints didn't click. The CM said push all the way forward which I already did. I didn't panic, but remembered the advice from here and went on my tip toes and the leg restraint clicked. It was tight and a little uncomfortable but I didn't mind because I knew I wasn't falling out. I can do Soarin but don't like it because my legs dangle and I worry About falling. I love Star Tours. I loved FOP and felt secure while riding, thought I might lose my hat at one point but I Wasn't going anywhere. I had to close my eyes a couple of times, but it was a great ride.

I then went to the canteen to eat and used mobile ordering. Can't recommend this enough. I used it the other day when I saw a big tour group enter then line just begfore I got there so I used the app and got my food first. The food was great and unique.

After eating, I walked around a bit looking at all the bioluminescent plants. They were really beautiful. I also found three photopass photographers. One by the floating mountains on the way to FOP. They get a great shot of a big otherworldly looking flower and the glowing mountains. The second was by the big waterfall on the way to the river ride. The third was by the little water falls. That is where the magic shot is that has the wood sprites. If you face the big waterfall and almost turn all the way around, you will see the little waterfalls. So far the Pandora magic shots they do without asking. The banshee is by the otherworldly flower during the day on the way to FOP. My mistake the first night was going there while the camera was on a tripod but it was still light out. They don't do the magic shot then. Only when The camera isn't on the tripod during the day.

Overall, the land was beautiful and I loved both rides. Wish I could have rode both again but it didn't work out.

 

[momjeeps]

Friend and I just planned a spontaneous WDW quick trip. We will likely not be able to be at the park until 4:30 on Friday 8/25. If we did AK, I think they are opened until 9:30pm, would we have time for both Flight and River if we can't get FP?

 

[Kimann]

Just to add another update. Yesterday, 9AM open. We were on bus from Coronado Springs that arrived at bus stop right at 8 (we were running late) Walked right thru bag check, no line. Got in line on left side maybe 10 people back. They let us in the park at 8:20. Walked briskly to the bridge and we were maybe 20 feet back on bridge. They started walking us at 8:45. No regular queue. It was orderly but crowded. No wait until right before the first room. We were pulled because we were a party of 2, so in the 2nd theatre of the day, otherwise we would have been the 3rd. Off the ride at 9:05. We then walked over to Navi, it was posted 30 mins. On and done with both and purchasing our shoulder banshee by 9:30! As we exited Pandora a little before 10 we heard the cast member with the "end of line" sign telling people the wait was 240 minutes.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Friend and I just planned a spontaneous WDW quick trip. We will likely not be able to be at the park until 4:30 on Friday 8/25. If we did AK, I think they are opened until 9:30pm, would we have time for both Flight and River if we can't get FP?

Assuming no issues with the ride I think you should be able to get both in. Plus I think once you are in he queue you will get to ride so even if not done with the ride by 9:30 you would still get to ride if in the queue

Mid afternoon seems to be the point when wait times dip a bit. Probably still looking at ~2hrs for FOP

Again, all assuming no theaters go down or anything

 

[AngelDisney]

What is the best time to arrive for 9 am opening in order to experience the full queue? What about EMH at 8 am? We already have FP for FoP on one day. We are trying to experience the full queue. Should we try SB right before park closes? Do they close the line early like it first opened? TIA for your kind assistance!

 

[KramerDSP]

Wife and I had EMH access. Park hours are 8-9 am for EMH.

Got to Bag check ar 6:15 am. Only a handful of guests there. 7:30 pm, bag check opened but we were first in line so got sent to the metal detectors. Dozens of people passed us to the Magic band taps at the gate. We were still among the first 100 people to enter the park.
At 7:45 we were let in and guided to the tree of life. By 7:47 we were walking to FOP and standby was posted as 60 minutes but we were out of the ride by 8:10 am at latest.

Navi river Journey was a 10 minute posted standby, and we were out of that by 8:30 am.

Did Safari and were done with that by 9:05 am. Everest was down due to technical difficulties(Apparently struck by lightning the last two nights).

My advice to EMH guests - don't worry about being at bag check by 6:30. 7 pm and even 7:15 pm still gets you in the first couple hundred of people to enter the park.

FOP was great but my wife who is prone to motion sickness was affected to some degree and needed a few minutes to sit down and get her bearings again.

 

[momjeeps]

Assuming no issues with the ride I think you should be able to get both in. Plus I think once you are in he queue you will get to ride so even if not done with the ride by 9:30 you would still get to ride if in the queue

Mid afternoon seems to be the point when wait times dip a bit. Probably still looking at ~2hrs for FOP

Again, all assuming no theaters go down or anything

Thanks! I think if we do it I want to also get in the Lion King show. I haven't had a chance to see it. So maybe do that first and see what else we feel like hitting then doing the Avatar stuff last.

 

[DanielNYC]

Wife and I had EMH access. Park hours are 8-9 am for EMH.

Got to Bag check ar 6:15 am. Only a handful of guests there. 7:30 pm, bag check opened but we were first in line so got sent to the metal detectors. Dozens of people passed us to the Magic band taps at the gate. We were still among the first 100 people to enter the park.
At 7:45 we were let in and guided to the tree of life. By 7:47 we were walking to FOP and standby was posted as 60 minutes but we were out of the ride by 8:10 am at latest.

Navi river Journey was a 10 minute posted standby, and we were out of that by 8:30 am.

Did Safari and were done with that by 9:05 am. Everest was down due to technical difficulties(Apparently struck by lightning the last two nights).

My advice to EMH guests - don't worry about being at bag check by 6:30. 7 pm and even 7:15 pm still gets you in the first couple hundred of people to enter the park.

FOP was great but my wife who is prone to motion sickness was affected to some degree and needed a few minutes to sit down and get her bearings again.

Hoping to have a similar experience in a month (including going right to safari after the Pandora part). Thanks for confirming that a 7:00am arrival for 8:00am emh will suffice.

 

[mnmhouston]

Hoping to have a similar experience in a month (including going right to safari after the Pandora part). Thanks for confirming that a 7:00am arrival for 8:00am emh will suffice.

Our plan as well! maybe tough to be a bug before safari along the way.

 

[staceymay00]

We are headed back to WDW for Christmas and looking forward to the new offerings at AK - last trip was Christmas 2015. Current hours have AK closing at 7pm. Maybe the hours will be extended, but if not we might have to choose between seeing Pandora in the dark and the Rivers of Light show followed by one last ride on EE. Which is more of a "must see" for adults/teens, ROL or Pandora at Night? Would it be worth heading to AK the evening we arrive to walk through Pandora and maybe ride FOP if we can get a FP?

 

[AngiTN]

We are headed back to WDW for Christmas and looking forward to the new offerings at AK - last trip was Christmas 2015. Current hours have AK closing at 7pm. Maybe the hours will be extended, but if not we might have to choose between seeing Pandora in the dark and the Rivers of Light show followed by one last ride on EE. Which is more of a "must see" for adults/teens, ROL or Pandora at Night? Would it be worth heading to AK the evening we arrive to walk through Pandora and maybe ride FOP if we can get a FP?

There is no maybe about it, the hours will be extended. Especially at Christmas.