On the off chance, someone can confirm this for me...

[rlk]

I would be very grateful.
We have a VIP tour scheduled for a day that AK has an early morning extra hour (7 am). A CM told me we could begin our day at 7 am and take advantage of the FastPass line without FastPass return being open until 8 am. I thought, great, but then started to question if the FastPass line isn't open, will they let us through that line. I called back and the CM I spoke with at Special Services said they cannot guarantee we will have access to the FP line.

I need to decide on our starting time soon. I'm leaning towards starting a little later and getting to Pandora just before 8:00 am.

 

[randumb0]

Are you staying on property?

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

As @randumb0 questioned, you must be staying on property to get access to EMH.
However, whenever we have been scheduled for a tour (never done AK, but MK and Epcot) there has been a separate turnstile for sign in that allows people in. Weather you would be allowed access to the park after signing in, and before your tour begins, is not known.
BUT, if you ARE a WDW resort guests, then YES, you may go early and hop in line for FoP. But I would get there by 6 am in order to get on the ride and be off in time for your tour.

 

[rlk]

Are you staying on property?

Yes, we are on property.

 

[rlk]

As @randumb0 questioned, you must be staying on property to get access to EMH.
However, whenever we have been scheduled for a tour (never done AK, but MK and Epcot) there has been a separate turnstile for sign in that allows people in. Weather you would be allowed access to the park after signing in, and before your tour begins, is not known.
BUT, if you ARE a WDW resort guests, then YES, you may go early and hop online for FoP. But I would get there by 6 am in order to get on the ride and be off in time for your tour.

We have a choice of entering from backstage with a VIP Tour or meeting our guide at the FOP entrance. I am just questioning whether we will have access the the Fp line before regular park opening.

 

[Cinderella94]

I think I'm not understanding the question. In our experience, during AK EMH, they sent us through the FOP fastpass line because the crowds were not built up yet and there was no need to walk us through the entire queue. So the FP line was open, there were just no FPs being used at that time.

I imagine they will have the FP line open for regular guests taking advantage of the EMH, at least for a good while, so it will not be of any advantage to you unless you get there significantly before rope drop (like the standard advice is for anyone trying to ride FOP early). Hopefully that answers your question; I'm not 100% sure I understand what it is.

 

[rlk]

I imagine they will have the FP line open for regular guests taking advantage of the EMH, at least for a good while, so it will not be of any advantage to you unless you get there significantly before rope drop (like the standard advice is for anyone trying to ride FOP early). Hopefully that answers your question; I'm not 100% sure I understand what it is.

Thank you! That is what I was trying to find out. We will start out tour at 8:00 then, so we will be able to take advantage of the Fp line.

 

[Cinderella94]

Thank you! That is what I was trying to find out. We will start out tour at 8:00 then, so we will be able to take advantage of the Fp line.

It won't be a true "FP line" bypassing other guests. The FP line will be taking place of the regular line at that point, as long as they're using it.

 

[rlk]

It won't be a true "FP line" bypassing other guests. The FP line will be taking place of the regular line at that point, as long as they're using it.

I thought fastpasses begin at 8:00 with the regular opening of AK for the day.

 

[rlk]

It won't be a true "FP line" bypassing other guests. The FP line will be taking place of the regular line at that point, as long as they're using it.

I am wondering if we should start at a different park and get to AK later in the morning.

 

[Amanda999]

On a VIP tour they (supposedly) take you to the (back of) FP line - you aren't going to go to the front of the FP (or SB) line like the Make a Wish Kids. So even on a VIP tour you wait with the FP people. (That said, I have seen them bypass the FP line - Aug. 2018 at FEA (they waited through about 1/2 the FP line then got 'plucked' to skip the rest and get right on a boat) - so what do I know!)

So, if you go somewhere else you will still be in the FP line with other people who have FP. At FOP at 7am EMH, you'd be in FP with people who are onsite.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP - Personally, I’d rather do AK later in the day on a VIP tour if you have that flexibility in your schedule, given your circumstances.

 

[rlk]

OP - Personally, I’d rather do AK later in the day on a VIP tour if you have that flexibility in your schedule, given your circumstances.

I'm leaning towards this strategy. I already feel less stressed about it. We were only doing AK first thing in the morning based on the information the first CM from Special Services gave me.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'm leaning towards this strategy. I already feel less stressed about it. We were only doing AK based on the information the first CM from Special Services gave me.

10-4. While easy in theory, it can be sort of daunting to plan when you sit down to map out the order of your day, what time, etc, especially since time is $ with those things. Good luck!

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Personally, I wouldn’t be getting to a park at 7 AM if I’m paying $$$ for a VIP guide. I’d either arrive later because you don’t need the advantage of early arrival, or arrive early and do things you don’t want to waste time doing with your guide and still meet up with that guide a little later if possible.

 

[rlk]

Personally, I wouldn’t be getting to a park at 7 AM if I’m paying $$$ for a VIP guide. I’d either arrive later because you don’t need the advantage of early arrival, or arrive early and do things you don’t want to waste time doing with your guide and still meet up with that guide a little later if possible.

My husband will be very happy about the change. He has been saying exactly what you wrote. I was just focused on getting to ride FOP with the shortest wait. I've read about long FP lines at FOP.

 

[firefly_ris]

Personally, I wouldn’t be getting to a park at 7 AM if I’m paying $$$ for a VIP guide. I’d either arrive later because you don’t need the advantage of early arrival, or arrive early and do things you don’t want to waste time doing with your guide and still meet up with that guide a little later if possible.

I agree with this. Isn't the advantage of dishing out all that money to be VIP to be able to relax a bit but still enjoy the perks of basically going FP for anything you want? I'd have a nice breakfast somewhere, and like previously suggested do the VIP 10 to 4. No rushing early in the morning, then you have the rest of the evening after the tour to do whatever you want. I hope you have a great time!

 

[firefly_ris]

My husband will be very happy about the change. He has been saying exactly what you wrote. I was just focused on getting to ride FOP with the shortest wait. I've read about long FP lines at FOP.

FWIW in October we rode FoP twice with FP and waited approximately 20 minutes. The parks were very heavily crowded during this visit as well.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

My husband will be very happy about the change. He has been saying exactly what you wrote. I was just focused on getting to ride FOP with the shortest wait. I've read about long FP lines at FOP.

We rode it 3 or 4 times a few weeks ago with FP and rider switch, we never really had an excessive wait. A minute or two at the merge point at most, although there can be a few minutes after that, but it’s after the merge anyways. The pre-show portion of the ride itself is the time consuming part, IMO.

 

[gap2368]

I do agree about the later start but the FP line is opens for EMH ( I use the disability pass) and I have had a return time before the park open but like other have said the FP line is not that long I will say I waited 30 minutes one time but that was once ( I use it every time). I would sleep in and enjoy your day