Pandora advice

[jcdeberry]

We will be at WDW May 26-31. Originally, we were planning on going to AK on 26th. Now, my husband says he wants to see the new Pandora land. Which day would be best to go to fight the least amount of crowds? We do not have Park Hopper and we have an 11 and 5 yo.

 

[rteetz]

Well you're not going to get least amount of crowds while you're there. Grand opening is May 27th. It's going to be packed for a while. If you don't want crazy crazy maybe avoid opening day but that's about it.

 

[gap2368]

Yes I would not go opening day maybe the 30 or 31 ( not on the weekend when more locals might be there) but any time you do go it will be packed. I would try to get a FP for either the 30 or 31 and if you can get a FP then that is the day I would go.

and RD will be your friend when ever you go.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Well you're not going to get least amount of crowds while you're there. Grand opening is May 27th. It's going to be packed for a while. If you don't want crazy crazy maybe avoid opening day but that's about it.

Curious as to your opinion when you think it'll start to not be insanely busy. We're going mid-September and not sure how difficult it'll be to get FP+ for the newer rides (in particular the banshee riding one) or if SB for ROL will be doable.

 

[jcdeberry]

That is what I was thinking. I thought FP and RD on 30th. Mostly I was worried about crowds for the rest of the park.

 

[rteetz]

Curious as to your opinion when you think it'll start to not be insanely busy. We're going mid-September and not sure how difficult it'll be to get FP+ for the newer rides (in particular the banshee riding one) or if SB for ROL will be doable.

If people who go in find it to be good and reviews come out that the rides are worth it, it's going to be busy for a while. You're going to definitely want to FP the Pandora rides if you can. I have a feeling it's going to be years before this dies down and even then if the sequels come out that will renew interest in the land.

 

[rteetz]

That is what I was thinking. I thought FP and RD on 30th. Mostly I was worried about crowds for the rest of the park.

The majority of your crowds will be in Pandora and probably at Everest. The rest of the park should be okay but busy.

 

[jcdeberry]

Do you think there is a good possibility they will open Pandora on the 26th?

 

[ErinsMommy]

If people who go in find it to be good and reviews come out that the rides are worth it, it's going to be busy for a while. You're going to definitely want to FP the Pandora rides if you can. I have a feeling it's going to be years before this dies down and even then if the sequels come out that will renew interest in the land.

Thank you - yes we're def going to be looking to FP the Pandora rides, just nervous they'll all be gone by the time our window opens as we're going to AK on day 3 of our 9 night trip. I guess it'll be what it'll be!

 

[jcdeberry]

Unfortunately, I have always liked doing MK on last day. Now i have to cancel reservations and wrap my head around being in AK on last day. Oh well, at least AK is my second favorite park!

 

[patrickpiteo]

Do you think there is a good possibility they will open Pandora on the 26th?

The magic 8 ball .. says yes..

 

[HydroGuy]

FWIW, here is what I am planning for opening weekend.

We are there almost the exact same days (May 25-30). I will be with a twenty-something son who has never been to WDW so that influences my choices. More energy than a young child, seeing everything for the first time, and more interested in thrill rides than Dumbo LOL.

I think it best to plan AK for two days. Well, one full day and another half-day. We only have the May 27-30 for that if we want Pandora open which I have decided we do. So...

Thursday - half day MK - we get in late Wednesday night.

Friday, May 26 DHS - we can finish early and not have to expend as much effort walking as at MK or Epcot. Thus we can get back to the room early and rest and get to bed early for AK.

BIG DAY! Saturday, May 27 AK - bite the bullet and just do it. It is an 8AM EMH and we can do EMH although in general I rarely do EMH. Be at AK at 7AM to rope drop NRJ or FoP and FP the other. Stay all day as long as we can and try to hit all of the other normal AK things.

Sunday May 28 AK - not an EMH day at this point. We will sleep in and take a (mostly) rest day after three straight park days. Get FPs for NRJ or FoP in the evening, plus RoL and come back at maybe 5 or 6PM to focus on Pandora and RoL.

Monday-Tuesday (Epcot/MK)

 

[HopperFan]

We will be at WDW May 26-31. Originally, we were planning on going to AK on 26th. Now, my husband says he wants to see the new Pandora land. Which day would be best to go to fight the least amount of crowds? We do not have Park Hopper and we have an 11 and 5 yo.

ALL your days will have the most amount of crowds. Just like 7DMT ended up opening a couple days before it's announced opening date, folks will hope and fill the park for days before. I was there a few weeks ago and SHOCKED the parking lot was practically full just for ROL. Expect busy parking lot, busy buses, insane security and the park packed.

Curious as to your opinion when you think it'll start to not be insanely busy. We're going mid-September and not sure how difficult it'll be to get FP+ for the newer rides (in particular the banshee riding one) or if SB for ROL will be doable.

How easy is it to get a 7DMT FP+ now .... over two years later? Still a tough one. This will be worse, much worse. Get ready to book FP+ as soon as you can. We'll know soon enough if it goes to tier system, but you need to figure out how your days will work if you are trying for both. ROL, seen it .... I won't be fighting you for your seat. When I saw it a couple weeks ago second show SB was 1/3 empty. Of course all can change when Pandora opens.

 

[ErinsMommy]

ALL your days will have the most amount of crowds. Just like 7DMT ended up opening a couple days before it's announced opening date, folks will hope and fill the park for days before. I was there a few weeks ago and SHOCKED the parking lot was practically full just for ROL. Expect busy parking lot, busy buses, insane security and the park packed.



How easy is it to get a 7DMT FP+ now .... over two years later? Still a tough one. This will be worse, much worse. Get ready to book FP+ as soon as you can. We'll know soon enough if it goes to tier system, but you need to figure out how your days will work if you are trying for both. ROL, seen it .... I won't be fighting you for your seat. When I saw it a couple weeks ago second show SB was 1/3 empty. Of course all can change when Pandora opens.

yes but even at FP+ 60 days out I've always gotten 7DMT. Or maybe I was just lucky or just planned by MK days towards the end of our trip. AK will be day 3 for us, so I'm not as hopeful but excited for July to arrive so I can get that part done with as well.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It's going to be crazy no matter which day you choose. It's a holiday weekend. My son and I will be there on opening day with the rest of the crazy crowds.
I figure we can take turns going to the rest room and getting food/drink while we wait in insanely long lines to ride the new attractions.
I'm looking forward to being there.

 

[DVCcurious]

Curious as to your opinion when you think it'll start to not be insanely busy. We're going mid-September and not sure how difficult it'll be to get FP+ for the newer rides (in particular the banshee riding one) or if SB for ROL will be doable.

I'm still waiting for 7 dwarfs to not be insanely busy!

New Fantasyland attractions with low/moderate waits now (enchanted tails with Belle, under the sea) had 60 minute waits for a couple years.

So to answer your question: I expect Pandora to be a zoo until 2020 or whenever Star Wars Land opens.

After that it may not be a zoo, it'll just be in a zoo

 

[Lesley Wake]

I would consider going to AK on the 29th. That day there is AM EMH, so at least you will be able to get in ahead of non-resort guests. I would FP one of the pandora rides and "RD" the other. If Pandora is your absolute priority, I would consider getting a park hopper and FP both rides, just different days. Of course that will limit your FP opportunities for other parks.

I wouldn't expect it to open early. They would have already done their soft openings and Annual Passholder previews. Because it is an entire new land I would think they want to do a big opening day thing, which could be weird if people were there the day before.

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Do you think there is a good possibility they will open Pandora on the 26th?

Potentially for soft openings, yes, but who knows at this stage. An important thing to note with softs is that FastPasses may not be available, rides may not be full operational and may close at a moments notice. On the flip side, crowds will likely be lower during softs than they will when its officially open.

 

[amydeich]

We're going to WDW 5/28-6/3, with AK on 6/1. Have breakfast at Tusker House at 8:05, but without RoL dining package So now need to figure out FP and touring plan for the day... Think we'll go straight to Safari from breakfast to get that done, no FP, then to Pandora hopefully with FPs... not sure my crew will want to go on Everest or Dinosaur so don't need to worry about those. Hoping they announce how the FPs will be for AK with Pandora in the next day or so!!

 

[CAS239]

Curious as to your opinion when you think it'll start to not be insanely busy. We're going mid-September and not sure how difficult it'll be to get FP+ for the newer rides (in particular the banshee riding one) or if SB for ROL will be doable.

Opening day will see insane waits of like 3 hours. But that's only opening day. By the time you go in September I'd say standby waits will likely be 60-120 min

They'll be busy for quite awhile. 7dmt came out almost 3 years ago and it's still has long lines daily