Pandora - done by 9:31am with no FP

[KimBean]

For those that can’t get FP - there is hope.

Park opened at 9am, we got here at 7:55, they let us in the front gates at 8:20 and everyone went to hold in front of Pandora. About 8:30 they walked the group in and we walked straight into FOP. Walked off at 9:03 and after restroom went to NRJ. Walked off there at 9:31 - actually cancelled a FP we had for later in the day so someone else can enjoy.

Yeah still waited over an hour but at least not cutting into park time. Wish they would have some kind of standard about when they are letting people in, start riding etc.

 

[Stephy811]

For those that can’t get FP - there is hope.

Park opened at 9am, we got here at 7:55, they let us in the front gates at 8:20 and everyone went to hold in front of Pandora. About 8:30 they walked the group in and we walked straight into FOP. Walked off at 9:03 and after restroom went to NRJ. Walked off there at 9:31 - actually cancelled a FP we had for later in the day so someone else can enjoy.

About how far back were you at the gates?

 

[CanuckGirl78]

Would anyone advise trying to RD FOP with 4 kids 8 and under? A doube stroller with 4 and 2 year olds in it. Only DH and probably DS6 would ride but I would walk with them to the entrance to get RS pass. Then I would head over to ride NRJ with the other 3. We are a RD family, just not sure we want to be a part of the mad dash. This would be for AM EMH on March 5!!

We're going to be attempting this very same thing on Dec 19 (non-EMH) - I'm hoping if we keep the kids in the double stroller we can keep them from getting trampled by those who are aggressive. Wish us luck!

 

[kmchisholm]

About how far back were you at the gates?

Maybe 15 people deep - we really weren’t there long before they let us into AK. Also, even though people ran most walked and we found we were with the same people in line at FOP that we were at the front.

 

[Haley R]

Maybe 15 people deep - we really weren’t there long before they let us into AK. Also, even though people ran most walked and we found we were with the same people in line at FOP that we were at the front.

That’s reassuring.

 

[twoolle]

We're going to be attempting this very same thing on Dec 19 (non-EMH) - I'm hoping if we keep the kids in the double stroller we can keep them from getting trampled by those who are aggressive. Wish us luck!

Cool! Maybe I will check with you after your trip to see how it went!

 

[CanuckGirl78]

Cool! Maybe I will check with you after your trip to see how it went!

Sure! I'm happy to share if we barely survived, it was a breeze, or if it was a disaster and we gave up. Just PM me after Dec 31 when we're back home!

 

[SteveMP]

Tried this at the end of September. Seemed like it wiuld be less than an hour, but by the time they let all the FPs go ahead of us it was closer to 2 hours. Funny enough it was less waiting later at night. Got in line around 7PM, app said 70 minutes, times it and we got to the first scanning room at 58 minutes.

 

[CanuckGirl78]

Tried this at the end of September. Seemed like it wiuld be less than an hour, but by the time they let all the FPs go ahead of us it was closer to 2 hours. Funny enough it was less waiting later at night. Got in line around 7PM, app said 70 minutes, times it and we got to the first scanning room at 58 minutes.

How early were you before the park opened? I believe they don't have FPs for the first 25-30 mins, so maybe the trick is to get there early enough so you can ride FOP before the first 30-45 mins?

 

[Haley R]

Tried this at the end of September. Seemed like it wiuld be less than an hour, but by the time they let all the FPs go ahead of us it was closer to 2 hours. Funny enough it was less waiting later at night. Got in line around 7PM, app said 70 minutes, times it and we got to the first scanning room at 58 minutes.

I'm glad you mentioned going at night because that will be our strategy if I'm unable to get a FP for it.

 

[SteveMP]

How early were you before the park opened? I believe they don't have FPs for the first 25-30 mins, so maybe the trick is to get there early enough so you can ride FOP before the first 30-45 mins?

They started letting people in early, by the time we got through the gates was about 20 minutes before open. Thats why it seemed like it would be less than an hour. But once it opened and the mad rush of FPs came the line did the old grinding halt routine.

 

[SteveMP]

I'm glad you mentioned going at night because that will be our strategy if I'm unable to get a FP for it.

What we did was just kept watching the app, most of the time was 120ish minutes, sometimes would go to 90, then I guess around dinnertime when everyones ADRs were up
it went to 70 thats when we hightailed it over.

 

[Haley R]

What we did was just kept watching the app, most of the time was 120ish minutes, sometimes would go to 90, then I guess around dinnertime when everyones ADRs were up
it went to 70 thats when we hightailed it over.

That's exactly why our dinner will be Flame Tree that way we can go whenever we want since we don't need an ADR. We are using our TS meal at TH with the dining package. I would even be willing to wait 120 minutes for FOP and then wait again to ride it twice. That is if I like it that much.

 

[cigar95]

. . . . . I have a FP for later in day but want to go through the queue as well but was hoping to be able to get to park at about 8am and not have to worry about being at the absolute front of the pack. . . . .

In the week since you first wrote this, you may have already discovered that the standby line does *not* go through the main queue at park opening. We wanted the same thing, but were told the full queue typically isn't used until about 10:00, by which time the line is uber-long. The evening strategy may be best for what you (and I) want to see.

 

[SteveMP]

wait 120 minutes for FOP and then wait again to ride it twice. That is if I like it that much.

We did. The ride is absolutely amazing. I wish I could have seen my face because I probably had some stupid grin the whole time. I was really flying through Pandora for that short time.

 

[Haley R]

We did. The ride is absolutely amazing. I wish I could have seen my face because I probably had some stupid grin the whole time. I was really flying through Pandora for that short time.

You rode it twice? Or you waited 120 minutes? I told DH if it's 120 minutes or less I'm riding it lol. We are taking our 9 yo niece who gets bored after 2 minutes of doing nothing so she might have a tough time. I'll let her mom deal with that haha

 

[SteveMP]

You rode it twice? Or you waited 120 minutes? I told DH if it's 120 minutes or less I'm riding it lol. We are taking our 9 yo niece who gets bored after 2 minutes of doing nothing so she might have a tough time. I'll let her mom deal with that haha

Both, waited around 2 hours at open and then about an hour at night. We don't really do table service. We rather grab QS and eat quick or eat while walking to the next ride, so we get a few more hours of rides than people that prefer TS. Still rode Everest twice and pretty much every other ride once. Get your niece some games/apps, lol

 

[Haley R]

Both, waited around 2 hours at open and then about an hour at night. We don't really do table service. We rather grab QS and eat quick or eat while walking to the next ride, so we get a few more hours of rides than people that prefer TS. Still rode Everest twice and pretty much every other ride once. Get your niece some games/apps, lol

We are using the DDP so we have 1 TS per day. I like using the dining plan because then we don't have to carry $ around. We just make sure we are using it to its full extent. I really don't want to do RD for FOP and instead would rather head to EE and KS. I don't let her play games on the phone when she's with me lol. I make her talk to me and if we play games it needs to be like 20 questions or I Spy.

Whenever she asks to use my phone to play games I say "no, I need to conserve my battery and I like talking to you" lol. Her mom can give her her phone if she wants.

 

[SteveMP]

We are using the DDP so we have 1 TS per day. I like using the dining plan because then we don't have to carry $ around. We just make sure we are using it to its full extent. I really don't want to do RD for FOP and instead would rather head to EE and KS. I don't let her play games on the phone when she's with me lol. I make her talk to me and if we play games it needs to be like 20 questions or I Spy.

Whenever she asks to use my phone to play games I say "no, I need to conserve my battery and I like talking to you" lol. Her mom can give her her phone if she wants.

A good compromise game is one of the "charades" or Headbandz etc where you interact with each other.

 

[mamamelody2]

Nice!