Pandora Opening: Crowd Impact

[Lesverts]

Sorry if I missed where this has been posted elsewhere.

But what does everyone think the impact of Pandora opening will be on the crowds? Do you think more crowds will shift from MK/DHS/Epcot to go to AK or do you think it will be normal?

I also noticed that AK has EMH from 8am to 9am on the Saturday and Monday during opening week.

 

[patty57]

I would assume that AK will have a significant increase in crowds.

 

[revdon64]

Any speculation about crowd movements at this point is just that - speculation. There's really no telling if Pandora will be a home run or a flop. There hasn't been anything revealed yet except concept art, a brief clip of one animatronic, and a quick look at some of the proposed lighting effects. If the banshee ride is spectacular (more like Harry Potter than Soarin) then crowds will flock over to AK. If the river ride is mind boggling, it'll draw as well. If on the other hand, neither is anything new, they'll draw initial crowds and things will likely go back to how they are now. The one thing that will most likely make a difference is the night time crowds. Pandora is likely to pull some nighttime attendance from the other three just because it'll be better to see at night than during the day.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

I would assume that AK will have a significant increase in crowds.

Especially in the evening hours. I think the mornings will continue to be less crowded, but I expect people to "Hop" over to AK in the afternoon/evening to catch Pandora and possibly Rivers of Light. I haven't checked to see if park hours have been changed yet.

 

[alex9179]

I think that it will be significant. We're utilizing EMH one morning, with the hope of lower (already preparing the kids for long lines) waits for Pandora's rides, then hopping after using FP for the others. One evening we'll try to catch ROL and another to walk through Pandora to check out the land at night. We will try to avoid the afternoon crowds on all of those days.

Edit: We'll be there right after it opens. It will be nutso for us.

 

[CAS239]

I don't think it'll take away much from the other parks to where you would notice in them, but I do think that AK will see a big increase is crowds. It's a new area featuring one of the biggest grossing movies of all time..It'll be a hit and people will flock to it. I'm assuming it'll be just like 7DMT and Frozen Ever After where we're seeing long lines months, if not a year or two, after it's been open

 

[Tribe]

revdon brings up a good point: what is the quality of the rides? Anybody know the basic idea of the Banshee ride? Is it just another soarin in a mass theater or is it individual cars/vehicles moving about a larger area or track?

 

[alex9179]

Yeah, FEA isn't a marvel and FP+ is a priority to book if you want to ride. I think the Banshee ride will see huge waits for a really long time. It's likely people will stay to do the other rides, then leave. The trails/shows may not be quite as affected.

 

[hakepb]

I think the Banshee ride is supposed to be a more extreme Soarin, with so much movement shoulder harnesses are needed.
One of the main clips played in the recent promo videos is the Banshee cliff dive.

I also think the boat ride may incorporate some of the Shanghai Pirates video tech that make it seem like more motion.

 

[Doug S]

There should be slight increases across the board at the park. What's likely to happen is on certain days Avatar will become too crowded to keep letting in guests and everyone ends having to go elsewhere in the park. Because the opening date was only announced a few months before I don't think there will be that many tourists there specifically for it. There are likely to be more Florida residents than tourists there just for Avatar. AK will now become a full day park so you're less likely to see people hopping to/from AK. In the past the park died down around dinner time due to early closing and people running out of things to do. I think that will now change.

 

[ArielSRL]

We arrive June 3rd and were trying to decide between Thursday 6/8 or Friday 6/9 at AK (and MK the other day). I was tempted to do AK on Friday but now with Pandora, I believe local traffic will increase on weekends, therefore I think Thursday *may* be slightly better. Of course, that is all speculation on my part.

 

[KalamityJane]

We will be there may 29-31 We are flying in from Copenhagen the night before though, now I'm wondering with the Mon EMH if we should get our butts out of bed. Totally an accident that we are there then but I feel like we have to at least try to see Pandora we were at Disneyland a few months after Cars land opened and that was a madhouse even then.

 

[Anal Annie]

Personally I think the crowd levels will be significantly increased at AK for Pandora. Any time something new opens the lines are crazy for a couple of years. I mean come on, it's something NEW and it's been a long time coming. I think this new land is going to be a technical marvel that impresses a lot of people once it opens. I think the banshee ride will rival the HP stuff. Right now I'm planning 2 EMH mornings and 2 evenings on our 8 n summer trip (if I don't plan 2 evenings and it storms us out of RoL I'll be pissed....better safe than regretful).

Our next trip is over July 4th week when I expect overall higher vacation crowds.

 

[HopperFan]

I think the Banshee ride is supposed to be a more extreme Soarin, with so much movement shoulder harnesses are needed.
One of the main clips played in the recent promo videos is the Banshee cliff dive.

I also think the boat ride may incorporate some of the Shanghai Pirates video tech that make it seem like more motion.

It's being called a thrill ride vs the boat family ride. Guessing height requirements and maybe some surprised guests who don't do their homework.

I think it will up AK crowds for quite some time, day and night.

 

[amcnj]

Is Pandora supposed to be an area that will benefit by darkness, a colorful after dark experience? If so, does that also apply to the rides, or do you think they will be the same day or night?

 

[CAS239]

Is Pandora supposed to be an area that will benefit by darkness, a colorful after dark experience? If so, does that also apply to the rides, or do you think they will be the same day or night?

As far as I know there is areas in Pandora that will be illuminated at night..included a walkway where the ground is interactive as well. As far as rides I believe their all indoor so those should be the same no matter the time.

 

[alex9179]

Is Pandora supposed to be an area that will benefit by darkness, a colorful after dark experience? If so, does that also apply to the rides, or do you think they will be the same day or night?

The rides are inside, so it won't matter.

 

[SgtTibbs]

I know I'm going out of my way to make sure my first visit to Pandora is at night so I can get the full effect. If others do the same it will make for a unique crowd pattern for the new area.

 

[IrishNYC]

I know that touring plans had the days I was looking at for AK in September as 2s and 3s, and just this week they changed to 5s and 6s. Ugh.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Personally I think the crowd levels will be significantly increased at AK for Pandora. Any time something new opens the lines are crazy for a couple of years. I mean come on, it's something NEW and it's been a long time coming. I think this new land is going to be a technical marvel that impresses a lot of people once it opens. I think the banshee ride will rival the HP stuff. Right now I'm planning 2 EMH mornings and 2 evenings on our 8 n summer trip (if I don't plan 2 evenings and it storms us out of RoL I'll be pissed....better safe than regretful).

Our next trip is over July 4th week when I expect overall higher vacation crowds.

Agreed, and I have the same plan for our Aug trip!

As people say, it's all just speculation -- well, of course it is!! That's half of what DIS is about!!

I'm just glad that we'll have from end of May through early Aug to see how things shape up. If I didn't have this time, I'd still just be allowing a lot more AK time than typical and trying to keep things flexible.