Rope drop at AK

[sclarked]

Hi all,

My husband and I are heading to Orlando in November. We have MVMCP booked for the 10th and are heading to AK on the 11th (just one day).

As we are staying offsite, we can only do FP+ at 30 days. Knowing that our chances of a FOP FP are zilch, we are planning to do rope drop for our day at AK to try and do it first thing in the morning. A couple of questions about this:

1) how early should we plan to arrive pre-rope drop to aim for a relatively short (say 30-45 min) wait for FOP? If I’m going to spend hours waiting in line, I’d rather do it not on park time!

2) is there anywhere near the area where you would wait to get in that we could grab a breakfast to munch on while we are waiting? (Like a Starbucks or anything?) or are we better off picking something up near our hotel and bringing it along?

3) my previous experience with rope drop at Tokyo Disneyland & EPCOT was that the lines were quite orderly and started from outside the turnstiles - is it the same for AK? (i.e. not a jumbled mess with everyone rushing to get in?)

4) is a backpack really that bad an idea to bring? I was planning on bringing one to stash water, snacks, a light jumper and purchased merchandise, but I thought I read somewhere that it was recommended not to bring one if doing rope drop?

Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

Hi all,

My husband and I are heading to Orlando in November. We have MVMCP booked for the 10th and are heading to AK on the 11th (just one day).

As we are staying offsite, we can only do FP+ at 30 days. Knowing that our chances of a FOP FP are zilch, we are planning to do rope drop for our day at AK to try and do it first thing in the morning. A couple of questions about this:

1) how early should we plan to arrive pre-rope drop to aim for a relatively short (say 30-45 min) wait for FOP? If I’m going to spend hours waiting in line, I’d rather do it not on park time!

2) is there anywhere near the area where you would wait to get in that we could grab a breakfast to munch on while we are waiting? (Like a Starbucks or anything?) or are we better off picking something up near our hotel and bringing it along?

3) my previous experience with rope drop at Tokyo Disneyland & EPCOT was that the lines were quite orderly and started from outside the turnstiles - is it the same for AK? (i.e. not a jumbled mess with everyone rushing to get in?)

4) is a backpack really that bad an idea to bring? I was planning on bringing one to stash water, snacks, a light jumper and purchased merchandise, but I thought I read somewhere that it was recommended not to bring one if doing rope drop?

Thanks!

1. 45-60 minutes.
2. No.
3. Pretty orderly.
4. Personal preference, bring one if you want to.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Backpaks are fine if you want to bring one. I'd rather wear 5 packpacks than one pair of cargo shorts.

Here is a post I did a out EMH rope drop at AK back in May, hope it helps.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/ak-pandora-fop-at-emh.3622556/#post-57997601

 

[NH-to-FL]

1) how early should we plan to arrive pre-rope drop to aim for a relatively short (say 30-45 min) wait for FOP? If I’m going to spend hours waiting in line, I’d rather do it not on park time!

First, to DisBoards!

My estimate is that you will wait between 60-90 minutes at rope drop. Where you will be during that wait is the difference. Arrive 90 minutes before park opening and you will be at or near the front of the crowd and you will "walk on" to FoP. Arrive later and you will wait less to get into the park and longer in the line at FoP.

For some reason I find waiting at rope drop less of an annoyance than waiting at the attraction queue.

Here is my trip report for my Pandora rope drop visit in August:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/first-visit-to-pandora-8-4-17.3623699/

2) is there anywhere near the area where you would wait to get in that we could grab a breakfast to munch on while we are waiting? (Like a Starbucks or anything?) or are we better off picking something up near our hotel and bringing it along?

No. Bring your breakfast munchies with you.

3) my previous experience with rope drop at Tokyo Disneyland & EPCOT was that the lines were quite orderly and started from outside the turnstiles - is it the same for AK? (i.e. not a jumbled mess with everyone rushing to get in?)

In my opinion it is fairly orderly. Folks will create lines in front of the tapstiles. There will be a bit of a mixed rush after they open the tapstiles and folks hurry to the rope headed towards Pandora. There will be a few runners and a few of us old folks with bad hips and knees who will be in their way. But the walkways through the Oasis are wide enough to not make it too much of a problem. When they drop the rope into Pandora cast members will walk the crowd at a medium pace to FoP.

4) is a backpack really that bad an idea to bring? I was planning on bringing one to stash water, snacks, a light jumper and purchased merchandise, but I thought I read somewhere that it was recommended not to bring one if doing rope drop?

If you are there before Security opens then being in the bag check line will put you behind a few folks who will move quickly through the "no bag" line. If I had to guess having a bag might cost you a few minutes. Maybe one cycle of the ride. While I did a quick "no bag" visit in August I usually have a small bag with me and would be willing to wait those few extra minutes for the convenience of having my "stuff" with me.
Wishing you a visit!

 

[sclarked]

Thanks all, that was really helpful information. We’ve done RD at other Disney parks with a 3 year old and an 8 month old and my mother in tow, so I’m feeling like this one will be a similar wait time but with people that need less entertaining I’ll aim to be there 90 minutes before with a large coffee and breakfast in hand.