Rope Drop strategy question

[bcactus]

We plan on doing RD at each of the four parks next month. Staying at BLT so we will walk to MK and monorail to Epcot. The day we are doing AK, we plan on coming back to the hotel in the late afternoon. Would it be easier to drive there in the morning or take the bus? Same question with HS although I'm not sure if we will come back to the hotel after that one.

Lastly how early are people arriving for AK? We plan on doing Navi at rope drop and have a FoP fast pass foe later in the day.

 

[CAS239]

I'd always vote for driving myself over having to wait and take a bus.

And for AK people are usually arriving 60-90 min prior to park opening. You have a FP for FoP so if you arrive 45-60 min prior you can definitely do river journey with little wait

 

[Disney_and_Wine]

If you have your own car, AK is the one park where it is always better to drive.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

We were at AK a week ago today. EMH were 8-9 am, but they opened the park earlier than that. We headed straight for Pandora and walked on River Journey. The wait time was posted as 30 minutes, but it was more like a walk-on. Our FP was for 8:45 for FoP, so we took our time having breakfast at the canteen. We did not wake up until 7am (oops!), but still made it to AK by 8, taking the bus from AoA.

 

[CAS239]

We were at AK a week ago today. EMH were 8-9 am, but they opened the park earlier than that. We headed straight for Pandora and walked on River Journey. The wait time was posted as 30 minutes, but it was more like a walk-on. Our FP was for 8:45 for FoP, so we took our time having breakfast at the canteen. We did not wake up until 7am (oops!), but still made it to AK by 8, taking the bus from AoA.

Are you sure the EMH were 8-9 and not 7-8? Or that your FP was for 9:45?

Reason I'm asking is because you said emh were 8-9am and your FP was for 8:45, but there's no FP's during AM or PM emh. Unless your FP was for 8:45pm

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Are you sure the EMH were 8-9 and not 7-8? Or that your FP was for 9:45?

Reason I'm asking is because you said emh were 8-9am and your FP was for 8:45, but there's no FP's during AM or PM emh. Unless your FP was for 8:45pm

EMH may have been for 7-8am. My in-laws had a FP to Rivers of Light at 8:15.

 

[CAS239]

EMH may have been for 7-8am. My in-laws had a FP to Rivers of Light at 8:15.

Well the River of lights would be at 8:15pm

Unless you meant Navi River Journey lol

 

[Robo]

I'm getting dizzy.

 

[SL6827]

I have thought that the AK will not open up the gates as early for people driving themselves there verses a resort bus. Seems like this was our situation years ago with an early morning breakfast at Tuskers House.

 

[twoolle]

We plan on doing RD at each of the four parks next month. Staying at BLT so we will walk to MK and monorail to Epcot. The day we are doing AK, we plan on coming back to the hotel in the late afternoon. Would it be easier to drive there in the morning or take the bus? Same question with HS although I'm not sure if we will come back to the hotel after that one.

Lastly how early are people arriving for AK? We plan on doing Navi at rope drop and have a FoP fast pass foe later in the day.

You should definitely drive to AK. And if you get a good parking spot and not in a hurry you could take the bus back to resort then bus back to Ak. Then when you leave AK your car is close and you don't have to fight the bus or tram crowds. I would also drive to HS, especially since you plan to RD and will get close parking.

I have thought that the AK will not open up the gates as early for people driving themselves there verses a resort bus. Seems like this was our situation years ago with an early morning breakfast at Tuskers House.

I don't believe this is the case anymore, I read that here a couple years ago too. But now I have seen reports of the first buses of the day arriving after guests that drove.

 

[SL6827]

You should definitely drive to AK. And if you get a good parking spot and not in a hurry you could take the bus back to resort then bus back to Ak. Then when you leave AK your car is close and you don't have to fight the bus or tram crowds. I would also drive to HS, especially since you plan to RD and will get close parking.



I don't believe this is the case anymore, I read that here a couple years ago too. But now I have seen reports of the first buses of the day arriving after guests that drove.

Oh, ok, I didn't know that. So for an opening at 8 a.m. at AK, they would let you in the parking lot say around 7, perhaps?

 

[twoolle]

I would hope maybe even earlier? I bet if you check the Pandora thread there might be some good info there. HTH.

 

[TeresaG]

We were at AK on Friday. Stayed at All Star Sports. They had buses running to AK constantly so I never considered driving. We jumped on one right away and made it to the park by 7:40am. I was expecting mass chaos, but they had already opened when we got there. I think they must have opened at 7:30 or 7:35am. We walked straight to Navi River Journey and literally walked right on. Wait time posted said 5mins. Debated FOP but had at FP for later so skipped it (line was insane and said 90mins). Went to gift shop and waited 10mins to buy 2 banshees for the kids. As we were leaving (maybe 8:30am) it was already very crowded.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Well the River of lights would be at 8:15pm

Unless you meant Navi River Journey lol

Dang it. That river thing. That you ride in Avatar. *not a fan of the movie, can't remember the names of the newfangled rides)

 

[JZCubed]

Well the River of lights would be at 8:15pm

Unless you meant Navi River Journey lol

"Ah, yes, I remember it well....."as the song goes.