tusker house now that opening is 9am?

[ChasingLeslie]

What time are they "pre-releasing" people into the park these days with 9am opening?

I'm not sure since we had an ADR and didn't see. One CM said "some time after 8am," but he seemed new/confused because he didn't even know there was an ADR line.

My *guess* (by way of seeing the crowds inside) is that they might start scanning in at 8:15/8:30a and sending people to a holding area, then walking people slowly to Pandora at 8:45a. Line was already funneling when we arrived at 8:45/8:50a.

 

[Belle's Librarian]

Thanks for the updates! I am trying to decide whether to keep my 8 am reservation when we go in August.

Anyone know how long it usually takes to eat and see the characters? I've been once before but wasn't watching the clock.

 

[rg35]

When we were at AK last week, the park was open well before the official 8am open time and FoP was already operating with waits over an hour.

We had a FP+ for FoP at 8:45, so we waited for Na'vi which didn't open until 8 exactly, and we rode it twice.

If they are keeping that operating process going (opening FoP early), then the only way to ride it without a wait is to just get to AK early enough in the morning to be at the front of the crowd. I guess it's a matter of where and when you prefer to do your waiting. But Tusker House ADRs won't offer any reprieve or advantage to skipping the early crowds even with a 9AM opening at this point.

 

[suzismini]

Thanks for the info! I have a PPO at TH in a couple of weeks. Still waiting to see how this goes to decide if I want to keep it. I'll be w my grown sons, so not too worried about the characters.

 

[Christi0909]

When we were at AK last week, the park was open well before the official 8am open time and FoP was already operating with waits over an hour.

We had a FP+ for FoP at 8:45, so we waited for Na'vi which didn't open until 8 exactly, and we rode it twice.

If they are keeping that operating process going (opening FoP early), then the only way to ride it without a wait is to just get to AK early enough in the morning to be at the front of the crowd. I guess it's a matter of where and when you prefer to do your waiting. But Tusker House ADRs won't offer any reprieve or advantage to skipping the early crowds even with a 9AM opening at this point.

We have an 8:35 TH res and were hoping to hit Na'vi right after, since we have FoP FP later. Was the line for Na'vi short at rope drop or also long, just not as long as FoP?

 

[rg35]

We have an 8:35 TH res and were hoping to hit Na'vi right after, since we have FoP FP later. Was the line for Na'vi short at rope drop or also long, just not as long as FoP?

The line for Na'vi wasn't that long - once the ride opened we basically walked on. The one variable is that I actually don't know what time "rope drop" was that day. The park was supposed to open at 8, but when we arrived at the gate (approx 7:30, IIRC), the park was already open with FoP already in operation, and already with huge waits. So we technically "waited" ~25 minutes to ride Na'vi, but that was only because the ride wasn't open yet. After riding it once, we rode it again immediately with a short wait.

The lines for Na'vi grew throughout the day as the park fills with people, but they didn't come close to FoP level waits (at least on our AK day). I think because FoP is the "thrill" ride, that's where the majority of head first, and since people are tied up there for 2+ hours waiting, it keeps the strain on Na'vi low.

 

[Christi0909]

The line for Na'vi wasn't that long - once the ride opened we basically walked on. The one variable is that I actually don't know what time "rope drop" was that day. The park was supposed to open at 8, but when we arrived at the gate (approx 7:30, IIRC), the park was already open with FoP already in operation, and already with huge waits. So we technically "waited" ~25 minutes to ride Na'vi, but that was only because the ride wasn't open yet. After riding it once, we rode it again immediately with a short wait.

The lines for Na'vi grew throughout the day as the park fills with people, but they didn't come close to FoP level waits (at least on our AK day). I think because FoP is the "thrill" ride, that's where the majority of head first, and since people are tied up there for 2+ hours waiting, it keeps the strain on Na'vi low.

Thanks so much for your reply, that helps a lot!

 

[back2disney]

Has anyone tried going to Tusker House and then FOP before 9am opening this week? I was wondering if the wait is less than 60 minutes if I was out of Tusker House by 8:40am?

 

[Cynergy]

Thanks for the updates! I am trying to decide whether to keep my 8 am reservation when we go in August.

Anyone know how long it usually takes to eat and see the characters? I've been once before but wasn't watching the clock.

We usually do a PPO at TH. As with any PPO breakfast, we ask the server to scan our bands, we always do a dining plan, and bring the check early. I think the latest we have ever gotten out of there was 845 or 850. In the past we'd usually do safari right after and while we could get in line we usually ended up waiting for them to start sending vehicles out.

For our November trip we are planning to head to Pandora and ride Na'vi and then FoP with a FP+ after a PPO TH.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Has anyone tried going to Tusker House and then FOP before 9am opening this week? I was wondering if the wait is less than 60 minutes if I was out of Tusker House by 8:40am?

See my post on the previous page...it's not really an exit-time issue. The RD crowds are released into the park and are blocking the Discovery Island pathway. The FotLK pathway was roped, but maybe they'll do away with that as time passes.

 

[back2disney]

I cancelled my reservations so I can't give an update either.

 

[sfbank]

Trying Tusker House this morning heading to flight of passage then to boat ride. Will report back. We had a fast Pass for flight off passage earlier in the trip but loved the ride. We cancelled our fast passes the evening we had the boat ride scheduled so have not seen it yet.

 

[sfbank]

Did not work well. We were out at 8:34 and went to the rope by Lion King. They sent us back to the other rope. At 8:39 they were letting people into the park. The line is currently looped on the bridge with over an hour wait at 9:02.

 

[rasadkowski]

Did not work well. We were out at 8:34 and went to the rope by Lion King. They sent us back to the other rope. At 8:39 they were letting people into the park. The line is currently looped on the bridge with over an hour wait at 9:02.

Thanks so much for taking the time to report

 

[Cynergy]

Did not work well. We were out at 8:34 and went to the rope by Lion King. They sent us back to the other rope. At 8:39 they were letting people into the park. The line is currently looped on the bridge with over an hour wait at 9:02.

Do you know what the wait for the boat ride was? We plan to FP+ FOP and hit Na'vi after breakfast. Hopefully by November the crowds won't be as bad at RD

 

[back2disney]

Did not work well. We were out at 8:34 and went to the rope by Lion King. They sent us back to the other rope. At 8:39 they were letting people into the park. The line is currently looped on the bridge with over an hour wait at 9:02.

Sorry it didn't work out. Thats what I was afraid of. Hopefully you are still in good spirits. I would go by guest relations and tell them what happened also, maybe they can hook you up with a fast pass to Navi at least. Definitely try to see Navi, it is much better than I was expecting. But the waits are just too crazy right now.

 

[sfbank]

Hey we are still in Disney. I believe the boat ride was saying 20 maybe when we walked by it and 80 when we got off Flight of Passage. When we got to The actual entrance to FOP wait time was showing 120 but we got on in 65 minutes.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

Do you know what the wait for the boat ride was? We plan to FP+ FOP and hit Na'vi after breakfast. Hopefully by November the crowds won't be as bad at RD

Again, the problem is getting INTO Pandora after breakfast. The area past FotLK and bathrooms is roped, and from the post by @sfbank it sounds like they've cracked down on letting people through there (we snuck through on 7/9). You will not be able to beat the crowds from the Discovery Island direction.

 

[sfbank]

Yes agreed. Had they opened park up at 8:45 we would have been fine as we rushed out of breakfast but it was earlier than that.

 

[pesto78749]

Did not work well. We were out at 8:34 and went to the rope by Lion King. They sent us back to the other rope. At 8:39 they were letting people into the park. The line is currently looped on the bridge with over an hour wait at 9:02.

Thanks for the update! You saved us!