Flight of Passage Advice

[Mano22]

So I just booked my (60+5) day fast passes, and sadly was not able to get Flight of Passage. As I believe that is not only the best ride at Disney, but the best way a human being can spend 10 mins of their life, I was pretty disappointed.

I searched around on here for the best way to ride it standby, and I was surprised to see someone suggest (and many others corroborate) the strategy of getting to the park at 7:30 AM (for a 9 AM park open) and going immediately to FoP. I don't really understand how this works, especially as it did not seem like those doing this had a pre-open ADR. My only experience getting into a park early involves pre-open breakfast ADRs (usually at BOG at MK). We do this to get right in line for Mine Train, and basically get a "free" fastpass. But they still do not actually let anyone onto the ride before 9 AM (or whenever the park opens.) Yet people in this FoP thread were claiming that they have finished both FoP and Navi River Journey by 9:15 (when the park opens at 9:00) with no pre-open ADR! They just showed up at 7:30, were let right into the park (along with lots of other people of course) and went right to FoP and got in line.

Is this the best strategy for riding FoP standby? I know going right at the close is also popular, but have other plans that night so it is not really feasible without switching a ton of stuff around.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ClapYourHands]

So I just booked my (60+5) day fast passes, and sadly was not able to get Flight of Passage. As I believe that is not only the best ride at Disney, but the best way a human being can spend 10 mins of their life, I was pretty disappointed.

I searched around on here for the best way to ride it standby, and I was surprised to see someone suggest (and many others corroborate) the strategy of getting to the park at 7:30 AM (for a 9 AM park open) and going immediately to FoP. I don't really understand how this works, especially as it did not seem like those doing this had a pre-open ADR. My only experience getting into a park early involves pre-open breakfast ADRs (usually at BOG at MK). We do this to get right in line for Mine Train, and basically get a "free" fastpass. But they still do not actually let anyone onto the ride before 9 AM (or whenever the park opens.) Yet people in this FoP thread were claiming that they have finished both FoP and Navi River Journey by 9:15 (when the park opens at 9:00) with no pre-open ADR! They just showed up at 7:30, were let right into the park (along with lots of other people of course) and went right to FoP and got in line.

Is this the best strategy for riding FoP standby? I know going right at the close is also popular, but have other plans that night so it is not really feasible without switching a ton of stuff around.

Thanks in advance for any help!

People are being let into AK for Pandora before the park's official opening, but not that far in advance. You won't be able to get in at 7:30, but the idea is to be in the front of the pack when people are let in pre-rope drop. They will let people in early and then walk everyone towards Pandora, where people will sometimes be held at another rope drop area.

At this point, ADRs are not an advantage at AK where getting on FOP is concerned. On another thread, the general consensus is that ADRs put you behind the opening pack.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

When we went last August they let us into the park about 8:15 (9:00 park opening). They lead us as far at the entrance to Pandora (by Tiffins) and we waited there until about 8:40. Then they let us get in line for FoP and, yes, we were off the ride by 9:10. Yes, we still waited, but I didn’t have to use park time to do it.

 

[Babs1975]

No, people aren't riding at 7:30. They are just arriving at 7:30 or 7:45 to get in line. Everyone arriving that early to wait is going to FOP. They will move you along to certain stopping points but you are still in line and in front of everyone else who arrives after you. So yes, you may be waiting for an hour or more, but it is pre park opening waiting time.

 

[Alesia]

No, people aren't riding at 7:30. They are just arriving at 7:30 or 7:45 to get in line. Everyone arriving that early to wait is going to FOP. They will move you along to certain stopping points but you are still in line and in front of everyone else who arrives after you. So yes, you may be waiting for an hour or more, but it is pre park opening waiting time.

And waiting an hour when the park is closed is a thousand times better than waiting for 3 hours when the park is open

 

[DisFam4]

So I just booked my (60+5) day fast passes, and sadly was not able to get Flight of Passage. As I believe that is not only the best ride at Disney, but the best way a human being can spend 10 mins of their life, I was pretty disappointed.

You tried to book FoP for Tue 11/13 this morning and there were none? I thought they were still available around 60+3 or 4? I have a Christmas trip coming up and was hoping to grab this toward the end of our trip....

 

[Tomh]

I don't know if this will be the case for you, but I was able to snag a pair of same day FoP FP for my son and I on one of our AK days in August.

 

[Shanti]

You tried to book FoP for Tue 11/13 this morning and there were none? I thought they were still available around 60+3 or 4? I have a Christmas trip coming up and was hoping to grab this toward the end of our trip....

I couldn't get any for 60+4 for our late August trip. We were able to get Slinky Dog (60+3), but not FOP. Fortunately, we got to do a special FOP event via my travel agent. 3 rides in a row with no wait!

 

[indoshakespeare]

I vote for ride it before the park closes. I went in line 15 minutes before closing and had to wait 40 minutes. Better than waiting 90 minutes at park opening.

 

[jsmla]

When we went last August they let us into the park about 8:15 (9:00 park opening). They lead us as far at the entrance to Pandora (by Tiffins) and we waited there until about 8:40. Then they let us get in line for FoP and, yes, we were off the ride by 9:10. Yes, we still waited, but I didn’t have to use park time to do it.

I've done this several times (at least five that I can remember) and it's pretty much gone like this. The wait is much more pleasant from the front of the line than crushed in with the crowds, especially on a hot day.

 

[jerseygal]

And waiting an hour when the park is closed is a thousand times better than waiting for 3 hours when the park is open

You tried to book FoP for Tue 11/13 this morning and there were none? I thought they were still available around 60+3 or 4? I have a Christmas trip coming up and was hoping to grab this toward the end of our trip....

For our upcoming Oct trip, was able to snag Slinky and Navi but not FOP exactly at 7am for our FP window of 60 plus. I will keep trying, but will try at the end of the day instead of RD.

 

[jerseygal]

I vote for ride it before the park closes. I went in line 15 minutes before closing and had to wait 40 minutes. Better than waiting 90 minutes at park opening.

That's our strategy!

 

[Mano22]

You tried to book FoP for Tue 11/13 this morning and there were none? I thought they were still available around 60+3 or 4? I have a Christmas trip coming up and was hoping to grab this toward the end of our trip....

No, this was a few days ago. I am well into my 60 day window now, fastpass ship has sailed.

Thanks for the advice everyone! Makes more sense to me now. I guess they slowly open AK early to avoid the insane lines/crowds/rushing that would ensue from an actual rope drop, as FoP is just too popular right now.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Because so many people are doing FP at RD, if you want to do just about anything else, it's easy to get there right at park opening and go do your other thing with minimal waits.

Kind of a double-edged sword. FOP is insane at RD, but everything else is really easy.

 

[Ensusieasm]

No, this was a few days ago. I am well into my 60 day window now, fastpass ship has sailed.

Thanks for the advice everyone! Makes more sense to me now. I guess they slowly open AK early to avoid the insane lines/crowds/rushing that would ensue from an actual rope drop, as FoP is just too popular right now.

Just be at AK 75 minutes before regular scheduled park opening. You’ll only wait about 30 or 40 minutes until they open the tapstiles, they will then hold everyone until about 30 minutes before scheduled park opening at the Pandora bridge entrance, then you will get on FoP and be off the ride at about the same time the park was scheduled to open. I always do this even on days I have a FoP fastPass, because the only thing better than a ride on FoP is two rides on FoP! Enjoy!

 

[Mano22]

What time would be ideal to get in line to try and do FoP at closing? This is for Thurs, Nov 8th. The park closes at 8:00, and Rivers of Light is at 6:30 (the timing of which I feel like does not help me here.) Should I go get in line at like 7:55? There must be a time that they stop people from entering the queue, is that 8:00 sharp?

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

What time would be ideal to get in line to try and do FoP at closing? This is for Thurs, Nov 8th. The park closes at 8:00, and Rivers of Light is at 6:30 (the timing of which I feel like does not help me here.) Should I go get in line at like 7:55? There must be a time that they stop people from entering the queue, is that 8:00 sharp?

Yes - they will let you get in line at 7:55pm for an 8pm closing. One other thing - when we were booking FPs for this summer I couldn't get FOP at day 60 for the first 5 days of our trip. At about day 40 before our trip Disney opened many FOP FPs - so then we got it for day 2 and day 3. So I would check daily. I hope it works out.

 

[Beer Me]

I think rope drop arriving 45 minutes or so before official opening is sufficient. It will look like a lot of people in front of you but the line should be well under 30 minutes.

I would be afraid to rely on the end of the night just in case something goes wrong.

 

[gharter]

Rope drop or end of the day seem to be the best options if you can't get a FP.
We are in that situation for October.
I'm still checking for FPs daily hoping that some will pop up. And they have in the past. Keep checking as it can happen.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I’m all about the 10-15 minutes before park close strategy.

I don’t “people” well enough to be in the middle of the Pandora dash, especially first thing in the morning.

This also allows us to have the rest of the park to ourselves for a portion of the am.

ETA: Another positive to this strategy - things move much faster with no FP line.