D23 EXPO 2019 Superthread - dates announced!

[midnight star]

I was hoping to arrive by 6:30 for our 8am reservation. Do you think that’s too late?

I feel like by then the line will have built. I remember last year when the pier opened, I arrived around 6:15 on opening day, and there were a ton of people already there. By 6:30, the traffic had built up to the flyaway/overpass. So if that is traffic for the pier, who knows what SWGE will do to it. The lines cleared fast though...I'm sure people will report back on how parking is going. I'm honestly not going anywhere near Anaheim until I hear how traffic is. That is why I booked my reservation so late lol

 

[twodogs]

A question I have been mulling over, so please add your thoughts: Will SWGE be more crowded during the reservation period or in the months that follow (say this October, for example)? On the one hand, I think maybe the reservation period will be less crazy because they are limiting it to some absolute number. They have said they are not allowing walk-ups, so the number is the number. They clearly anticipate the land hitting capacity pretty immediately on the regular non-reservation days, for a long period of weeks to months (or longer) after SWGE opens, since they have set up the whole virtual queue system. I don't think they would have gone to this trouble/expense if they thought it would only hit land capacity for the first few days (like Toy Story Land did at WDW for the first day or so; there they just had a line and you waited for people to leave and until the land fell back under capacity, and they let a few more people into the land). I guess my concern is: Is Disney filling the land to capacity at all times during the reservation period (or even over capacity, if some people from earlier time slots don't leave on time, (and they have said they will not strictly enforce other than getting in line for the ride or shop/CS)), such that it will be worse than the post-reservation period (where the capacity will be a fixed number in/out)??

We have a reservation, but I don't know if we are going to use it if the number of people with reservations is so high that the land is over capacity during this time (and you know folks will stay as long as they can before getting kicked out). Maybe it is just better to wait...

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

A question I have been mulling over, so please add your thoughts: Will SWGE be more crowded during the reservation period or in the months that follow (say this October, for example)? On the one hand, I think maybe the reservation period will be less crazy because they are limiting it to some absolute number. They have said they are not allowing walk-ups, so the number is the number. They clearly anticipate the land hitting capacity pretty immediately on the regular non-reservation days, for a long period of weeks to months (or longer) after SWGE opens, since they have set up the whole virtual queue system. I don't think they would have gone to this trouble/expense if they thought it would only hit land capacity for the first few days (like Toy Story Land did at WDW for the first day or so; there they just had a line and you waited for people to leave and until the land fell back under capacity, and they let a few more people into the land). I guess my concern is: Is Disney filling the land to capacity at all times during the reservation period (or even over capacity, if some people from earlier time slots don't leave on time, (and they have said they will not strictly enforce other than getting in line for the ride or shop/CS)), such that it will be worse than the post-reservation period (where the capacity will be a fixed number in/out)??

We have a reservation, but I don't know if we are going to use it if the number of people with reservations is so high that the land is over capacity during this time (and you know folks will stay as long as they can before getting kicked out). Maybe it is just better to wait...

I was wondering that too. I'm hoping that it'll be less in the reservation period...

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

We have a 11am-3pm reservation and we want to as many rides as possible done in the morning. Park opens 8am the day we go. How early do you recommend arriving to get a good parking spot and be able to ride as many rides as possible in the morning?

 

[cdatkins]

@twodogs in July, my theory is that SWGE will of course be crowded, but with most passes blacked out, you are still dealing largely with locals who have to drive there, park, get through security, etc. I still believe that staying onsite or near to DL will give an advantage in July, as a result.

The people coming during the reservation people KNOW in advance that they are coming for SWGE, and probably represent the most enthusiastic of the lot. I could forsee even early morning strategies still coming up against a wave of people in that scenario.

Who knows though?

 

[njchris]

I was wondering that too. I'm hoping that it'll be less in the reservation period...

I don't get why people would still go for SWGE, when they can't even get inside the land or even a glimpse of it other than the spires and a few things you can see from the steamboat.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I feel like by then the line will have built. I remember last year when the pier opened, I arrived around 6:15 on opening day, and there were a ton of people already there. By 6:30, the traffic had built up to the flyaway/overpass. So if that is traffic for the pier, who knows what SWGE will do to it. The lines cleared fast though...I'm sure people will report back on how parking is going. I'm honestly not going anywhere near Anaheim until I hear how traffic is. That is why I booked my reservation so late lol

Ugh! What do you think if I’m dropped off (no parking). Would 6:30 be OK if not parking?

I realize I have lots of time to sort out the details but I like to start thinking ahead as I will have a 4 year old with me, I’m leaving a 6 month breastfeeding baby at home and I need to pump before entering the land. I think I might pump in the car on the drive up to save time. But I can’t do that too early or I’ll have to leave SWGE before the end of my reservation to pump again.

 

[wench]

We have a 11am-3pm reservation and we want to as many rides as possible done in the morning. Park opens 8am the day we go. How early do you recommend arriving to get a good parking spot and be able to ride as many rides as possible in the morning?

For this part, you may be best off waiting until SWGE has been open a few days & ask for feedback on the parking. You have a long enough drive already, that you’d probably benefit from solid intel on this part of your plan. Right now, everyone is still just guessing how will turn out.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

For this part, you may be best off waiting until SWGE has been open a few days & ask for feedback on the parking. You have a long enough drive already, that you’d probably benefit from solid intel on this part of your plan. Right now, everyone is still just guessing how will turn out.

True! Glad we're going on the 13th and not the first week or opening day.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I don't get why people would still go for SWGE, when they can't even get inside the land or even a glimpse of it other than the spires and a few things you can see from the steamboat.

I agree... unfortunately there are people who don't do their research and think "oh SWGE is for everyone!"

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm pretty sure I might cry, too, but I'll be going sometime next year and will probably stick out like a sore thumb. Maybe they will mark a designated crying area by then?

It's "space" not "safe space"...

(P.S. I'll be crying as well... in Jun in DL, and again in Aug in WDW)

 

[dina444444]

I feel like by then the line will have built. I remember last year when the pier opened, I arrived around 6:15 on opening day, and there were a ton of people already there. By 6:30, the traffic had built up to the flyaway/overpass. So if that is traffic for the pier, who knows what SWGE will do to it. The lines cleared fast though...I'm sure people will report back on how parking is going. I'm honestly not going anywhere near Anaheim until I hear how traffic is. That is why I booked my reservation so late lol

That’s because the parking structure didn’t open till 7:30 that morning.

 

[Trevler]

A question I have been mulling over, so please add your thoughts: Will SWGE be more crowded during the reservation period or in the months that follow (say this October, for example)? On the one hand, I think maybe the reservation period will be less crazy because they are limiting it to some absolute number. They have said they are not allowing walk-ups, so the number is the number. They clearly anticipate the land hitting capacity pretty immediately on the regular non-reservation days, for a long period of weeks to months (or longer) after SWGE opens, since they have set up the whole virtual queue system. I don't think they would have gone to this trouble/expense if they thought it would only hit land capacity for the first few days (like Toy Story Land did at WDW for the first day or so; there they just had a line and you waited for people to leave and until the land fell back under capacity, and they let a few more people into the land). I guess my concern is: Is Disney filling the land to capacity at all times during the reservation period (or even over capacity, if some people from earlier time slots don't leave on time, (and they have said they will not strictly enforce other than getting in line for the ride or shop/CS)), such that it will be worse than the post-reservation period (where the capacity will be a fixed number in/out)??

We have a reservation, but I don't know if we are going to use it if the number of people with reservations is so high that the land is over capacity during this time (and you know folks will stay as long as they can before getting kicked out). Maybe it is just better to wait...

I think the reservation period will be the slowest we'll see Galaxy's Edge for the next few years. Granted, I don't know how many reservations they're allowing, but there WILL be no shows, and with no standby line those no-shows will equal empty space. I know it sounds crazy, but when people don't pay for things, its easier to blow them off, even something as cool as Galaxy's Edge.

 

[StarSpeckledSky]

I think the reservation period will be the slowest we'll see Galaxy's Edge for the next few years. Granted, I don't know how many reservations they're allowing, but there WILL be no shows, and with no standby line those no-shows will equal empty space. I know it sounds crazy, but when people don't pay for things, its easier to blow them off, even something as cool as Galaxy's Edge.

I really hope so! Going June 13 and am crossing my fingers for crowds to be low-ish (like the shortest dwarf) crowds.

 

[midnight star]

That’s because the parking structure didn’t open till 7:30 that morning.

Oh yeah...forgot about those weekend 9 am mornings last summer.

Oh yes, now I remember, I ate breakfast in the car lol

 

[midnight star]

Ugh! What do you think if I’m dropped off (no parking). Would 6:30 be OK if not parking?

I realize I have lots of time to sort out the details but I like to start thinking ahead as I will have a 4 year old with me, I’m leaving a 6 month breastfeeding baby at home and I need to pump before entering the land. I think I might pump in the car on the drive up to save time. But I can’t do that too early or I’ll have to leave SWGE before the end of my reservation to pump again.

Let's wait and see! I've thought about the option of Ubering down...but that is expensive. And if my aunt comes with me (I put her name on the reservation just in case), she will not be down for that. She doesn't even want to park in Toy Story, lol. So I'm hoping there is some strategy for the garages.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I don't get why people would still go for SWGE, when they can't even get inside the land or even a glimpse of it other than the spires and a few things you can see from the steamboat.

So here's my theory based on having three adult sons who were raised by their dad to be Star Wars super fans. The super fans will show up regardless of whether they have a reservation just to be there amidst all the excitement and ride SM and Star Tours, or they may hope that Disney will allow entry to some who don't have a reservation. In fact, I've been watching some of the super fan YouTube videos with my sons over the last week and many are saying they're going to camp out on the 30th.

As for the casual tourists who are also excited and want to experience the new land - many will either ignore instructions are will be ignorant of them. I can't tell you how many times I've overhead tourist conversations that demonstrate lack of planning despite spending thousands on their vacation, they think they can wing it and still do everything. My son is a former CM and my DIL a current one (has been one for eight years and recently transferred to SW:GE). I've heard countless stories of guests who again, purposely ignore the rules or are simply uninformed for whatever reason.

As soon as I heard the announcement that parking will be accessible at midnight, I made a room reservation at a hotel across the street on Harbor for 5/30. My boss and friends did the same. As soon we get off work on Thursday, we're heading straight to our respective hotels. This way, we can avoid traffic/parking issues the day of.

Edited to add: The Star Wars franchise goes back over 40 years, so the super fans vary in age and all have a strong emotional attachment to the stories and it's characters. To my point, my husband began sharing his love of the franchise with my sons from a very young age. When we dated in the late eighties, he said that Disney needed to create a Star Wars based land and build a life-sized Millenium Falcon and I said, nope, don't see that happening. My husband passed away in '12 and over the last couple of weeks, my sons have said multiple times how amazing it would've been to have their dad here to experience opening day with them. There will be tears.

 

[midnight star]

I've heard countless stories of guests who again, purposely ignore the rules or are simply uninformed for whatever reason.

This is what makes me nervous the most. I wonder how many people out there who are just going to show up opening day not knowing or believing they need a reservation, and add to crowds?

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

I’m just getting more and more thrilled about my date choice of June 21st. Hopefully everyone will be done with the misinformation and ideas of camping out. There is zero way I’m camping out anywhere other than the Disneyland Hotel room that I paid for.

I’m excited for the 31st to get here and for the first reports to come back i’d Like to see what the souvenir drink containers for the blue and green milk look like

 

[Castillo Mom]

I’m just getting more and more thrilled about my date choice of June 21st. Hopefully everyone will be done with the misinformation and ideas of camping out. There is zero way I’m camping out anywhere other than the Disneyland Hotel room that I paid for.

I’m excited for the 31st to get here and for the first reports to come back i’d Like to see what the souvenir drink containers for the blue and green milk look like

I'll be sure to report back!