Fair enough, perhaps you can describe what type of virtual queue HS might employ for entry into SWGE itself (and how that would be fundamentally different than a reservation system)? Apologies if you posted earlier but I may have missed it.
I think they will employ the Virtual Queue. First 3 days will be hectic for sure, there will be people lining up/camping out (depending on what DHS says is acceptable) once the land opens and fills to capacity the virtual queue will kick in and people will be able to get in virtual line. I'm sure front desks at every hotel will have up to date information if DHS is closed, what phase of closure, if SWGE is closed, status of VQ...so people can plan before heading out.
The other thing they can use adding it to the VQ is a number system, like at the deli. They used this during Star Wars Weekends.
We would line up very early (1am was the earliest I ever got to SWW to line up for autographs) then about an hour before the park opened CM would come out with fast pass style card to give us a time to go to the autograph session. They had 3 autograph sessions, once all the spots were taken anyone left was out of luck. We knew by 7am if they were all out. Of course this was on a very small scale (up to 200 people) compared to SWGE, But if we are allowed to camp out during the night either outside or inside the park, they could come out with a number and let you know for sure if you are able to enter.
Pandora was a good experience for Disney, they know that people will line up for hours and wait to go in but Disney doesn't want you doing that. A person in line is not spending money. So they will create some sort of way to minimize the lining up, I just don't think they will do it through an online reservation system
You can bet there will be a separate line for exclusive merchandise that will be sold outside of SWGE, maybe at Launch Bay, the dessert party is not scheduled starting on Aug 24th which leads me to believe that they will use that space to set up a pop up store for LE merch.
Again, Disney will do what they will do, we as guests have to plan with whatever info they have told us and try not to speculate what MAY happen. I'm prepared and open for anything because I want to be there on opening day, I also have a room reservation for the 2nd to take advantage of EEMH. I think the SW fans are used to this type of situation but the Disney fans have been used to the FP system for the past 20 years and any type of lining up is completely unacceptable, and that's ok, I get that. But this is a different kind of thing.