So we parked REALLY close at 5:45 yet we had to stand 10 feet or more back from the Hollywood Studios sign. I guess everyone in front of us was from the resort because the parking lot was pretty empty. They opened gates at 6:15. We got through at 6:30. We had gotten there so early to be front for Mil. Fal. We weren’t there nearly early enough to do that. We were by Star Tours. There were tons and tons of people in back of us, but a lot of people in front of us as well. Thanks to our son, he got boarding group 16.
They let us go probably 7:05 so that people could get BG and not have people trampling over those on their phones. We walked shoulder to should down the street to Me. Fal. It was horrible. At 7:20 we were nowhere close to the entrance. We were only 4 across at that point. Son looked on phone and the wait was already 120 minutes. And we were not near the entrance yet. We didn’t think we would make our 2 hour window, so we got out of line. I read that someone yesterday got there later than us and yet made it through Mel. Fal in an hour…I do not understand how they did that unless they elbowed their way through or something. Maybe as a single. But with 5 of us not willing to run over the lady in the wheelchair and multiple strollers, yeah, wasn’t happening. We looked at the stores, kids building robots ( first thing is the time to do it btw. When we returned later the crowds were horrible.)
Our group was called at 7:30. We only had maybe 50 people in with us in the group. I’m guessing because others were riding rides. RIDE WAS AWESOME. Got off at 8 and people agreed our day was complete. Star tours had a 25 minute wait so they did that. Then they all rode TOT. I just wandered around or sat on my phone. They finished that at 10. Our Prime Time café reservation was at 11 and the lines were all too long to do anything, so we rested and watched the Galaxy show at 10:30. Cute. Got to Prime Time at 10:50. Do not understand why we had such a hard time getting a reservation until yesterday. Our section had empty seating for about 25 people until about 11:45.
Anyway, we went to our fp of Muppet to let our food digest. Then we saw that Mil Falc was only 85 minutes. ( ONLY…uggh). So we waiting in line. From stepping in line to getting back outside where the line started was exactly 85 minutes. We did have a ball on that ride since it was us and a very quiet single rider. My daughter and husband were the pilots. Boys were the gunners. And my motion sickness self was at a perfect job as a gunner where I could look at buttons instead of the screen. I would not have survived as a pilot. I would have thrown up. It was 1:55 at that point.
They had a fp at RocknRollercoaster at 2:20, so by the time we walked over there they only had 5 minutes to wait. Done at 2:40. The lines were SO SO long at everything. We had a fp for Beauty and Beast at 3:20. We tapped in, but no more fp. Everyone was tired and did not want to stand in anymore lines so we walked back out and went home. Now technically, we could have stood in the 105 minute line for SD or 90 for Mania…but YUCK. My kids ( 18, 23 and 25) had no interest in any of the shows. Most of us hate crowds and lines. ( Last time I did this almost 12 years ago we didn’t wait in a single line because of my fast pass use.) But everyone felt like the day was successful because they saw the Star Wars stuff.
Kept my thoughts to myself, but 635 dollars to do that yesterday is WAY WAY WAY too much money. Honestly, even my daughter said ( this was her senior trip) that if we had known ahead of time the craziness she would have chosen a different park to just walk on the rides, and yet she REALLY wanted to do Star Wars. For us, I knew we only had one day there. I didn’t want to buy tickets until I knew what the weather would be ( week before then). I did not want to drop that much money and have it pouring down rain. However, that meant all the fp’s were gone…or the ones before noon. Yes we logged in that day, but our early Rise time and Prime Time Café ( That was my daughter’s one request other than Star Wars and it was as wonderful as last time.) Prevented us from snagging any earlier ones.
So here is my planning advice:
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If you are staying onsite and have a multi-day park hopper pass
Get your FP as early in the day as possible. It is a crap shoot as far as what ride to show up for first. Mania and Slinky went down at 7:20 for awhile so if we had chosen that instead of Mil Fal it wouldn’t have worked either. As it was we got to just enjoy Galaxy’s Edge while everyone was in line for it. So you could just wander around there for awhile. Once you know your boarding group you can then manipulate your fp (maybe) around the boarding group. Then LEAVE after you do your fp and rise events. Don’t come back in the evening either. Or at least not until 6pm or later for an 8pm closing. Then your lines will ONLY be 60-90 minutes. I kept watch. They don’t go down much.
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If this is you only day… I don’t know what to tell you. If you buy your one day ticket 30 days out then the weather may be horrible, but at least you will have the fast passes you want. Just decide your MUST DO’s and enjoy the company of the people you are with like we did. Decide what will make an enjoyable day.
As for me, I’m looking forward to camping in Colorado this summer with no one around as we hike looking at the gorgeous mountains. We won’t be back unless maybe we have grandchildren who insist we go. I’m done with Disney. Loved our first two trips, but now it is a nightmare. Our days at Universal were more fun. Resting today, then we have 2 more days there.!
I am including a picture of where we were waiting to be let in even though we got there at 5:45 and the picture of some of the people behind us as we waiting by Star Tours.
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