Star Wars Galaxy Edge, possible paid previews?

Thanks for your response. I am hoping I am a little early for SWGE but if I’m there for the grand opening I guess I will see the crazy in some people lol. I can’t move my trips dates so I hope it goes well ! I wanted to spend a lot of time in CA anyways maybe it won’t be as crowded. I have also hear during the summer weekends are better?

Your dates should be fine. Most of us are using the deluxe AP blockout dates as a guide as to when to expect SWGE to open. June 21 is the first date the Deluxe AP are blocked for Disneyland (they can still enter DCA) until August 19. I suspect that they will have a paid preview of SWGE, however no one knows when and what the details will be. I can tell you that last year for the opening of Pixar Pier they had a paid preview at $300 per guest, now keep in mind this was for a rethemed area, not a brand new one. Many suspect they were testing the waters for SWGE this year. Not sure what dates you are planning on being in the parks, but I would suggest that June 14th would be your best bet for crowds at DL. Deluxe APs are blocked June 14, 15, and 16. So crowds should be very reasonable. Last summer was the first year it was better to go on a weekend, than on a weekday due to AP blockout dates. Weekdays were seeing CLs in the 7-9 range, while weekends were 4-6.

The beginning of fall is not that much different than the summer, weather wise. The crowds too. They are starting Halloween earlier and earlier each year and Halloween is growing increasingly more popular and has made what was a very quiet time in the parks, quite busy! However, with SWGE, that may change. Many suspect that they may send the Halloween party back to DCA with the opening of SWGE.

To add my bit to already great advice given:

With the 11-13 being some of the last days that Deluxe passholders can access Disneyland before they are blocked out the following week, I would prepare for Disneyland to be very inundated, especially in the evenings. The good news is those aren’t the very last days they can come in so it may not be complete madness, but I would expect it to be very busy still. Then on the 14th I would except DCA to be filled with those same Deluxe passholders since they will be blocked from Disneyland but not DCA.

As has been said, no one knows what the plan is for paid previews and/or first access to SWGE will look like, just that they are likely to be some sort of paid event in place. Keep your eyes tuned to the Disney parks blog as that will be the first place an announcement will be made. My personal opinion is that they will do as many paid previews as they can and that $500 will be on the lower end of what I expect the price to be with $1,000 being a realistic figure. They may offer a short window of time for DVC and/or Annual Passholders to first purchase these events and then extend to the general public, but I expect that every single one of these previews will be sold out and quickly, even with such a steep price tag.

Fall at Disneyland is still very hot in my opinion and with the Santa Ana winds, September and October can be just as hot if not hotter than July and August. The autumn decor around the parks is fun & the Halloween overlays of several of the rides will be different. As has been said before, there isn’t an official word on how Halloween will be different this year (and it is expected to be with the opening of SWGE this summer) but you can check out Disneyland’s link to the event for what to expect based on years past:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/halloween-time-at-the-disneyland-resort/

Thanks guys for all this great advice so far! I was a little intimidated by going at summer time in general. I will be there 4 or 5 days this year- have not decided! BUT I am not changing my days, and have now decided to do a couple of weekend days. I know that this Touring Plan definitely MADE my vacation last time— with lines and all the advice I read. I know so MUCH more this vacation, I hope to conquer it all LOL!

On a recent Disney Dish episode, @len and Jim Hill talked about June 21-23 as possible media preview days (though, that’s not 100% set yet). It’s possible there could be some previews before those dates, but it’s tough to tell. I’d think Disney would want to have a bunch of preview days to figure out operations details for the new attractions, but that could depend on whether construction stays on schedule and/or how many last minute changes management tries to squeeze in.

Disney did have a paid preview for a refurbished land in DCA last summer, so there’s some precedent for such a thing (https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/05/pixar-pier-premiere-special-event-at-disney-california-adventure-park-on-june-22-six-reasons-to-attend/). That event cost $300 per person, so given the scale of Galaxy’s Edge and the enthusiasm for Star Wars, I’d expect a paid preview for that land to cost considerably more. I’d also expect it to sell out really quickly (perhaps, even immediately after going on sale).

I’d think Disney would want to cash in on paid previews, but I’d think they’d want to have things working pretty reliably by the time they start taking money from guests, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they did a bunch more cast member and Passholder events closer to the dates you’re talking about being around.

If, by some chance Galaxy’s Edge were open during your visit, then I think you’d need to arrive at the parks considerably more than 45 minutes ahead of time to get in front of folks who will likely line up as early as they can to be among the first to see the new land.

It’s been suggested to me that GE preview events will be more than $1,000. (Because I said I’d pay $1,000 and the CM I said it to laughed at me and said it would be “way more than that.”) I’m not sure what that $1,000 includes.

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Ouch!

Considering Disneyland just announced a new princess meal at $125/head (for ages 3+, meaning for my family it would be $500) for a.single.meal., it doesn’t surprise me one bit that over $1,000 is being considered.

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Hi! I cannot believe the new princess meal at DL is $125!!! So crazy! They clearly are looking for a totally different type of DL visitor than you or I.

I haven’t heard of this, i guess I am not keeping up with Disney facts enough! Pesky studying, getting in the way of my “real life.” :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Same… what princess meal is $125?

Brand new one announced yesterday, will be at Napa Rose.

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Well that explains the price!

I have been trying to figure out how this could be. Even CRT that is inside a freakin’ castle doesn’t approach this. Nor any princess dining ever. We LOOOOOVED Ariel’s Grotto at DCA and felt that $70/adult $35/kid was worth that price and hoped for a replacement for it once Ariel’s Grotto was re-themed to the Lamplight Lounge as a part of Pixar Pier’s re-imagining.

But I don’t see us ever doing this meal unless it were truly a once in a lifetime trip because seriously, it would be $500 for our family for a (one, uno, single, not plural) meal.

We’ll just wait in line with the rest of the peasants for the Royal Hall now.

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It is very fresh news & had it come out in the last 2 weeks where I’ve had pesky life (work, prepping for a non-Disney vacation without kids & then going on said vacation that was fully booked of tours, events & quality time with the husband) getting in the way of my “real” life, then I too would’ve totally missed it & way more than by a day. :wink:

Oh the sacrifices we make outside the forum!

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I would never pay that either! Not even for just me. I get having more expensive options available, but geez, this is out of control! I am starting to believe the $1000 plus entrance into Galaxy’s Edge is coming for the opening.

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Ditto. I mean, we weren’t planning on it even if it were $500. But had talked about how nice it would be nice to see Galaxy’s Edge early & without (as many) crowds. It does look amazing. But I am more of a Harry Potter fan than Star Wars so perhaps I’ll just have to go elsewhere for my immersive land-theming for a bit :wink:

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Do they still have princesses at Goofy’s kitchen? That price is ridiculous. I remember meeting Cinderella and Jasmine during our meals. That seems like a better option than having to pay that price.

I would be shocked if an EMM style event or preview at GE was less than $1,000 per ticket (during the first couple months after opening). I suspect there are ten of thousands of Star Wars fanatics (plus celebrities that will want to get in on the hype) that will be eager to drop their $1,000 to do this. And DL can always lower the price in the unlikely scenario where there isn’t enough interest.

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We’ve met Snow White and Jasmine and then on another occasion Mulan and maybe Jasmine? at Goofy’s, but both those times were 5 & 6 yrs ago. Not sure who meets now, but the latest pictures I have seen seem to be the same characters as breakfast (Minnie, Pluto, Chip n Dale).