I know this has been covered multiple times in Spilner's main SW thread but I thought this could go stand alone because it could be bumped from time to time for those looking for info and because, frankly, I have not been there, haven't been to Disney since 2013, and don't have a clue.

For those that have been, what advice would you give? We'll be there a week from Friday. Staying at a park hotel. Have our park passes and I think my wife bought fast passes or at least one fast pass for each of us.

How do the fast passes work now? Is it per ride? Last time I went we purchased fast passes and you could get a new pass per ride, one at a time.

The main rides are Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance, correct? If you could only pick one, which would you stand in line for an hour or more for?

Star Tours is still going but in same location next to the Indiana Jones show right?

For dining, are any of the venues really worth the wait? Recommendations?

Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities looks cool. Any feedback on the shops?

Taking our two sons, 11 and 14.

Any info is appreciated.

At Hollywood Studios, you can get 3 fastpasses at a time, but only one "Tier 1" ride at a time. I believe both GE attractions fall under Tier 1. (And by the way, fastpasses are free. You can get them on the Disney app.)

I have not ridden Ride of the Resistance yet, but it is widely considered the best attraction in any Disney park, so this is a must. If you can get a fastpass for this ride, get it. Do not think twice.

Smuggler's Run is a pretty fun ride. If you've done Star Tours before, it's very similar to that, except in the cockpit of the Falcon. If you can't get a fastpass for it, it's still worth waiting in line. One bit of advice: If you're willing to split up your party, you can go on the single rider line and get on the ride in about 10-15 minutes. (Or if you want to re-ride, this is a good option.)

Blue Milk is really tasty, make sure to try it. (Haven't tried green.)

Oga's Cantina is really cool. If you can get a reservation for it on the app, you should. (If you don't, you should still be able to get in, but you'll have to stand in line for it.) They have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and desserts/snacks. (No full meals.) Have not tried the other dining options.

And yeah, all shops are all really cool, make sure to check them all out. A bunch of cool details and stuff on the walls.

There's also a build-your-own-lighsaber "experience", which you can only do if you're willing to put down $200 for one. (Have seen videos of it, it does look pretty awesome. If your sons are fans, I imagine they would absolutely love this.)

Have a good time.

Following as I'm planning on going this summer.

To add question to the mix, for a Star Wars nerd who wants to absorb everything, how long would one spend at Galaxies Edge. Typically we spend the entire day at the park, so there would be no rush for me getting to of here.

We're headed at the end of the month. Rise of the Resistance requires planning. Like getting to the park early and getting a "boarding pass". Still figuring out details since we have a big group.

Falcon is now on fast pass. That just changed last month.

Thanks Spilner, great info. We'll probably spend two full days (or close to it) at Hollywood Studios and truthfully without Galaxy's Edge we wouldn't even be going. Probably a half day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom than off to Universal for three days.

I'm hoping Chewie tries to pick a fight with me again.

I read on the other thread that there really is no "off season" anymore at Disney. Concur? At least it won't 95 and 180% humidity.

Yep. I've gone in the middle of "low" season and there's still a lot of people. Pretty much impossible to avoid.

I would say you can spend up to 6 hours at GE.

https://blogmickey.com/2020/02/timing-and-crowd-levels-for-an-8am-disneys-hollywood-studios-opening-with-rise-of-the-resistance-tips

Today was the first day 8am opening

Last week they moved every single ride to tier 2 fast pass with the exception of Slinky Dog Dash and added smugglers run.

Do the Lightsaber build, it is $200 but also a wonderful bonding experience with my dad that I will cherish for a long time.

Roam the park and take in the sights. Cherie hides from stormtroopers in the restaurant, Rey is playing with children and Kylo stalks the park. These were so fun to watch.

Use the my Disney experience app and download it now. It is how you get the boarding pass. There is no fast pass for rise of the resistance, this is the only way to board.

You can also mobile order On the app for your food at docking bay 7. I had the batuuan beef pot roast and the roasted endorian chicken salad (different times). The food was really good and is elevated above standard theme park faire. You don't need to order by app but it saves a crap ton of time and you just walk up and get your food.

My Disney experience app is now the only way to get fast passes. Gonna be honest if you don't have this now, pickings might be slim as it opens 60 days out for resort guests and 30 days for everyone else. You get one tier one and 2 tier 2. Epcot used a similar system. Magic kingdom and animal kingdom do not have these restrictions.

Your best best is follow the instructions in the link above and rope drop. Get your boarding pass and immediately head to smugglers run because I doubt any fast passes are left. The boarding pass will give you a two hour return window. You cannot get in line period without this

Which park hotel are you staying at?

I'm actually scared of going because of how much money I'd try and spend a Ondar's. All those lightsaber hilts

Urban Ag said:

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Thanks Spilner, great info. We'll probably spend two full days (or close to it) at Hollywood Studios and truthfully without Galaxy's Edge we wouldn't even be going. Probably a half day at Epcot and Animal Kingdom than off to Universal for three days.

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I'm interested in this itinerary because its something like we are planning.
We have been to Disneyworld 5 times before, and usually we hit all four parks, with a full day for each (open to close). It had gotten to the point though where Hollywood Studios was worthless, but now things have changed.
I'm thinking now though:

• Day 1: Disney - Magic Kingdom
• Day 2: Disney - Hollywood Studios
• Day 3: Animal Kingdom
• Day 4: Universal
• Day 5: Universal

We would stay on Disney property and probably skip Epcot this go around.
But I'm wondering if it would be worth it to switch hotels and stay at a Universal hotel for the two days

By the way. check out the flight of beers you can get for $60. I think its called the wampa something. Kind of cool take home souvenir.

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There's also a build-your-own-lighsaber "experience", which you can only do if you're willing to put down $200 for one. (Have seen videos of it, it does look pretty awesome. If your sons are fans, I imagine they would absolutely love this.)

Have a good time.

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Btw, the build your own lightsaber attraction IS NOT on the map. This is quite intentional. You have to ask cast members about jedi and where to find them. If you ask imperials they will consider you a sympathizer. You must ask the rebels in order to find the lightsaber workshop.

Here are a couple articles regarding getting on Rise of the Resistance that you may find helpful. I believe the short story is, once you are actually in the park (Hollywood Studios) you can go into the app to try to secure a boarding pass for the ride. However, since there are so many people who want to ride, the boarding passes are all gone within like 15min of park opening, so you have to be there extra early to get in before all the passes are gone.

https://www.themeparktourist.com/news/20191219/28480/new-definitive-guide-getting-star-wars-rise-resistance

https://www.themeparktourist.com/news/20191218/28474/new-boarding-group-join-time-policy-effect-star-wars-rise-resistance

Gone in less than a minute.
We got on Sun. Didn't get a boarding pass this morning.

Thanks. I think my wife already got the app and pass. will check with her tonight.

We are staying at one of the cheaper park resorts, I think it is sports themed. Have to check with corporate on that too.

THanks for the info

that's what we are doing. Two nights at Disney (again, I think the sports themed one) and then three nights at Cabana Bay at Universal. We've taken the boys twice in the last 3.5 years.

Been at WDW since Sat. Staying until Sun.

how packed would you say it is?

Urban Ag said:

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that's what we are doing. Two nights at Disney (again, I think the sports themed one) and then three nights at Cabana Bay at Universal. We've taken the boys twice in the last 3.5 years.

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Have fun, let me know how the Universal Resort is. I will need to find something there.
When we have been at Disney the past two times, we ended up staying at the Port Orleans onsite. Not sure if we would do that, or possibly try and really break me by staying at the Animal Kingdom this time.

We'll be doing Orlando for spring break. 4 days at Harry Potter, then two days at Galaxies Edge.

Universal was a lot more expensive, but less planing. Did Disney a couple of years ago and between picking parks for magic hours, getting dinning reservations 6 months in advance, and fast passes 60 days in advance I felt like I had planned a group trip to see China by train or something. The planning did pay off though.

I can reserve my fast passes this Friday, so I'm interested in all the Star Wars tips

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Magic kingdom and animal kingdom do not have these restrictions.

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Unless this has changed since last Thanksgiving when my family was at WDW, Animal Kingdom does do the tiering of attractions for fast passes.

I was aggravated that Rise of the Resistance was not yet open when we were there, and I know they've added Smuggler's Run to the fast pass list. SR is awesome. But as someone else said, if you don't yet have FP for any attractions the pickings will be slim if even available. The app is great. Given that you are going during an "off-season" you may find that you can pick up an additional FP once you have used the 3 allotted per day, but that didn't work for us (but then again, it was Thanksgiving and it was incredibly crowded).

If you like photographs and (like me) would typically take all your family photos, I recommend buying the Disney photopass service. There are photographers located throughout the park that will take photos of your group in front of various attractions (and you will get to be in them). Plus, there are cameras on many of the rides, and those photos will be part of the photopass service as well. You just have to scan your wristband at the exits of those rides to get them added to your account. I always had a fun time with the ride cameras, throwing up big goofy grins or a Gig 'Em.

I'm thinking I'll be taking my family again in 4 years, this time a summer trip, the summer prior to my youngest's senior year in high school. She can get all kinds of goofy photos to use as her senior pictures. Plus I'll get to do the Rise of the Resistance plus the new TRON rollercoaster that is currenly under construction next to Space Mountain. And I think Hollywood Studios should have a Guardians of the Galaxy coaster by that time as well.

amercer said:

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We'll be doing Orlando for spring break. 4 days at Harry Potter, then two days at Galaxies Edge.

Universal was a lot more expensive, but less planing. Did Disney a couple of years ago and between picking parks for magic hours, getting dinning reservations 6 months in advance, and fast passes 60 days in advance I felt like I had planned a group trip to see China by train or something. The planning did pay off though.

I can reserve my fast passes this Friday, so I'm interested in all the Star Wars tips

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You can get a fast pass for Smuggler's Run but not for Rise of the Resistance. What I have read regarding RotR is to get there as early as you can to have a better chance at obtaining a boarding pass. A friend of ours just did this, and then was surprised to manage to get the pass on two separate occasions.

When you pass through the tunnel that leads into GE, you will feel like you are truly in a galaxy far, far away. It is fully immersive. The attention to detail is quite impressive. I didn't eat at any of the restaurants there, but I did get a thermal detonator (a Coke in a bottle that looks like Princess Leia's thermal detonator for ROTJ) - just don't carry it by the tip, as it will come off.

You will have to look for the lightsaber shop if you're interested in that. It's not on any of the maps. I finally did find it, and I found the other shop that sells pre-built sabers, but man, walking into that tiny little hole in the wall was like stepping into a fully loaded can of sardines. Wall-to-wall people in there. I couldn't even get close to the counter to take a look at the various options (and I would love to have bought one).

I also watched as a couple of storm troopers interrogated a little girl, then warned her they'd be watching her as they marched off. Saw Rey with Chewbacca at one point. Had my photo taken in front of an X-Wing while wearing one of my Texas Aggie football shirts (this was on the Saturday where SEC refs were jobbing A&M at UGA); the photographer told me to give her a big Gig 'Em, then told me she was Class of 22.

Rode ROTR twice last week! We got there about 15 to 20 minutes before park opening. Do not use the park WiFi to access the app. Open the app about 5 seconds before park opening. It is not a thrill ride, but an experience. Lots of detail to look at. It's like being on a movie set. You are part of the adventure. Also, you don't have to stay at HS's depending on your boarding group. They will give you a one to 2 hour return when your group is called. PS the gondolas are great.

Was there in November before RotR opened.

I preferred the green milk to the blue, but both were good.

Do the lightsaber build. Tip: you pick your saber crystal color, but can buy special more in the shop (I got yellow and white - which were not choices during the workshop). You need a reservation for this.

I also did the droid build, and it was cool. You can get a reservation, but it's not always necessary.

Use the Disney app to order food thru Mobile Order. The Ronto Wrap was the best thing I had in GE.

Ride the skyliner. It's awesome.

exitone said:

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By the way. check out the flight of beers you can get for $60. I think its called the wampa something. Kind of cool take home souvenir.

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Loved the wampa as a kid. Love beer. Will check out. Can confirm.

Use a Disney travel planner. They're free

Ask for the scrap shop to find Savi's. I also went and bought all of the kyber colors for my lightsaber at Dok Ondars.

If going to DW and want more than a hotel room, you can rent DVC points for stays in a studio all the way to 3 BR's . There are a couple of companies that does the work between owners and people that want to rent points. DVC is Disney's timeshare and they have 15 resorts on property.

If you don't have a FP, just go to Epcot get drunk then go back to Hollywood Studios at night, find a manager, tell them it's your birthday and see what happens. Works better if you have a Birthday pin. Did this for smugglers run shortly after it was open and got admitted through the fast pass line.

Damn. I heard they were going fast but didn't know it was that quick. At least you got on Sunday.

At animal kingdom there are some good places to eat. SatulinCanteen in Pandora is a great quick service. Flame Tree bbq is pretty good as well. Yak and Yeti is both sit down and quick service and is great.

Magic Kingdom is a little light on non theme park food. Columbia harbor house is pretty good fish and chips. You can catch the monorail over to the Polynesian and Kona Cafe is a great lunch or dinner option that usually has reservations open unlike Ohanas. Lot of option for dining at downtown Disney.

All Star sports is pretty light on dining. Maybe some stuff has changed from when I worked in the stores there 10 years ago but I kinda doubt it.

I recommend checking out disboards.com. They have forums for theme park planning, threads specific to hotels like the all stars for questions, and even for dining.

Saxsoon said:

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At animal kingdom there are some good places to eat. SatulinCanteen in Pandora is a great quick service. Flame Tree bbq is pretty good as well. Yak and Yeti is both sit down and quick service and is great.

Magic Kingdom is a little light on non theme park food. Columbia harbor house is pretty good fish and chips. You can catch the monorail over to the Polynesian and Kona Cafe is a great lunch or dinner option that usually has reservations open unlike Ohanas. Lot of option for dining at downtown Disney.

All Star sports is pretty light on dining. Maybe some stuff has changed from when I worked in the stores there 10 years ago but I kinda doubt it.

I recommend checking out disboards.com. They have forums for theme park planning, threads specific to hotels like the all stars for questions, and even for dining.

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SatulinCanteen was very good. We ate at Flame Tree several years ago, and I recall liking that as well. Our last trip, we did the character breakfast at Tusker House. I think their menu for lunch/dinner is quite different than breakfast, breakfast was standard American fare but it was good.

I'd also recommend O'Hana's at the Polynesian if you like meat. You'll get lots of really tasty meat there. But without a reservation, that may be tough to get a table at. Inside Magic Kingdom, Be Our Guest is good. It is 2 dining credits for dinner, but for lunch it is a quick service location.