Star Tours Grand Opening today.

[skiingfast]

This is a quote I took off the Disneyland Facebook page.

"Currently a 5 hour wait, no fastpasses today and totally disorganized this morning at park opening. Devastated to be here opening day and not be able to experience the ride. Disney has never disappointed me like this..."

I also saw a Disser's picture of the line, down by the plaza inn where it began, this is near the Red Wagon serving corndogs.

But now reports are the line extend back to a maze in front of the castle with waits of 6 and 7 hours.

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

No way would I wait in that line! I guess for some people it's a "thing" to ride it opening day. I feel it kind of loses something since so many others have already been on it. If a lot of those people waiting in line are APers (which I kinda think they are - I mean if I were here for a limited on vacation I would not give up 6 hrs of touring for one ride), then why wait if you can come back another time???

This confirms my plan of Star Tours at rope drop for our August trip!

 

[Liat]

The line was stupid almost immediately. We stuck to the other side of the park this morning and are planning on doing CA this afternoon. We had no plans to ride it so we arent disappointed at all.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

What baffles me is that people would still consider getting in line when it was at 3, 4, and 5 hours long I'm all for riding new rides, but that's just a little much for myself Maybe these are diehard Star Wars fans?? But you'd think they'd be at the gates hours before the park even opened

The things people will do!!

 

[HydroGuy]

What baffles me is that people would still consider getting in line when it was at 3, 4, and 5 hours long I'm all for riding new rides, but that's just a little much for myself Maybe these are diehard Star Wars fans?? But you'd think they'd be at the gates hours before the park even opened

The things people will do!!

Mostly AP holders who live near the parks and can dedicate an entire day to one ride if they want. Just bring a book or iPod... They can say they were there on opening day...

Most probably went right from ST to LMAUA to wait in line there for 2+ hours as well.

 

[skiingfast]

The line was stupid almost immediately. We stuck to the other side of the park this morning and are planning on doing CA this afternoon. We had no plans to ride it so we arent disappointed at all.

Did you happen to go to DCA and see the LM line?

What baffles me is that people would still consider getting in line when it was at 3, 4, and 5 hours long I'm all for riding new rides, but that's just a little much for myself Maybe these are diehard Star Wars fans?? But you'd think they'd be at the gates hours before the park even opened

The things people will do!!

I agree, why wait for it and pass up so much else. Of course some people want to say they rode it on Opening Day(besides the tens of thousands that did during soft openings). But from my point of view a lot of people there are selfish locals. Taking the chance to ride away from people who can only get to the parks once a year, every few of several years or on a trip of thier lifetime.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Mostly AP holders who live near the parks and can dedicate an entire day to one ride if they want. Just bring a book or iPod... They can say they were there on opening day...

Most probably went right from ST to LMAUA to wait in line there for 2+ hours as well.

No AP holder I know can take an entire weekday out of their life to go on one ride --- and why would they if they can go any day they want to with living so close.

However, if you're on vacation and have nothing but time on your hands, I could see hardcore Star Wars fans choosing to spend a half day of their vacation doing so.

Now, college students who are done with school... there's a group that has 5 free hours in their day.

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

No AP holder I know can take an entire weekday out of their life to go on one ride --- and why would they if they can go any day they want to with living so close.

Because they want to ride it ASAP? And because they are young and single and can hang with their friends? The kind thing that I and many others did when we were young and had nothing better to do with our time...

This will become evident this month if we are able to get an idea of how much the ST line varies each day (maybe with LINES from TP?). If the AP blocked days like tomorrow have shorter lines and the unblocked days like today (well, mostly unblocked) have longer lines then then that would be strong evidence.

Now, college students who are done with school... there's a group that has 5 free hours in their day.

- Dreams

Yep, and probably many of those in line today fell into this category or something like it.

 

[lapdwife]

This is a quote I took off the Disneyland Facebook page.

"Currently a 5 hour wait, no fastpasses today and totally disorganized this morning at park opening. Devastated to be here opening day and not be able to experience the ride. Disney has never disappointed me like this..."

I also saw a Disser's picture of the line, down by the plaza inn where it began, this is near the Red Wagon serving corndogs.

But now reports are the line extend back to a maze in front of the castle with waits of 6 and 7 hours.

How lame is that to accuse Disney of disappointing because the line was long? It's not like the attraction just became available today. They were totally prepared for the long lines, even drilled new holes for extra posts.

 

[HappyHaunt]

Hopefully things will get slightly better once FP is open. I think my dh and ds are going to have to "walk with purpose" at opening to ride it in a few weeks!

 

[cyberjoek]

So I was there (got there at ~5:30 and was #136 in line and am still annoyed that they didn't let *anyone* who was there in line see the ceremony).

The only time a 4hr + wait time was actually being quoted was before the 10:00am attraction opening (when the CMs were being cautious not knowing when exactly the opening would be). At 10am they started quoting a 3:45 wait time.

If you got in line at rope drop you got on around noon (confirmed to me by people who got in line then).

As of about 2 hours ago the line was down to ~70 minutes. Space was at ~60.

It's a new marquee e-ticket. The line is shorter than Nemo can be on some days and it was opening day.

Also LM was at 30 to 45 minutes from about 3pm.

-Joe Kavanagh

 

[skiingfast]

How lame is that to accuse Disney of disappointing because the line was long? It's not like the attraction just became available today. They were totally prepared for the long lines, even drilled new holes for extra posts.

I mostly agree, I'm sure Disney was prepared, I mean they put tape down to mark the lines in the Hub and has CMs along the line talking to people just to keep things happy and orderly.

So I was there (got there at ~5:30 and was #136 in line and am still annoyed that they didn't let *anyone* who was there in line see the ceremony).

Can you confirm this? I heard the first two hundred people in line this morning, preopening, were given a wristband or ticket to view the opening ceremony. But then not allowed to view the ceremony.

 

[cyberjoek]

Can you confirm this? I heard the first two hundred people in line this morning, preopening, were given a wristband or ticket to view the opening ceremony. But then not allowed to view the ceremony.

We were given wrist bands and promises that we would see the ceremony (1 - 100 were Red and White Checkered, 101 - 200 were green, 201 - 300 were blue, 301 - 400 were pink). We were left out in front of the Plaza Inn while the ceremony was going on. One of my fellow group went up and saw the guys who were 1st in line and they were also no where near the ceremony (still over by the Plaza Inn).

Afterwords they claimed they never told us that we would see the ceremony and that we could "watch it online when we got home."

I'll take the word of the several hundred who were clearly told in groups of five or so that we would see the ceremony over the word of the people who organized this fiasco of a day at Disneyland.

I'm working on a letter about this whole issue to the various people in DLR management to hopefully not make these mistakes again. Would there be interest in a full detailed report posted to this thread?

-Joe Kavanagh

 

[skiingfast]

I'm working on a letter about this whole issue to the various people in DLR management to hopefully not make these mistakes again. Would there be interest in a full detailed report posted to this thread?

-Joe Kavanagh

Thanks for confirming that. I'd be interested in seeing your report.

 

[Luliemouse]

We were given wrist bands and promises that we would see the ceremony (1 - 100 were Red and White Checkered, 101 - 200 were green, 201 - 300 were blue, 301 - 400 were pink). We were left out in front of the Plaza Inn while the ceremony was going on. One of my fellow group went up and saw the guys who were 1st in line and they were also no where near the ceremony (still over by the Plaza Inn).

Afterwords they claimed they never told us that we would see the ceremony and that we could "watch it online when we got home."

I'll take the word of the several hundred who were clearly told in groups of five or so that we would see the ceremony over the word of the people who organized this fiasco of a day at Disneyland.

I'm working on a letter about this whole issue to the various people in DLR management to hopefully not make these mistakes again. Would there be interest in a full detailed report posted to this thread?

-Joe Kavanagh

Honestly.... The Ceremony was a JOKE! WDW gets Lucas.... DLR ALWAYS gets the shaft and Tom Staggs! Who gives one hoot about a Disney Executive.

It looked like there entertainment department had been working on it for DAYS!

Where were the Lucas Film people or even some the films stars. I understand that Mark Hamil or Harrison Ford would be out! Disney couldn't even get Billy Dee Williams or the kid who play Anakin in the first movie?!

Someone connected to the films would have been nice.... But as always Disneyland guests get the shaft (Tom who ever)... Walt Disney World Guests get the awesomeness (George Lucas)!

 

[ludari]

I waited nearly two hours this afternoon to experience Star Tours and let me tell you it was worth it. Fast pass is available but only for disabled persons. I can't wait until the lines die down or fast pass is available so I can enjoy this amazing ride again.

 

[el_tigre]

Anyone who is calling disney lame simply doesn't know what they're talking about. As someone who experienced opening day first hand, I'll set the record straight.

I brought my five-year-old with me and we had a great time. We entered the front gates at about 8:45 am but Main Street was already packed almost halfway back. We went through the shops on the East side of the street, which got us basically to the front of the rope.

The rope dropped right at 9 am and we made our way around the hub to the taped area. There were already probably about 1,000 people lined up around Plaza Inn at this time (I don't know what you needed to do to be this kind of "VIP"), but I figured we were in the next 500 at most after following the taped queue where we were held just west of the Astro Orbiters.

The only part that was "sorta lame" was that we had to wait for the opening ceremony to finish for the bigwigs, which lasted until about 10:30. While waiting for it to finish was slightly "annoying", an elaborate ceremony is understandable considering this is probably Disneyland's most anticipated new ride since Indiana Jones.

From about 10:30, the line then moved fairly quickly; we were off the ride by around 11:15. Was it worth it waiting all that time? After riding, my five-year-old immediately said he wanted to ride it again and that the the wait was totally worth it.

Yeah, the queue was huge in the morning, but I personally don't see how Disney could have handled it any better, particularly with the constraints of having an opening ceremony.

The icing on the cake was that my five-year-old was finally chosen at the Jedi Training Academy after at least six tries. Awesome.

I didn't think there was any way we would ride Star Tours again today (I heard the five hour wait rumors in line at about 10:30), but we asked how long the wait was at 2:10 and was told 110 minutes. My five-year-old was insistent on doing it again and wanted to wait. Fortunately, it went much faster than that; we were off in 70 minutes. Perfect, since we had to leave at 4.

Disney deserves very little criticism for today. It was awesome to experience such an incredible ride on its official opening day.

 

[HydroGuy]

Honestly.... The Ceremony was a JOKE! WDW gets Lucas.... DLR ALWAYS gets the shaft and Tom Staggs! Who gives one hoot about a Disney Executive.

It looked like there entertainment department had been working on it for DAYS!

Where were the Lucas Film people or even some the films stars. I understand that Mark Hamil or Harrison Ford would be out! Disney couldn't even get Billy Dee Williams or the kid who play Anakin in the first movie?!

Someone connected to the films would have been nice.... But as always Disneyland guests get the shaft (Tom who ever)... Walt Disney World Guests get the awesomeness (George Lucas)!

I was surprised to read your comments here. Can you elaborate how DLR guests always "get the shaft"? It seems to me WDW guests gets the short end way more often.

George Lucas and all did the opening ceremony at WDW because it was connected with Star Wars Weekends at the Disney Hollywood Studios park. These go on for like 4 weekends and draw Star Wars actors and a huge number of fans every year. DLR has nothing like it. It makes total sense to me Disney would send Lucas to WDW.

When it comes to things like POTC 4 movie premieres, it happens at DLR.

 

[Luliemouse]

I was surprised to read your comments here. Can you elaborate how DLR guests always "get the shaft"? It seems to me WDW guests gets the short end way more often.

George Lucas and all did the opening ceremony at WDW because it was connected with Star Wars Weekends at the Disney Hollywood Studios park. These go on for like 4 weekends and draw Star Wars actors and a huge number of fans every year. DLR has nothing like it. It makes total sense to me Disney would send Lucas to WDW.

When it comes to things like POTC 4 movie premieres, it happens at DLR.

Really?

WDW always gets the cool stuff...
1. The pirates and princess party
2.Better places to eat! Scifi dinner.
3. Your star tours has an AT-AT
4. You get all the attractions 1st.
5. Star tours weekend
6. Your downtown disney


To say that the only reason that WDW got George Lucas is because of star wars weekend is the same as saying the only reason we get the POTC premier is because were close to Hollywood.

Any way you cut it... DLR guests and star wars fans deserved the same as WDW.

 

[HydroGuy]

Really?

WDW always gets the cool stuff...
1. The pirates and princess party
2.Better places to eat! Scifi dinner.
3. Your star tours has an AT-AT
4. You get all the attractions 1st.
5. Star tours weekend
6. Your downtown disney


To say that the only reason that WDW got George Lucas is because of star wars weekend is the same as saying the only reason we get the POTC premier is because were close to Hollywood.

Any way you cut it... DLR guests and star wars fans deserved the same as WDW.

"You" get? Who is "you"???

Star Wars weekends are huge. And that is why they got George Lucas. And DLR does get POTC premiere because it is close to Hollywood. And because the West Coast Disney folks know how to put on a show like this.

So where is Disney investing $1.2 Billion now? WDW or DLR? That would be DLR. Who got World of Color? DLR. Who gets CarsLand? DLR. Who gets an expansion to a lame FantasyLand? WDW.

WDW gets all the attractions first? What about Little Mermaid? Soarin Over California? BTMRR? Splash Mtn? A major upgrade to Space Mtn?