Are AP Previews Worth a Trip?

[sheilafri]

I got AP reservations for the GOTG previews. DH isn’t terribly interested though. Are the previews fun so that it’s worth going alone? Or is it simply bragging rights on getting in to the ride before pretty much everyone else?

 

[Richie248]

I got AP reservations for the GOTG previews. DH isn’t terribly interested though. Are the previews fun so that it’s worth going alone? Or is it simply bragging rights on getting in to the ride before pretty much everyone else?

It's the ability to ride the ride before most everyone else, nothing more, nothing less. I honestly wouldn't make a special trip for it (but that is just me). I already had a trip planned so I'm excited to ride.

 

[CarolynFH]

We have a trip booked for July, and we expect to pay for ILL$ to ride GotG. If we had been able to get a preview, we would have enjoyed the opportunity to ride without paying for ILL$ or trying for a VQ, which I expect to be the two ways to ride for several months or longer after it opens. Obviously, we're eager to ride, so we'd think it worth it to make a special trip for the previews - we did for Pandora!

 

[NJlauren]

It really depends, I booked the preview, and am hoping to go I can get a round trip flight for $100 and 2 hotel nights for under 300, so i hope to make it happen... we shall see.

Now if flight were insane i would skip, the main reason i am not going the 27th, as i know my daughter would love it but doesn't have an AP..... flights were much more so for me not worth it.

 

[CanucksRock]

I planned a trip around it. As soon as we activated our AP last September, we planned to do a trip if GOTG opened before the pass expires. The day after returning from Springtime Surprise trip we determined which dates we would like to go. Just lucked out that the dates we picked overlapped with the AP preview period. We had to book flights before the release, so thankful it all worked out.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Personally I would not plan a trip just for an AP preview unless it was something I was mind blowingly excited for OR I was planning a trip anyway and wanted to do the AP preview as an add-on. It’s just a ride, they might let you re-ride like RAT AP preview allowed I guess but still it’s just 1 ride.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I wouldn't plan a trip specifically to do an AP preview, but I am not a Florida resident (I live in Maryland) so that definitely factors into it. I had a trip planned for months and I purposefully picked 2 weeks before Memorial Day weekend to avoid the crowds for Guardians' opening day so the AP preview is just a bonus for me. If the previews were only happening the week after my trip I would've been disappointed but I would not try to reschedule everything. Especially since I am the only person in my group with an AP so I'll be going into the preview alone (got one for May 9th).

 

[OhhBother]

We planned a trip specifically for the SWGE AP preview and had an amazing time. It was incredible to have time to explore the new land before it opened to the masses.

This time, we didn't have to plan a special trip, as the preview window for GotG aligned perfectly with our already-booked vacation. We also were able to enjoy the AP preview of Remy on an already-planned trip.

 

[FSU Girl]

I really enjoy the previews and would plan a trip around one. I happened to already have a trip planned when this got announced so it worked out well. But the previews are a great way to see a new ride without having to wait.

 

[gharter]

My wife and daughter got to go to the DVC pre opening for Pandora and LOVED it. Rode each ride several times as the land was not busy at all.
Given the option, I would go.

 

[ScarletFire]

I planned a trip! Roundtrip Frontier for two: $168. All-Star Sports with AP discount: $126 per night for two nights. We are fine with a backpack and no extra expense for luggage. Lyft from MCO? Excited!

 

[dagored]

YES! Live an hour away. Planning entire day around our 10 am reservation.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

We sure think so. We've attended several AP previews and planned trips just to attend. Doing so again for Guardians. Plus we will be coming down for the grand opening again 2 weeks later.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

already had a trip for the GOTG, which was fortunate (would have liked it better if I was able to get a date other than my departure day), but I did book one for Pandora way back when, ended up at Caribbean Beach as it was under construction at the time and nobody else wanted to stay there. I don't live close enough to drive, either

 

[Kingoglow]

We planned a trip specifically for the SWGE AP preview and had an amazing time. It was incredible to have time to explore the new land before it opened to the masses.

This time, we didn't have to plan a special trip, as the preview window for GotG aligned perfectly with our already-booked vacation. We also were able to enjoy the AP preview of Remy on an already-planned trip.

The AP preview for Galaxy's Edge was amazing. We had premiere access to the entire land (minus Rise, which wasn't complete). We rode MFSR five or six times, shopped, sample the food and got a lot of great pictures.

We were not sold on the idea of planning an additional trip around just one ride in EPCOT. If we already had a trip planned around the time of the preview, we probably would have signed up but it didn't work out for us. We don't have FOMO over it.

 

[HopperFan]

I got AP reservations for the GOTG previews. DH isn’t terribly interested though. Are the previews fun so that it’s worth going alone? Or is it simply bragging rights on getting in to the ride before pretty much everyone else?

We made special trip to see Pandora (a land) and Galaxy Edge (a land) but decided not booking a trip around a single ride.

 

[Mle8308]

I might think twice about going for just a "ride" as opposed to a "land", as HopperFan said. If you are close and can drive, that is different. I would be afraid of the good old technical difficulties situation where it closes and doesn't reopen and I had flown all the way to FL.

 

[ars0525]

This is just a ride vs a whole land or area opening. Yes, it's cool to see everything ahead of time. Yes, it's fun to get some AP perks. And FWIW I go solo as I don't know other APs.

I am local so it will just cost me gas & time on a Sunday (which I was planning that day anyways at MK pure luck). I am coming too so that I won't have to wait in line for hours when it does open to the public. I felt the same way coming for the Remy AP preview last September.

I wish I would have gone to the GE AP preview. I forget why I didn't (probably didn't get a good day) but that sounds like overall it was a cool experience of a whole new land vs just a ride. Not sure why I didn't go Pandora (probably missed the invite or something lol).

Before I was an AP & was just visiting MK on vacation, we happened to be walking by the "new" Fantasyland around 10:30pm one night & CMs were quietly inviting people to come try the rides (Little Mermaid & Belle show) & see it before they officially opened. That truly was an amazing experience & just being in the right place at the right time!

I think it's fun to go to the AP previews after all the hype & watching it be built, but if I lived far away or it was going to cost me a bunch of $$$ I wasn't planning on already spending than I probably wouldn't go.

 

[Jedimike]

My family of four live near Houston, TX and are planning to make a special trip for it. A Sunday 30 minute ride preview is now a long three day weekend at Disney World!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

As a family some years ago we did the DVC/AP preview of Expedition Everest. It was a blast and seeing the Yeti fully functional is a fond memory.

However I have no plans for a special trip for GOTG. I have other trips planned and it will still be there when I get there.