D23 EXPO 2019 Superthread - dates announced!

[Astylla]

Surprised the reservation details aren't out yet. Disney is sort of running out of time here!

I've been theorizing maybe they are waiting to the 30 day mark - just like how FP+ works for offiste guests , you can only make selections 30 days out.
Since the onsite guests are already guranteed a reservation that would kind of go hand in hand.

At this point I've been stalking the official webiste daily , the disneyparksblog and any other source I can find.

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

At this point I've been stalking the official webiste daily , the disneyparksblog and any other source I can find.

Me too! Actually, I've been checking multiple times each day! I hope the reservation system is posted really soon.

 

[cdatkins]

Since we will be there July 5-14, I am most interested in whatever system they implement beginning on June 24 and going forward. Will there still be reservations to get into SWGE? Will they implement FP for MFSR? Those are the questions I am most interested in and I hope there is some confirmation whenever the reservation system for May 31-June 23 is announced.

 

[dieumeye]

Since we will be there July 5-14, I am most interested in whatever system they implement beginning on June 24 and going forward. Will there still be reservations to get into SWGE? Will they implement FP for MFSR? Those are the questions I am most interested in and I hope there is some confirmation whenever the reservation system for May 31-June 23 is announced.

Search around for news about a "boarding pass". It's not clear exactly how it'll work yet, but Disney did announce that they will be using a virtual queue process called "boarding pass" for SW:GE after the reservation period. FP info is unknown but the implication seems to be that it won't be available for some time.

I'm totally speculating, but I'd guess that the 3 week "reservation period" is really just a testing period to see how best to calibrate the eventual "boarding pass" system that'll be in place longer term.

 

[bethwc101]

Surprised the reservation details aren't out yet. Disney is sort of running out of time here!

I wonder what their strategy is. They set hard dates for the reservation period awhile ago, so they had to have some kind of plan in mind. I would also think that if reservations are available in advance online that the entire three week period would fill up right away. The whole point of this, as I understand, is to prevent a huge mob of people camping and crushing the park day to day. So whatever the system is, it has to be designed to eliminate any advantage to physically waiting at the park.

"We want you to come to this park and to this land and have a great time. If we make that a real pain in the *** to do, then you're not set up to have a great time," said Walt Disney Imagineering exec Scott Trowbridge. (From Hollywood Reporter)

I honestly believe they are trying to figure out the best way to avoid complete disaster level crowds. With online/mobile technology, there should be a way to prevent a physical mob in the park all fighting to get in.

I’m honestly pretty shocked that we’re coming up on six weeks away and there’s been zero information. I’m also extremely, extremely surprised that there’s been no announcement about any paid previews or events of any type. Why would they pass up the opportunity to do that?

I have money set aside and everything!

DH and I keep joking that they will do their "final" big announcement on May 4th.

 

[cdatkins]

Search around for news about a "boarding pass". It's not clear exactly how it'll work yet, but Disney did announce that they will be using a virtual queue process called "boarding pass" for SW:GE after the reservation period. FP info is unknown but the implication seems to be that it won't be available for some time.

I'm totally speculating, but I'd guess that the 3 week "reservation period" is really just a testing period to see how best to calibrate the eventual "boarding pass" system that'll be in place longer term.

Thanks. So if I read that right, guests staying onsite will receive 1 boarding pass per visit? That is great if true - although we are going to visit SWGE twice during our 9 day stay, so I guess we will have to get a "boarding pass" some other way the second time.

 

[Nonsuch]

When they sweep for the Halloween Party they don’t empty the whole park first. I’m of the mindset that for the SWGE sweep they’ll probably stick to their tried & true bracelet method. That will allow them to sweep without ever having to shut the land.

Time limits can be enforced similar to Halloween Parties, with CMs checking wristbands inside SW:GE at entrances to shops, attractions, and even restrooms. Some form or wireless scanning would be even better.

The CMs could remain in character...
Stormtroopers can patrol the land commanding: "Let me see your identification"
Bartenders can shout: "We don't serve their kind here"

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

The CMs could remain in character...
Stormtroopers can patrol the land commanding: "Let me see your identification"
Bartenders can shout: "We don't serve their kind here"

I actually really love this idea!

 

[dieumeye]

Thanks. So if I read that right, guests staying onsite will receive 1 boarding pass per visit? That is great if true - although we are going to visit SWGE twice during our 9 day stay, so I guess we will have to get a "boarding pass" some other way the second time.

No. There are two things going on here:

May 31 - June 23 is the reservation period. You need a "reservation" to enter. All we know is that on property hotel guests will get one reservation per registered guest. How this works otherwise is unknown.

June 24 - ???. After June 23, the reservation system is no longer in place. Instead, Disney will be using a "boarding pass" system which is some kind of virtual queue to enter SW:GE. How this works is unknown, although it seems to no longer have anything to do with hotel stays, but we don't know.

 

[alvernon90]

I just got off the phone with reservations making a change to our June DLH reservation, and I asked some questions about access to Galaxy's Edge. This is all the information that the CM was able to give me.

1. The initial three-week period is being designed specifically as a test to see how they will get people into and out of SWGE after June 22. So calling this a soft opening sounds about right.

2. There will be three time blocks per day, enforced with colored wristbands. (Note that this meshes pretty well with the rumors that people will be allowed to visit in four hour chunks with breaks to empty out the area in between.)

3. At this point Disney may limit access during the preview period to hotel guests if there are so many guests that they take all available slots. He said "the capacity of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge is about 1/89th the capacity of Disneyland." This indicates that they intend to keep the area from being shoulder to shoulder, at least in those first three weeks.

4. They haven't yet decided how the extra reservations (if any) will be distributed. From the context of the conversation, it sounded very much like they intend to give reservations to hotel guests first, then AP holders, then others -- but none of that is firm. He just kept mentioning AP holders even though I am not one and I didn't bring it up, so it really sounds like they're contemplating special access.

5. As of right now, anyone who has a reservation from staying in a hotel will be disqualified from seeking a second reservation in whatever extra reservation system they set up. That may change. (I hope it does, I'd love to be able to double dip and visit SWGE for two time blocks in one trip.)

6. The target date for releasing new details about the reservation system is May 1, but we should all start checking a few days before that because they may release it a little early. But it won't be too soon, because they still haven't even decided what they are going to announce.

May this meager information fuel a thousand speculation posts!!

 

[CO2CA]

Great information, thanks for sharing!

I'm kinda not feeling the part about the APs having priority access. I hope they save some tickets for regular guests. Otherwise, that's going to be a huge bummer for out-of-town people.

 

[Astylla]

Great information, thanks for sharing!

I'm kinda not feeling the part about the APs having priority access. I hope they save some tickets for regular guests. Otherwise, that's going to be a huge bummer for out-of-town people.

Normally I would agree however with the recent years dwindling perks for AP holders , I can see during the first few weeks them offering it as a draw , and to increase AP sales too maybe.
It's always possible it could be limited to the top tiers of AP's as well which again I would be okay with.

I just got off the phone with reservations making a change to our June DLH reservation, and I asked some questions about access to Galaxy's Edge. This is all the information that the CM was able to give me.

4. They haven't yet decided how the extra reservations (if any) will be distributed. From the context of the conversation, it sounded very much like they intend to give reservations to hotel guests first, then AP holders, then others -- but none of that is firm. He just kept mentioning AP holders even though I am not one and I didn't bring it up, so it really sounds like they're contemplating special access.

5. As of right now, anyone who has a reservation from staying in a hotel will be disqualified from seeking a second reservation in whatever extra reservation system they set up. That may change. (I hope it does, I'd love to be able to double dip and visit SWGE for two time blocks in one trip.)

6. The target date for releasing new details about the reservation system is May 1, but we should all start checking a few days before that because they may release it a little early. But it won't be too soon, because they still haven't even decided what they are going to announce.

May this meager information fuel a thousand speculation posts!!

4. Did they say HOW the onsite guests are getting their time resrvation ? I've heard everyhitng from an email to receiving it at check in.

5. That kind of makes sense and as much as I would too , I'm also hoping as many people get to experience it as possible.

6. That makes sense considering the entertainment and hours calendar is updating only a day at a time.

 

[alvernon90]

I'm kinda not feeling the part about the APs having priority access. I hope they save some tickets for regular guests. Otherwise, that's going to be a huge bummer for out-of-town people.

I totally agree, but APs are their biggest customer base, so it kinda makes sense that Disney would try to give them something special. My hope is they decide against it because there is simply not enough capacity in those first three weeks to take care of more than a fraction of the APs. It would be even worse to have special AP access where 90% of them are still locked out -- better to keep it open to everyone including APs so nobody is surprised when they can't get a reservation. At least that's what I'm hoping.

 

[alvernon90]

4. Did they say HOW the onsite guests are getting their time resrvation ? I've heard everyhitng from an email to receiving it at check in.

Sorry, I have no information on that. I asked but he said they hadn't decided yet. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it is a combo of both. First, an email informing the reservation holder when their party will be able to visit SWGE -- and asking for confirmation so they can throw that slot back in the pool if a group does not want their reservation. Then, give the guests their colored wristbands at check-in.

Note this is pure speculation, I got no indication of this while on the call.

 

[alvernon90]

I learned some new info about the reservation system plans by calling Disney today, rather than repeat it all here I'll just post a link to another thread:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/new-info-on-swge-access-limited-info-dont-get-too-excited.3744666/

 

[DLgal]

Sounds like pretty reasonable assumptions for the most part.

However, I call shenanigans on the capacity of the land being 1/89 that of Disneyland. Disneyland has a theoretical capacity of 85,000 people. Are you telling me that one land can only hold 1,000 people, give or take? No way. 1/9 or 1/8 is more likely. I can see 10,000 people in the land at full capacity, with both rides open. The park is currently 85 acres and will expand to 100 when the land is opening, thus also increasing the capacity by about 10-12%.

Maybe he meant that they will only be letting in 1000 people at a time? Seems like way too few, though. The one ride that will be open can do more than 1000 per hour.

 

[alvernon90]

Maybe he meant that they will only be letting in 1000 people at a time? Seems like way too few, though. The one ride that will be open can do more than 1000 per hour.

Yeah, I thought 1/89th was a weirdly specific number and definitely not right overall. But it does support the rumor that they will only let in as many people as are able to ride the Falcon ride during that time. Which in turn makes me think that the preview period will be the *least* crowded time at SWGE during the next couple of years. I believe this enough to have changed our trip from July to June.

 

[dina444444]

Yeah, I thought 1/89th was a weirdly specific number and definitely not right overall. But it does support the rumor that they will only let in as many people as are able to ride the Falcon ride during that time. Which in turn makes me think that the preview period will be the *least* crowded time at SWGE during the next couple of years. I believe this enough to have changed our trip from July to June.

That 1/89 makes no sense. The park holds somewhere around 85K people. I imagine the land can hold at minimum 5k people.

 

[alvernon90]

That 1/89 makes no sense. The park holds somewhere around 85K people. I imagine the land can hold at minimum 5k people.

The more I think about it the more I think DLgal had the right idea -- he may have been told that the preview capacity will be "one eighth or ninth" of the park capacity (which would be around 9,500 to 10,600 people) and he just repeated it back as "eighty-ninth" when he talked to me. But even those numbers don't sound right if the plan is to not allow more people than can ride the Falcon. If the ride capacity is 1,800 per hour as reported, then a four hour block should see no more than 7,200 people admitted.

 

[dieumeye]

This seems to be in line with current rumors. I'm still not sold on how the queue for Smuggler's Run is going to work with clearing the land, and still curious how time slots will be assigned, but I am glad they are trying to figure out something that will avoid chaos.