Help with Star Tours Strategy...

[DahliaRW]

Dh and our oldest Ds (6 1/2) are doing a quick 1 day trip to DL only on Monday 8/6. Their main purpose is to go on ST since Ds is STs obsessed. They plan to arrive early (6:30-7 lining up at the gates), and hopefully be in and at the front for rope drop.

The question is, get right in line for the ride and get a ST FP after? Or get a ST FP first and then get in line for the ride?

 

[oscarkitty1]

We will be there arriving tomorrow afternoon and all day Friday. We aren't even planning to ride tomorrow. Our plan is to ride at rope drop on Friday morning, get a FP as soon as we get off, and then try to get another FP as soon as we can, hoping they don't run out before then.

I'll report back to let you know how it goes! Wish me luck!

 

[rramstad]

The fact it's a Monday plays very much into this, as it's not a Magic Morning, so there won't be a pre-existing line for FP. (On our recent trip, I was lined up for FP for ST at 7:45 or so each MM day, and I had lots of company.)

If you are in the very first group of people, I would consider riding standby first, which should take about 20 minutes, and then getting FP. You should get a decent return time, and have a shot at a second FP at a reasonable time (so as to not foul up your other FP gathering). That's really the only way to get three rides in one day, without waiting a whole bunch in line.

Conversely, if you are at all buried in the pack, OR if you'd be fine with two rides, I would get FP right away, then get in line. If you get FP in the first 15 minutes or so, you'll have a return time within an hour, and still have a very good shot at a second FP.

There is one other strategy... if one of the party is a bit quicker than the other and knows how to use the Fastpass machines, you might consider having them walk a bit faster and a bit more aggressively and go get FP for both, and have the other person get in the standby line. IMHO people aren't all that obnoxious if one person is joining someone in line, and the queue area is mostly outside Star Tours. This strategy will not work if there is a line for FP and the standby line goes too quickly, but it has worked for us in the past (but in that case, we were a group of five, sent one person ahead, had four in standby, and the person who went ahead really, really booked!)

 

[DahliaRW]

Thanks both of you! Since ds is only 6 years old, I don't think he can go on his own to get in line or a FP. They'll be sticking together. Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you, oscarkitty1!

 

[DahliaRW]

OscarKitty - how did it go for you?

And anyone else?

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

Great information! What time are the passes typically running out on MM days?

 

[skiingfast]

Great information! What time are the passes typically running out on MM days?

In any case or day of the week, the FPs have been running out late morning since it opened. While a lot of people may be queued for FPs already on a MM, they will only take 5-10 minutes to get their FPs. So if you come in on a MM morning from the gates or RD it will only cost a little more time waiting for the FP, but the return time will already be mid morning or late morning when you get your own FPs.

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

In any case or day of the week, the FPs have been running out late morning since it opened. While a lot of people may be queued for FPs already on a MM, they will only take 5-10 minutes to get their FPs. So if you come in on a MM morning from the gates or RD it will only cost a little more time waiting for the FP, but the return time will already be mid morning or late morning when you get your own FPs.

Thanks so much! We will be there early. Can't wait!

 

[g0lden]

I'm not an expert, but I'd like to contribute my experience. My family and I went on a MM but didn't have MM access (a Thursday, 7/21/11). The park opened early to the general public, and I got through the turnstiles at 7:40 a.m. and waited with and followed the ST crowd on the sidewalk of Main Street. Just ask the CMs directing traffic what ST line it is (standby or FP). If you are doing standby first then FP, the wait didn't seem bad at opening. Maybe 30 minutes? Any other time, I remember standby wait times of 120-180 minutes with FPs selling out (I'm sorry, I can't remember what time, but maybe it was around noon or a couple hours after). For reference, I got my ST FPs at 8:11 a.m., and the return time was 10:15 a.m. I got my FPs late because I was initially in the wrong line, thinking that the FP kiosks were at ST, but they are not. And when you get there, you see nothing but lines, so it's a little confusing if you don't know what you're doing (and I didn't!). There were CMs helping everyone feed their tix through, which was super helpful since I had 14 total!

Also, if they DO let your DH and DS through before park opening and it's not a MM, isn't there a possibility that the ST FP kiosks might not be turned on yet anyway? Not sure.

To save your DH some extra walking/backtracking with a small child, the ST FP kiosks are the old ones that they used to use for Buzz Lightyear. So the machines are at Buzz. It helps with crowd control, too! Luckily, I asked a nice lady who was in the standby line, and she told me that I was in the wrong line for FP and pointed out where I needed to go. I thought that maybe it was only located at Buzz temporarily and they might move it after the ST launch, but I don't think so.

And a word about ST! Awesome doesn't begin to describe it! I would have loved to go multiple times, but we had a big group that moved very slowly. Hope your DH and DS enjoy it lots and lots of times!

You said your son is ST-obsessed. Does that mean Star Wars in general? Our nieces and nephews loved JTA, too. I know that I should save that for a different thread, but it's Star Wars-related...

 

[DahliaRW]

Yeah, he is SWs obsessed. He did JTA back in January, so they'll probably skip it this time. He still truly believes he fought the real Darth Vader and won!

 

[DahliaRW]

Just to update. Dh and ds went yesterday. Got to the gates an hour before opening and were very close to the front. Were 2nd in line behind the rope on the right side for rope drop. Ran to the FP machines and got the earliest return time (8:40) and then went and got in line and got in the 2nd simulator to go. They got out and got another FP for 12:35 I believe. While they were in line, some really nice woman gave them two more ST Fps! Then ended up riding ST SIX times yesterday, as well as a myriad of other things. I'll have dh post more details when he's home.

ETA - Dh informed me they got the FP, rode ST, RODE SPACE, and then got the 2nd fp for ST. I missed the detail of riding space.

 

[narsel]

Hi all, my head is beginning to spin thinking about FP for star tours.
We are staying at the PP so we'll have the two/person FP's. What should our strategy be as I understand that our FP's from the hotel need to go into the FP machine. Do we also get into the fast pass line first thing? We also have a MM. Thanks.

 

[smiley_face2]

We are here right now on a break from my cancer treatment, and I am not a fast walker, or able to get up very early!! we've been going into the park about 8:30 every morning, (opens at 8 right now) we head over to Star Tours (walking NOT fast) and get a fast pass. the times have varied from 1:30-2:30 return time, to the latest one being 3:30-4:30 and the wait times to ride the ride right away have only been about 30 minutes (but they get longer fast!) Don't stress out about it! If a wimp like me can make it to have ridden several times now, anyone can do it! I'm refusing to do the guest assistance pass, or a wheelchair/car thingy....I'm trying to regain some of my strength!

 

[rramstad]

Hi all, my head is beginning to spin thinking about FP for star tours.
We are staying at the PP so we'll have the two/person FP's. What should our strategy be as I understand that our FP's from the hotel need to go into the FP machine. Do we also get into the fast pass line first thing? We also have a MM. Thanks.

The special FP will work as long as FP are being given out. It's not nearly as important to get there right away when using them. Conversely, if you are going to ride ST more than once in a day, it's a great strategy for MM to get to the ST FP line at 10 minutes or so before official park opening (i.e. 7 AM MM get in line at 7:50 AM for ST FP) and when you get to the machine use your regular passes to get regular FP AND go ahead and get one (or two) FP using each of the special passes. You'll get a great return time on the regular FP so you can keep collecting FP easily (heck, you might even be able to get another ST FP with your regular passes) and you won't have to worry about FP "selling out" early.

If you want to get a lot of rides on ST, and still be able to hit all the FL rides during MM, I recommend going to FL right away at rope drop, then heading to the ST FP machine, getting your FP right at park opening and then IMMEDIATELY getting in the ST standby line. Ride ST, then hit SM, and by then your FP return window will be open, and grab another ST FP. At this point you can relax knowing that you've got two more ST rides in the bag (maybe more if you had special FP passes that you redeemed as well) and head off to the rest of the park.

 

[perlster]

I can tell you from Wednesday morning - if the behavior I saw again happens, "walking aggressively" ain't gonna get you on the first Star Tours flights.

The rope drop was different from ones I've seen recently. Other than the security on the line, there were no CMs lining Main Street past the rope. I noticed that the dog and handler that are usually to the right were not present.

People "jumped the gun" and started sprinting toward Tomorrowland at least a few seconds before the Park was supposed to be officially opened. With the farther part of Main Street lacking CMs, there was no one to give the "Do not run" warnings.

As for the people going to Star Tours, almost all of them headed straight to the ride rather than the FastPass machines. I got a Fastpass with an 8:40 return time and went to Buzz. I was the first rider, and heard the CMs at the boarding area say something like "It's past 8", apparently wondering where everybody was.

I then headed to the Haunted Manison, and was the first visitor of the day. I was thinking I was going to enter the stretching room by myself, but after a few minutes of waiting, a family of three or four joined.

 

[perlster]

It ain't my fault - the board double posted!

 

[NovemberMom]

If you want to get a lot of rides on ST, and still be able to hit all the FL rides during MM, I recommend going to FL right away at rope drop, then heading to the ST FP machine, getting your FP right at park opening and then IMMEDIATELY getting in the ST standby line. Ride ST, then hit SM, and by then your FP return window will be open, and grab another ST FP. At this point you can relax knowing that you've got two more ST rides in the bag (maybe more if you had special FP passes that you redeemed as well) and head off to the rest of the park.

Thank you for that info. I wanted to use our MM for FL. Star Tours isn't our must see attraction this trip since I am going with my 26 y/o sister who has NEVER been to DL. I am going to go with this strategy while we are in the parks so we can at least ride ST twice.

Another question. How long of a wait is the Fast Pass line for ST?

 

[rramstad]

Thank you for that info. I wanted to use our MM for FL. Star Tours isn't our must see attraction this trip since I am going with my 26 y/o sister who has NEVER been to DL. I am going to go with this strategy while we are in the parks so we can at least ride ST twice.

Another question. How long of a wait is the Fast Pass line for ST?

I was at DL about a month ago (July 10th to 14th) and on MM if I got in line at 7:50 (park opens at 8, MM started at 7) I was in the first five people in line for FP for ST. I'd have FP in hand by 8:02 with a return time of 8:40. I had to wait the 10+ minutes until they started handing out FP, but otherwise, there was no real wait.

Conversely, by 8:15 or 8:20, the line for FP for ST was insane, longer than the standby line for ST, it seemed, given how long it takes to grab FP from the machine. Many of the people in line had stacks of passes, presumably for tour groups, so the line wasn't moving very quickly. I didn't hang around to see how long it would take, but it seemed like it could easily take 20 minutes to get FP if you arrived at the line at 8:15.

 

[rramstad]

Oh, and it did seem that the ST FP line had calmed down considerably by the time I came back for the second FP at 8:45ish (after riding ST standby, and SM standby). It probably took 5 minutes to get FP, again, mostly because there were some clueless people confused by the FP machines -- many people have never bothered with FP before but know it's a good idea for ST -- and there were also some of those big tour groups hogging machines.

(I swear I saw someone with a stack of 80+ passes.)