Input Appreciated - Shorter DL Visit For Senior

[TinkAgainU]

My senior brother is flying in on a Monday, so we can do a reminiscing trip to Disneyland together (we went often as local kids). He probably will not use a motorized chair (he can walk, but neither of us can walk for as long as we used to). I've changed our plans so we will go in the morning, then back in the evening (with a local hotel break). He is VERY excited to see the new StarWars/Galaxy's Edge land. If we pay for both Genie+ or Lightening Lane - any suggestions so we have a better chance of him being able to ride both Resistance and Falcon? Any additional tips also appreciated

PS - I know we can see the fireworks in the StarWars land - but will we miss really cool music to go with it if we do that?

 

[Geemo]

My senior brother is flying in so we can do a reminiscing trip to Disneyland together (we went often as local kids). He probably will not use a motorized chair (he can walk, but neither of us can walk for as long as we used to). I plan for us to go in the afternoon so we are not there for too many hours, but especially so he can see the new StarWars/Galaxy's Edge land at night. Obvious question, if we pay for Genie+ or Lightening Lane - any suggestions so we have a better chance of him being able to ride Resistance and Falcon if we are not in the park early in the day? Any tips really appreciated

If you only plan to be there a few hours. I would go for first thing in the morning.
The lines will be shorter and the crowds will be less.

I found on my trip at the first of Feb. Morning were very nice. By noon the crowd had arrived and it was harder to get around due to the number of people and strollers and scooters.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

If you only plan to be there a few hours. I would go for first thing in the morning.
The lines will be shorter and the crowds will be less.

I found on my trip at the first of Feb. Morning were very nice. By noon the crowd had arrived and it was harder to get around due to the number of people and strollers and scooters.

I second this! The first few hours after park opening are the best. I believe you may not be able to buy individual lightning lane access for RotR if you arrive later in the day as it sells out. When we purchased this I bought it around 9am and it was already a 2pm return. If you come later in the day I think you’ll have to just wait in the standby line.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I was just there last week. Morning times are by far the best time.

Defiantly get Lightning Lane for Rise of The Resistance, its so worth it, but dont scan at exactly your time, wait about 10 or 15 minutes after your window opens, as everyone scans right at the window opening time.

You might want to try single rider for Millennium Falcon. Its up steps though so there may be mobility issues. The standby line is very themed so you may want to do that to see it all.

 

[ktlm]

I don't know where you are coming from or if you are just making a day trip, but have you thought about coming at opening, staying a few hours, and then leaving to go rest and coming back in the evening? That would make it easier to buy a lightening lane for Resistance, or get a Genie+ for Falcon. The mornings are low crowds and nice. Afternoons are typically packed depending on what dates you are there and it can be crowded to even just walk around. Evenings are better than mid-afternoon- but not as good as mornings. When we were there in October, it was really crowded, but Galaxy's edge was great at night. There weren't that many people in that area at night and the Falcon standby line was 10-20 minutes and single rider was walk on. DD and DH did the standby line twice, and then DD walking on single rider about 5 times (I think DH gave up after 2 more times). We had Oga's reservations, but at least in October, we saw them taking walk ups too-- BUT if you want any chance at sitting down in there instead of being put at the bar or a stand up table you should book a reservation. I've seen posts that Rise closes early though- so I would have a plan to get on that earlier in the day- especially if you wind up having to do stand by.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Rise of the Resistance closes early so be aware of that. The line for Falcon can get quite short at night so I wouldn't get Genie+ for that. I do not recommend doing single rider for Falcon as you will almost always be put as Engineer which is the worst way to experience the ride for the first time.

Whether you want to get Lighting Lane for Rise of the Resistance is up to you. It's possible the stand by wait may only be an hour or so and the good thing about the queue is that inside the building, there's actually places to sit down for a short while as you wait for the line to move.

 

[Geemo]

But one other thing you might think about is a split visit for the day. So you have the advantage of low morning crowds and evening views of the parks.

When I have first timer's going with me I try to always enter after sundown. I find the parks are more magnificent looking then. StarWars land is totally different at night.

 

[TinkAgainU]

I changed my questions a bit after the first post - after I changed our plans to a split day after such great advice from everyone. Thank you!

 

[DisneylandFan22]

If you want to hear the music with the fireworks you need to be in front of the castle or on Main Street.

 

[gelatoni fan]

They don't play the music in Galaxy's Edge. It's currently only at Main Street + Castle Front and at It's a Small World.
Historically, they would also have the music and projections at the Rivers of America where Fantasmic viewing is but to my knowledge, that has not yet returned.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Is the music that cool? For Christmas (with the snow) I would NOT missing hearing and seeing the castle lighting from Main Street, but wonder if the music with the lights is good enough to walk back to Main Street (and the crowds). We love the Disney music - and I know sometimes it is wonderfully emotional - any thoughts? FYI, my first solo trip back a few months ago I cried to be back during some Disney Parade, so yep, I'm that goofy person...

 

[BadPinkTink]

They don't play the music in Galaxy's Edge. It's currently only at Main Street + Castle Front and at It's a Small World.
Historically, they would also have the music and projections at the Rivers of America where Fantasmic viewing is but to my knowledge, that has not yet returned.

I watched the fireworks from Rivers of America / the old Fantasmic viewing area on Sunday 30 January. They play the music but they dont shown the projections. If The Mark Twain is parked at its loading dock, its all lit up and its so cool to see the fireworks over the Mark Twain. Theres also new tables and chairs in this area so you dont have to stand and theres hardly any people in this area.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

I watched the fireworks from Rivers of America / the old Fantasmic viewing area on Sunday 30 January. They play the music but they dont shown the projections. If The Mark Twain is parked at its loading dock, its all lit up and its so cool to see the fireworks over the Mark Twain. Theres also new tables and chairs in this area so you dont have to stand and theres hardly any people in this area.

On Sweetheart’s Nite at least they weren’t playing the music at Rivers of America. We were rushing through to get to the castle.

It was great when they had projections there. One year at Halloween we watched Fantasmic! and stayed for projections. It was a fun experience.

 

[ktlm]

In October, DD and DH just wanted to do Falcon over and over with the short wait standby and the no wait single rider and I wanted to see Zero fly with the fireworks, so I walked over to the Fantasyland area and watched from behind the castle. You can hear the music there, it isn't as packed as main street and you can see the fireworks pretty well. No projections and it isn't like seeing them over the front of the castle from Main Street, but I kind of enjoy watching from that area where it isn't wall to wall people (and I had a great view of zero flying). Afterwards, I went back to Galaxy's Edge.