Is the Star Tours FP always first?

[starshine514]

So, we're going to be doing a Sun/Mon/Tues morning trip mid-August. My DD6 is dying to ride Star Tours. We have APs and are staying offsite. If we want to ride ST twice, then I would need to get FPs on Sun/Mon (in case Tues return time was after we'd have to leave. That being said. I plan to do a few rides (Splash, BTMRR, etc) on Sunday morning before hopping to CA. Should I get the ST FP first, or grab an Indy FP and then get ST just before hopping? I might not spend 2 hrs at DL before hopping, so if they wouldn't have run out yet, indy first might be a better use of time... I'm just not sure... WWHD (What Would Hydroguy Do)?

 

[skiingfast]

If you want to ride it twice in a day, then you could either try to ride Stand By right away and then FP after. Or do that in reverse, you just risk a longer Stand By Line because the stand by line growds quickly but when you ride and exit FPs will still be left.

If you get to the FP line right away you will get a return time of 9:30 to 11:30it really depends on how close you are to being first in line. It will help if it's not a MM day too because the FP line will already be there when regular guests come in, pushing the return time out.

To decide on Indy or ST FP first as you may see above, you probably won't get both FPs if you do ST first and want to get to DCA early too. Just because the ST FP will restrict your next FP to 2 hours later, this is almost certain. So you would really have to do Indy FP then ST FP which could work out well time wise.

 

[starshine514]

I think we'd be shooting for two rides overall - one on Sunday and one on Monday. So, you think Indy then ST would work on Sunday? For Monday, would you think ST then SM would work, or should we do it opposite if the strategy worked the day before? We'll probably spend most of Monday in DL (doing FL first and trying to catch some TL as well)

 

[HydroGuy]

ST FP first. And shoot for non-MM days when possible. And get there early!

We will be doing this ourselves next month.

 

[skiingfast]

If it were me, and I wanted to make DCA(this you didn't mention) for the 9:30 entry. I would.
8am enter DL
8:05 FP Indy
8:15 riding Splash
8:40 riding BTMRR
9am in line for ST FP
9:30 be in the DCA line(it may be a squeeker)

But at least be in DCA before 10am to get a Soaring FP and WoC FP, and get in the rope drop line for TSMM.

 

[HydroGuy]

If it were me, and I wanted to make DCA(this you didn't mention) for the 9:30 entry. I would.
8am enter DL
8:05 FP Indy
8:15 riding Splash
8:40 riding BTMRR
9am in line for ST FP
9:30 be in the DCA line(it may be a squeeker)

But at least be in DCA before 10am to get a Soaring FP and WoC FP, and get in the rope drop line for TSMM.

Ski, have you had a chance to get an ST FP yet? The FP line can get quite long in the morning. Some people wait like 15 minutes to get their FPs I have heard. If you can go first you can avoid this. Otherwise I see the value in getting ST FP second.

 

[skiingfast]

Ski, have you had a chance to get an ST FP yet? The FP line can get quite long in the morning. Some people wait like 15 minutes to get their FPs I have heard. If you can go first you can avoid this. Otherwise I see the value in getting ST FP second.

I have.

The problem is if you want to go to DCA for it's opening.

If you aren't one of the first people in the ST FP line, you are looking at 10am(2 hours minimum) or later for your next FP. So that would rule out the Indy FP.

In my time estimates I left about 30-40 minutes to get the ST FP, taking into consideration the long wait time.

 

[starshine514]

ST FP first. And shoot for non-MM days when possible. And get there early!

We will be doing this ourselves next month.

Well, I'd like to ride ST twice during the trip. Sun and Tues will be MM, so I think I'll have to try for a FP on one of those two (Sunday - since we'll be leaving late morning on Tuesday). I was figuring I could get into the FP line early for Monday, but Sunday, they'll be all those MM people in front of me...

Would your strategy be the same if you had to get a FP on a MM day?

 

[oscarkitty1]

Sorry to hijack your thread Starshine! Just wondering if anyone has an idea of what time the FPs for ST are running out? Early afternoon? Late afternoon? Early evening?

Thanks!!

 

[cougarfan84]

Sorry to hijack your thread Starshine! Just wondering if anyone has an idea of what time the FPs for ST are running out? Early afternoon? Late afternoon? Early evening?

Thanks!!

IIRC, most people have been reporting that FP's for Star Tours have generally started running out around 9:30 or 10:00am.

Based on that, if you are planning on grabbing a ST FP, I would recommend either grabbing one first at park opening, or grabbing another FP (e.g. Space Mountain, Indy) and making sure you grab a Star Tours FP immediately when the window to grab another FP opens up. I wouldn't wait any longer than that, however, or you'll risk not getting a FP at all for the ride.

 

[starshine514]

Sorry to hijack your thread Starshine! Just wondering if anyone has an idea of what time the FPs for ST are running out? Early afternoon? Late afternoon? Early evening?

Thanks!!

hijack away! What's Trader Sam's?

 

[oscarkitty1]

hijack away! What's Trader Sam's?

It's the new tiki lounge at the DLH!! We like to lounge (and drink LOL) just as much as we enjoy the rides when we are there - so we are really looking forward to going! I promise to post lots of pics when I get back.

 

[HydroGuy]

I have.

The problem is if you want to go to DCA for it's opening.

If you aren't one of the first people in the ST FP line, you are looking at 10am(2 hours minimum) or later for your next FP. So that would rule out the Indy FP.

In my time estimates I left about 30-40 minutes to get the ST FP, taking into consideration the long wait time.

If you get the ST FP first though then the window will be the typical 8:45-9:45AM and you can get FP #2 (Indy or whatever) before DCA. Or, better yet, get a third FP at 9:30 and then go to DCA.

Finally, if you get an ST FP at 9AM or 9:30, the return window could be late in the evening. Getting it first gives you an early return window so you can use it any time that day.

I think it really depends if you can be there early enough to get one of the first FPs at ST. If you are 10 minutes late then you will be looking at the two hour window. In that case your scenario is preferable as long as the return window is not too late at night.

 

[JeriLee]

Last Saturday (mm morning day – we didn’t have mm) we were belly to the rope with our fastest speed walker holding all the tickets. I think we got lucky – this was our morning:

7:15 - second in line at gate
8:02 FP ST (got 8:50 return!!!)
Rode SM - 10 minute wait
Rode BLAB - walk on
Rode IJ stand-by line - walk on
Rode BTMRR - 10 minute wait
9:30 FP ST – 4:10 return time
DCA
9:40 FP Soarin
9:50 FP WOC – 1st show blue
RD – TSMM Dash! 15 minute wait
FP - Screaming
LM – 10 minute wait
ToT – 10 minute wait
Runner to DL for more FP’s
Rode Soarin with FP
12:10 Lunch at Paradise Garden

 

[skiingfast]

I think it really depends if you can be there early enough to get one of the first FPs at ST. If you are 10 minutes late then you will be looking at the two hour window. In that case your scenario is preferable as long as the return window is not too late at night.

Last Saturday (mm morning day – we didn’t have mm) we were belly to the rope with our fastest speed walker holding all the tickets. I think we got lucky – this was our morning:

7:15 - second in line at gate
8:02 FP ST (got 8:50 return!!!)

In JeriLee's experience it worked out ok.

But for the people who arrived at 7:45 and were at the rear of the rope drop crowd, they were getting return times much later. And that is why things change if you want to get to DCA early with a ST FP and another FP in hand.

The question is, can you realistically be in the ST FP line by 8:05?

 

[JeriLee]

In JeriLee's experience it worked out ok.

But for the people who arrived at 7:45 and were at the rear of the rope drop crowd, they were getting return times much later.

Absolutely! I don't want to miss-lead anyone! If you don't get there until 7:45 – Yikes! Definitely grab something else first that will give you a return time sooner and grab the ST FP ASAP when that window opens

We get up at 4:15 a.m. to make it to DL and in line by 7:15. This is never easy, but we have learned from all the great advice here and it really works! It is so worth it to our day to be belly to the rope. We wanted to ride ST twice and we succeeded.

We hadn't planned on riding IJ in the SRL – we had planned to get fast passes for it – which we did later anyway! But man – it was a walk on in the SRL that early in the day!

Just wanted to share in case it helps someone.

 

[pinksand]

People would be amazed what they can get done in the first two hours if they are there a good 30 min before opening.

Does DCA have a rope drop?

 

[skiingfast]

People would be amazed what they can get done in the first two hours if they are there a good 30 min before opening.

Does DCA have a rope drop?

It does, but it's quite complicated. DCA opens unofficially at 9:30, not the official 10am opening listed. There is a rope to Hollywood Backlot, where ToT is.

Then one to the peir, where TSMM is. There used to be two to the pier, but since construction has closed one path and the Little Mermaid opened it's been changed.

At 9:30 you can ride Soarin, get Soarin FP, get WoC FP, and then wait for the 10am rope drop to the rest of the park.

 

[robinjh7]

Last Saturday (mm morning day – we didn’t have mm) we were belly to the rope with our fastest speed walker holding all the tickets. I think we got lucky – this was our morning:

7:15 - second in line at gate
8:02 FP ST (got 8:50 return!!!)
Rode SM - 10 minute wait
Rode BLAB - walk on
Rode IJ stand-by line - walk on
Rode BTMRR - 10 minute wait
9:30 FP ST – 4:10 return time
DCA
9:40 FP Soarin
9:50 FP WOC – 1st show blue
RD – TSMM Dash! 15 minute wait
FP - Screaming
LM – 10 minute wait
ToT – 10 minute wait
Runner to DL for more FP’s
Rode Soarin with FP
12:10 Lunch at Paradise Garden

I am totally impressed! I'm saving this as a goal to live up to in December!

 

[JeriLee]

Really? Thanks! I learned everything form the great people on these forums, and I'm still learning. And having a ton of fun!

OH – Want to see my Fast Pass holder? It is PERFECT! This contains our tickets and all the accumulated FPs. It's hard to tell from the picture, but each slot is nice and wide, and will hold a whole set of fat passes - some times 2 sets if I have double for one ride. Whom ever is running for the next set (usually me), just takes this with them.

This is an OGON Aluminum Wallet and I purchased it from Amazon. It comes in lots of fun colors!