Observations, Tips, Pics, and Stuff From Labor Day Weekend

[dieumeye]

Just a handful of random observations, questions, and pics from this weekend...

GALAXY'S EDGE

*At 12:05pm was able to book a 1:20 Savi’s reservation. At check-in they were telling walk ups that there were plenty of spots available throughout the day. Is that the norm? I assumed it'd be booked during the holiday weekend.

*When did Docking Bay 7 start using plastic trays? Maybe I just haven’t been paying attention, but didn’t they used to use industrial looking metal trays? The metal trays were definitely more on theme than plastic.

*Rode MF:SR single rider and got engineer. Although, just ahead of me, they took 3 single riders to fill the cockpit, which means one of them will not be engineer by default. So, at least technically, it’s still possible to not get engineer on single rider.

*I mentioned this in another post, but while waiting in Single Rider for MF:SR, three different groups left the line after waiting when they found out they couldn’t ride together. What do people think Single Rider means? Good for the CMs for not letting them slide.


OTHER STUFF

*Is something going on with Mobile Order? Multiple times this weekend I selected a restaurant and a time and was told that the restaurant wasn’t accepting mobile orders at this time. Note that this was after I selected a time, so it’s not like they were just full. Once could be a fluke, but three separate times at three different places - Hungry Bear, Tangaroa Terrace, GCH Craftsman Grill - this happened. I was able to Mobile Order other times. Happened enough that I’m curious.

*If you like Jack & Coke, and you like Coke Slurpees/Icees, then you’ll love the frozen Jack & Coke at Smokejumpers!

*Still handing out AP magnets at the AP area under Silly Symphony Swings. Although they ran out for the day around 3:30.

*Still handing out free chocolate samples at DCA Ghirardelli. Just had to ask the person at the register!

*Pro Tip: if you hate paper straws (or just want to sip your beverage for longer than a paper straw lasts) you can find good old fashioned plastic straws at the condiment cart at the exit to Ghirardelli. They’re just there for the taking, so nothing to stop you from grabbing a couple when you pass by.

*Lots of Halloween decorations up already. Main St and Buena Vista St windows seems to have already been changed over. Here are some pics.







*Security entrance at DTD (ESPN/Rainforest) was open in the AM but closed in the afternoon and evening. When did they start doing this? Seemed to lead to long & slow lines at the DLH security entrance. No bueno.



*At DTD they've added some decorations to the planters. It just looks like weird shapes and blobs from most angles, but if you stand in the right spot, it forms a character. There's Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto & Chip n' Dale, and here's Donald...

 

[midnight star]

In regards to the security line, maybe it’s part of the budget cuts?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Savi’s has had tons of availability for a couple of weeks. They’re out hawking to guests pretty routinely, now.

Droid Depot doesn’t seem to have that many people making droids anymore, either. They still want backpacks and personality chips, but you can pretty much just walk in and build from what I’ve seen.

I also got same-day Oga’s reservations twice in the last half of August (although once was for a party of 1, but I booked at 10:10 for 11am).

All this to say... not sure how necessary reservations are going to be for this stuff long-term. Seems that the critical mass of people who wanted expensive keepsakes got them already.

 

[amyg1975]

Thanks for the straw tip! My daughter refuses to use the paper straws, and sometimes I forget to bring her reusable straw.

 

[dieumeye]

Savi’s has had tons of availability for a couple of weeks. They’re out hawking to guests pretty routinely, now.

Droid Depot doesn’t seem to have that many people making droids anymore, either. They still want backpacks and personality chips, but you can pretty much just walk in and build from what I’ve seen.

I also got same-day Oga’s reservations twice in the last half of August (although once was for a party of 1, but I booked at 10:10 for 11am).

All this to say... not sure how necessary reservations are going to be for this stuff long-term. Seems that the critical mass of people who wanted expensive keepsakes got them already.

I’ve been grabbing some night before reservations to Oga’s recently, but haven’t been following Savi’s. I’ve been telling myself I don’t need a lightsaber - which I don’t! - but gave in yesterday.

The build group was full when I did it, but I guess there were lots of open spots. I wonder what’s going to happen to this experience once you don’t need reservations. I’d hope enough people continue to trickle in for them to keep running the show, but there’s a breaking point somewhere, I suppose. I was surprised to see that a whole group of the people had clearly done it before.

As for the droids, it looked pretty busy when I walked thru there, but I don’t think I would have had trouble making one if I wanted to. They did have backpacks for anyone interested.

 

[tarheelalum]

Great pics and info !! Especially the straws at DCA. But I must ask, how strong, or weak, is the jack & coke at Smoke Jumpers? I've had my eye on that for a while.

 

[dieumeye]

Great pics and info !! Especially the straws at DCA. But I must ask, how strong, or weak, is the jack & coke at Smoke Jumpers? I've had my eye on that for a while.

I’d say it’s decently strong, and you can definitely tell there’s alcohol in it. That is, it seems like a properly mixed Jack & Coke.

The whole thing comes out of one machine automatically, so you can’t see how heavy the pour is but that also means it should be the same every time. I’ve ordered it a few times and it has been consistent each time.

I‘ve ordered it when it’s really hot out, so it ends up melting pretty quickly, which means I drink it pretty quickly too. At $13 it’s not a cheap drink, and the serving size is the same neon yellow/green plastic cups they put all the alcohol in. But it’s nice and refreshing on a hot day, that’s for sure.

 

[wowsmom]

The security entrance to DTD has been like that for at least a month, maybe slightly longer? I think it started not long after they closed the DTD parking lot, which was late June/early July?