**Official** Star Wars at DHS, Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party/Galactic Nights/Launch Bay/JT

[PSULion]

We are here now and didn't make it to JTA on Saturday, so our plan was to go for RD on Wednesday to sign up. Originally the forecast was rain in the afternoon, right now it is predicting rain all day. When do they actually cancel the shows? Will we show up and be told the shows are cancelled due to rain already, or do they still do sign ups for all the shows and then cancel them one at a time throughout the day as the rain continues?

Sharing our experience...

JTA was an absolute must do. On our scheduled HS we woke up to rain, so figured we'd still do HS, but not rush to get there and then work in a day later to go back for JTA.

Got to the park around 10 in a drizzle. Went over to sign ups anyway, and the first available opening was around 2:00, which we took.

The rain mostly stopped but no shows went on. We checked in at 1:30 expecting it to be cancelled, but they said they were going to try. Sure enough, the show went on.

Shortly after our show it started raining again, and it ended up being the only show they did all day! So you just never know.

 

[hiroMYhero]

The have covered the entire area of the building, not only where you used to enter for the AIE auditions but the front part of it, right next to ABC Sound Studio...So I'm guessing a lot of theming, maybe?

I also think there will be a lot of theming. With all that they did to transform the JTA stage, they need to carry-over that theme in a big way.

I still can't envision a dedicated walkway from Star Tours to the meet & greet area - isn't the Restroom building directly between ST and the m&g area? Or is it two buildings? One smaller building behind the restrooms - maybe it was Chewie's breakroom during SWW.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Would it be wrong to taunt him a little with my Rey Itty Bitty

YES!!!

Fine print: No... as long as you record it and post here...

 

[yulilin3]

I also think there will be a lot of theming. With all that they did to transform the JTA stage, they need to carry-over that theme in a big way.

I still can't envision a dedicated walkway from Star Tours to the meet & greet area - isn't the Restroom building directly between ST and the m&g area? Or is it two buildings? One smaller building behind the restrooms - maybe it was Chewie's breakroom during SWW.

there's no unobstructed path...also could they be remodeling some of the area to serve as JT sign up and staging? As of right now they have to walk the kids from the Indiana Jones store all the way to JT stage, so maybe that will also be a part of it?

 

[CJK]

We finally had the chance to watch the fireworks from @yulilin3 favorite spot! It was great, and not too crowded. However, is this the smoking section? I thought the smoking section was further down (closer to Indiana Jones and that side of Echo lake), but there were people smoking all round me. I'm not sure if I'm explaining it right. lol I've always known about the smoking area, but didn't realize it extended most of the way around Echo lake. Or, maybe people were smoking in the wrong spot?

 

[yulilin3]

We finally had the chance to watch the fireworks from @yulilin3 favorite spot! It was great, and not too crowded. However, is this the smoking section? I thought the smoking section was further down (closer to Indiana Jones and that side of Echo lake), but there were people smoking all round me. I'm not sure if I'm explaining it right. lol I've always known about the smoking area, but didn't realize it extended most of the way around Echo lake. Or, maybe people were smoking in the wrong spot?

from the little path that goes straight across from 50s Prime Time (where the ledge starts) all the way to Min and Bills is not smoking. From the path to the left toward Gertie the Dinosaur is the smoking section.
So at the ledge there shouldn't be any smoking

 

[CJK]

from the little path that goes straight across from 50s Prime Time (where the ledge starts) all the way to Min and Bills is not smoking. From the path to the left toward Gertie the Dinosaur is the smoking section.
So at the ledge there shouldn't be any smoking

Thank you! It appears that people were smoking in the wrong section then. Have you encountered that before? Dh had to leave and watch somewhere else because he's allergic to smoke. Hopefully this was just a rarity and doesn't happen often. I'm going to try again later this week. Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Thank you! It appears that people were smoking in the wrong section then. Have you encountered that before? Dh had to leave and watch somewhere else because he's allergic to smoke. Hopefully this was just a rarity and doesn't happen often. I'm going to try again later this week. Thanks!

yes I have encountered that...I just tell them where the smoking area is exactly, they apologize and move, never had anyone get nasty/angry...was there a photopass person close? she/he should've showed them the right area

 

[CJK]

I did think of saying something, but chickened out. lol There was a photopass person, but she didn't say anything which is what made me wonder if the whole area was a smoking section. I saw at least 3 people smoking right around me. Anyway, I will definitely try again. The view was great, and what a treat it was to be able to sit and wait for the fireworks!

 

[hiroMYhero]

there's no unobstructed path...also could they be remodeling some of the area to serve as JT sign up and staging? As of right now they have to walk the kids from the Indiana Jones store all the way to JT stage, so maybe that will also be a part of it?

I think you're right. There can't be more than one room for Sabine/Ezra because of personnel so there has to be something else to fill that area. And the entry point will be off of Commissary Lane?

 

[yulilin3]

I think you're right. There can't be more than one room for Sabine/Ezra because of personnel so there has to be something else to fill that area. And the entry point will be off of Commissary Lane?

well it depends how much they use for guest...there a small gate in between commissary lane and the restrooms that are used for CM going back there (they also used this area as the green room for celebs during SWW) so you could basically get to it from Commissary lane or from the other side.

 

[msmama]

FYI Launch Bay was open this morning for EMH thanks Hiro and Yulilin - we rode TSM then headed over - DD met Vader - which we did earlier in the trip but this time she was in her Jedi outfit - very short wait - then met Chewie - again also met him earlier this week. Traded with the Jawas again - now we have 2 droid bodies and one head not terribly useful but fun! Saw the fireworks a few nights ago (Thursday?) and really liked them - well worth staying out late!!

So there was no problem with your daughter wearing the Jedi outfit? You were worried about that, right?

 

[smellyia]

Is it always Darth Vader at the Visa Chase M&G in Launch Bay? We are contemplating a last minute trip saturday and would go to DHS for my kids to see DV and while Kylo Ren would be cool, my son really wants to see DV.

 

[yulilin3]

Is it always Darth Vader at the Visa Chase M&G in Launch Bay? We are contemplating a last minute trip saturday and would go to DHS for my kids to see DV and while Kylo Ren would be cool, my son really wants to see DV.

Yes Vader is at the visa meet and greet until Kylo finishes what he started

 

[subtchr]

I would recommend being inside the park so you can hear the music and narration. Anywhere on Hollywood Blvd is good if you want to exit fast. As for the Sci Fi, I think they seat until park closing, so 8pm...not sure about the 8:20pm you saw.

Thanks!

So you can't really hear the narration just outside the gates? That's what I was afraid of. I usually have my groups meet me by the benches to the left as you exit, between the touchpoints and the ticket windows. I'll make it by the log cabin this time, so we can see the show and then exit to our bus.

As for the ADR, it's still showing as available today:





Weird...

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks!

So you can't really hear the narration just outside the gates? That's what I was afraid of. I usually have my groups meet me by the benches to the left as you exit, between the touchpoints and the ticket windows. I'll make it by the log cabin this time, so we can see the show and then exit to our bus.

As for the ADR, it's still showing as available today:

View attachment 147337

View attachment 147336

Weird...

jactually just checked and the restaurant does take reservations until 30 minutes after park closing, that's really cool cause you can get some awesome pics of an empty park at the end

 

[subtchr]

just checked, actually just checked and the restaurant does take reservations until 30 minutes after park closing, that's really cool cause you can get some awesome pics of an empty park at the end

Thanks for checking! I'd jump on it, but since I'm with a group, my time's not my own. (But I still have the best job ever -- I get paid to go to Disney World!)

 

[AThrillingChase]

Also, just to see what was available, I checked for a dining reservation for dinner that day. It offered me a Sci Fi at 8:20 pm. The park closes at 8 -- how long after official closing do they offer ADRs?

jactually just checked and the restaurant does take reservations until 30 minutes after park closing, that's really cool cause you can get some awesome pics of an empty park at the end

It was this way for us a few weeks ago too. I am betting it's just to get more business for the resto since the park closes earlier this time of year

 

[yulilin3]

unrelated but in case you guys are interested I'll be live streaming Illuminations tonight and MSEP/Celebrate the Magic and Wishes tomorrow night for Streaming Disney.

 

[psac]

Here's a video from the Echo Lake area during the day and then 10 minutes before the fireworks, I asked the photopass CM and she said she leaves as the fireworks start but admitted it would make for a great picture if she stayed

And here's the video of the fireworks from that location

This was a few pages back, but thank you for posting!! I don't know if we'll be able to catch it on our trip. If we do, now we know the perfect place. If we don't, it was good to see it.