Rise of the Resistance BOARDING GROUPS Superthread Part 1 *No Ride Spoilers Please* *PLEASE READ POSTS 1-4*

[Kenshin21]

I had group 25 today. Got the message to board at 958 and had 2 hours. When we got to Mickey and friends right at 630 and walked to the park. We were in dlp around 720 so around 50 min from garage to gate.

 

[IsleofDisney]

I got boarding group 9. I had EMH access this morning. I suspect that the key to scoring a low boarding pass is decent connectivity, so before the park opened I joined the guest WiFi network and wandered around the back of the park trying to find the location that had the best WiFi and cellular signal and the fewest people. I’m a Verizon customer and had the best results near the Matterhorn FastPass machines. I then camped out on the home screen until 8:00. I had myApple Watch and used the second hand to keep track of how long I had before 8.

We chose to stay near the entrance between Flag pole and stairs to Main Street station. 3 phones on their own accounts, a new iPhone 11pro (Verizon), a Galaxy S10 (TMobile) & mine a One+ 7pro (TMobile). At 7:59 I opened the DL app, kept it at home page, at 8 am selected Find Out More, Join Boarding Group was active, selected it, chose everyone in my group, then 1-2 seconds later I was awarded with BG 7.

While the 11pro was on a 5g network, my One+ on a 4g was the one that snagged the boarding group. The signal was good and I didn't want to be surrounded by buildings. My One+ has a very good processor that may have helped. Or the short prayer I made before 8am

Edit: I should mention because now I think it's an important point, that I reserved a FP through MP while my party was waiting. Its like testing if the system recognizes everyone in your party. Also, the iPhone was on AT&T network not Verizon.

 

[baozi]

Not to you specific question, but I think WDW and DLR share the same system, same mechanism as far as authorization and authentication go. You can make an experiment with both apps logged out, and log into one of them, then you can see it logs into the other as well.

Thanks so much for the report. Could you clarify as to whether multiple phones were logged into the same account. That's what we did in WDW, but I haven't seen specifics mentioned here.


Same questions for me. When we rode at WDW we had 5 phones and 4 were logged into the same account. Just want to make sure it's working the same way at DL and we don't need to have everyone create unique logins.

Thanks for all the reports. I'm *really* nervous about next Saturday now. The times for BGs to go are way faster than when we were at WDW.

 

[brentm77]

Group 92. We saw groups up to 115 called yesterday, so I am hopeful

We were 92 yesterday, and were on around 7:30. That was after a delay in the morning and a long one in the afternoon. It seemed like the pace picked up after dinner. I suspect some people in backup groups leave before they are called.

 

[Etonduf]

So long as they use the Boarding Group system, there is Zero chance that there will still be openings in late afternoon or evening. Including on weekdays. The only exception might be during a big rainstorm. Otherwise there will always be enough people in the park, and the majority of them will be signing up for a boarding group. Anyone can do it, and it doesn't take away a Fast Pass, and lots of people are going to want to experience this ride. Even multiple times.

When it hopefully changes over to a regular system, those who arrive late will at least have the option of waiting in a standby line. There's no telling how they're going to manage that though, as if people are allowed to get in line up until closing, it's going to cause it to remain open a long time. And much like Radiator Springs, the fast passes will be gone by morning, perhaps even within 1-2 hours of park opening.

I agree with all of this. (Though I do think IsleofDisney's point was that DLR hopefully changes the system to make it possible for locals who arrive later to somehow get to ride)

 

[Slendyglowstone]

So On my Phone (Samsung Galaxy S7), There is Ultra Power Saving Mode. This Mode is perfect for Minimizing the Phone's battery to last all day, while still being available to being used as a phone/camera/sms/internet device. Problem is that Rise of the Resistance requires you to use the Disneyland App, which is unavailable in Ultra-Power saving Mode. I Could get the boarding group done in the app, then switch over to UPSM, but I wouldn't be able to check the Boarding Groups, or be notified of the registered time. Is there some way to check the boarding groups without accessing the app? perhaps a site or email/sms?

 

[EmJ]

So On my Phone (Samsung Galaxy S7), There is Ultra Power Saving Mode. This Mode is perfect for Minimizing the Phone's battery to last all day, while still being available to being used as a phone/camera/sms/internet device. Problem is that Rise of the Resistance requires you to use the Disneyland App, which is unavailable in Ultra-Power saving Mode. I Could get the boarding group done in the app, then switch over to UPSM, but I wouldn't be able to check the Boarding Groups, or be notified of the registered time. Is there some way to check the boarding groups without accessing the app? perhaps a site or email/sms?

It’s supposed to be displayed in screens around the park, but I don’t know where or how many. I also just bought a small Anker portable charger for under $20. I tested it and was able to get 2.5 complete charges on my iPhone 7.

 

[kyoshi]

This is a bit upsetting to me. We always make a lot of dining reservations for our trips, so I figured a 2 hour window would be plenty of time to eat if we got a notification close to a dining reservation. 1 hour is not a lot of time, and if you bail on a dining reservation you’ll be penalized. I hope they settle on a 2 hour (or more) window before my trip next month!

And thanks so much to everyone posting today, it was not only informative but also very exciting to read the play by play this morning!

We had a reservation for both Oga's and Cafe Orleans in the afternoon. We got boarding group 67, which at the time looked like it would be at the same time. We went to both locations early and talked to the hosts. Both places told us not to worry and make the boarding group out priority and to come back after our ride. Worked out perfectly. We were seated in no time at both places. Thank you to those cast members!

 

[dieumeye]

I agree with all of this. (Though I do think IsleofDisney's point was that DLR hopefully changes the system to make it possible for locals who arrive later to somehow get to ride)

That’s the thing though, if you are a local AP then you have more flexibility to arrive when you need to, and it’s not such a big deal to do any particular thing on a specific day.

For example, I don’t have to ride RSR every time I visit the park and I also don’t want to stand in a 1+ hour line for it, so if I want to ride it I know I need to be here in the morning to get a FP. They aren’t going to hold back some FPs until later in the afternoon for days I don’t feel like showing up earlier.

Same with RotR for the foreseeable future. I wanted to ride yesterday so I got here early. Today, I felt lazy so I stayed in bed, which means I knew I wouldn’t ride it today when I showed up later in the morning. It’s not like I can’t enjoy the park like I always have.

And if I only came to the park to ride RotR and I don’t get a BG at open, I can easily just go home and my whole day isn’t ruined the way people on vacation might feel.

At some point the fervor will die down, but even if it means that boarding group availability lasts just 30 minutes, it’ll just be the reality that people have to adjust to. As long as there is more demand than supply, there’s no system that is going to satisfy everybody, but it seems like people who are local and not on a once-in-a-lifetime trip have the most flexibility to adapt to whatever the situation requires.

Just my perspective.

 

[montreid]

When an entire's day allotment is gone in 60 secs -- there's going to be many unhappy folk.

Same for those convention after 4pm tickets - too bad for most FP along with ROTR --

 

[BellaandMickey]

We will have 3 phones. Should we all be logged into my Disney account or should we each have a Disney account with all of the tickets scanned into each account. We have never used our phones at DL and we will all have data plans and won't be using the park wifi.

I’m wondering the same thing. We’re going to have 4 people trying. I’m hoping we don’t have to make 4 different logins.

 

[VandVsmama]

Adam the Woo just posted a cool ROTR opening day video on his YouTube channel.

 

[dieumeye]

It’s supposed to be displayed in screens around the park, but I don’t know where or how many. I also just bought a small Anker portable charger for under $20. I tested it and was able to get 2.5 complete charges on my iPhone 7.

There’s a sign at the Big Thunder entrance showing the current BGs.

They are probably more elsewhere, but I don’t recall specifically. Yesterday there was a CM stand at the critter country entrance. I don’t recall a sign there but one could certainly ask them for the current BGs.

 

[IsleofDisney]

We were right by someone who got 7!! Were you by the hub??

No we were by the flag pole

 

[ThreeMountains]

Can anyone tell me if you can get a BG and then also use Max Pass for other rides while you wait or only one or the other? Thanks

 

[dina444444]

There’s a sign at the Big Thunder entrance showing the current BGs.

They are probably more elsewhere, but I don’t recall specifically. Yesterday there was a CM stand at the critter country entrance. I don’t recall a sign there but one but certainly ask them for the current BGs.

They are also shown on the times board in the hub.

 

[dina444444]

Can anyone tell me if you can get a BG and then also use Max Pass for other rides while you wait or only one or the other? Thanks

They are separate from each other and can be used at the same time.

 

[twodogs]

Hi all, We are back at GCH for a break, so I thought I would quickly post our experience today for our first try at ROTR.

0600: left GCH, no line whatsoever at security to get into DTD

0605: arrived at gates, no lines at MM only gates to far right, but we have APs and using EMH and several CMs could not tell me if we could use the 2 lines marked MM (as opposed to the other lines which were marked MM/EMH), so we got in a line marked MM/EMH to be safe. About 13 people in front of us. Regular entry lines already past the monorail and about 1/2 between monorail and DCA.

0640: (I think, was too hyped to look at phone) opened gates. Regular lines well past DCA. Our gate had immediate problems as CM was brand new and very frazzled and angry. She could not get first family’s tickets to scan, then finally retook their photos several times; next family is told by her that they already used their MM (they were staying onsite, so also had EMH); argument ensues, lead comes over, pulls them aside, takes tickets and leaves; next family has tickets and shows their DVC keys to GCH (which look different than our regular GCH keys) and she tells them that DVC doesn’t get you EMH, argument ensues, lead comes back with first family’s tickets, tells her DVC keys are good and overrides, lets first family in since they do have EMH; OUR turn finally!! Scans my AP and says it is expired and I can’t enter. She is fuming now as all the guests are anxious and nothing working. Calls lead over, takes our APs, we step aside. Next family shows no tickets valid. Lead brings our AP back, she has to override them and we finally enter. It was stressful and unnecessary for everyone; no idea why they put a clearly brand new CM on the gates at MM/EMH for ROTR weekend. We knew we had plenty of time, so stayed calm but it was nerve racking.

0700: pin trading. Walking up Main Street, and CM’s telling all EMH guests to have room keys out to get into Tomorrowland (blocked by the red corn dog wagon Area with ropes. Rest of non-EMH guests allowed up around the Hub on Main Street. We show keys and they let us into Tomorrowland (and you had to go this way if you wanted to get to FL also). Rode SM with no wait x 2, shopped, etc.

0735: Decided at 7:35 to start looking for good signals. We had 6 phones all logged into the app as me:
iPhone 7 WiFi only
iphone 10 Wifi only
iphone 10R Verizon
iphone 10R Verizon
iphone 10 Verizon
iphone 11 AT&T

There were 4 of us, so DD14 and I each had one WiFi phone and one Verizon cell phone. DD12 had her Verizon cell and DH his ATT cell. DD14 and I stood near Buzz gift shop per @wonkakid’s advice for good WiFi (had good Wifi and cell here). DD12 and DH went to train station loading area and neither had a signal so they walked over to the entrance the Subs). We put one WiFi phone and one Verizon 10R with app already open. All other phones, we hard-closed app prior to 8. Crowds were thick but not insane at Buzz FP kiosks (there was a line of 20-30 there right at 7am and it grew) with people who had no phones or were hedging bets on an IT issue.

I used my Apple Watch to count the seconds. Right at 8, we all opened app, but those that were already opened went to Find out More and got red button immediately. I got the red button immediately on both my WiFi phone and my Verizon cell but the app had to open. DH never got the red button at all on ATT cell. I immediately got “you are already in a boarding group” on both my Wifi and Verizon phones. DD12 and DD14 are not sure which of them actually got the group, so it was either Verizon cell or WiFi, but both phones that got in the fastest ALREADY had the app open when 8am hit. I know that is counter to what people at WDW were recommending (they recommended hard-close app and open right at 8, which also worked, but was not as fast as app open for our family). Got BG 14!!!!!!

Rode Buzz, Pirates, and group called right at 845. In line at 9am, on at 933, off around 10. Line moved continuously, and no breakdowns. Loved the ride and will try tomorrow but the process will be a little different since no EMH.

Right after we got our BG, APs disappeared from phone and would not let me book MP (though I had booked MP right at going through gates at 0700, so it was working earlier). Kept telling me to purchase MP for our AP, even though we already have MP!! We didn’t want to waste time at GS, and about 9 or so, the app was showing a message that all MP was down. But then I was able to book one anyway?? It was weird. I think the whole system crashed this AM.

So grateful to all on these boards and the WDW boards, as all of your advice was valuable this AM. We also needed the Force because many people around us did not get BGs. It was very sad. Some had technical issues, some had parties that were showing as not in the park. My Advice there is that if you can, try to book a MP right after entering the park (before BGs drop). If you can do that for all in the party, then you know it recognizes you as all in the park. If not, it will error on the MP booking and you will hopefully have time to go to GS before BGs drop.

MTFBW everyone (including us!) as we try again tomorrow!!!!

 

[dina444444]

Hi all, We are back at GCH for a break, so I thought I would quickly post our experience today for our first try at ROTR.

0600: left GCH, no line whatsoever at security to get into DTD
0605: arrived at gates, no lines at MM only gates to far right, but we have APs and using EMH and several CMs could not tell me if we could use the 2 lines marked MM (as opposed to the other lines which were marked MM/EMH), so we got in a line marked MM/EMH to be safe. About 13 people in front of us. Regular entry lines already past the monorail and about 1/2 between monorail and DCA.
0640: (I think, was too hyped to look at phone) opened gates. Regular lines well past DCA. Our gate had immediate problems as CM was brand new and very frazzled and angry. She could not get first family’s tickets to scan, then finally retook their photos several times; next family is told by her that they already used their MM (they were staying onsite, so also had EMH); argument ensues, lead comes over, pulls them aside, takes tickets and leaves; next family has tickets and shows their DVC keys to GCH (which look different than our regular GCH keys) and she tells them that DVC doesn’t get you EMH, argument ensues, lead comes back with first family’s tickets, tells her DVC keys are good and overrides, lets first family in since they do have EMH; OUR turn finally!! Scans my AP and says it is expired and I can’t enter. She is fuming now as all the guests are anxious and nothing working. Calls lead over, takes our APs, we step aside. Next family shows no tickets valid. Lead brings our AP back, she has to override them and we finally enter. It was stressful and unnecessary for everyone; no idea why they put a clearly brand new CM on the gates at MM/EMH for ROTR weekend. We knew we had plenty of time, so stayed calm but it was nerve racking.
0700: pin trading. Walking up Main Street, and CM’s telling all EMH guests to have room keys out to get into Tomorrowland (blocked by the red corn dog wagon Area with ropes. Rest of non-EMH guests allowed up around the Hub on Main Street. We show keys and they let us into Tomorrowland (and you had to go this way if you wanted to get to FL also). Rode SM with no wait x 2, shopped, etc.
0735: Decided at 7:35 to start looking for good signals. We had 6 phones:
iPhone 7 WiFi only
iphone 10 Wifi only
iphone 10R Verizon
iphone 10R Verizon
iphone 10 Verizon
iphone 11 AT&T

There were 4 of us, so DD14 and I each had one WiFi phone and one Verizon cell phone. DD12 had her Verizon cell and DH his ATT cell. DD14 and I stood near Buzz gift shop per @wonkakid’s advice for good WiFi (had good Wifi and cell here). DD12 and DH went to train station loading area and neither had a signal so they walked over to the entrance the Subs). We put one WiFi phone and one Verizon 10R with app already open. All other phones, we hard-closed app prior to 8. Crowds were thick but not insane at Buzz FP kiosks (there was a line of 20-30 there right at 7am and it grew) with people who had no phones or were hedging bets on an IT issue.

I used my Apple Watch to count the seconds. Right at 8, we all opened app, but those that were already opened went to Find out More and got red button immediately. I got the red button immediately on both my WiFi phone and my Verizon cell but the app had to open. DH never got the red button at all on ATT cell. I immediately got “you are already in a boarding group” on both my Wifi and Verizon phones. DD12 and DD14 are not sure which of them actually got the group, so it was either Verizon cell or WiFi, but both phones that got in the fastest ALREADY had the app open when 8am hit. I know that is counter to what people at WDW were recommending (they recommended hard-close app and open right at 8, which also worked, but was not as fast as app open for our family). Got BG 14!!!!!!

Rode Buzz, Pirates, and group called right at 845. In line at 9am, on at 933, off around 10. Line moved continuously, and no breakdowns. Loved the ride and will try tomorrow but the process will be a little different since no EMH.

Right after we got our BG, APs disappeared from phone and would not let me book MP (though I had booked MP right at going through gates at 0700, so it was working earlier). Kept telling me to purchase MP for our AP, even though we already have MP!! We didn’t want to waste time at GS, and about 9 or so, the app was showing a message that all MP was down. But then I was able to book one anyway?? It was weird. I think the whole system crashed this AM.

So grateful to all on these boards and the WDW boards, as all of your advice was valuable this AM. We also needed the Force because many people around us did not get BGs. It was very sad. Some had technical issues, some had parties that were showing as not in the park. My Advice there is that if you can, try to book a MP right after entering the park (before BGs drop). If you can do that for all in the party, then you know it recognizes you as all in the park. If not, it will error on the MP booking and you will hopefully have time to go to GS before BGs drop.

MTFBW everyone (including us!) as we try again tomorrow!!!!

I’ll echo. I and my group all reopened our apps at 7:59 and then right at 8:00 clicked into the page. All 3 of us made it through but when I got to the add people page another member of our party had already secured group 7.

 

[DLgal]

I mean, you all know the local demographic way better than I do, but it just seems weird to me. Presumably the locals, especially AP holders, like everything or almost everything Disney has to offer and aren’t annual pass holders ONLY for ROTR. The presumption seems to be that if locals can’t get on ROTR if they arrive late in the day, then they won’t come at all. I can’t believe that’s true.

AP holders will still come. Local, day guests might not. That ticket special is being heavily advertised, along with "Rise of the Resistance--NOW OPEN." (Like, in the same commercial) But, if it's a gamble whether or not you will even get the chance to ride the new ride, THOSE people may decide it's not worth it. Think of all the people who may take advantage of the tickets knowing they have as much of a chance to ride the new ride than any other ride in the park. Once they find out that's not the case, they are bound to be pretty annoyed.

Here's the thing. EVERY other ride Disneyland has ever opened has done just fine with a standby line and fastpass. I don't really understand the justification for using this system on JUST this ride. They built the queue large enough to hold several hours worth of a standby line. Disneyland guests tend to be fine with standby waits up to about 3-4 hours, as evidenced by RSR. They are okay with that. What makes anyone think this ride would suddenly command such drastically longer standby waits long term? Look what happened with MFSR...waits were crazy initially but have settled to 30-60 minutes on average. The line will regulate itself.

This Boarding Group system is nothing more than Disney trying to squeeze more money out of guests by keeping them out of a long line. However, rides need people in lines, in order to keep the crowding to a minimum in walkways. If no one is in line, and you have thousands of people loitering in SW land, sitting against buildings (NOT spending money, as happened yesterday), all that is accomplished is making the park feel cluttered and mismanaged.