So here's my experience...
We went to the parks this past weekend with the goal of scoring a BG on Saturday.
My SO isn't really a big Star Wars fan and wasn't really a fan of waking up super early, but she was doing this because I've been talking about this since the ride opened. Plus we have a 3 year old that we'd have to wake up early too. So even though I've been well prepped by everyone on this board (thank you!) and from watching videos on
YouTube, I was still stressed out because my biggest concern was getting to the park in time.
We stayed about an 8-10 min walk from the DTD entrance and my goal was to be at security by 7a.
We left the hotel a few mins later than I had hoped, but we made up for it by putting a little pep in our step. But as we were walking, my SO mentioned that there wasn't a lot of other people walking with us and that I was probably being overdramatic about how early we had to get there blah, blah, blah. I just kind of bit my tongue and I said I hoped she was right, but I knew the truth.
We turn the corner and see that the security line was backed up onto the grass area, which I expected because it was also EMH / MM.
Luckily we got through the line by about 715a then we hustled to the esplanade and got in line around 723a, which was back to DCA.
Apparently some lines opened up to our right and a mob of people rushed over, but instead of following the pack, we just stayed in our line because we figured it would get shorter from others leaving, which it did. However, staying in this line was a mistake, as it had to have been run by a new CM or something because that's the only reason I could imagine why our line was barely moving.
We were watching people on the left and right of us moving down their lines at a fast rate while ours stood still.
It was now almost 743a and we were barely halfway to the turnstile and it became clear that we might not make it. I then decided to jump in the line to the left, which was all the way back to DCA, because I knew it was the only chance to get in before 8a.
My SO stayed in our original line with our son and I slowly started making my way towards them. I eventually caught up to them around 752a, but we were still quite a ways away. That's when I looked at her and told her, "We're not going to make it," which was a super bummer for me because of how much I was looking forward to this, and then I knew my SO wasn't going to be happy because we got up early for nothing.
But then a miracle occurred at 755a. A couple lines opened up and we were able to scurry into the park at 757a!
We quickly got our apps ready and made our way to the train station, because I've read a lot of people had a lot of success there. We counted down the seconds, then at 8a I hit "Find Out More" to see the "Join Boarding Group" button was red, and after a few stressful seconds of button pushing, we got BG25!
I couldn't believe we actually did it after just a few mins prior I didn't even think we'd be in the park in time. I was so relieved and happy.
We were in the FP line for RSR when we got a text at 913a letting us know that our BG was ready.
It was an amazing ride and I have absolutely no regrets of putting us though all that stress!


I hope everyone gets a chance to ride and has an experience that's a little less stressful than ours!!!