RotR Planning & Daily Boarding Group Discussion - *CLOSED*

[yulilin3]

This is such a useful thread. Thanks to everone who has been reporting so far!
I am a little confused at to when you can join a boarding group. Do you have to have scanned your MB and actually entered the park or can you do it whilst waiting to get in/past security etc?
I'm assuming the feature to join a boarding group doesn't go live until official part opening?
I am planning to get to the park at around 7am on Sunday (EMH - opens at 8am)

people have reported being able to join from DHS bag check on.

 

[Laura's Dad]

yeha, my only concern is we have reservations for Oga's and the Droid Factory and how will it be handled if our boarding group is called when we have one of those reservations or if we are in the queue and it getss delayed and then we miss a reservation, etc. With the two hour window for returning once it is called and then these set reservations I am sure I will stress leading up to it that things will be an issues

I have the exact same concern. We plan on rope drop this coming Monday and 2 of our party of 7 are signed up for lightsabers at 11. I hope that doesn’t mess us up.

 

[Liljo22]

It’s simulator based

The OP is asking what happens before the simulator part.

Its a trackless dark ride before that part.

 

[rteetz]

The OP is asking what happens before the simulator part.

Its a trackless dark ride before that part.

If anyone wants a full rundown several threads here have videos or articles with that. Many don’t want to be spoiled so I’m not going to do that.

 

[dina444444]

I arrived at 7am only to find they opened the ride at 5am!! Didn't have a chance. In boarding group 60 and they're only on group 21 to 30. If I'd of known I wouldn't have bothered or arrived earlier. I think it's very unfair to do that.

Opening early isn't new to Disney. They have opened before the posted wait times on opening day for many attractions.

 

[jsmla]

Well, I’ve had a great morning! I got here a little after 5:00, got my boarding pass, bought a T shirt and a coffee and then rode:
ToT (X 2)
RnRC
Star Tours
Toy Story (X 2)

I was all rode out and decided to take the car back to ASSp. That way I can have a beer at Baseline Tap later. While I was there I grabbed a cheap kids breakfast. My window opened while I was eating.

Bus back to the Studios and now am in line for RotR

 

[unveilmyeyes]

yeha, my only concern is we have reservations for Oga's and the Droid Factory and how will it be handled if our boarding group is called when we have one of those reservations or if we are in the queue and it getss delayed and then we miss a reservation, etc. With the two hour window for returning once it is called and then these set reservations I am sure I will stress leading up to it that things will be an issues

Olgas gets you in one hour early and experience “maxed” at 45 minutes. You’ve got 2 hours like you said to use your queue spot. What’s the worry?

 

[yulilin3]

I arrived at 7am only to find they opened the ride at 5am!! Didn't have a chance. In boarding group 60 and they're only on group 21 to 30. If I'd of known I wouldn't have bothered or arrived earlier. I think it's very unfair to do that.

sorry this happened, this is the same way they did Pandora and SWGE, it was reported here and a continued topic brought up by myself and others to keep everyone informed, the recommendation was to arrive at DHS by 5am or 6am at the latest. But now you are better prepared for the future

 

[siren0119]

This is such a useful thread. Thanks to everone who has been reporting so far!
I am a little confused at to when you can join a boarding group. Do you have to have scanned your MB and actually entered the park or can you do it whilst waiting to get in/past security etc?
I'm assuming the feature to join a boarding group doesn't go live until official part opening?
I am planning to get to the park at around 7am on Sunday (EMH - opens at 8am)

MDE has GPS capability and will recognize when you are close to DHS, once it "sees" that you're close it will let you book.

They had people joining boarding groups at 5:30AM this morning, so no it doesn't go live at park opening (especially if they anticipate needing boarding groups right at opening. I'm sure it is a decision they make based on the crowd that is gathering before the park opens, and they turn on boarding passes if it reaches a critical mass. They have the ability to turn it off and on throughout the day.

 

[dina444444]

MDE has GPS capability and will recognize when you are close to DHS, once it "sees" that you're close it will let you book.

They had people joining boarding groups at 5:30AM this morning, so no it doesn't go live at park opening (especially if they anticipate needing boarding groups right at opening. I'm sure it is a decision they make based on the crowd that is gathering before the park opens, and they turn on boarding passes if it reaches a critical mass. They have the ability to turn it off and on throughout the day.

They started letting people in the gates around 5am this morning.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I arrived at 7am only to find they opened the ride at 5am!! Didn't have a chance. In boarding group 60 and they're only on group 21 to 30. If I'd of known I wouldn't have bothered or arrived earlier. I think it's very unfair to do that.

Think of it this way, the people in front of you would have arrived before you regardless of what method Disney chose or when they actually opened it since nobody knew specifics. You are far better off in a later boarding group than a 10 hour line. You wouldn’t have done any better with your 7 AM arrival if they hadn’t handled it how they did, probably worse actually.

And I’m not sure the ride was running that early, I think that may have been when they let people in the gates.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Well, I’ve had a great morning! I got here a little after 5:00, got my boarding pass, bought a T shirt and a coffee and then rode:
ToT (X 2)
RnRC
Star Tours
Toy Story (X 2)

I was all rode out and decided to take the car back to ASSp. That way I can have a beer at Baseline Tap later. While I was there I grabbed a cheap kids breakfast. My window opened while I was eating.

Bus back to the Studios and now am in line for RotR

Would you mind coming back and telling us how long the whole experience takes once you show up for your spot in the virtual queue? Thanks!

 

[FSU Girl]

How long are the waits for the new ride? I tried looking on the app, but it doesn't even show the ride listed.

 

[yulilin3]

How long are the waits for the new ride? I tried looking on the app, but it doesn't even show the ride listed.

there's no wait time cause the only way to access the ride is through the VQ

 

[siren0119]

How long are the waits for the new ride? I tried looking on the app, but it doesn't even show the ride listed.

There aren't any wait times because they are using Virtual Queue/boarding passes for the ride.

 

[Spridell]

Boarding groups are moving slow. Been on 21-32 for about an hour or so now. I am 133 lol lol but I am here just enjoying the park. No expectations of getting on but hey it's ok. Make the best of it.

 

[jsmla]

Would you mind coming back and telling us how long the whole experience takes once you show up for your spot in the virtual queue? Thanks!

Sure, I’m running a timer.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

WOW!!!!!

Boarding group 25. Got in line about 9:35 and just got done.

 

[yulilin3]

WOW!!!!!

Boarding group 25. Got in line about 9:35 and just got done.

non spoiler review?

 

[Duck143]

I'm hoping they continue the virtual queue for my trip in Feb, its a great idea. If I can wait out in the park instead of in a line all the better. Plus, then I don't have to worry what will happen if I'm solo and need to run to the bathroom 3 hrs into a 4+ hour line!

I agree! We're going in January and I hope they have the Virtual B.P. then too. It almost feels like the old paper Fast Passes where you got your time slot to return once you were inside the park.