Should I attend or skip Grand Opening of Mission Breakout? Need Opinions.

[Gillbob316]

I'll be coming to SoCal for a long Memorial Day weekend later this month Flying in the evening of Wed 24th, four Full Days Thur through Sun + most of Monday. Flying home late overnight Monday (Will have most of a the day for parks, heading to the airport around 8pm).

I'll be staying at the Holiday Inn near Downtown Disney, within walking distance, and spending most of my trip there, but I do want to do one day at Universal. My plan at the moment is rent a car for a single day from the Alamo in Downtown Disney first thing 8am and drive there. I know there are shuttles/public services available to get to Universal, but I've weighed the options, and car rental seems like the more optimal choice for me.

Thur/Fri I plan to do the Disney parks, getting as much in as humanly possible before the weekend gets into full swing.

Saturday OR Sunday, I want to go to Universal. The other day would be more Disney. Therein lies my dilemma.

I can't choose between Saturday and Sunday, largely due to the grand opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. Which is Saturday.

1/2 of me wants to attend California Adventure that day just to say I was there and/or potentially see any festivities. 1/2 of me thinks it's smarter to avoid a grand opening crowd and just go to Universal that day. But I'd like to choose in advance, because the car rental will be cheaper if I book it now (not to mention, online/advance check-in will hopefully be more efficient.)

One other detail that bothers me about going to Universal on Sunday is, Sunday is my last full evening, and given my druthers, I'd prefer to spend my last evening at Disneyland, with Disney fireworks and pageantry. BUT... I'd still go to Universal Sunday if push came to shove.

I dunno! I'm indecisive, hence this thread...

TLDR:

Seeking thoughts and opinions. Will it be worth attending DCA on Saturday for the grand opening? Or a madhouse I'd be better off skipping?

 

[dshimel]

No one can answer this except you.

Yes, it will be crowded. It will be cool to be among the first to ride the re-themed attraction. You have to judge for yourself whether the draw outweighs the hassle.

 

[Belle83]

I wouldn't go out of my way to be there for the opening but it's a personal preference. We will be there the same weekend and are not planning to go to CA that day.

 

[SMD]

How much do you want to do at USH? You could pay the extra money for a 1 way airport drop off of the rental car and do Universal on Monday, then go to the airport from there.

 

[Gillbob316]

No one can answer this except you.

Ultimately yes. Yet I seek the opinions of others all the same. I find they're often illuminating.

How much do you want to do at USH? You could pay the extra money for a 1 way airport drop off of the rental car and do Universal on Monday, then go to the airport from there.

I vaguely considered that, but ultimately don't want to spend my last day at Universal. I prefer to sandwich it in the middle. Furthermore I already have a shuttle booked to/from my hotel to the airport, and I like it that way because it takes the stress off of leaving day for me (If I were driving myself to the airport, I'd procrastinate and give myself a heart attack as I rushed last minute to make my flight. Having a shuttle pre-scheduled, I just have to be ready to get picked up 8:30 Monday night, and from there it's out of my hands and won't worry me.)

All the logistics of the decision tell me to go to Universal Saturday... but this little doubt in my mind is telling me I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life if I skip the grand opening. Once in a lifetime moments and all. *Shrug*

Hence my seeking of outside thoughts. I'm very much of two minds about it.

 

[SMD]

Has Disney even announced that there will be any kind of public grand opening other than the ride just being open that day? If the car rental can be canceled, you could just book 2 separate 1 day rentals and cancel the day you won't use.

 

[StormyCA]

I wouldn't want to be there opening day unless I planned to ride. And I wouldn't plan to ride unless I was willing to wait in line for 4+ hours. I think it's going to be a madhouse, at least in the ToT area.

 

[Gillbob316]

Has Disney even announced that there will be any kind of public grand opening other than the ride just being open that day?

Not as far as I'm aware. It is indeed a very hypothetical situation. There could be hooplah. There could be nothing but a long line and a crowd. Again, seeking thoughts/opinions (hopefully from people more experienced with the west coast parks than I am)

I'm an Orlando veteran, but I've never been to the California parks, and frankly don't know what's typical there. If a bunch of people pop in this thread and tell me there's likely to be nothing particularly memorable going on that day, I may sway toward heading to Universal. If Disney is selling souvenir grand opening merch, and Chris Pratt is there to cut a ribbon, I'll be bummed if I miss it.

I wouldn't want to be there opening day unless I planned to ride. And I wouldn't plan to ride unless I was willing to wait in line for 4+ hours. I think it's going to be a madhouse, at least in the ToT area.

I plan to ride it before I leave Monday. Whether I need to ride it that day is another matter. I'd like to get as much of the parks in Thur/Fri as I can, just incase I do indeed end up having to wait 4 hours for it. Frankly I'm hoping it will be soft open Thur/Fri and I can get a ride in before the grand opening rush, but as I said, I don't know what's typical at DCA. No idea if a soft opening is likely. Assuming they don't soft open, I'll be early morning rope dropping it over the weekend or Monday (or both) and hoping to get on with as little wait as possible (and possibly grab a fast pass?). Did ToT have a single rider line? I am a single, but don't know if it did or didn't (having never been). I'd like to get on it multiple times in a perfect world (since it reportedly has multiple ride vingettes/outcomes) but will be happy with one, if it's too crazy for multiple.

 

[Canadian Girl 77]

Go to CA on Saturday. I think that is what you actually want to do.

 

[DDhunter]

I went for the grand opening of Radiator Springs Racers, was too late to get a FP and waited in line for 4 hours. I would absolutely do it again, crazy as it sounds. My family and I frequently talk about that day many years later, so yes I would go for GoG:MB on the grand opening day if I could.

 

[DisBabe94]

Just go on Saturday! It is such a unique opportunity and it's not like the lines will be any shorter on Sunday, it will be a madhouse either way!

 

[aidansmother]

I think you should go to the opening. We will be there too even though we know it will be crazy. It will be a fun memory!

 

[mummabear]

Go to the Grand Opening, please protest "bring back TOT"

 

[Malcon10t]

We will be there for the opening. If you are there Thurs/Fri, keep your eyes and ears open for soft openings. My understanding, Sun/Mon will be cast members, Tues/Wed will be AP holders and Thurs/Fri will be final testing with soft openings.

 

[wingednike]

Go to the opening on Saturday. Most APs are blocked on Saturdays so the crowds may be better. Plus, even if you don't ride that day the excitement and energy should give the park a great vibe.