Star Tours FP during MM but staying off-site

[monicatb]

We'll have a stop over in LAX on our way to Vegas, and decided to fit in a day at DL and DCA on 10/18. It turns out that it has MM (could't fit it different due to flight schedules) and we'll be staying off-site, unless some great discount comes out for our dates. I'm also hoping for a pin code, but not even the pin code trick has worked for me so far. What I'm mostly concerned is about getting a FP for Star Tours. It looks like DL will be opening at 8:00 am and closing at 6:00 pm due to the Halloween Party, so MM is at 7:00 am. We're planning to get in line by 7:30 am, earlier if you think we need to. Will we be able to get a FP for Star Tours at 8:00 am? And if so, should I expect next FP to be available not until 2 hours later?

 

[llump41]

This is what it looked like to me this past Thu. MM people rode Star Tours and then got in line to get another FP. When they dropped the rope, there was already a line formed to get a FP. You'll get a FP but it will be for more than 2HRs.

 

[Potterswife]

If you don't have a mm entry you won't be able to leave mainstreet until rope drop at 8am, there will be fp's available, at 10am today the return time was 6pm.

 

[monicatb]

Oops, I think I was forgetting a good point here. So FP is not available during MM for any ride? Everyone will start getting one at 8 am, right? DS15 could walk briskly to get them asap.

But this makes me think if it's a good strategy to get a ST FP first thing. We will have only one day at DL and DCA, and we would like to get a FP for ST, Space, Indy and Splash (we will ride BTMRR standby) before moving to DCA for Soarin, TSMM, California SCreamin and LMUSA. I'm thinking that if I get a 2 hour window at 8:00 am, I will not be able to get all the other sets until noon.

I was thinking maybe:
8:00 am Space FP
8:40 am Indy FP
9:20 am Splash FP
10:00 am Star Tour FP

Does this sound right?

 

[HydroGuy]

Oops, I think I was forgetting a good point here. So FP is not available during MM for any ride? Everyone will start getting one at 8 am, right? DS15 could walk briskly to get them asap.

But this makes me think if it's a good strategy to get a ST FP first thing. We will have only one day at DL and DCA, and we would like to get a FP for ST, Space, Indy and Splash (we will ride BTMRR standby) before moving to DCA for Soarin, TSMM, California SCreamin and LMUSA. I'm thinking that if I get a 2 hour window at 8:00 am, I will not be able to get all the other sets until noon.

I was thinking maybe:
8:00 am Space FP
8:40 am Indy FP
9:20 am Splash FP
10:00 am Star Tour FP

Does this sound right?

FP does not start until after MM. But those there for MM can get a jump on the FP line. The above plan would work on days when the park is open late. Right now ST FPs are gone by 10-11AM, with return times out to midnight. If the park closes at 6PM they will run out faster. But then of course it depends on the crowds that day.

If you really want to ride ST I would get the FP sooner...

 

[monicatb]

Thanks Hydroguy. I will check the Lines App the week before to see how the early closing is affecting the FP distribution. Since we'll only have one day for both parks, the kids wrote a list of favorite attractions. We're plannning to go to DL from 8 am to 9:30 am, get some FP and hit some headliners, then switch to DCA for opening until around 12 pm, do a couple of rides and FP Soarin, California and ToT, then go back to DL to use previous FP and ride what we missed, and then move to DCA when DL closes at 6 pm, maybe earlier if we're done with DL's favorites. If I can get a FP for ST, Space and Splash before switching to DCA it will be great, because I can get the FP for Indy, BTMRR and Autopia, when we return, but I don't think it will be possible at all, unless one stays behind and skips TSMM.
One question, when DL closes for the Halloween party, do they move day guests out or can we stay for a while to do some shopping?

 

[sonnyjane]

One question, when DL closes for the Halloween party, do they move day guests out or can we stay for a while to do some shopping?

Unfortunately you will have to head on out once they close the park. No rides, dining, or shopping.

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Definitely get a Star Tours FP first thing. Otherwise you'd likely miss it. And keep in mind that in order to get FPs, every ticket needs to have passed the turnstiles, so you can't just send one person with everyone's tickets into one park and collect FPs.

 

[JeriLee]

In my experience – even during busy times - you can get 2 FP's with the first being ST before heading to DCA. BUT! With DL opening at 8:00, you can do this:

FP ST – fastest runner (walker-with-purpose)
Ride Space
Ride Buzz
Ride Indy in Single Rider Line (skip this if you hate SRL, but it will be walk on at this hour!)
Ride BTMRR
FP Splash
Head to DCA
Grab FP for Space
Do the TSMM Dash
FP Screaming
Ride Screaming SRL
LM
ToT
FP GRR
Lunch (11:30 ish)

Don't forget – you can send a FP runner back to DL for the next FP set – even though you are not ready to leave DCA – I do this all the time. I usually meet up with my family having lunch – I just let them know what to order for me and it all works out great time wise.

 

[monicatb]

In my experience – even during busy times - you can get 2 FP's with the first being ST before heading to DCA. BUT! With DL opening at 8:00, you can do this:

FP ST – fastest runner (walker-with-purpose)
Ride Space
Ride Buzz
Ride Indy in Single Rider Line (skip this if you hate SRL, but it will be walk on at this hour!)
Ride BTMRR
FP Splash
Head to DCA
Grab FP for Space
Do the TSMM Dash
FP Screaming
Ride Screaming SRL
LM
ToT
FP GRR
Lunch (11:30 ish)

Don't forget – you can send a FP runner back to DL for the next FP set – even though you are not ready to leave DCA – I do this all the time. I usually meet up with my family having lunch – I just let them know what to order for me and it all works out great time wise.

This is what I was hoping to do, before I got stuck with a Tuesday visit, with Magic Morning and, eventhough there's a small chance we could stay on-site, we'll more likely to stay off-site. The main reason is that this trip is in fact a trip to Vegas and Grand Canyon but, since we have a connecting flight in LAX, we decided to stay for a quick Disney visit, so we don't really want to spend a fortune on a 1 day visit.

So, would you do it the same if MM starts at 7 am and we'll start at 8 am? I'm hesitant about Space still being a walk on at 8 am after MM. DS15 has volunteered to do the running (walking with purpose ). I'm not sure I can get him into going to DL while we're at DCA, but I could try

Maybe:

8 am - FP ST
Matterhorn
Buzz
Indy - if no wait or FP later
BTMRR
HM
FP Space
9:30 - Hop to DCA
FP Soarin
TSMM dash - ride twice if possible
FP Screamin
Goofy's
LM
ToT
FP Grizzly
Lunch
Grizzly with FP - late October, so we have to go early
Hop to DL
FP Indy and/or Splash when possible

 

[JeriLee]

I should have been more specific. You can do this on a MM morning when you do not have MM access. I’m a local and never have MM access and usually go on a MM day! They're sort of hard to avoid...

We get in line by 7:15 and are very close to the front. DD (13 y.o.) is our fastest walker and is always belly to the rope for RD. We almost always get a locker on Main Street, so we split up at that point and meet up at SM after she has the ST fast passes.

Space will not be walk on – but will only be about 15 minutes – maybe less. Buzz will be a walk on after that. Head to BTMRR next – probably less than 10 minutes and then either do POTC (probably walk on or very close) or Indy if you don’t mind SRL – which will be walk on. It will probably be time for the next FP set so grab your Splash FP’s to ride later when it is warmer.

Tell your DS to do a SRL on Indy or Splash while he grabs the next FP set – I usually do this! The FP volunteer should get something out of the deal! Sometimes I grab a Dole Whip too since the line is short at this hour and enjoy that while I head back to DCA.

 

[monicatb]

Great information. That's what I needed to know. Great tip for the FPV! I was starting to consider staying on site for a night, only to have MM access, but I guess we can get a lot done without it. I'm not convinced of paying at least $250 for 1 hour of Magic Morning

Thanks for the heads up