Star Tours Super Thread (Strategies & Experiences)

[Hound 109]

Since Star Tours 2.0 is a huge hit & is (& will be) a very popular attraction this summer, I've decided to start a Super Thread so folks can come to one place to gather information & also to post experiences.

I'll copy & past some comments from other threads (or provide a link) in this post or subsequent posts.


Conventional Wisdom shared by the majority of Dis'ers regarding the following:

- Standby Lines - Standby lines can run from 45 min. (in the early AM) to 90 - 150 min. (in the early evening). If SoCal APs aren't blacked out the lines will be longer still.

- Hotel Fast Passes - The consensus here is that Star Tours is the best use of the promotional Disney Hotel FPs. You don't have to do the long standby line, don't have to rush to Star Tours in the rope drop madness to get a FP or ride standby. Doesn't eat up 2 hours of your DL FP collection window.

- When do FPs "run out"? - Depending on the crowds, FPs can fun out by 1pm - 2pm. But on busy days, can run out as early as 10am. Best to gather your ST FP as early as possible.

- What are the "return times" on ST FP? - If you're not picking up a FP during the first 5-10 min. of opening (say at 8am), then the "return time" will be past 10am....possibly past noon.

- I'm a FP guru. I want to max out on FP collection early. How can i collect a ST FP & still collect my 3-5 FPs in DL quickly & early? - The consensus seems to be that on MM days you should line up at the FP machines BEFORE Gen. Adm. rope drop (say at :50). Nab a FP at :01. On NON MM days, be at the turnstiles early & on the rope at ropedrop. The goal on either day (MM or non MM) is to be one of the first at the ST FP machine. With an 8am opening you should have an 8:45 - 9am return time (for ST). Then collect the rest of your FPs in order (SM/Indy/Splash...then the others).


I'll be adding other "tips" as more folks report.

 

[Hound 109]

Excellent posts & quotes on Star Tours 2.0:

helenb - use the 'special' FPs you get at DLR hotel check in for Star Tours and don't bother with regular FP. This will get everyone in your party 2 rides on Star Tours.

....go to Magic Morning/Early Entry. About 10 minutes before the end of MM, line up for a Star Tours FP. You'll beat all of the people let into the park at 'official' opening time and be there to collect an FP as soon as they start handing them out.

starkweatherink - Keep in mind that even with MM and standing in line for a FP, you may only end up with 3 rides in total. I did MM, my DD, wife and I went on it once, my wife then stood in line for the FP while DD and I rode again, and could have gone a 3rd time but we wanted to move on to SM. The FP were gone by 9-9:30 at the latest. (This was this past Saturday the 18th)

Eeee-va - If you're going on a non-MM day, if it were me, I'd consider riding it first, and maybe getting a FP right after (only if the return time is OK). The return time will of course be substantially later than if you'd gotten the FP first thing. But it wouldn't push your other FP collections back THAT much more than getting your FPs at open (just the time it took to stand in line and ride, plus the standard 2 hours of course). And if the return time is too late by the time you get done riding, you can go get a FP for Space Mountain instead. Those hypothetical Space Mountain FPs obtained at maybe 8:30 should probably have a pretty good return time (hopefully allowing you to get another FP in less than 2 hours, I would GUESS) since probably most people are trying to get Star Tours FPs first.

But alternately, if it's still a non-MM day and you're one of the first people there, you just might get an excellent return time. I think someone here got a return time before 9 AM once? If that happens you'll be in great shape for your FP collection anyway.

If you're going on a MM day, I'd just get the FP first (there will be a line for it right when you get in the park, so I think the only way to come close to guaranteeing a pre-8 PM FP will be to get it first thing).

If you're going multiple days, I'd take a non-MM day and get the Star Tours FP that day, and probably not worry SO much about the FPs that day and maybe even hop over to DCA when it opens.

Brenda1966 - I don't want to waste my single MM in line for ST or a fastpass. We love Fantasyland in the morning, so that's where we'll go. But we may be able to hop out of there and get in line for a FP?? And then head back to FL?

For the morning we don't have MM, but others will already be in the park, i'm wondering if that's the morning to head to Indy and collect FP's for other rides. We're only in the park 1/2 day, so would not be able to use any afternoon or evening FP. I think ST is a no-go for any half day touring plan.

And for the morning when no one has MM, I think we'll head straight to ST and try to ride, and then maybe try to grab a FP so we can ride again later. Or should we grab the FP first and then ride standby. So many questions! I'm glad we have 3 mornings. I figure we should be able to ride ST at least once, hopefully 2 or 3 times

CandCMommy - We were at Disneyland this past weekend and my DH and DS's were able to ride Star Tours 5 times total on Saturday and Sunday. We did have MM and went straight to Fantasyland and rode Peter Pan twice, yes twice before moving on to other things in Fantasyland. Fantasyland was a ghost town both mornings! We stayed and rode all of what we wanted there and then around 7:40-7:45 we headed to Star Tours where the wait was only 20 minutes. DH and DS's got in line to ride and I got in the line to get Fastpasses. If I had to guess I would say that I was probably 30 or so people back in the line and I was able to get return times of 8:45 am both mornings.

DH and DS's were off the ride just in time for park opening and for us to hit Buzz and then get the heck out of the mess of people in Tomorrowland! By the time we got off of Buzz the wait time for ST was 75 minutes! Oh and they do not open the Fastpass machines for ST until park opening. They don't even open the line until around 7:45-7:50.

If you have MM I say don't fret about getting in line for Star Tours until 7:45 or so and if possible have one person stay off and get in the Fastpass line to retrieve Fastpasses for the whole group. At least that way most of your party will be able to ride it twice.

Hope this helps some of you!

GaSleepingBeautyFan - FP's were out by 10am for Star Tours all 3 days of our trip. The other 2 half days we didn't get to the park until nearly noon so we don't know what time they ran out.

Get those ST FP's first if you want to ride it!

More to come.

 

[Hound 109]

SpaceMania

So lets say i got a fast pass at 10am for Star Tours, and my return time was 5. Could i get another STAR TOURS fastpass at noon? or would i have to get one for a different ride?


Hydroguy's response

In your case you could get a FP for any other DL ride at Noon (2 hours after the 10AM FP distribution) but not for ST until 5PM - at which time they would be gone for the day.

Great info from Piglet:

Piglet99645 - Copying this from my trip report because I think it's good to know:

My 10 yo was dying to see the "rope drop" for some reason.

We couldn't motivate everyone else early enough, so I ran over to the park with him about 1/2 hour before opening. We managed to make our way through the stores as far as they would let us go.... and out into main street.

He then managed to snake his way through the crowd up to the rope. I didn't want to be obnoxious, so I stayed back. There were probably 150 people between us, but I could see him, and he's a smart kid.

He came back and told me that they told the people up front (as if this crowd of thousands could hear these directions) that if you wanted to do Star Tours you had to follow a cast member immediately to the right at rope drop.

I told him OK, and that if we got separated that he should wait for me.

So they dropped the rope and it was a stampede!! One lady fell down but she was ok.

And they were not kidding. The line for Star Tours started right in front of the Plaza Inn!!!! They had it roped off so you could barely go more than single file, and I think this was wise. It kept people from building up too much speed.

I was totally separated from my son and starting to panic a little as I went through the STar Tours line. After about 10 minutes I got to the front, and there he was, with the CM, waiting for me!!! Good boy!!

We rode the ride together and it was GREAT! Loved the improvements. I didn't know it was 3D!

We got off and promptly got 2 Fastpasses for later so the rest of our party could go. If we had not gotten up, been at rope drop, ridden the ride and gotten FP's right away, we would not have done this ride this trip. The wait got up to 120 minutes.

I think FP's were sold out by 9:30.

Some people did get FP's first thing and got on the ride even before I did.

It's a great ride but I wouldn't wait for two hours for anything.

& here's a link with 12 responses to Piglet's post:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2744810


more to come.

 

[Hound 109]

Dash&Maggie - We just returned from our first DL trip and would highly recommend using your two extra fast passes for Star Tours if this is an attraction that you and your family are interested in doing. The standby lines were absolutely nuts with wait times up to 130 minutes while we were there. Unless you get fastpasses from the attraction first thing in the morning, you will be out of luck. They were gone by 11:30 just about every day we were there.

On a side note, Star Tours was a lot of fun and a very cool upgrade from it's previous state (I've only ridden the DHS version). Look for the hidden mickey on the video screen in the waiting queue!

Mrs.MD310 - Here's my experience with times:
We were there Sat June 11, AP holders,
We arrived about 8:30, got into line for ST and waited 45 minutes,
Then after, picked up the FP for 6:30 return.

And YES, it was awesome.

Star Tours "Soft Opening" review from Huff:

Got to ride Star Tours Soft Opening

Last Friday the 27th we got to ride the new Star Tours. It was open on and off during the day.

This was a badly needed update to give an old ride new life. Preshow was also updated. While we did enjoy it and glad Disney updated it I still feel its pretty much the same ride experience. Simulators just don't have much wow factor to them for me but the update certainly is a plus!

Also got to ride the new Little Mermaid. Very enjoyable for young kids but our 12yr old was bored!

And lots of responses to Huff's review in this link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2730944

ArchOwl (from June 1 soft opening) - Just back from the parks and wanted to update that on Monday, May 30th, Star Tours was soft open to all guests with FP machines turned on. DH and I got FPs at 8:01am and continued to get FPs as soon as available. All FPs were gone for this ride by 1pm. This was with SoCal Select APs blocked.

Awesome ride, totally on another level from the original. We ended up riding it 5 times that day (3 FP and 2 standby). Would have kept riding, too, but we ran out of park time!

Space had FPs that day until almost 8pm, which I thought was pretty unusual. I was glad that we rode Star Tours that day because the 31st was AP previews so no way we could ride (since not AP holders).

Therefore, I am going to say that Star Tours will be the FP to get early. If you don't care about multiple ST rides then:
1. ST
2. SM
3. Splash (in the summer)
4. Indy
5. BTMRR

It was kinda ridiculous how deserted Indy was that day. In the evening, Indy was 25 minute stand by with FPs available well past 8pm, which was good because we had used all our valuable FP morning collection time to get ST FPs!

Child Swap info for Star Tours 2.0 in this link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2731879



Star Tours Grand Opening Thread (from Skiingfast). Lots of comments:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2733405



Star Tours Grand Opening Second Thread from Liat. (3-5 hour lines during the first couple of days ) & lots of comments:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2733476



Star Tours FP Discussion thread from June 6th:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2734517



Excellent "Disney Special Hotel FP" Discussion Thread & Review from The Donut:

I think the best use is Star Tours. On Monday, a non magic morning day, they had the fastpass line available for hotel fast passes right at the open. Since regular fastpasses aren't issued yet, this meant pretty much no waiting. So a good strategy would be to line up at rope drop on a non magic morning day and make a bee line for Star Tours fastpass line with your hotel fastpass in hand. This is significantly different than the standby line, which on Monday started by the corn dog wagon. In fact, it may be best to send one person to check if the fastpass line is open before you commit to getting out of the standby line. We did go for Sunday's MM, but it didn't seem like the fastpass line was open during MM. On a MM, best to get there about 20-30 minutes early so you can be one of the first people on. Of course, I add the disclaimer that the way they operate the hotel fastpass could change at any time. We checked the fastpass wait on Sunday evening about a half an hour before the fireworks, and it was around 45 minutes. It's not altogether a bad thing to wait in at least the queue inside the building, as it's thoughtfully done, and there are lots of interesting things to see.

For us, we didn't use the special fastpasses on Little Mermaid at all as the ride was open for hotel guests starting at 9am (for a 10am open, need to show a room key), and the ride was a walk-on until around 9:30am when they started letting non-resort guests onto the ride. So unless you can't get over to DCA by 9am, I would save the special fastpass for other rides. The special fastpass is definitely worth using if you can't get there by 9:30, at least it was this weekend. The line looped through the paradise pier WOC viewing area and had multiple switchbacks. Very exposed and was running 2+ hours throughout a lot of the day. I doubt that will continue the whole summer though. It's a very fast loader and doesn't make you want to ride it over and over again like the Star Tours ride with it's different scenario possibilities. We all did think it was very cute and rode it a couple of times. When the line dies down, we'll probably ride it every DCA visit.

& many responses to The Donut's review (& his recommended use of Special Hotel FPs) found in this link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2735721




Still need comments on all things Star Tours from the troops on the ground. Feel free to post your experiences from this week (or from this weekend).

Thanks.

 

[helenb]

I have a question (actually relating to the ride, and not to the FPs or lines, for once). I recall the old version of the ride as being very jerky. Given how old it was, this wasn't a surprise. My question is, has the ride 'smoothed out' given the upgrade? I have a friend who wants to ride, but only if it is a 'smooth' ride and he isn't jerked around.

 

[AndyLL]

I have a question (actually relating to the ride, and not to the FPs or lines, for once). I recall the old version of the ride as being very jerky. Given how old it was, this wasn't a surprise. My question is, has the ride 'smoothed out' given the upgrade? I have a friend who wants to ride, but only if it is a 'smooth' ride and he isn't jerked around.

I'm sitting in John Wayne airport after a 5 day trip.

I rode ST 6 times.

The 1st thing I noticed is that it is much smoother. We never sat in the very back which was always worst in the old one but I believe it's much smoother everywhere.

It is crazy busy over there... like main street after fireworks. They have crowd control CMs enforcing one way traffic.

Every one of our rides we had the same beginning ( which really disappointed my son )

We had 3 different middles and usually the same ending with one that was different.

We only had 2 out of 6 rides that were the same. They have CMs at the exit that quiz some of the riders about what parts they saw. That tells me it really is random and they are still tweaking it.

The first room of the queue is nicer... just a little more going on but not hugely changed.

The 2nd room of the queue changed quite a bit and and at 1st I didn't like it. I loved the old G2 fixing droids, going a little wacky and then being shut down.

However it grew on me. The G2 is still a little wacky scanning luggage now. Even though we rode it 6 times, and the queue is always stop and go, it seemed we never were stopped in front of that G2.

The 2nd G2 had a bigger role then in Star Tours V1.0.

There is also a bigger show on the white screen between the two G2s.

As a huge star wars IV fan I miss the collection of different droids and droid parts ( some of them are still there on the right side... including Capt. Rex with a 'defective' tag on him ) but the new queue is more entertaining.

Fastpasses go crazy fast. About a hour after opening the fastpass return time is changing ever 5 minutes. They are typically gone 2-3 hours after opening.

Remember... you can return any time after the fastpass return time ( ignore the 2nd part of the window ) and you can get a new fastpass no later then 2 hours after you get your star tours fastpass.

Star tours has definitely affected the other E ticket rides. Today ( friday the 24th ) we got our ST fastpasses at about 9:30 and our Indy FP around 12. Our Indy FP had an earlier return time.

All in all they've done an excellent job on ST2.

Andy

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We were at DLR last week and experienced ST only once. On that day I sent the rest of the family to ride the Alice ride while I got ST FPs right at park opening. My return time was already opening at 4pm. The ride itself was very good, I liked it a whole lot more than the original ST. My son was the Rebel Spy on our ride, which delighted him very much.

The whole area around ST was horribly congested at all times during our stay

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

I was lucky enough to go on May 21st for the soft opening. How do you get picked to be Rebel Spy?

 

[skiingfast]

I held out on reading about, looking at picture or movies of the new ST. Awesome ride! It's almost like it's brand new and had never been on the attraction at all. Lots of clapping when it ends. Despite massive lines for this attraction CMs were happy and having fun with the guests.


Did notice, FPs run out fast, line builds quickly. Took about 10 minutes to get a FP. Got my FP at 8:12 for a return of 10am to 11am. In the 10 minutes, on Tuesday a MM day, stand by went from 45 minutes at 8am to 80 minutes at 8:15am. FP return at 11am(had heard that were enforcing the return window, but later asked CM and he said it is not being enforced), FP return line took about 10 minutes.

At night the FP return line was taking 25 minutes, as was Space Mountain because of all the people holding onto FPs for later. This had a lot of people turning away from using their FPs.

One very important remark regarding using GACs on ST. You are only allowed to use your GAC once on ST per day. They will mark your GAC with the date. This is to allow as many people as possible to ride at least once on thier visit. Also at night(didn't see this during the morning or day) when the FP return line was long all GAC holders had to use that FP return line too. Saw many people with GACs complain about having to wait 25 minutes with the FP people.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I was lucky enough to go on May 21st for the soft opening. How do you get picked to be Rebel Spy?

Not sure how he got picked. Maybe it was where we were seated (near center of the middle row) or maybe it was his Goofy hat.

 

[helenb]

One very important remark regarding using GACs on ST. You are only allowed to use your GAC once on ST per day. They will mark your GAC with the date. This is to allow as many people as possible to ride at least once on thier visit. Also at night(didn't see this during the morning or day) when the FP return line was long all GAC holders had to use that FP return line too. Saw many people with GACs complain about having to wait 25 minutes with the FP people.

What is a GAC? If I dont' know, is this something I should be concerned about?

 

[stubby]

I was lucky enough to go on May 21st for the soft opening. How do you get picked to be Rebel Spy?

From what I hear it is completely random as I have talked to people who have sat in different spots. Some in last row some in middle...etc.

 

[Nik's Mom]

What is a GAC? If I dont' know, is this something I should be concerned about?

GAC= guest assistance card for those with disabilities.


If we are not eligible for mm, then it sounds like we should avoid mm days then, since those people would get to star tours first. I'm just trying to decide, should we ride first then get a fp or vice versa?

 

[robinjh7]

If we are not eligible for mm, then it sounds like we should avoid mm days then, since those people would get to star tours first. I'm just trying to decide, should we ride first then get a fp or vice versa?

I'm trying to decide that same thing! Although if the standby line builds that quickly on Magic Mornings, I'm thinking we probably should just get in it first and then get FPs. Two of our three days at the park next week are MMs (which we are not eligible for).

I'm still waiting to hear from someone if it makes them sick or not. The old one always made me woozy. I could go two or three years and then ride it again and remember why I didn't ride it every time.

Does anyone have any experience riding it who gets motion sick?

 

[helenb]

GAC= guest assistance card for those with disabilities.

Thank you!

 

[Sephrina]

DD's step-sister gets motion sickness. She took medication so she could enjoy the rides at DL. ST was the only one she felt sick on. She liked it, but once was enough.

 

[Hound 109]

Here's a link discussing Star Tours FP return Line times. (the first couple of weeks). Yes....I'm talking about a line for those who have FPs.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2735652&page=2


It sounds like the FP return lines are longer in the late afternoon & evening. (Also after the Fireworks or other nighttime events end).

Possibly best to use the FPs in the late morning or early afternoon. Or if there's a 15+ min. line when you stop by, just try again later.

 

[pudinhd]

I have a question for those of you that have had Magic Morning access... I have heard a lot about getting Fast Passes right after the rope drop, but I don't think I have heard anything about anyone riding ST during the hour before the park opens to the public. According to Disney, it is a ride that is open. Does anyone have any info to share?? Thank you!!!

 

[rbbs]

We got on this ride a couple days ago without much trouble and we all liked it...Not even close to our favorite ride at the park though. May not be worth spending time lining up for etc. if that is the case.

 

[Butterfly123]

We just got back from a five day trip. I rode ST once, because while I loved it, it made me feel sick, as did the old one. The rest of my family went on it six times. They were able to see all the different beginnings, middles, ends, and tour guides. It sounds as if they were lucky to do so. They would line up to see the ride at park opening, and after the first time, I would go get passes for them to ride again later in the day. I don't think they ever waited more than 40 minutes in line without the FP's. The FP line moved very quickly. The standby line seemed to vary between 45 to 55 most other times we walked by going through Tomorrowland. Theyalways used the FP's by the afternoon, to avoid the evening crowds. When the park first opened, the line for ST was on the sidewalk on the Tomorrowland side of Main Street. I don't know if it was open for MM, because on our MM day we went to Fantasyland.