Star Wars the Least Stressful Way

[KatieCharlotte]

I used to be a Disney expert, but I haven't been in a decade. (For many reasons including avoiding stressful planning.) I'm going to be visiting the area with a huge Star Wars fan adult who has never been to any theme park. He finds lines and crowds stressful and is not a morning person. But he also wants to be done by 8 p.m., though I will stay to closing. We're doing chill days at Universal with a good deal on an express pass hotel, but we'd really like a Disney Star Wars day on Monday, Jan 13. Hopefully lower crowds.

What do you recommend and how hard would it be to get a RotR lightning lane spot? And Smugglers and I assume easy Star Tours? I understand that I need the multi and single. I'm thinking of staying a night at a Disney hotel (budget or maybe moderate). Maybe Caribbean Beach. Will it be difficult to book RotR just 7 days ahead? If it is, what else should we do? How long would it take to Uber from Universal hotel to Disney hotel, leave bags, and get to the park? I assume early entry will likely be 8:30? Would it be worth it to stay two days, which means being hotelless Sunday afternoon when we want to relax? What other tips will make the day more fun and less stressful - maybe a meal reservation?

Help! Everyone I know who has gone recently had a disability pass or VIP tour, which we can't afford without a group! Make me love Disney again.

 

[dawnball]

I think you'll be ok. RotR is single pass and smuggler's run is a tier 1, so I'd try to load those up first. Star tours is both a tier 2, and usually has a short line. Right now, at 9:45 on a Sunday morning, it has a 5 minute wait and it's fun to re-ride because you get different sequences.

If you watch Thrill Data https://www.thrill-data.com/lightning-lane they show future lighting lane availability. It looks like at 3 days out you'd be hoping for a cancellation (which does happen, and is much more likely to pop up for a party of 2), but at 6 and 7 days out there's availability in the afternoons/evenings. Smuggler's and Star tours both have same-day availability right now.

Early entry is likely to be at 8:30am, and people will be lined up to be let in before 7:30, with the gates probably opening ~ 8:00-8:15, and then you can go line up at your first attraction. Just make sure you find the lines that are for early entry, because Hollywood Studios checks eligibility at the tapstyles.


I think that how stressful things are depends on what else you want to do, but lots of people like a mid-day air conditioning break.

 

[SkyGuy]

I used to be a Disney expert, but I haven't been in a decade. (For many reasons including avoiding stressful planning.) I'm going to be visiting the area with a huge Star Wars fan adult who has never been to any theme park. He finds lines and crowds stressful and is not a morning person. But he also wants to be done by 8 p.m., though I will stay to closing. We're doing chill days at Universal with a good deal on an express pass hotel, but we'd really like a Disney Star Wars day on Monday, Jan 13. Hopefully lower crowds.

What do you recommend and how hard would it be to get a RotR lightning lane spot? And Smugglers and I assume easy Star Tours? I understand that I need the multi and single. I'm thinking of staying a night at a Disney hotel (budget or maybe moderate). Maybe Caribbean Beach. Will it be difficult to book RotR just 7 days ahead? If it is, what else should we do? How long would it take to Uber from Universal hotel to Disney hotel, leave bags, and get to the park? I assume early entry will likely be 8:30? Would it be worth it to stay two days, which means being hotelless Sunday afternoon when we want to relax? What other tips will make the day more fun and less stressful - maybe a meal reservation?

Help! Everyone I know who has gone recently had a disability pass or VIP tour, which we can't afford without a group! Make me love Disney again.

Well, the 13th is the day after the Disney Marathon, so I don’t think you’ll find lower crowds - but there are never really lower crowds in Disney anymore. We always go in January and arrive on marathon Sunday, which is not ideal traffic-wise, but it’s doable. The crowds are still around on Monday - you’ll see loads of people wearing their medals, but they aren’t holiday level crowds. If you have a plan, you should be fine. If staying a night on property, I don’t think you’ll have any issue buying the single pass for RotR, it’s not as manic as it used to be. You should easily get an LLMP for Smuggler’s, and there’s a single rider line as well that never has too long a wait, but you’ll likely get engineer (which is my favorite spot because you can actually relax and watch as opposed to frantically trying to follow directions). Star Tours is our favorite SWs ride, and it rarely has more than a 15 minute wait. There is a FB group for sharing VIP Tours if you want to see if others are going during the same time, but when sharing a VIP Tour you need to all agree on a plan, and I doubt you’d be able to spend time taking in Galaxy’s Edge, and a VIP Tour def wouldn’t be good financial sense, imo, just for the Star Wars area.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d book one night to guarantee ROTR SPLL. In this case I’d go Pop to save some dough since it’s also on the Skyliner and I don’t think transferring skyliners at CBR is a big deal. Pick the earliest time you can get for ROTR, the thing breaks down constantly so that way you have a shot at riding later in the day. MPLL will assure Smugglers & Star Tours at the time you want them.

I’d allow 90 mins to leave UOR, drop bags and get to the park. You should be able to do it in an hour but I like to be safe.

Look at the menus for the restaurants and pick what looks good for lunch. I find Table Service to be far more relaxing than quick service. And don’t forget an ADR for a drink at Oga’s, it’s far easier to get than it used to be so I would book this after you book your LLs (the system won’t show you LL times that cross over your ADRs when initially booking LLs).

 

[hes122]

Smugglers Run has a single rider option if you don't care about a specific seating option.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Thanks for this info. Disboards are what I miss about Disney planning.

I figured out that the marathon was why hotels are very limited Sunday night but available Monday.

I was leaning toward Caribbean instead of Pop Century because of Skyliner travel time in the morning and ease at the end of the night when I'm alone, but if that's not much different, I'd rather spend the extra money elsewhere.

 

[Skippyboo]

Pop/AoA to CBR on the Skyliner is a short trip on the Skyliner. CBR is a huge resort and the Skyliner station is in the corner so if you’re not in Jamaica section that is by the Skyliner you have a bit of a hike.

If you’re buying the LL for Rise, then probably don’t need to rope drop. Star Tours doesn’t really get a long wait. I would make an adr for Oga’s Cantina

 

[KatieCharlotte]

We're saving $120 by staying at Pop Century and spending that on the single and multi LL, which will be worth it just so I don't get too worried about rope dropping after moving hotels. My daughter advised that if we do make it there early, we should enjoy the Star Wars area without crowds when everyone else gets in lines. And repeat Smugglers in the single rider line. I am very reassured by the thrill data that I should be able to get afternoon times for RotR seven days out without panicking at 7 a.m. that morning.