Visiting from UK in Aug - Advice on G.E. pls!

[bradjuk]

Hey all, my first post on the boards

I just wanted to ask for some advice.
I’m visiting Disneyland from the UK with my boyfriend in August. I am a Disney lover and theme park enthusiast but my boyfriend can take it or leave it. I have been dragging him along for years to Disney parks but Galaxy’s Edge is the first theme park experience he is genuinely excited to visit. So we just had to book to come out and see it as soon as we can. We arrive in Anaheim on August 21st and are staying for 4 nights. Sort of hoping the initial hysteria may have died down by then (wishful think perhaps!).

We’ve bought our 3 day park hopper tickets from a British attraction ticketing website called attractiontix, they have the best price (cheaper than buying direct from Disney) but the compromise is that they don't provide gate-ready tickets. Instead they provide a unique voucher which we have to exchange at the kiosk when we arrive at Disneyland on our first day, for our gate ready park tickets. This is all fine, we’ve done it before and it’s all above board.

But... and this is where the advice comes in... as far as Disney are concerned we aren’t yet holders of admission tickets for those dates. I’m worried that if Disneyland decide extend the reservation system for Galaxy’s edge then we won’t be able to actually make a reservation because we don’t officially have any park tickets that we can link to the Disney app or website to make reservations against.

What does everyone generally think is the likelihood of being turned away from Galaxy’s Edge around the 21st August or worse, Disneyland Park entirely, due to unprecedented crowds? Do we think Disney are likely to extend the reservation system into late August?

Just really nervous that anything might spoil this trip for us, and I want to plan ahead as much as I can to make it perfect. Any tips would be hugely appreciated. If we can’t get into Galaxy’s Edge for any reason then the whole trip isn’t really worth it, as we’ve built our whole vacation around it, and we’re coming all the way from the UK!

In writing this I’m sort of realising I should’ve probably not cheaped out on the tickets and bought them direct from Disney

Thanks in advance for any thoughts all.

Brad

 

[BadPinkTink]

waves hi, Im from Ireland and been going to Disneyland California and the LA area every June since 2010. I get my gate ready tickets from Last Minute Travel Club, beats Disney prices by around $50 , might be a better option for you if you return

My park days this year are June 30, July 1 and July 2

Honestly, I wouldnt worry, Disney have repeatedly said no reservations needed after June 23.

However, they HAVE announced a virtual queue on the day system once Star Wars Galaxys Edge Land reaches capacity.

1. The virtual queue system will be announced both on the App and on monitors located near the entrance to Star Wars Galaxys Edge.
2. When they implement virtual queue system you will have to get a Boarding Pass, either through the App or from the kiosk.
3. The Boarding Pass will not have a return time.
4. You will be notified through the App or on the Digital Monitors of when your Boarding Time for Star Wars Galaxys Edge is.
5. Once your Boarding Time opens, you will have 2 hours to check in and enter Star Wars Galaxys Edge

As I am from Ireland, I usually keep my phone on Airplane Mode and turn on Wifi. However the Wifi in Disneyland California is not park wide. and I usually dont use my phone or the App in the park

I normally just use the free paper Fast Passes from the kiosk and dont use Max Pass

However this year, due to Star Wars Galaxys Edge, I am going to get an American prepay SIM card so that I can use data in the parks and use the App.

When I reach LA I am going to go to an AT&T shop and get a SIM card.

There are only 2 USA networks which are compatible with our European phones, AT&T and TMobile. You need to check on their website if your phone is compatible and you need to have an unlocked phone.

You will need to go to the phone shop in America as , even though they have a Buy Online option on the websites, they only post to America, they do not post to Europe.

Im sure there are other options , ie Amazon but I just feel safer buying direct from the phone shop in America.

 

[DisMomMT]

I think you should be fine. Even the reservation system for May 31 - June 23 for the general public didn't require you to have a ticket yet to make a reservation. Also, Disney has announced they are planning to use a "virtual queue" after the reservation period ends to control crowds into the land so it is unlikely they will extend the reservation period. The virtual queue as it is being described would just be something you would join after you are already in the parks, so again no concerns with not having tickets in advance.

 

[Lauren in NC]

They've been very clear about the reservation system, so I think you'll be fine.

Just a note - the Deluxe pass summer blackout ends on August 19th, so it might be busy. I think as long as you're prepared for crowds and have a plan in place, you'll be fine! If you're looking at getting MaxPass, there's at least one thread on here with tips from UK folks on getting cheap SIM cards. The free Disneyland access is awful.

 

[bradjuk]

Thanks for taking the time to write these replies, super appreciated!! I’m so glad I came here and asked for advice. I never would have thought of the US sim and it’s a great suggestion - i’m 100% doing that! Can’t wait for August now

 

[sjmac42]

If you arrive the night before your first day at DL, I’d also exchange the vouchers at the ticket booths then so you can just go straight to the turnstiles with your tickets.
All the best.