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LAKingSteve
Lurker
The next in likely a few changes to control crowds. I have a feeling this will be the wave of the future.
All Things:THEME PARKS
- Thread starter jerseydevil
- Start date
The next in likely a few changes to control crowds. I have a feeling this will be the wave of the future.
M
mmmcammy
Lurker
Anybody go to Galaxy's Edge yet? I went with my group on Saturday and I can't stop thinking about it.
We didn't get to go to the Cantina -- we all made a beeline there to put our names down but they close the line after a certain number of people because the reservations blocks are only 4 hours. We'll be doing to the Cantina for sure the next time we go, no matter how long it takes.
The reservation system was great. We went on the Millennium Falcon ride twice (I was an engineer and gunner and I actually liked being an engineer the most.) It allows you to pay more attention to the ride. My friends who piloted said they were so busy trying not to crash into things that they didn't really pay attention to any of the details. It's SUPER fun!
Overall, I loved it. It's crazy immersive and I totally forgot I was at Disneyland. It was jarring walking out and being on Main Street shortly after. It genuinely felt like we were on another planet.
I have no idea what crowds are going to be like once the reservations end, but I'll be going back as soon as possible. It was fabulous!
We didn't get to go to the Cantina -- we all made a beeline there to put our names down but they close the line after a certain number of people because the reservations blocks are only 4 hours. We'll be doing to the Cantina for sure the next time we go, no matter how long it takes.
The reservation system was great. We went on the Millennium Falcon ride twice (I was an engineer and gunner and I actually liked being an engineer the most.) It allows you to pay more attention to the ride. My friends who piloted said they were so busy trying not to crash into things that they didn't really pay attention to any of the details. It's SUPER fun!
Overall, I loved it. It's crazy immersive and I totally forgot I was at Disneyland. It was jarring walking out and being on Main Street shortly after. It genuinely felt like we were on another planet.
I have no idea what crowds are going to be like once the reservations end, but I'll be going back as soon as possible. It was fabulous!
R
roenick
Lurker
Looking to go to the one in WDW the weekend that it opens. We are hearing that they aren't doing the reservation thing there ... ugh! We will see if we can make it happen. The excitement is real but the reality of trying to get in there has made us think we won't be there for a few years, until the hoopla dies down ...
M
mmmcammy
Lurker
Yeah, that sounds like it's going to be a nightmare without the reservation system. I don't know why WDW isn't doing reservations...it's a great system. I kind of wish Disneyland would keep the reservation system for longer.
D
darby
Lurker
I have a friend who had an 8pm reservation on Saturday and he said the lines for everything were especially brutal. He also didn't get into the cantina.
I went last week and I have another appointment later this week. And yeah, it was great. The reservation system was awesome - in and all set up in less than 10 minutes. And because we had weekday 5pm reservations, we got in line for the land at about 4:45, and we were waiting in line (space wise) before the line went under the train bridge. I hear Saturday's line was out past Hungry Bear 30 minutes before the entry times.
Once inside, we headed straight for the cantina and we managed to get our name in by about 5:40. We were told that we should expect a text in about 90 minutes. Well, we got it after about 120 minutes, but the place was worth it. Fun music, decent Disney drinks (I got the Yub Nub [with Endor mug included], and a Gold Squardron lager), and the little details in the bar were outstanding. The old pilot from Star Tours was acting as DJ (with new voice recordings by Pee Wee Herman actor Paul Reubens), and it felt like I was in a corner keeping an eye out to avoid any... Imperial entanglements.
Speaking of Imperials... while I was in line for the cantina reservation, which is near the First Order base, Kylo Ren arrived on a shuttle and decided to look around the base with an escort of two stormtroopers. My friend, who was waiting in the line with me, was wearing a "Join the Resistance" t-shirt. While patrolling, one of the stormtroopers spotted her. He came up to her and said, "You just reconsider your allegiance, citizen!" Now pointing shortly for emphasis, "The First Order will soon rule the galaxy! ... We'll be keeping our eye on you...."
A few minutes later, we're in line for the milk. There are several registers, and near the front of the line is another "citizen," pointing out open registers to "visitors." Well, this citizen notices my friend's shirt. "Oh, wow! I can't believe you're wearing that here!" Leans in and whispers, "You might want to think about covering that up. I saw an Imperial patrol not too long ago. They won't like that." The stormtrooper patrol comes around a corner. "Look! There they are! With Kylo Ren! You're braver than I am!" And then a register came open and my friend got her milk.
And the attention to detail in the land overall was impressive, even going in with high expectations. You can't see anything outside the land once you're in, so you really are isolated. The ONLY exception was the spire for Big Thunder Mountain, but it fit in with the rest of the skyline, so, if anything, it added some depth to the land. Like there was more of the planet outside the outpost. And even the cash registers had themed overlays, with bulky buttons and cool screens.
We did Smugglers Run after getting our names in the cantina queue, so the wait was something like 45 minutes. But it worked out really well because, while the line moved, we had time to experience the line. A lot like the Indiana Jones ride, the line was designed to absorb people and give people things to notice while they waited. And then on board the Falcon! We got a group shot of us at the dejarik table, got to wander around a little bit, and then the frikkin' ride itself. I was the right pilot (no one else in our group wanted the responsibility), so I got to move the ship up and down, and work the hyperdrive controls. Goddamn amazing.
The rest of the time, we kinda wandered while waiting for our cantina time. Had the green milk (not a fan of the blueberry and melon flavors of the blue milk), got one of the themed Coke bottles, bought a sabaac deck, and got a lay of the land for our trip later this week. The shops are FILLED with awesome Star Wars stuff. Basically a droid store, a Jedi store, a First Order Store, and an Resistance store. And then a handful of shops in a covered market area - "pets" and games and outpost merch and such. I was so busy, I didn't even stop to really eat and check out Docking Bay 7.
I also really liked the way the land worked with the Disney Play app. It turns your phone into a datapad, and you can do all sorts of mini games as you wander around the land. So even if you're waiting for something, you have an activity to do. But it will drain the hell outta your battery.
But they seem to've knocked with outta the park, so to speak. I'm really looking forward to my next reservation and any of the other experiences I didn't do the first time. We're gonna build lightsabers and do shopping for some other things we saw last time.
The last day of the "soft opening" reservation period is June 23. After that, getting in is going to basically require a fast pass. When you enter the park, you go to the Disneyland app and request a reservation. It gives you an estimate, and when your time period comes up, you get a notification that you can enter the land any time in the next two hours. But it's subject to availability and capacity, so I'd imagine it'd be like getting a fast pass for Radiator Springs - impossible unless you're there first thing in the morning.
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jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Implements New Line System to Improve Guest Experiences
https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019...xys-edge-wait-times-long-line-system-changes/
https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019...xys-edge-wait-times-long-line-system-changes/
jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
Galaxy's Edge Has Had A Surprising Impact On The Rest Of Disneyland
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ci...a-surprising-impact-on-the-rest-of-disneyland
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ci...a-surprising-impact-on-the-rest-of-disneyland
ucsdguy1
Super Star
If I buy a ticket to Dland this summer and promise to NOT go to star wars land they should give me an all day fast pass....
Who am I kidding I already have 2 separate plans to return to sea world...
L
LAKingSteve
Lurker
Looks like they are doing AP previews for the top tier APs but no word on reservation system yet. Given the number of hotels and larger guest base, that may be far more challenging.
D
darby
Lurker
So, it took a few days for me to process the custom lightsaber experience at Savi's Workshop at Star Wars Land, and for those of you who might be curious, I wanted to say a bit about it (without too many spoilers).
First things first: If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
At $215.49 after taxes, it's not cheap. But then, neither is the saber. It's a good weight, with all of the custom parts being metallic. It has the whole range of sounds as you move it, and the LED blade you get is meant for "fighting." When your saber bashes something, it'll flash, etc. You also get the pin matched to your saber's type and a padded shoulder case for it on your way out for "free." So you get something for your money.
That being said, what you're really paying for the experience. And the experience... well, like the cave on Dagobah, you get what you take in with you.
As one can imagine from Disney, this process is choreographed to a tee. The main Gatherer who guides you through the process has a whole preset speech about the Force and the lightsabers as a symbol, the whole time the Star Wars theme is playing in the background. When he talked about the heart of the saber, the kyber crystal, he held one up as the music swelled. The lighting changed, Force ghosts visited, everything that happened had an in-story explanation. And everything *feels* like it has meaning. You can get drawn in pretty deep.
And the experience is a small group. No more than 14 people making a saber at a time, plus everyone is allowed one guest. The cool thing about this is that, during your time in there, you get to see what everyone else is doing. And with the price point being what it is, you're not gonna get a lot of "tourists" - people who don't care that much about Star Wars. The parts they choose, the color of their sabers, the looks on their faces. Each person is having their own time, even though you're in the same room. And, again, as they build theirs, you can see each decision they make means something to them.
But the key to it all, the more I thought about it, was the pacing.
For now, during this reservation period, you have to basically go there first thing when you enter the land to get your name in the virtual line. Once there, you decide what type you want (there are four styles) and you pay for it. They give you a return time, a color-coded group card, and a pin that matches the type you selected. Then you walk away.
This gives you some time to explore the land, get a blue milk, interact with the Batuuans or give some stormtrooper patrols a hard time. Whatever. But it also gives time to separate yourself from the two very Earthly decisions you'd just made - paying $200 for a really nice toy, and which style of saber you wanted. When you go back, having been re-immersed in the world, the experience is only about itself. You do wait a little outside of the shop before going in, and they ask you to make sure you're wearing your pin. And then, once you're inside, the experience starts.
And here's where I get back to the cave on Dagobah. There's plenty of time in the process for you to think. You don't have a saber part in front of you for at least five minutes once you're in there. They talk about sabers, reference characters, and there's a show. And during that time, when they mention things, you're recalling all of the connections you have to the franchise. I like that character. I remember that part. You begin bring your history with the franchise in, and you imbue the experience with that history. And no one else has your particular history, so no one else has exactly your experience.
When the time comes to select your crystal, they walk toward you with a cylinder where each crystal has it's own slot among all of the others, with all of the other colors mixed randomly. So as they approach you, you have to search for the color you want. So when your eye falls on a (in my case) blue crystal, THAT one sort of becomes YOURS. And when they are finally in front of you, you reach out to select that one specific crystal. YOUR crystal.
What's more, the process is seamless. Each step flows into the next, so you're never broken out of the story. The pin you wear tells them what style you selected, so when one of them approaches your table, they simply reach under and pull out the parts for your style. No discussion. No questions. The parts are just... there.
Like I said, you can get drawn in pretty deep. As deep as your connection to the Force... I mean franchise. One of the women in our group, probably in her late-20's, started crying during an early part and had to hug her friend. I can tell you for me, it was probably the closest thing I've had to a religious experience since I was 12 (I'm 41 now). I got the shakes a few different times.
And a tip of the cap to the 3 or 4 Gatherers in the room. They stay in character and always have a ready in-universe explanation for things. When design on my emitter didn't exactly line up with the design of the hilt piece I'd selected, the Gatherer explained, "Each of our pieces are handmade from scraps, so they don't always line up exactly." But then he went on, "I hear that, off planet, there's another scrap dealer who sells parts that can help with that. I think his name is... Lowe, and the part is called... a washer?"
Then when all's said and done, and you're ready to leave the shop, you're given a speech that draws you into the franchise and the land that really makes you feel a part of it.
There're videos out there where you can watch the entire process, and I'll post a few pictures of mine later. But anyway, if you're considering it at some point, I'd recommend you do it.
Heck, there is a very good possibility that I'll end up doing it again.
[edit]Here are a few pictures of the finished product:
- Pin for the "Protection and Defense" style saber
- Lightsaber on stand, with pin
- Lightsaber with blade ignited
First things first: If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
At $215.49 after taxes, it's not cheap. But then, neither is the saber. It's a good weight, with all of the custom parts being metallic. It has the whole range of sounds as you move it, and the LED blade you get is meant for "fighting." When your saber bashes something, it'll flash, etc. You also get the pin matched to your saber's type and a padded shoulder case for it on your way out for "free." So you get something for your money.
That being said, what you're really paying for the experience. And the experience... well, like the cave on Dagobah, you get what you take in with you.
As one can imagine from Disney, this process is choreographed to a tee. The main Gatherer who guides you through the process has a whole preset speech about the Force and the lightsabers as a symbol, the whole time the Star Wars theme is playing in the background. When he talked about the heart of the saber, the kyber crystal, he held one up as the music swelled. The lighting changed, Force ghosts visited, everything that happened had an in-story explanation. And everything *feels* like it has meaning. You can get drawn in pretty deep.
And the experience is a small group. No more than 14 people making a saber at a time, plus everyone is allowed one guest. The cool thing about this is that, during your time in there, you get to see what everyone else is doing. And with the price point being what it is, you're not gonna get a lot of "tourists" - people who don't care that much about Star Wars. The parts they choose, the color of their sabers, the looks on their faces. Each person is having their own time, even though you're in the same room. And, again, as they build theirs, you can see each decision they make means something to them.
But the key to it all, the more I thought about it, was the pacing.
For now, during this reservation period, you have to basically go there first thing when you enter the land to get your name in the virtual line. Once there, you decide what type you want (there are four styles) and you pay for it. They give you a return time, a color-coded group card, and a pin that matches the type you selected. Then you walk away.
This gives you some time to explore the land, get a blue milk, interact with the Batuuans or give some stormtrooper patrols a hard time. Whatever. But it also gives time to separate yourself from the two very Earthly decisions you'd just made - paying $200 for a really nice toy, and which style of saber you wanted. When you go back, having been re-immersed in the world, the experience is only about itself. You do wait a little outside of the shop before going in, and they ask you to make sure you're wearing your pin. And then, once you're inside, the experience starts.
And here's where I get back to the cave on Dagobah. There's plenty of time in the process for you to think. You don't have a saber part in front of you for at least five minutes once you're in there. They talk about sabers, reference characters, and there's a show. And during that time, when they mention things, you're recalling all of the connections you have to the franchise. I like that character. I remember that part. You begin bring your history with the franchise in, and you imbue the experience with that history. And no one else has your particular history, so no one else has exactly your experience.
When the time comes to select your crystal, they walk toward you with a cylinder where each crystal has it's own slot among all of the others, with all of the other colors mixed randomly. So as they approach you, you have to search for the color you want. So when your eye falls on a (in my case) blue crystal, THAT one sort of becomes YOURS. And when they are finally in front of you, you reach out to select that one specific crystal. YOUR crystal.
What's more, the process is seamless. Each step flows into the next, so you're never broken out of the story. The pin you wear tells them what style you selected, so when one of them approaches your table, they simply reach under and pull out the parts for your style. No discussion. No questions. The parts are just... there.
Like I said, you can get drawn in pretty deep. As deep as your connection to the Force... I mean franchise. One of the women in our group, probably in her late-20's, started crying during an early part and had to hug her friend. I can tell you for me, it was probably the closest thing I've had to a religious experience since I was 12 (I'm 41 now). I got the shakes a few different times.
And a tip of the cap to the 3 or 4 Gatherers in the room. They stay in character and always have a ready in-universe explanation for things. When design on my emitter didn't exactly line up with the design of the hilt piece I'd selected, the Gatherer explained, "Each of our pieces are handmade from scraps, so they don't always line up exactly." But then he went on, "I hear that, off planet, there's another scrap dealer who sells parts that can help with that. I think his name is... Lowe, and the part is called... a washer?"
Then when all's said and done, and you're ready to leave the shop, you're given a speech that draws you into the franchise and the land that really makes you feel a part of it.
There're videos out there where you can watch the entire process, and I'll post a few pictures of mine later. But anyway, if you're considering it at some point, I'd recommend you do it.
Heck, there is a very good possibility that I'll end up doing it again.
[edit]Here are a few pictures of the finished product:
- Pin for the "Protection and Defense" style saber
- Lightsaber on stand, with pin
- Lightsaber with blade ignited
Last edited by a moderator:
jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
Galaxy’s Edge smugglers make off with anything not nailed down in Disneyland’s new Star Wars land
https://www.ocregister.com/2019/06/...d-down-in-disneylands-new-star-wars-land/amp/
https://www.ocregister.com/2019/06/...d-down-in-disneylands-new-star-wars-land/amp/
D
darby
Lurker
It's a damn shame. Was there last night and even a ton of the merch is sold out (kyber crystals of any color, collectible mugs from the Cantina, etc), presumably because it's all on e-Bay.
That being said, I've been twice this week (Mon & Wed). After work the land has been open, no boarding passes or anything, and the crowds in there have been about... a 6.5/10.
Line for the Falcon hasn't been over 60 minutes. Rode it again on Monday and the wait was only half an hour.
And with the Play app, there's fun stuff do do around the land while you just walk around and have a Thermal Coke-nator.
jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
Have Disneyland fans finally reached their limit?
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/13/have-disneyland-fans-finally-reached-their-limit/amp/
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/13/have-disneyland-fans-finally-reached-their-limit/amp/
orpheus
The Dolphin Cares!
I am, um, impressed with how much Disneyland keeps on raising prices, and um, some hardcore peeps still continue to go. That's either passion or just some form of addiction, haha.
Bring back my beloved People Mover, Disneyland, and I'll pay twice the amount! cry:
jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
I am, um, impressed with how much Disneyland keeps on raising prices, and um, some hardcore peeps still continue to go. That's either passion or just some form of addiction, haha.
Bring back my beloved People Mover, Disneyland, and I'll pay twice the amount! cry:
Country Bear Jamboree and America Sings.
orpheus
The Dolphin Cares!
I remember Country Bear Jamboree! I liked that bear show.
I think I remember America Sings. Maybe.
I also remember Mission to Mars. Maybe that was a big deal when it opened, but when I went, I thought it was lame. Nobody gon' miss that.
Oh, and let's not forget the day they "closed" the Haunted Mansion. mhihi: harhar1:
skulllead
Prospect
I
Bring back my beloved People Mover, Disneyland, and I'll pay twice the amount! cry:
I second this request.
beedee
4th Line Rabble-Rouser
Can't remember if I posted here or not about going to Knott's Berry Farm this year. After giving up my Disneyland AP in 2017 (after 7 straight years) I decided to get a KBF "Gold Pass", which gives you unlimited access to KBF and Soak City. I've been around 10 times this year, so got my money's worth. However, the best part has been watching our 4 year old daughter interact with all the town folk during Ghost Town Alive. Those actors are so great at what they do, and take their time and interact with every kid that approaches them. One of the gals "Ms. Flora" that works in the Ghost Town Dress Shop was phenomenal with our daughter. She even danced with her throughout the entirety of the Hoe Down that takes place at 5:30pm as the Ghost Town Alive experience wraps up for the day. I was sure to send an email to their guest services commending the actress on how great she was.
Also of note, the "Summer Nights" events just wrapped up at KBF this passed weekend and just like Ghost Town Alive, our daughter had a blast. She didn't even want to go on any rides, she wanted to hangout by the stage and play the games they had out there and interact with the Summer Nights characters they had in the area as well. She loved the all girl band, The Suffragettes! I'm looking forward to taking her trick'or'treating at the Knott's Spooky Farm event they have for the kids on the weekends. Knott's Merry Farm is also a wonderful time with all of the decorations, tree lighting ceremony and "snow".
So far I have taken her to Soak City 3 times and she also really enjoys playing in "Gremmie Lagoon" as well as cruising around in the Lazy River. She upped her game and decided she was a big girl since Turing 4 and wanted to go to the deep end of the wave pool.
While I know KBF is not DL, they have really done A LOT to make our visits much more about just going on rides these days. And for $200 (Gold Pass + Parking) I have no hang ups about the cost. Seeing how much fun our daughter has had WITHOUT going on any rides puts a huge smile on my face. Now, the clientele can be a little dodgy at times, but thus far we haven't had any issues with stuff getting stolen. (I make sure to leaving NOTHING in our stroller when parking it). I do miss going to Disneyland (in my head) but I am not sure that I can deal with the crowds, and the $1,000+ price of an AP these days...I'd want a Signature level pass so I can go on Saturdays and not be blocked out of DL. Just a few years ago it was easy to "get your money's worth" with a high level AP at DL, but now I feel like I'd have to go around 20 times or so to get my money's worth with a Signature level AP. I'm pretty much relegated to going on the weekends.
Also of note, the "Summer Nights" events just wrapped up at KBF this passed weekend and just like Ghost Town Alive, our daughter had a blast. She didn't even want to go on any rides, she wanted to hangout by the stage and play the games they had out there and interact with the Summer Nights characters they had in the area as well. She loved the all girl band, The Suffragettes! I'm looking forward to taking her trick'or'treating at the Knott's Spooky Farm event they have for the kids on the weekends. Knott's Merry Farm is also a wonderful time with all of the decorations, tree lighting ceremony and "snow".
So far I have taken her to Soak City 3 times and she also really enjoys playing in "Gremmie Lagoon" as well as cruising around in the Lazy River. She upped her game and decided she was a big girl since Turing 4 and wanted to go to the deep end of the wave pool.
While I know KBF is not DL, they have really done A LOT to make our visits much more about just going on rides these days. And for $200 (Gold Pass + Parking) I have no hang ups about the cost. Seeing how much fun our daughter has had WITHOUT going on any rides puts a huge smile on my face. Now, the clientele can be a little dodgy at times, but thus far we haven't had any issues with stuff getting stolen. (I make sure to leaving NOTHING in our stroller when parking it). I do miss going to Disneyland (in my head) but I am not sure that I can deal with the crowds, and the $1,000+ price of an AP these days...I'd want a Signature level pass so I can go on Saturdays and not be blocked out of DL. Just a few years ago it was easy to "get your money's worth" with a high level AP at DL, but now I feel like I'd have to go around 20 times or so to get my money's worth with a Signature level AP. I'm pretty much relegated to going on the weekends.
jerseydevil
I'llPutPenniesOnYourEyes
EPCOT’s Upcoming Transformation Revealed in Images of New Rides and Attractions
http://collider.com/epcot-attractions-new-rides-images/#epcot-attractions-rides
http://collider.com/epcot-attractions-new-rides-images/#epcot-attractions-rides
D
Drop The Gloves
Lurker
Exactly! Knotts has been doing a lot to get those Disneyland Peeps over to Knotts. I love the meal plan where for $115 a person you get to eat twice a day and the portions are generous. It's also great for my 11 year old son to start riding the big boy coasters. I wish they had more land so they could expand. I was thinking they could start building a structure like DL on one of their many lots they have and then use the parking area around the hotel and expand.
