DHS Construction update thread (Read Post 1) Updated 8/21/19

[ErinsMommy]

Two rides. A family coaster themed to Slinky Dog and a spinner ride themed to the Alien Toys.

Looks like the Alien ride will be similar to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree in Cars Land.

I wouldn't be surprised if the coaster uses the swinging cars tech that 7DMT uses.

I just found a short 'video' -- thank you

 

[rteetz]

Star Wars land is vertical!

 

[Lee Matthews]

While it's been nice seeing it go vertical In California, I'm not likely to visit there so I'm mega excited to hear its vertical in Orlando

 

[rungoofy]

New notice of commencement for SWE:

• Project D - 1002 - Package 1 - Foundation & Structural Steel @ 394 Cypress Drive

 

[Dean Marino]

Day (about?) 360. DHS still dead .

 

[rungoofy]

New notice of commencement for SWE:

• Project D - 1004 Amendment 4 - Completion & DE/RE Package @ 384 Cypress Drive

 

[mshanson3121]

So, DH threw a bit of a curveball at me the other day and asked if maybe we could postpone our 2018 trip and instead wait until Star Wars Land opens. DH isn't a big theme park fan, but he does really want to see SWL. I told him I thought that we would go next summer and then maybe go again 2-3 years later to see it, maybe go for the 50th.

To which he replied, "Honestly? I think two trips is enough. I really don't feel like spending $15,000 on Disney vacations. It's enough what we'll spend on two! That money could go to other things."

*grumble, grumble*

Grumbling aside, I am willing to consider post poning until summer 2019, but I do have concerns about it, too. They are:

- We can only go in the summer. Do we even have an idea of the projected opening date? What are the chances of SWL even being open for summer 2019? And, when would we know for sure (as sure as we can get) what the realistic opening date will be?

- Given the insane crowds at Pandora's opening, just how bad will it be for SWL? Say it opens May or June 2019, how crowded do you realistically see it continuing to be in July or August?

I know there are no hard answers right now, but to me, these are things we really need to consider, because I am not willing to risk skipping out on 2018 if a) it's still not ready for summer or b) it's so crowded that we won't be able to enjoy it anyways. I'd rather try and take my chances on convincing him on a 3rd trip.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Nobody knows when Star Wars Land will open except in 2019. Could be January, could be December.

As for how insane the crowds will be, I don't care. I will go when Star Wars Land opens. A wild gundark couldn't drag me away!

As for your husband's request, consider the following: Hollywood Studios is basically half a park at this point. The entire back is closed off for the Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land work. Why go now when you can wait?

We went to Universal when Wizarding World was under construction. In hindsight, we should have waited. We never got back.

 

[mesaboy2]

I think crowds will be much worse and last longer than Pandora, and no way I would plan an expensive trip around such a vague schedule.

 

[mom2rtk]

How does he feel about crowds? I'd try hard to get it in before SWL opens. If you're not staying onsite, you'll be at a read disadvantage accessing the new SWL stuff anyway (hard to get FPs, no access to EMH).

 

[dbavis]

I think it's pretty unlikely that SWL is done by summer 2019. It just doesn't seem to be far enough along at this point unless they're going to kick it into a gear that we haven't seen them operate at previously.

 

[mshanson3121]

As for your husband's request, consider the following: Hollywood Studios is basically half a park at this point. The entire back is closed off for the Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land work. Why go now when you can wait?

We have young kids and for them HS is still a full day park, just as is. Also, when we go back (next summer), it is very likely that TSL will be open. Plus we're not just going for HS There's going to be many new things for us all to see and do. This is still primarily a trip for the kids, DH would just like to see SWL.

How does he feel about crowds? I'd try hard to get it in before SWL opens. If you're not staying onsite, you'll be at a read disadvantage accessing the new SWL stuff anyway (hard to get FPs, no access to EMH).

He really doesn't like them. I'm sure we would do a one night stay on property for the sake of getting 60 day FP+, but no we wouldn't have EMH etc... And yeah large crowds (shoulder to shoulder) just stresses him out and much as he loves Star Wars, he would NOT enjoy seeing it in crowds like that.

I know on our last trip we went leading up to July 4th. Crowd levels 8, a couple 9s. The mid-morning bottle neck by IASW and Tomorrowland drove him up the wall. But the rest of the time, he was okay in the wider open areas. Granted we also left around 12 or 1 when it was getting busy.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

No one knows for sure but from what I have read from others I would be surprised it SWL is open in WDW by summer of 2019 - maybe at DLR but not WDW. I think it is dangerous to plan around a projected opening time anyway. If the main thing for your next trip is SWL and you can only go in the summer, I would plan for summer of 2020

I think crowds for it will be absolutely insane - though I suspect they learned how popular these extra EMHs for Pandora have been and motivated people to stay on site so I suspect they will do something similar. I wouldn't be surprised if they figure out some hard ticketed event for the morning or something as well - so there will be ways to do to

 

[hes122]

Her'es another monkey wrench to throw at him. If you wait until 2019, will your kids be adults by Disney standards then?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We have young kids and for them HS is still a full day park, just as is. Also, when we go back (next summer), it is very likely that TSL will be open. Plus we're not just going for HS There's going to be many new things for us all to see and do. This is still primarily a trip for the kids, DH would just like to see SWL.

We have young kids too and between the stuff for them and the Star Wars stuff we found it easy to spend an entire day at DHS as is.

As for TSL - I believe they are supposed to reveal the opening date at D23 so maybe that would help with your plans if you know that will definitely be open by next summer (there is already track going in for the slinky dog coaster so I don't see why it couldn't be open by next summer, but who knows)

 

[mshanson3121]

I wouldn't be surprised if they figure out some hard ticketed event for the morning or something as well - so there will be ways to do to

I never thought of that. Yes, I could definitely see them doing that. I doubt that we could afford it.

Her'es another monkey wrench to throw at him. If you wait until 2019, will your kids be adults by Disney standards then?

We actually already have our tickets bought (Canadian deal). I bought adults for DH, myself and DS (who turns 10 this summer). DD will still be a child in 2019.

We have young kids too and between the stuff for them and the Star Wars stuff we found it easy to spend an entire day at DHS as is.

Yeah DH and the kids love Star Wars, so between Launch Bay, Star Tours, meet and greets, the evening show (basically everything Star Wars they'll want to do, lol) etc... plus all the other things they like, I don't see a problem with spending a full day there!

 

[cdnjason]

We won't know when SWL is set to open until D23 next month. But, rumors target it to open mid to late 2019. It's possible it doesn't open until 2020.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Maybe do WDW next year, then Disneyland after SWL opens there (still will be crazy crowds though), then WDW again for the 50th?

 

[GoofyMB]

I would expect Disney to throw a lot of money at the project to get SWL open by June 2019. I think Bob Iger will want this open before he leaves July 2, 2019. That being said, when it does open I think the crowds will be insane. 5 hour wait times for Pandora that few seemed excited for. I can't imagine what it will be like for Star Wars that people have been excited about from before it was even officially announced.

My suggestion is go now and enjoy everything else and then try to convince him to go back after everything is done.

 

[AngiTN]

Because SWL is so far off I would go ahead with my 2018 trip and plan a trip to see SWL later. Should let you skip the craze that will be opening

Nobody knows when Star Wars Land will open except in 2019. Could be January, could be December.

As for how insane the crowds will be, I don't care. I will go when Star Wars Land opens. A wild gundark couldn't drag me away!

As for your husband's request, consider the following: Hollywood Studios is basically half a park at this point. The entire back is closed off for the Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land work. Why go now when you can wait?

We went to Universal when Wizarding World was under construction. In hindsight, we should have waited. We never got back.

Where does this logic come from? What half of the attractions are closed? Acreage I'll give you, they did close off a lot of land. But there was very little to do back there. 1 show, 1 ride. That's all, right? How does loosing that go from a full day to half day?