READ POST 1 & 2 FIRST-Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group Planning and Information-*No Spoilers*

[dina444444]

My recommendation is if you are not going to head straight to tsl or falcon, go down sunset blvd. It’s less crowded and your not packed in like sardines.

 

[ACJT]

The flip side is that if you had gotten one of the first boarding groups to be called your relaxing breakfast might not have been that relaxing and you would have had to be back in the park within two hours.

The alternative is to put up with the crowd on Hollywood Boulevard for 20-30 minutes, see what boarding group you get, and then decide what to do next. If you get a group that is likely to board within an hour or two it might be better to hang around and not have to return to DHS later.

One of the challenges now is that most people made plans, including FPs, without knowing what the ROTR procedure would be. For example, on one day I have a FOP FP at about 12:30 PM. Ideally, I would get an early enough BG that I could get on and off ROTR and over to DAK in plenty of time for that. But a BG that’s likely to be called around noon would make that dicey.

The enter and leave immediately approach might work best if you are staying at one of the Epcot resorts so you could go back to the room and then make your decision where to go from there after seeing what BG you get.

Even if I had got an early Bg .,, 2 hours is more than enough time to go get bfast. Also, I also didn’t select “join boarding group” the very second it went red. While there is variables that can’t be controlled with the bg system, it worked exactly how I hoped. The key is that they give a generous return window.

 

[Miffy]

I may have the ability to do it but I do this because I want to. I don’t have to do this. I likely won’t do it forever either.

@rteetz--In case this wasn't clear, I meant that humorously. A direct quote from the hilarious Forky Asks a Question episode "What Is a Friend?"

 

[yulilin3]

Let's be fair - my disagreement that this is not the best system is not the same thing as calling it the worst. Yes - having an advance lottery might seem a lot like a FP. Just like a system that limits participants only to those that really want to ride seems a lot like a standby line. Since the beginning I've thought an all-day VQ (which requires guest flexibility) was odd with the advanced reservation system (highly structured) that Disney offers for everything else. Also odd that the mass drop at opening essentially forces everyone into a RD touring strategy. Yes - the VQ allows guests to do other things - assuming those other things are things you want to do and close by. Waiting in a VQ is still waiting - a guest is still tethered and their options are still limited (less than traditional standby but still limited).

I say this in the most DIS-friendly way possible: after reading plenty of these boards (and to your credit), you're one of Galaxy's Edge staunchest defenders and apologists. I get that you're there a lot (and have even seen you come in to live stream while I was sitting in Oga's). And that your daughter is a CM there (she was the boarding CM when I lucked out once with a solo ride on MFSR - much to my appreciation). You have your views and I wouldn't try to convince you otherwise. We can just respect that opinions will differ.

Back to the topic at hand: the reports from today seem to suggest something was really off. I thought our BG 121 was bad but seems we might've still been luckier than a lot of others who had similar connectivity issues.

I am a defender of the land and this system , i think it's the best way to offer a ride that it's not at 100% reliability. Once the attraction performs better then I'm sure fp and standby will be available, i just don't see another way to offer a slot that would be fair for everyon.
Im not negating people being upset or right down mad, obviously waking up early and having issues is not the best experience, all I'm saying is to expect problems. Im surprised the system has behaved so well until today, maybe it's the free dining offer that got the system clogged up

 

[rteetz]

@rteetz--In case this wasn't clear, I meant that humorously. A direct quote from the hilarious Forky Asks a Question episode "What Is a Friend?"

No worries!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

My recommendation is if you are not going to head straight to tsl or falcon, go down sunset blvd. It’s less crowded and your not packed in like sardines.

We went down Sunset and got a bench this AM. Pleasant spot that wasn’t all that packed.

 

[ACJT]

Exactly.

Plus the biggest issue IMO, app failure. Look what happened to multiple DISers who knew exactly how to successfully join BG this morning. It seems like such a waste to go through all that effort to get there early then possibly shut yourself out of a BG without much you can do because you left the park.
Leaving the park *can* work but I think it’s risky and definitely would not recommend it. Seems like it should be possible to just walk away from the major RD crowds once inside and wait it out.

I’m 2 for 2,tapping in leaving right away and getting the bg I want. I’d rather be competing for cellular bandwidth or WiFi bandwidth away from a large mass of people trying to accomplish the same thing. Also, since I have multiple days planned at Hs I was not worried about things going awry one day. I’m now sitting pool side having enjoyed a relaxing bfast. I have a nice day planned with rotr (sometime this aft) and three Fp‘s waiting ready to go this aft as well. I like making Disney Days as relaxing as possible. (Ya I know that’s kinda an oxymoron)

 

[ShadeDK]

Guys - I'm reading through both of your sagas this morning from a thousand miles away and I am just so sorry that THIS is the best Disney could offer you this morning. After all of the preparations, the reading, to be dealt this hand is just crazy to me. I know both of you are going to try your hardest to make the best of your day but I also want to acknowledge that it's ok for you be upset and to vent frustrations! I'm sure I speak for hundreds of others reading this thread each day when I say that too!

I know these words provide little solace but I felt it just needed to be said that your frustrations and feelings are justified. Thousands of Dollars, Hours of Prep, and your vacation is left to a lottery system that was tampered with via an IT crap-fest. I hope the ride performs well and that both of you are able to experience this ride today!

I was legitimately shocked when I saw the number. I wasn’t expecting to be in the first few dozen. Or even below 60-70. But over 100 in the first few minutes was still a jolt with diminished expectations. One of my kids may have started crying (at which point I reminded them it’s only a ride and we’ll be back. It may also have been more getting up at 5:45 and being tired).

 

[mom2rtk]

So how does the crowd split up and move once everyone gets their BP's? We're thinking of heading to ToT/RnR but there's still a piece of me wanting to head toward SDD. Would I regret that?

 

[wisblue]

Even if I had got an early Bg .,, 2 hours is more than enough time to go get bfast. Also, I also didn’t select “join boarding group” the very second it went red. While there is variables that can’t be controlled with the bg system, it worked exactly how I hoped. The key is that they give a generous return window.

Are you staying at an Epcot resort?

 

[ACJT]

Are you staying at an Epcot resort?

No. Offsite

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

So how does the crowd split up and move once everyone gets their BP's? We're thinking of heading to ToT/RnR but there's still a piece of me wanting to head toward SDD. Would I regret that?

It sounds like if you are there 45-60 minutes before open, head to the far end of the street, and walk briskly once rope drop hits, you won't regret it. You'll probably be on an and off SDD in 15-30 minutes. If you arrive later than that, you might find yourself in a 45-60+ minute line. In my mind, a 60+ minute line at 7 or 8am is the stuff regrets are made of. I don't want to define what regrets are to you though, lol!

 

[Minnie368]

The advantage was that we could leave , have a relaxing bfast and then have 2 hours to get back once out bg was called. We returned around 11am, rode RotR then had lunch and blue and yellow milk, then used our pre booked afternoon fast passes.

So overall it worked to our advantage ...not trying to stress with the rope drop crowd ...relaxing bfast ....convenient return time to ride RotR then enjoy the rest of our preplanned day.

We're thinking of trying this on Monday. Originally had planned to RD Epcot and now thinking we may try to tap in then exit and head to Epcot for morning EMH at 8. Ideally we'd prefer a later boarding group sometime after 11:30 because we have a breakfast ADR and a FP+ we want to use, but beggars can't be choosy. Did you attempt to get your BG right at 7 or did you wait a couple minutes? Obviously anything can happen and if we would happen to get an early BG we'll absolutely take advantage of it.
Also want to say I don't post on this board a lot but it has been my #1 Disney planning resource for so many trips! I appreciate everyone who takes the time to post such helpful information. I do try to answer questions but it seems anytime I read a question I can answer I look and 2 or 3 people have already answered it! We will be going to DHS a few days next week and I'll be sure to post our experience.

 

[mom2rtk]

It sounds like if you are there 45-60 minutes before open, head to the far end of the street, and walk briskly once rope drop hits, you won't regret it. You'll probably be on an and off SDD in 15-30 minutes. If you arrive later than that, you might find yourself in a 45-60+ minute line. In my mind, a 60+ minute line at 7 or 8am is the stuff regrets are made of. I don't want to define what regrets are to you though, lol!

I totally agree with the bold. Thanks! I'll likely have to decide based on when we get there.

 

[ACJT]

We're thinking of trying this on Monday. Originally had planned to RD Epcot and now thinking we may try to tap in then exit and head to Epcot for morning EMH at 8. Ideally we'd prefer a later boarding group sometime after 11:30 because we have a breakfast ADR and a FP+ we want to use, but beggars can't be choosy. Did you attempt to get your BG right at 7 or did you wait a couple minutes? Obviously anything can happen and if we would happen to get an early BG we'll absolutely take advantage of it.
Also want to say I don't post on this board a lot but it has been my #1 Disney planning resource for so many trips! I appreciate everyone who takes the time to post such helpful information. I do try to answer questions but it seems anytime I read a question I can answer I look and 2 or 3 people have already answered it! We will be going to DHS a few days next week and I'll be sure to post our experience.

first day I waited about 30 seconds. Got bg 63

today I waited a couple mins...got 117

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was legitimately shocked when I saw the number. I wasn’t expecting to be in the first few dozen. Or even below 60-70. But over 100 in the first few minutes was still a jolt with diminished expectations. One of my kids may have started crying (at which point I reminded them it’s only a ride and we’ll be back. It may also have been more getting up at 5:45 and being tired).

I wasn’t crying, but I was the one in our family with a post-BG hangry “moment” where I was all up in my feelings for a bit. Jolt is the right word. It all happened so quickly and the app not working was instant helplessness.

In retrospect I guess I should have positioned myself next to a GET team as was recommended, but not sure if that would have helped in those few minutes of chaos?

Good luck today.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I totally agree with the bold. Thanks! I'll likely have to decide based on when we get there.

I'm stuck in the same situation for our Late Jan trip. Not sure I want to invest the time necessary to ride MF:SR with a low wait in the morning, BUT I would love to watch Fantasmic and SW Galactic Spectacular (one each night we are there) so I'm not sure riding later is a good plan either. I gotta go spend 3 hours debating this again now...

 

[Minnie368]

A question for those who have been there since the ride opened... Do you find RD crowds are heavier than they were before because so many people are coming early to get a BG? We have always used RD to take advantage of the shorter morning lines, but it seems like wait times even right after opening have been really high. Do you think maybe the park is more empty later in the day now once everyone who got there so early has gotten their ride in and headed out of the park for the day? I'm thinking that for one of our DHS days maybe we won't try to get a BG and we'll RD another park and hop over after lunch...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

A question for those who have been there since the ride opened... Do you find RD crowds are heavier than they were before because so many people are coming early to get a BG? We have always used RD to take advantage of the shorter morning lines, but it seems like wait times even right after opening have been really high. Do you think maybe the park is more empty later in the day now once everyone who got there so early has gotten their ride in and headed out of the park for the day? I'm thinking that for one of our DHS days maybe we won't try to get a BG and we'll RD another park and hop over after lunch...

Josh @ EasyWDW did a big writeup on his rope drop experience recently. BGs for RotR and specifically this new opening procedure (holding people until official open) has certainly had a huge affect on RD crowds. MF:SR and SDD are really the 2 that are majorly affected. It seems that most of the other rides still remain chill for a little bit.

I think this is a hard question to answer though because most of our data right now surrounds the grand opening of RotR headed directly into Christmas crowd levels. When is your trip? Perhaps there will be more time to gather some relevant data here soon!

It sounds like I'm sitting over here trying to figure out the same stuff you are!

 

[NejTheLion]

I wish they would enable FP (for those who like to plan in advance) and continue the VQ for the standby line (for those who want to be a bit more spontaneous). But we know nothing is going to change until they get the attraction running at capacity consistently.