Though Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge isn’t open yet, plans are already underway for crowd control at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland park. And though this new land is only opening with one attraction (the other will debut sometime later this year, according to Disney), Disney is preparing for massive crowds on both coasts….but are preparing in very different ways.
Disneyland’s early access reservation system
Image: Disney
Beginning on opening day (May 31st) and lasting through June 23rd, guests at Disneyland who want to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will need a reservation. There will be absolutely no exceptions to this rule, and no one will be admitted without a return time. Guests who do secure a reservation will also only have a 4-hour window in which experience everything they can inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, after which they will need to leave to make way for other guests. In addition, guests who leave this land during their allotted time will not be able to re-enter once they have left, no matter how much time is left for their original reservation.
Last week, Disneyland rolled out this system and as many predicted, technical issues plagued guests who tried to book reservations online when they opened up. However, even though there were tons of glitches, all the reservations were still snapped up in less than two hours, proving that demand for this new land is still very high.
Image: Disney
Shortly after the reservations sold out, Disney reminded guests that they were still offering return times to guests who booked a stay through one of Disneyland’s three on-property resorts, and, as of this writing, there are still a few (very expensive) rooms available.
However, while Disneyland is going to extreme measures with their strict reservation system to try and control crowds during the first few weeks after the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Walt Disney World is trying something completely different
Getting guests in early, late, and pushing them to different parks
Image: Disney
Though Star Wars fans will likely be lining up in droves to experience this new land on August 29th, Walt Disney World is not going to be limiting their access the same way they are at Disneyland. In fact, it was announced recently that not only are they opening the park early on opening day (guests can enter at 6:00 AM), but resort guests will also be able to take advantage of “Extra” Extra Magic Hours at this park throughout the fall, which will be happening daily from September 1 – November 2 from 6:00 AM through 9:00 AM.
However, in an interesting development, Disney has also announced that they wil be offering these same “Extra” Extra Magic Hours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom as well to try and spread out crowds and get guests to other areas of the resort.
Image: Disney
It’s also probably not an accident that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, one of the Magic Kingdom’s most popular seasonal events is also kicking off just before the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as well, and is running for more nights than ever this fall.
And while specifics haven’t been announced, there’s also an additional component to the crowd strategy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: upcharge events. Disney has hinted that Early Morning and Late Night special events that guarantee access to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge would be coming soon, and while they might initially conflict with the “Extra” Extra Magic Hours described previously (at least in the morning) we know these events are coming, and hopefully those who pay extra to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with lower crowds will avoid this area during regular park hours.
Image: Disney
Though Disneyland’s and Walt Disney World’s strategies for dealing with the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge crowds are vastly different, hopefully they will both help keep things moving on both coasts during this once-in-a-lifetime cultural event.
