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

[Miffy]

I've been trying to catch up on this thread and it's certainly anxiety inducing. There has to be a better way to do this. A way that benefits those of us that prepare ahead of time and people that decide to go last minute. Maybe distribute 80% of boarding passes with fastpasses 65 days out. This lets you plan the day (and your 60 day fastpasses) knowing if (and having a basic idea of when) you are in HS. The other 20% could be distributed a week out via a lottery that you can only enter if you don't already have a boarding pass. This rewards people that plan ahead but still gives spur of the moment people (and those that get shut out at 65 days) a fighting chance.

As for me, I'll be there with my wife at the end of January for two days. 1st day is HS/Epcot, second is MK. We always get to the park before opening and usually do three or four major rides in the early morning, then switch to our fastpass park (in this case Epcot starting at 1pm). Looks like this (doing a bunch of rides in the morning) wont happen because of the amount of people at HS each morning. I guess we will adapt on the fly based on what (if any) boarding group we get. In a worse case scenario we don't get a pass, jump on Slinky coaster, wait for Millenium Falcon, then just do Epcot.

If 80% of the BGs were FP+s booked 65 days out, with the way things are now, the BGs would be gone in 2 or 3 seconds on day 65. Maybe 1 second. Things won't always be the way they are now, so WDW will probably eventually go to FP+s for this ride, although no one can predict when that'll be, if ever.

It seems to me that WDW wants to make sure that everyone who wants to ride RotR is in the park the day they want to ride. That way they're not distributing BG slots to people who may or may not show up on the day they booked. This reduces--not eliminates, but reduces--possible disappointment for people who are actually there.

Granted, it's super disappointing to be there and not get on a BG. (Incidentally, there's no such thing as a "boarding pass"--there are boarding groups that are assigned.) Right now, this attraction is reliably handling only so many people per hour and sometimes that doesn't work out either. There are still problems with the ride. And, btw, even rides whose kinks have been worked out go down occasionally. One evening while I was at DAK last month, FoP wasn't functioning and even people with FP+s were being turned away. The ride later went back up, but by then lots of people who had FP+ for it had already used those FP+s for something else. But that's beside the point.

The point is that as it stands right now, with so many people wanting to experience RotR, I think WDW has made a good decision to limit access to those people who are physically present in the park. Not people who are planning to be there or who might be there or who wish they could be there or who are trying to get a BG just for fun. If you could access a BG FP+ 65 days in advance, every person with an AP would be trying frequently and then seeing if they could book a trip to coincide with their BG. Just one example that I thought of immediately.

Let's hope, though, that by your end-of-January trip, the current situation will have calmed down and you'll be able to get on a BG with relative ease.

 

[Minnie368]

Parked at 6. Through security 6:15 and lined up almost back to security. Staying to the right worked. Tapped in at 6:25. Now anxiously waiting for 7am with an iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone 8 and iPhone 7. Two on WiFi two on Verizon. All four of us logged in and ready to go.

 

[wisblue]

I’m up early enough to see what happens today.

Even if the crowd is a little smaller today, I don’t expect the initial BGs to last more than a couple of minutes. Maybe the backup BGs will last a little longer.

It just seems like the crush of people there for a 7 AM opening is likely to be big enough to gobble up the initial BGs for the foreseeable future.

 

[DerTobi75]

Does the App updates automatically at 7 or do I have to do something manually?!

 

[wisblue]

If 80% of the BGs were FP+s booked 65 days out, with the way things are now, the BGs would be gone in 2 or 3 seconds on day 65. Maybe 1 second. Things won't always be the way they are now, so WDW will probably eventually go to FP+s for this ride, although no one can predict when that'll be, if ever.

It seems to me that WDW wants to make sure that everyone who wants to ride RotR is in the park the day they want to ride. That way they're not distributing BG slots to people who may or may not show up on the day they booked. This reduces--not eliminates, but reduces--possible disappointment for people who are actually there.

Granted, it's super disappointing to be there and not get on a BG. (Incidentally, there's no such thing as a "boarding pass"--there are boarding groups that are assigned.) Right now, this attraction is reliably handling only so many people per hour and sometimes that doesn't work out either. There are still problems with the ride. And, btw, even rides whose kinks have been worked out go down occasionally. One evening while I was at DAK last month, FoP wasn't functioning and even people with FP+s were being turned away. The ride later went back up, but by then lots of people who had FP+ for it had already used those FP+s for something else. But that's beside the point.

The point is that as it stands right now, with so many people wanting to experience RotR, I think WDW has made a good decision to limit access to those people who are physically present in the park. Not people who are planning to be there or who might be there or who wish they could be there or who are trying to get a BG just for fun. If you could access a BG FP+ 65 days in advance, every person with an AP would be trying frequently and then seeing if they could book a trip to coincide with their BG. Just one example that I thought of immediately.

Let's hope, though, that by your end-of-January trip, the current situation will have calmed down and you'll be able to get on a BG with relative ease.

If and when they start allowing FPs for ROTR I think there has to be some kind of limit on how often one person can get one and a prohibition on getting into a BG or other VQ during the same period.

I know some people would vehemently object to this, but as long as the ride remains this popular I think it is necessary to give as many guests as possible the chance to experience it once instead of some people doing it several days in a row or 4 or 5 times during a one week trip.

For example, if I get a FP for a certain day, I would be blocked from getting another FP or a BG for 2 days before or after that day. Demand could help dictate how long this blackout period would last.

 

[yulilin3]

Does the App updates automatically at 7 or do I have to do something manually?!

the general consensus is to do a hard close on the app, and open it seconds before 7am (or whatever the opening time is) then if you still don't see the red button, refresh

 

[Revan46]

Got here 5:40.
Through turnstiles 6:20. (This is when park opened)
BG15 right at 7!!!

 

[Becky201068]

Just FYI practicing it from home for our party of 10 on Friday, there is an option at the top for select all. I had opened the app and selected all 10 of us in 10 seconds. Good luck today everyone!!

 

[Minnie368]

Group 9!!!

 

[Becky201068]

Got here 5:40.
Through turnstiles 6:20. (This is when park opened)
BG15 right at 7!!!

Yay!!!!

 

[Becky201068]

Group 9!!!

Literally so happy for you!

 

[wisblue]

7:05 and looks like initial BG still available.

 

[Temp77]

I’m in HS again today and this time got BG45! I was stood towards the right of the Chinese Theatre and using WiFi. I had full bars where I stood with a strong WiFi signal.

 

[Becky201068]

6:05 and looks like initial BG still available.

7:07 still available!

 

[wisblue]

7:07 still available!

Oops. I’m in central time and just entered what my phone said.

 

[Eastern]

Looks like the holiday crowds finally went home.

 

[Ljcsc]

Having just tried to "join a boarding group" from home for practice, I'll say I had NO trouble getting right in there! Obviously, we aren't there, so can't tell about how long to update that you are in the park, but I'm going to try to be inside the park pretty much as soon as possible (near front of line) so that will give maximum chance for Disney to recognize that we're there. Will definitely have one or two people at home to log in and try for boarding groups for us! I'll be arriving at HS an hour before opening, I think. Next Monday (13th) is my only planned HS day. Wish us luck!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Good, I was wrong. 10 mins and still rolling. That seems far more manageable!

 

[DerTobi75]

BG61 When can we expect to be boarded. Thinking about going back to the Hotel & take a nap.

 

[mamamelody2]

Having just tried to "join a boarding group" from home for practice, I'll say I had NO trouble getting right in there! Obviously, we aren't there, so can't tell about how long to update that you are in the park, but I'm going to try to be inside the park pretty much as soon as possible (near front of line) so that will give maximum chance for Disney to recognize that we're there. Will definitely have one or two people at home to log in and try for boarding groups for us! I'll be arriving at HS an hour before opening, I think. Next Monday (13th) is my only planned HS day. Wish us luck!

Same here! My HS day is the 26th. I must admit, I feel much better now! LOL.