Crowd Control for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World
 

The clock is counting down for Disney's newest adventure at Walt Disney World. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, scheduled to open 29th August 2019 and Disney is using its resources to help ease the crowds.


It looks like Disney has employed different strategies for the opening and first few weeks of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at both Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.

At Disneyland, Disney has employed a strict reservation system for the first 24 days, only those guests either staying at a Disney on-site resort or visitors that have acquired a pre-booked reservation will be allowed entry to the new Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The visiting time is also limited to a 4 hour time slot, although it isn't clear how or if Disney plans to enforce this.

Although it will probably come as no surprise to most people, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is going to be extremely popular and the reservation system certainly proved this as all of the available reservations were snapped up within 2 hours of being released.

If you plan on visiting Disneyland between 31 May - 23 June and you do not already have a pre booked reservation the only way you will be able to gain entry to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is if you are staying at a Disneyland resort.

At Walt Disney World, Florida, it seems that Disney is employing a completely different strategy.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, without a shadow of doubt will have guests experiencing extremely long lines on 29 August and beyond, however rather than limiting guests with a reservation system, it seems that with Walt Disney World having the advantage of more theme parks, it can use these to help disperse guests.

Disney has announced that not only are they opening Disney's Hollywood Studios early on opening day and for the remainder of August, at 6am, yes that is correct, '6am', they have also added Extra Morning Hours to the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. (Park Hours HERE).

In addition Disney will also be offering 'extra' Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom between 1st September and 2nd November. The Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Hollywood Studios during this time has been extended from the usual 1 hour to 3 hours, so the park will be open to on-site guests from 6am.

It seems that by using the strategy of opening earlier, additional Extra Magic Hours at more parks and extending Extra Magic Hours, Disney will be spreading the crowds.

During this time Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom and the International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot will also be helping with the crowds.

In addition to the above crowd control strategy, it is expected that Disney will be introducing some early morning and late night 'Ticketed' special events that will guarantee entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Whilst the strategies for crowd control seem to be different for Disneyland and Walt Disney World it looks like Disney is making the most of it's specific resources at both locations to achieve the same aim of controlling the crowds as efficient as it can.

images©Disney

If they are opening HS from 6am until 10 pm, how will they be able to do early morning and late night ticketed special events? Or is this after the 2nd November? I’m suspicious to say the least!

6am opening for all guests is only for 29/30/31 August
After that 6am will only be available to onsite guests using EMH. For off site guests opening is 9am.
With ticketed morning or evening events offsite guests will be able to purchase those and gain entry early in the morning alongside onsite guests or stay later after the park closes to non ticket guests.

We postponed our summer 2019 holiday specifically to see Galaxy's Edge next summer.
One word just keeps springing to mind

MAYHEM!

Lets hope we can both at least get into Galaxy's Edge to see it as we'll be staying onsite.

Looks amazing!

Thank you, well as a onsite quest this is not really good news. There are already enough onsite guests including Disney partner hotels. And not really a perk for offsite quests because of this! After 10pm well any guest can join the line just before the park closes, so the advantage will be very limited. And that’s why I’m suspicious 😂