Trip Report *COMPLETE* Remind Me Again Why We Agreed To Do This...Our runDisney 2020 Trip Report

Hello All!

I hope 2020 is starting off well for everyone so far. Kelly and I, along with some friends of ours, just returned from our most recent visit to WDW and I am very excited to share in our different, but amazing, Disney experience.

For those of you who may have been following along with the pre-trip report (feel free to read up on all the planning if you'd like), you will know that this trip was nearly a year in the making and something we had never done before for a couple of different reasons. First, we had never even considered a WDW trip centred around a runDisney event and second, we have never done a WDW trip without the kids since they were born.

So, without further delay, let's get to it!

THE WARM-UP

As I mentioned, the possibility of this type of trip was discussed quite some time ago. I have been running almost obsessively for just over two years now and 2019 was the year in which I finally felt ready to start registering for some races, not just casual runs on my own. With a couple of recent visits to the World in 2017, and a few more in 2018, I really started to take notice of all the dedicated running trails in and around the resorts and learned more and more about the runDisney events and community.

I didn't realize just how big the community really is until I took a deeper dive into a number of blogs, podcasts, websites, and Instagram accounts. I was really intrigued and figured a potential runDisney event would be the perfect way to tie my passion for Disney together with my new found passion for running. Originally, I was thinking maybe 2021 as the point I would commit to my first half marathon but with my progress and after some discussion with Kelly, we decided we might as well see if we could make 2020 work.

With that, in late 2018, we both agreed that we would do everything we could to add the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in 2020 to our travel schedule. I was beyond pumped and while we couldn't really do much of the planning just yet, I was really starting to kick my training into high gear.

We happened to be having dinner with friends of ours, Mike and Kerri, in January 2019 who are also big Disney fans and have kids a few years younger than Ella and Lennon. I've known my best friend Mike since grade 10 when we first started playing hockey together. We served as the best man at each of our weddings and have been very close for nearly 20 years. When the topic of this trip was brought up, we jokingly said that they should join us and to our shocking surprise, they said they would. While Mike has really committed himself to his health over the last five years, never in a million years would I think he'd agree to run a half marathon.

We left dinner thinking how cool it would be if they did in fact travel with us but in the back of our minds, I don't think we actually thought they would come. Days later they committed to coming so long as the timing worked and it was a suggestion from Kerri that the girls run the 5K which Kelly reluctantly agreed to! Once they made that decision, planning was in full swing!

THE ROSTER

Our roster of runners was now set and with all the planning, ADRs and FP+ bookings in the almost 12 months leading up to the trip, this is how things played out...

WHO: Kelly, Matt, Mike and Kerri
WHERE: Boulder Ridge Villas (deluxe studio) - Matt and Kelly
All-Star Music - Mike and Kerri
WHEN: January 7 - 12, 2020
WHY: Because we are idiots to consider running as a vacation

 

[Matt and Kelly]

With the girls now in the park and their possible boarding pass secured for Rise, we set off towards Toy Story Land to enjoy a few early morning rides to get us started for the day.


Mike and Kerri seemed pretty impressed as soon as we set foot in the area. They are both huge Toy Story Mania fans from their Disneyland trips and really wanted to get on that ride here. We also had an FP for Slinky just before 8 am which I was really looking forward to. Knowing that they aren't huge roller coaster people, they both kind of took a second look at Slink when we walked into the land and could see cars ripping around the track.



Both did agree that they would still be up for experiencing it but since we had some time before our FP window closed, our first stop was the queue for Toy Story Mania. If you've followed along with any of our other trip reports in the past, you've likely gotten bored hearing about my undefeated family champion streak but since Mike and Kerri were new to our group, of course, the story came up again. Kelly decided to let Mike ride with me to see if he might be able to take me down...game on!

They were both very impressed with the detail throughout the queue. For those who have not been to Disneyland before, the queue there is much different. Nowhere near as much detail and mostly a mix of in and outside.


And it was nice to see potato head up and running. During our last trip, he was curtained off and after taking a peek behind the barrier, he had lost his arms! Luckily it looked like he had not lost any of his pieces in the mess of Andy's room!


The posted wait time was 25 minutes but we moved through the queue a lot quicker. We waited only about 15 minutes before we were heading down the stairs to the loading area. We were put on our ride vehicles and ready for the game. Mike was determined to give me a good run but I felt positive about my chances.

This is still one of my all-time favourite attractions. Doesn't matter how old you are or what score you post, everyone seems to have a great time on this ride.

After a hard-fought battle, I was once again victorious and remain undefeated. My score was the highest among the four of us, but not the highest in the car. And even though the day had just begun, someone had already posted a 300,000+ score to take an early hold of the best score of the day.


Mike was up for a rematch if we got the chance to do it again later and I was happy to welcome all challengers.

As we exited back into the backyard, we stopped for a pic in front of the checkerboard wall but totally missed out on popsicle stick wall! Next time I guess.



Once we were back in the main area we made our way over to Slinky. We scanned our bands and walked the short distance around the queue to the area to merge with standby. This FP line is also a huge timesaver. We waited no longer than 5 minutes before loading onto the train. Can you spot the hidden Mickey?


The ride was awesome, we all loved it. Mike and Kerri were pretty surprised by how fast it seems and the debate started about whether their kids, who are just a little younger than ours, would ride it if they came back sometime in the near future.


We left the unload area and the girls wanted to stop and grab something to eat at Woody's lunchbox. They needed to reload after the big run. Before we made our way to place an order we had to stop for another celebratory pic. Kell was very pleased with herself for completing the race and I was just as proud!



Woody's was quite busy so we decided to mobile order (amazing option to have sometimes). Kelly and Kerri split a s'mores french toast sandwich and Kelly also ordered the lemon-blueberry lunchbox tart.

The food was up in just a few minutes and we were lucky to snag a table just as another family was finishing their breakfast. We sat down to take a load off while the girls refueled. A well-deserved treat!



Both agreed the sandwich was very tasty and Kelly really enjoyed the tart. Mike crushed the tots which went against his eating before noon rule but since we were up so early I guess it evens out.

We decided to stay in Toy Story Land and close it out with a spin on the Alien Swirling Saucers before slowly making our way towards Batuu.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Surprisingly, the wait time for the flying saucers was 55 minutes! I guess really that's not that big of a shock considering how many people were already in the park and since Toy Story Land is still fairly new, everyone is checking out the latest stuff the park has to offer. It looked like the entrance from TSL into Galaxy's Edge was now open to guests to use, which it was not right off the bat when the park opened. People were coming and going which made us pretty excited to finally check it out for ourselves soon.

We kept taking a look at the board group progress and things looked like they were moving pretty smoothly. Our group was still a little way away but we had nothing but time on our hands and it was still quite early in the day.

Over to the Saucer queue we went. Not sure which Buzz I like better, this guy or the one at All Star Movies...


While in line we were able to call home and check on the kids. Kelly was excited to show off her medal and make sure my mom wasn't having any issues with Ella to this point. The report we got from home was the kids were acting on their best behaviour which certainly helped to ease our minds while we were gone. And Ella's glucose levels were fairly consistent so far which was a major win to this point.

For those who may want a closer look at the amazing 5k medal, here you go...


The line moved very swiftly, we may have been standing in the queue for 20 minutes or so before we were walking towards the loading area. Maybe the 55 minute posted time was more to keep crowds at bay but either way we were pretty happy about it. Kerri and Mike were already familiar with this ride system from Mater's Junkyard Jamboree in DL so no scary surprises for them.

Before long we were let on to find a saucer and buckle in. Before we got moving we took a quick ride photo, followed by a CM photobomb on the re-take. Little did we know this would become a bit of a trend today!



After the ride we took a little more time to soak in the land and take a few more photos with the surroundings, including a quick hello to Jessie. She was very happy to see the medals around Kerri and Kelly's neck but, based on the photo, seemed to intimidate Mike!




And since there was still Christmas stuff around, we (Kelly) couldn't pass it up...



With our next FP set for the 1030 Frozen Ever After Singalong, we said goodbye to TSL and made our way back towards the theatre. We had a little time to kill so the girls decided to go and change clothes and Mike and Kerri called back home to deal with a little mini-emergency that was being caused by some of the crazy amounts of snowfall back home. Thankfully nothing crazy and things were able to get back on track pretty quickly.

After we scanned our bands and waited for the doors to the theatre to open, I received a phone call from my mom with our own mini-emergency. Ella's insulin pump had failed just before she was about to take them to school so we had to leave the queue and FaceTime to walk her through how to put on a new pod. We weren't sure we'd make it into the show so we told Kerri and Mike to meet us at the exit after it was over.

We found a shady spot at some tables just outside the FP entrance for the show and calmly walked my mom through the process. Thankfully she was able to correct things and get the pump on with more than enough time to get the kids to school on time. And allowing us just enough time to head back in line to catch the show. We were nowhere near Mike and Kerri but at least we could sit down and enjoy.


Admittedly, I do really like this show even if I do not singalong. The Historians were funny, as per usual, but I was getting a little annoyed by the voice effects that the Aria character kept reverting to. Dropping her voice into a deep bellow almost every other word was a little much for me. Though the two characters played really well off one another.

As you can see, the theatre was packed and the kids in the audience loved it, especially the finale with the snope falling from the ceiling.

As people flooded the exit, my phone binged to notify us that our two-hour window to return to Rise was now open! It was finally happening, Galaxy's Edge was our next stop!!!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

We received that picture when they crossed the finish line. They crossed over at about 650ish which is really quite a good time for them starting around 610.

Now I know Kelly birthed our children and that was likely the most magical moment in my life but I was hard-pressed to find anything that made me more proud of her than knowing she finished this race. It may not seem like much but the fact that this trip had started out as us guys running the half and morphed into the girls running the 5k, something she really wasn't too keen on but wanted to do with her friend, I just had a ton of pride for what she, what they, accomplished. And the fact that there are so many pictures of them smiling and having a good time makes me she she really enjoyed it!

YAY!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!! SO HAPPY FOR THEM BOTH!! GLAD THEY Had each other to push each other! Nothing like a feeling of accomplishment and especially when shared with people you love!!

If you've followed along with any of our other trip reports in the past, you've likely gotten bored hearing about my undefeated family champion streak but since Mike and Kerri were new to our group, of course, the story came up again. Kelly decided to let Mike ride with me to see if he might be able to take me down...game on!

Kelly is very sweet not to get bored with your story. Congrats on beating Mike! I hope one of your girls gets enough practice to take you on one day!

Over to the Saucer queue we went. Not sure which Buzz I like better, this guy or the one at All Star Movies...

Is the only difference location?

Before we got moving we took a quick ride photo, followed by a CM photobomb on the re-take. Little did we know this would become a bit of a trend today!

Awwwwwwwww, how fun! We take so many photopass pics, that we forget to take our own pics, often. Maybe this year, we can fix that!

We found a shady spot at some tables just outside the FP entrance for the show and calmly walked my mom through the process. Thankfully she was able to correct things and get the pump on with more than enough time to get the kids to school on time. And allowing us just enough time to head back in line to catch the show. We were nowhere near Mike and Kerri but at least we could sit down and enjoy.

Your mom's call was actually good timing for you two. I'm so glad you were able to help her and she wasn't panicking at all. I will have to look for that shady spot.... it never hurts to have another rest area....

 

[Matt and Kelly]

YAY!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!! SO HAPPY FOR THEM BOTH!! GLAD THEY Had each other to push each other! Nothing like a feeling of accomplishment and especially when shared with people you love!!




Kelly is very sweet not to get bored with your story. Congrats on beating Mike! I hope one of your girls gets enough practice to take you on one day!




Is the only difference location?



Awwwwwwwww, how fun! We take so many photopass pics, that we forget to take our own pics, often. Maybe this year, we can fix that!



Your mom's call was actually good timing for you two. I'm so glad you were able to help her and she wasn't panicking at all. I will have to look for that shady spot.... it never hurts to have another rest area....

The Buzz statues have some slight differences beside location. The one from All Stars is quite a bit bigger too. Both are really cool. Here is a picture of the one from the All Star resort.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

We made our way over towards the entrance to GE near the muppets theatre. We were all pretty excited to see what all the fuss had been about and judging by the wave of other people heading in the same direction, we were certainly not alone.



The first thing I noticed right away, though didn't take a photo of, was the transition from land to land while you are walking through the tunnel pictured about. Disney did a great job of transporting you from a city atmosphere into a galaxy far, far away simply by the transition from what you would typically expect to see in any tunnel you drive through at home into this completely different rock-like terrain of a new planet.

The moment we stepped through the tunnel and first laid eyes on GE, I think we were all taken back by what they had accomplished. I was stunned at the size and scale of the land. I couldn't imagine from photos and a glimpse of GE from Slinky Dog or the Magical Express heading to our resort just how much space the Imagineers had used to create this masterpiece.

These next few posts may be a little photo heavy but I think even my poor iPhone photography skills provide a much better description than I could with words. We just kept darting from one side to the other trying to get a sense of everything around us.





The showstopper, of course, was the reveal of the full-size Falcon sitting right there for you to admire. It was kinda hard to comprehend having just binged all the Skywalker saga movies the week or two before that we were now essentially fully immersed in the Star Wars universe.


Kelly has never seen a Star Wars movie and isn't really into the hype so she wasn't quite as enthralled as the rest of us though she was definitely impressed with everything GE had to offer to guests. From the second you step foot in GE, you are definitely a part of Batuu. Every aspect is really well done.


Being first-timers to the land, the most challenging part was trying to find our way around. Yes, our boarding group window had opened but before we could ride we had 1130 reservations for a drink at Oga's Cantina. It took us a little while to figure out where to go but having the chance to stumble around down some of the alcoves and alleys throughout the land was a really neat experience.

We finally found where we needed to be and the line to get inside was massive.



We checked in with one of the roaming CMs and were told to stand in the line and wait to be called. People waiting were buzzing with excitement as they previewed the menu to get a sense of what to order before going inside.



We all viewed the menu for a few minutes trying to figure out what to order once we got inside. As cool as the Rancor flight sounded, it would have been beyond difficult to fork out $85 for it!

We probably waited about 10 or 15 minutes before our party was called to the doors. Excitedly we made our way through the line and met the CM who escorted us inside to a space standing at the bar to enjoy our experience. The room was packed with people and while not overly huge, I thought the use of space was really cool. Boot-like seating along the walls, long-standing tables in the middle of the floor and the bar circled with countertop for guests to stand at and enjoy.

It was pretty raucous in there and a lot of it had to do with this guy!


DJ-R3X was killing it with the tunes and he would bounce around to the music which made it a lot of fun to watch as we waited to place our drink order. The rest of the joint isn't too shabby either.






We had a super friendly bartender helping us out with the menu and we eventually placed our drink orders. As a guy who has given up alcohol, Mike ordered a Blue Bantha, Kerri tried the Fuzzy Tauntaun, Kelly ordered a Carbon Freeze and I went with the Gamorrean Ale. Mike and Kerri also ordered some bites to snack on while we enjoyed our drinks.

Little did we know that the drinks themselves would end up being such a big part of the story and experience at Oga's...

 

[Matt and Kelly]

The drinks came out a few moments after we ordered. They were pretty crazy looking right off the bat!

Blue Bantha...


Fuzzy Tauntaun


Gamorrean Ale


Carbon Freeze


The Carbon Freeze was super cool. It smoked the entire time and the green bubbles danced in the drink nonstop. We do have a video that I'll have to upload and post at a different time. We cheers'd to Galaxy's Edge and took our first sips. Seconds after Kerri had the most visceral reaction to her first sip. We found out that the foam on the Tauntaun essentially acts as a numbing agent and she took a huge swig of the foam. Her whole mouth went numb and we were killing ourselves laughing. Of course, the rest of us had to give a little try and I can safely say if you take too much of that foam, you're going to have a bad time! It was really cool.

We enjoyed our drinks and the surroundings. As usual, Disney never skimps on the story.


Oga's was knocking it out of the park.


Here is a look at the Rancor Beer Flight. Those teeth do look super cool but too rich for my blood!


And going back to CM's photobombing, we asked our awesome bartender if he would take a photo with us. He was happy to oblige and took my phone to snap our pic, but not before having a little fun with his fellow bartenders.



As we were finishing up our drinks we took a final few photos before settling up our bill and getting ready for Rise.


This guy was responsible for making the green balls that were floating in Kelly's drink!


We spent a solid hour or so in Oga's and by this time our window was getting a little more narrow so Mike and I decided to leave Kelly and Kerri at the bar and find our way back over to Rise. We were so pumped up and if the experience was anything as immersive as the one we just had in Oga's, we knew we were in for a treat!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Kelly has never seen a Star Wars movie and isn't really into the hype so she wasn't quite as enthralled as the rest of us though she was definitely impressed with everything GE had to offer to guests. From the second you step foot in GE, you are definitely a part of Batuu. Every aspect is really well done.

I'm with Kelly, I've seen the last 6 and like them but I don't love the epic saga the way so many people get into it. But I'm glad Disney did an amazing job! They knew they'd have to please some really big fans!!

DJ-R3X was killing it with the tunes and he would bounce around to the music which made it a lot of fun to watch as we waited to place our drink order. The rest of the joint isn't too shabby either.

The drinks in Olga's look great---so hard to choose just by looking at that menu! I can't wait to see DJ-R3X!!

We cheers'd to Galaxy's Edge and took our first sips. Seconds after Kerri had the most visceral reaction to her first sip.

That's half the fun of trying something new! Even if it's awful, at least you've tried it and have a good story!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Mike and I made our way out of Oga's to find the queue for Rise. We were both really excited about checking it out and with the way things were going with the boarding groups to this point, we were pretty confident the girls would have the opportunity as well later in the day.

Just as we stepped outside, we were nearly captured before being captured in the ride!


Just another great piece to GE, all the characters walking amongst the masses, interacting with guests and building on levels of storytelling and immersion throughout the land.

As we made our way over to Rise, I couldn't help snap a few other photos of the Falcon and the Ronto Rosters building.



We finally made it through the crowd to the entrance to Rise. We scanned our bands and made our way into the queue. Admittedly, I had seen some of the photos and teasers since the ride opened but had not watched any full-length ride videos or anything like that. Not knowing exactly what to expect, we both really wanted to soak it all in. I limited myself in taking photos but based on the amazing detail in the queue, I probably should have kept my phone in my hand.

Everything looked so cool as we walked through. I loved the lockers of the fighter pilot that were stocked with their gear. It was pretty amazing to look around as every nook and cranny had something to pull your attention to. I was very much reminded of the standby queue for FoP and how much time and effort went into make the line itself an experience.

We seemed to move fairly quickly with minor delays here and there. There were no issues with the ride going down to this point which was not only aiding in our experience but moving those boarding groups through very quickly. Again, not knowing exactly what to expect, we weren't sure when the "ride" was going to start but we were enjoying the lead up to get there.

Finally, we were escorted into what was clearly the first showroom with about a dozen or so other people. Here I had to grab a few snaps of the amazing work of the imagineers.



The hologram work was so cool to see right in front of you. From here we were whisked through an open courtyard into the ship along with Lt. Bek. I'll do my best to limit spoilers as you really need to experience this for yourself to get a true sense of what the ride is all about. Again, the detail is second to none.


At this point we are fully aware that we are definitely in the middle of this epic saga and we are loving it! The CMs are playing their roles brilliantly and it truly feels like you are in the middle of the next Star Wars movie.

After we are officially captured, we get to the scene that I think everyone is well aware of by now, no matter how hard you're trying to avoid any sense of a spoiler.


Pictures do not do this area justice. It was seriously breathtaking. And a brilliant piece of human engineering to enable guests on the ride time to stop and admire what they are seeing, take photos, interact with the CMs and, in turn, stagger the line a bit as some guests quickly move on to the next piece while others soak this in.

Mike and I looked at each other in awe as we finally made our way to be placed in our pods to be escorted away by the First Order. I think these two guys were the ones we passed coming out of Oga's. Guess they got their men after all.


I can't say enough for how critical the role of the CMs is throughout the entire ride but especially in this area. The First Order officers are fully in character and acting exactly how they should be in this scenario. They line you up in colour groups to await your fate all while grilling guests about being captured, trying to get info out of them and giving them an idea of what everyone is in for. Really great stuff.

My phone was away for the rest of the ride and to limit spoilers I won't go into much detail once you get into the ride vehicle portion of the ride, but again, a stunning experience throughout the entire sequence. The life-size At-ATs are amazing as are the mix of animatronics and holograms. I can remember things so vividly but it's still so hard to put into words.

We got off the ride and seemingly couldn't speak for a few moments trying to digest what we had just witnessed. I think the best way we could both describe it is using the word experience. I know that sounds lame but that truly is an experience. You are right in the action and it is brilliantly done.

Once we were able to function again, the girls had been texting us that they were in line for Smuggler's Run and we should come join them. I was all for it but Mike was pretty nervous to cut through the queue line. I was willing to take on the challenge having just escaped the First Order so Mike made me lead the way as we tried to weave our way through the 70-minute line to catch the girls.

Kelly assumed they were quite close to the loading area so we had to hustle. I did feel badly about trying to catch up with them but surprisingly most people were very kind in letting us pass through, at least I thought so. Mike told me that he took most of the shrapnel being the second man through after I had cleared the way. The only disappointing thing about cutting the line was not getting the chance to enjoy the queue. It looked pretty cool from what we could see but we tried to fly through as quickly as we could.

Seemed like we walked forever but we finally caught up to the girls just before the CM asking how many are in your party. We were sweating pretty good having to go through that many people but we made it. And yes, I do feel bad about having done that but I was excited to check out the other big ride in GE.

We were placed in the purple team with two other ladies who were assigned to be our pilots. They had been pilots before so we were hoping their experience would pay off. Kelly and Kerri were gunners and Mike and I the engineers.


As we waited to enter the cockpit, how could we not admire the famous Falcon table?



For the three of us that are big Star Wars fans, this was super cool, but for Kelly who has no idea about anything Star Wars, she didn't quite understand the appeal of seeing and sitting at this table. Every detail within GE just continued to impress.

We hopped into the cockpit, took our spots and received our mission along with our instructions from Hondo. We were ready to blast off and take control of the Falcon and hopefully not end the ride too quickly.

I know this ride has taken a little heat from people about not living up to the hype of what it could or should be but I really had fun. Our pilots did a great job and we all played our roles fairly well. It was easy to forget that you had a job to do as you were concentrating on the screen in front of you. Happy to say we did accomplish our mission and the ride lasted for a decent amount of time. I'd love to be the pilot during a return visit just to check it out.

Upon leaving the ride area, we figured a few PhotoPass pics with our new ship were in order.






With all of the action and excitement behind us, we started to get pretty hungry. We decided to blast off from Batuu and head back to earth to find something to eat.

As you've likely gathered, I just can't say enough about how cool our first taste of GE was, even if we didn't spend all that much time exploring. We definitely wanted to come back later in the day to snoop around a little more.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

For the three of us that are big Star Wars fans, this was super cool, but for Kelly who has no idea about anything Star Wars, she didn't quite understand the appeal of seeing and sitting at this table. Every detail within GE just continued to impress.

I'm glad you all got so much time in SW:GE! I am more like Kelly and don't really get it, but I'm glad it lives up to hard core fan's expectations! Also, @Matt and Kelly has another friend, because Kelly: it's just a table! Hearsay, I know, but I don't watch the movies closely enough to notice the table!

As for the line cutting.....

 

[Rista1313]

We made our way over towards the entrance to GE near the muppets theatre. We were all pretty excited to see what all the fuss had been about and judging by the wave of other people heading in the same direction, we were certainly not alone.



The first thing I noticed right away, though didn't take a photo of, was the transition from land to land while you are walking through the tunnel pictured about. Disney did a great job of transporting you from a city atmosphere into a galaxy far, far away simply by the transition from what you would typically expect to see in any tunnel you drive through at home into this completely different rock-like terrain of a new planet.

The moment we stepped through the tunnel and first laid eyes on GE, I think we were all taken back by what they had accomplished. I was stunned at the size and scale of the land. I couldn't imagine from photos and a glimpse of GE from Slinky Dog or the Magical Express heading to our resort just how much space the Imagineers had used to create this masterpiece.

These next few posts may be a little photo heavy but I think even my poor iPhone photography skills provide a much better description than I could with words. We just kept darting from one side to the other trying to get a sense of everything around us.





The showstopper, of course, was the reveal of the full-size Falcon sitting right there for you to admire. It was kinda hard to comprehend having just binged all the Skywalker saga movies the week or two before that we were now essentially fully immersed in the Star Wars universe.


Kelly has never seen a Star Wars movie and isn't really into the hype so she wasn't quite as enthralled as the rest of us though she was definitely impressed with everything GE had to offer to guests. From the second you step foot in GE, you are definitely a part of Batuu. Every aspect is really well done.


Being first-timers to the land, the most challenging part was trying to find our way around. Yes, our boarding group window had opened but before we could ride we had 1130 reservations for a drink at Oga's Cantina. It took us a little while to figure out where to go but having the chance to stumble around down some of the alcoves and alleys throughout the land was a really neat experience.

We finally found where we needed to be and the line to get inside was massive.



We checked in with one of the roaming CMs and were told to stand in the line and wait to be called. People waiting were buzzing with excitement as they previewed the menu to get a sense of what to order before going inside.



We all viewed the menu for a few minutes trying to figure out what to order once we got inside. As cool as the Rancor flight sounded, it would have been beyond difficult to fork out $85 for it!

We probably waited about 10 or 15 minutes before our party was called to the doors. Excitedly we made our way through the line and met the CM who escorted us inside to a space standing at the bar to enjoy our experience. The room was packed with people and while not overly huge, I thought the use of space was really cool. Boot-like seating along the walls, long-standing tables in the middle of the floor and the bar circled with countertop for guests to stand at and enjoy.

It was pretty raucous in there and a lot of it had to do with this guy!


DJ-R3X was killing it with the tunes and he would bounce around to the music which made it a lot of fun to watch as we waited to place our drink order. The rest of the joint isn't too shabby either.






We had a super friendly bartender helping us out with the menu and we eventually placed our drink orders. As a guy who has given up alcohol, Mike ordered a Blue Bantha, Kerri tried the Fuzzy Tauntaun, Kelly ordered a Carbon Freeze and I went with the Gamorrean Ale. Mike and Kerri also ordered some bites to snack on while we enjoyed our drinks.

Little did we know that the drinks themselves would end up being such a big part of the story and experience at Oga's...

Woah, disney made it really authentic with a cyclops bartender and all!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I'm glad you all got so much time in SW:GE! I am more like Kelly and don't really get it, but I'm glad it lives up to hard core fan's expectations! Also, @Matt and Kelly has another friend, because Kelly: it's just a table! Hearsay, I know, but I don't watch the movies closely enough to notice the table!

As for the line cutting.....

I've tried my best to get her to at least watch one of the movies to see if she might like it but no luck. That's ok, I don't get into her "reality" tv shows so I guess we are even!

And yes, I know, the line cutting was a tough choice but I was happy we all were able to meet up and ride together.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Woah, disney made it really authentic with a cyclops bartender and all!

HAHA! No detail overlooked.

Always fun to see what crazy distortion may result from a panoramic picture!

 

[MegRuss626]

I've tried my best to get her to at least watch one of the movies to see if she might like it but no luck. That's ok, I don't get into her "reality" tv shows so I guess we are even!

And yes, I know, the line cutting was a tough choice but I was happy we all were able to meet up and ride together.

Kelly, as a wife who finally gave into her husband and watched the first one a few years ago...stand your ground!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

It was around 130-200 by this point and we knew we had dinner reservations for 700 at the Sci Fi Drive In but everyone was pretty hungry and wanted a quick service meal to replenish. Since it was super close to the entrance to Galaxy's Edge and far less busy than the quick service options around the Outpost, the gang decided on PizzaRizzo.

I wasn't feeling overly too hungry but I wanted to wander over to one of my new favourites stops at DHS, Baseline Tap House, just to check things out and maybe grab a beer. While the others waited to place their pizza orders, I made a short walk to Baseline.


I really enjoy this place, not only for the decent selection of craft beer but the sitting area is a really great place to take a load of and people watch as you enjoy a brew or a bite to eat. I contemplated the menu for a bit before deciding not to order anything. I was going to go for yet another pretzel, but have already jumped on that train the two days before and figured I should take a break for at least one day. Instead, I returned empty-handed to meet up with the group and watch them eat pizza.

I returned just as they picked up their orders and we made our way to the top floor to find a table outside on the covered patio. I had heard not so great things about this establishment over the years but all three said their meals were pretty tasty. Watching them eat did make me a little hungry but now I had worked up a craving for popcorn which I'd try to find a little later. Kelly said her pizza was quite good and the rest seemed satisfied with the quick, relatively inexpensive meal.


It was nice to take a quick break for a bit to relax. Conveniently, we had an FP for Muppets coming up but before we walked over to the theatre, Kelly wanted to take a quick look around the Christmas shop near Mama Melrose. She was pumped that all the decorations around the park were still up and wasn't going to pass up the chance to inject even more Christmas spirit into her January vacation!



I do admit, I love picking up Disney themed ornaments on every visit we make and there were some really cool ones on display. I really should have bought this one as a tribute to my favourite ride but ended up leaving it hanging.


I loved all the ride themed ornament options that were available



After some browsing, Kelly ended up buying a few different things including a decent-sized Christmas bowl and a few ornaments. Wisely, we asked for the package to be sent to our resort so we didn't have to lug it around with us for the rest of the day. We've actually never done that until this point but it was a huge bonus to be able to take advantage of that service and just carry on without an awkward and fragile back to carry with us.

We all agreed this fake snow was much better than the real stuff we were away from at home.


From there we walked over to Muppets and used up one of our remaining FPs. Our timing was perfect as we waited only a few short minutes in the pre-show area before the doors open. Just enough time to get a good laugh from Sam Eagle.

While the show may be a bit older, it's still good for a laugh, and provided yet another good opportunity for us to get off our feet and relax. That 3 am wake up call was hitting us pretty hard by now, especially the girls having ran that morning.

With Muppets done, we had some downtime before our next FP for Rockin' Roller Coaster. Kelly and I really wanted to ride Tower of Terro but neither Mike nor Kerri had any interest in that...too much for them! We decided to split up and meet over by the roller coaster at a certain time. This gave us all a chance to go and wander the park at our own pace for a bit. As we made our way over to Sunset Blvd., Mike and Kerri were going to head back into GE to take some time and look around.

An open PhotoPass photog meant a quick detour before checking in for our stay at the Hollywood Hotel.



and what very well could be our next Christmas card...


On our way to the ride I finally grabbed my popcorn which was inhaled in seconds flat. Something about Disney popcorn is just so good. We wandered through some of the shops along Sunset checking things out and getting a few more souvenir ideas before turning our attention to the ride.


Standby time was posted at 50 minutes. We had nothing but time at this point and there was no way we were going to miss dropping in so into the line we went. Kelly was super excited. ToT is likely her favourite ride on property and it's always tough to convince the kids to rise during our visits. They've only gone on it once so that usually means we have to split up and ride it solo. Was nice to be able to do it together.


I really have no issue waiting in line for ToT. The queue is interesting and the theming around the building just can't be beat.



Once inside the library, the only thing that was kind of a let down was the extremely loud, obnoxious family that would not be quiet during the fun Twighlight Zone pre-show. Many others in the room were quite annoyed and a few told them to keep quiet to no avail. Thankfully we chose the right line to split into as they went the opposite way.

The ride itself was brilliant as always! Our kids do seem a bit excited to try it again this September but I feel like they might back out once we actually get there. At any rate, we had a blast and while the sunlight washes me out of the ride photo, Kelly is seen in her usual state when in the elevator.


After the ride we still had some time to kill. This time I grabbed a beer from one of the stands down sunset and we slowly walked around, checking out stores and window fronts, enjoying a bit of a chance to slow things down. Having become a bit of a fan of Funko Pops recently, I saw something that I had to have before the trip was through. Funko Mickey on the Skyliner was super cool!


And since I'm such a huge collector of Disney mugs, the new-ish Been There series from Starbucks looks awesome!


Alas, I left without either but told myself I would definitely get that Funko before we head home. Kelly set her eyes on another photo opportunity that she thought would be so cool...if only the stroller in the background wasn't there!


We'd received a text from Kerri that they were just in line for Toy Story Mania and would be over by the roller coaster in a bit. We decided to grab a seat on a bench on sunset and people watch as the sun was slowly setting in the sky. I finished up my beer and we started to plan ahead to our big family trip in September.

I can't remember the last time we just sat on a bench while in a Disney park but it was quite enjoyable! A good reminder to slow down and take it all in every now and then.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I wasn't feeling overly too hungry but I wanted to wander over to one of my new favourites stops at DHS, Baseline Tap House, just to check things out and maybe grab a beer. While the others waited to place their pizza orders, I made a short walk to Baseline.

I have GOT to make it a priority to try Baseline this year! I've heard so many good things!

She was pumped that all the decorations around the park were still up and wasn't going to pass up the chance to inject even more Christmas spirit into her January vacation

I LOVE all the Christmas decorations and Christmas makes January so much easier!!

While the show may be a bit older, it's still good for a laugh, and provided yet another good opportunity for us to get off our feet and relax. That 3 am wake up call was hitting us pretty hard by now, especially the girls having ran that morni

The Muppets is a GREAT break---even though it's older, I feel like it's timeless. How do your girls feel about the Muppets?

I can't remember the last time we just sat on a bench while in a Disney park but it was quite enjoyable! A good reminder to slow down and take it all in every now and then.

YES, these are my most favorite moments of the entire trip! When we just catch a breath and enjoy our surroundings. Reminds us how lucky we are that we get to make these trips; and how lucky in general!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

I have GOT to make it a priority to try Baseline this year! I've heard so many good things!


The Muppets is a GREAT break---even though it's older, I feel like it's timeless. How do your girls feel about the Muppets?

Baseline will not disappoint. Very cool spot and a great addition to DHS.

That's a good question about the Muppets. I think they like them but it doesn't seem to be a high priority for them during any of our visits. Most of the time it seems like the Muppet show is more of necessity simply for the break to sit down and get out of the sun for a little.

 

[ferbtones]

Long time reader of trip reports on here, and loving your adventures so far.
Congratulations to Kelly and Kerri on the 5k.

Couldn't help but notice in the top right corner of their post-race selfie is someone that looks rather like HouCuseChickie as the Cheshire Cat.

 

[Rista1313]

Kelly set her eyes on another photo opportunity that she thought would be so cool...if only the stroller in the background wasn't there!

Photoshop that right out!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

Long time reader of trip reports on here, and loving your adventures so far.
Congratulations to Kelly and Kerri on the 5k.

Couldn't help but notice in the top right corner of their post-race selfie is someone that looks rather like HouCuseChickie as the Cheshire Cat.

Thank you for reading along and for the very kind words!

That's a darn good eye you have. You might be right! @HouCuseChickie

Photoshop that right out!

HAHA I have to brush up on my skills to get that done.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

With Mike and Kerri finishing up on Toy Story, they let us know they were on there way over to meet us at Rockin' Roller Coaster. We walked back down Sunset to hang out and wait for them.






Not long after our photo spree, the others arrived and three of us were ready to head onto the ride. As much as we tried to convince Mike, it just wasn't happening for him. He was not good with loops and inversions but he was happy to hold our bags and wait for us to finish up.

We walked over to the FP line, scanned our bands and walked up the ramp into the show building. Without stopping for a second, we were escorted into the preshow room as the show was already playing. At the same time, the doors to the loading area were already open so very few people were hanging out listening to the band before boarding their limo. Don't forget the black Les Paul...


We walked into the queue and after about 5-minutes we were next in line to jump in our vehicle. Kerri and Kelly rode together while a single rider joined me for the ride.

RRC is definitely one of my favourite rides on the property for the take-off alone. I'm an Aerosmith fan as well so the soundtrack throughout the ride gets me going. We had a blast but judging by Kerri's face, I'm not sure Mike would have held up!


We laughed at the photo and started to walk towards the ride exit. Just as we left the gift shop my phone notified me that the girls' boarding group had now opened! Amazing that they were still going to get the chance to ride. Kerri was pretty pumped up and Kelly was up for the experience so it was back over towards Galaxy's Edge so they could get in line. Timing would have been perfect, they would be able to ride Rise and we would be on time for our dinner reservation at Sci Fi.

We decided to cut over through Toy Story Land but Kelly found more Christmas decorations to admire before we made our way there.


The sun was setting and the park was starting to come to life with lights. I was very excited to get a glimpse of the Black Spire in the evening. As we passed through TSL, Mike and I decided to hop in the Toy Story Mania queue once more while the girls went off to Rise. While in line Mike was telling me about the exploration of GE they did when we were split up. He mentioned a lot about the stores they wandered through and how amazing the land is at every turn. We didn't really have the chance to take in a lot of the detail during our earlier visit but I was really happy that they had the time to soak it in a little more. And he was coming off a Toy Story Mania victory over Kerri and was ready to give me another battle!

The TSM line was about 35 minutes and we had a great time chatting about whatever. A little work talk was brought up while we waited but it was short-lived as we just wanted to enjoy the Disney experience.

The ride is never a letdown and once again emerged victorious, improving on my score from earlier in the day. Mike gave it a good run but still finished about 30,000 behind. He was looking forward to returning with his kids so he could practice up for the next time when he might be up for the challenge of taking on the champ!

We emerged from the ride with the sun nearly fully set. This really set the stage for us to return to GE and see how different the land is at night. Like Pandora in AK, the outpost is a whole new world once the sun is down.




One of the things Mike and Kerri uncovered while talking to a CM earlier in the day was the hidden Falcons that are on the life-sized Falcon. Not sure if you have seen any yourself but apparently there are multiples hidden on the ship. Mike was able to point out one of them to me which was super cool!

Hopefully you can see it...


The colour from the projection mapping on the mountains throughout the land was simply stunning



Mike walked me around the rest of the land to check out some of the shops they had explored earlier in the day. Every facet of this place is beyond comprehension. So amazingly well designed and engineered. I was so impressed with everything.



From there we decided to head over towards Rise and hang out for the girls to finish up. We found a seat on a rock bench just outside the exit and took a load off.


As we waited, we received a text from Kelly saying the ride had broken down. The first time today, at least from what we could tell, but it sounded like they were really close to the actual ride itself. They said they were not being evacuated but held in place with hopes that things would be moving soon. Seemed like the rest of the line was getting evacuated as streams of people were walking out of the entrance queue. We had about 30 minutes before our reservation so we figured we still had time. Everyone waited patiently but little did we know we were going to need A LOT of patience...