A virtual queue system is in place for entry into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios if capacity demands it. This should be great news for guests who were discouraged about the wait times! You can check the land status by opening the My Disney Experience app or checking one of the Boarding Group display boards within Hollywood Studios.
To Join the Virtual Queue:
Make sure that you have the latest version of the My Disney Experience app downloaded.
Launch the My Disney Experience app and look for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge status and access
Select ‘Find Out More’
If the land is open, you can proceed directly to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge via the entrance on Grand Avenue.
If access for the land is via Boarding Group Only, then select to join the boarding group. You can see the estimated land wait time.
Receive a push notification when your group is called and return to the Grand Avenue entrance. You can also check the digital status boards throughout Hollywood Studios.
Note:
If you have an Oga’s Cantina, Droid Depot, or Savi’s Workshop reservation, you can proceed directly to the Grand Avenue entrance up to one hour prior to the reservation time and do not need a boarding group!
Tips:
Enable push notifications to be notified when it is your turn to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Confirm that everyone in your party is linked together on the My Disney Experience app to request the same boarding group for your entire party.
If you are not using the My Disney Experience app visit a guest experience team kiosk to join a boarding group.
From the mind-blowing ships, absolutely perfect private island, fantastic cast members, and of course non-stop Disney magic from stem to stern, Disney Cruise line delivers an entirely different Disney vacation experience that will completely redefine “WOW” for you. So, here are the details on the newest ship coming to the Disney fleet along with a big surprise, a second private island! Check out the details below.
Disney Wish
At the D23 Expo 2019, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek revealed the highly anticipated name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship, as well as a first look at the ship’s elegant, three-story atrium and the iconic Disney character that will adorn the ship’s stern. Chapek and Imagineer Joe Rohde also shared new details about plans for a second island destination for Disney Cruise Line in The Bahamas.
With a little help from Tinker Bell, Disney fans were the first to hear that Disney Wish will be the name of the fifth Disney Cruise Line ship. The Disney Wish is scheduled for delivery in late 2021 and is expected to set sail beginning in January 2022.
“There couldn’t be a better name for our incredible new ship because making wishes come true is part of the Disney DNA and is at the heart of so many of our cherished stories,” Chapek said.
A new rendering provided D23 attendees with a first look at the ship’s bright and airy three-story atrium, inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale.
Stern characters – a beloved hallmark of Disney Cruise Line vessels – have been a tradition of the Disney fleet since the beginning and reflect the theme of each ship. For the Disney Wish, the ship’s stern will feature Rapunzel. Spirited, smart, curious and above all, adventurous, Rapunzel embodies the wish and desire to see and experience the world.
“Each Disney Cruise Line ship is unique, with a name that embodies the excitement of sailing with Disney and the power of our stories. The new ships will have the experiences our guests love, as well as all-new magic,” Chapek added.
All three new ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas and, at approximately 144,000 gross tons and 1,250 guest staterooms, be slightly larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Disney’s Second Bahamas Destination – Lighthouse Point
Also at the D23 Expo today, Disney revealed new information and two early conceptual artist renderings for its second island destination in The Bahamas, which is located on the breathtaking island of Eleuthera at a place called Lighthouse Point.
“With three new ships joining our fleet, we thought this would be an incredible opportunity to add another unique destination to our ports of call. We looked all over The Bahamas and Caribbean for an ideal location that would enable us to create new experiences, while celebrating the culture of this amazing region,” Chapek said.
Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde, whose work includes the design of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in Orlando and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, has embarked on an in-depth cultural tour of the Bahamas to meet with local artists and cultural experts. Together, they have explored arts and cultural sites across New Providence and Eleuthera, from Junkanoo shacks to noted art galleries.
“The Lighthouse Point site is so beautiful and so full of nature that we want to preserve this and use our designs to call attention to the extraordinary quality of the place itself – a place of natural beauty with a rich and fascinating cultural tradition,” Rohde said. “We will be directly involved in conservation efforts to preserve and protect the environment that creates this beauty, and we will be working with artists of every kind, much like we did with Aulani in Hawaii, to create a unique destination that is rooted in Bahamian culture and imbued with Disney magic.”
Disney Cruise Line completed its purchase of privately owned Lighthouse Point earlier this year and signed an agreement with the Government of The Bahamas that guides the responsible and sustainable way the site will be developed.
Disney has committed to develop less than 20 percent of the property; employ sustainable building practices, including an open-trestle pier that eliminates the need to dredge a ship channel; establish environmental monitoring programs during construction and operation; and donate more than 190 acres of privately owned land to Government, among other commitments.
Through the Disney Conservation Fund, Disney has provided more than $13 million to marine conservation programs around the globe, including several in The Bahamas. Since 2007, Disney has been directly involved in leading a multiyear initiative to protect and rehabilitate coral reefs in The Bahamas and will continue to work with leading conservation organizations and communities to protect special places there.
Construction at Lighthouse Point will begin only after an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan are reviewed and accepted by the Government of The Bahamas and public consultation has occurred. Construction could begin in 2020 with completion in late 2022 or 2023.
As part of the expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, a new space-themed restaurant will provide you with fantastic food and meals that are out of this world. The new restaurant will be called Space 220 and will include daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up.
You’ll board a special elevator for a journey to the space station that is home to an amazing dining experience. On the way up, viewports will give you a real-time perspective as you travel high above Earth. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by the Patina Group who also operates Via Napoli.
A new digital offering that will enhance the way guests plan and experience a trip to Walt Disney World will debut in late 2020. The revolutionary new digital app, Disney Genie will make planning easier and more fun by providing you with customized itineraries. For example you can pick an itinerary geared to princesses, thrill seekers, foodies, families and more.
Sometimes you may know exactly what you want to do, but may not know the best time or order in which to do it. You’ll be able to tell Disney Genie what you’d like to experience, and it will quickly evaluate the options and provide you with the perfect plan for the parks. If you change your mind for any reason, Disney Genie will be able re-optimize your day.
Disney Genie can also send you real-time tips and updates. As you walk through the park Disney Genie can give you recommendations for experiences it thinks you’ll love, helping you navigate the theme parks with added convenience.
If you don’t want to worry about making reservations in multiple steps, Disney Genie will take care of that for you.
As soon as there are more developments about this new digital offering we will bring it to you!
Latest updates on Hurricane Dorian indicate that it is moving further east and off the Florida coast. In light of this, it appears Walt Disney World has since adjusted their statement on the upcoming storm:
This statement is much more concise than their earlier one where they mentioned contacting guests staying at specific resorts, like Fort Wilderness, for alternate arrangements. Currently, Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions, with Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park closed on Sunday.
The forecasted track for Hurricane Dorian has been updated to miss Florida, with Dorian now expected to make landfall between Georgia and the Carolinas. Florida is not entirely safe however, as the state remains in the “Cone of Uncertainty” which means a shift in Dorian could put Florida directly in the path of the storm.
The National Hurricane Center continues to urge Florida visitors and residents to make preparations ahead of Hurricane Dorian as trajectories can still shift at the last minute, not to mention the effects of flooding and other impacts from being inside the cone.
While Walt Disney World’s Hurricane Policy states that a Hurricane Watch or Warning must be issued for cancellation or change fees to be waived, it appears that Disney Vacation Club is already extending that courtesy to guests with upcoming reservations this weekend, and some of our readers have reported getting it waived for regular Walt Disney World resort reservations and vacation packages.
You can check out Disney’s hurricane policy, here.
