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My full August 2018 trip report – PREP183

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Home → WDW Prep To Go Podcast → My full August 2018 trip report – PREP183
  • Shannon Albert
  • August 7, 2018
  • August 7, 2018

Hear the daily updates from my August 2018 trip which included staying at Pop Century, testing touring in the parks, Highway in the Sky dining event, and more.

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/wdwprepschool/augusttripoverallreportPOST.mp3

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12 Comments

  1. Heather August 18, 2018 Reply

    I cringed when you said you were recording in the parks. Usually I think it is hard to hear the audio over all of the background noise, but however you did it worked perfectly. Thank you! Great trip report.

  2. Mandy August 14, 2018 Reply

    Hi Shannon! I read recently that airline check in at the resort can be difficult and sometimes impossible with a hyphenated surname. Can you confirm this? Travelling internationally back to Australia…

  3. Elise August 12, 2018 Reply

    Loved the in-park updates! Really enjoyed hearing the magical sounds! Especially when you entered The Seas building at Epcot and we heard the seagulls “More! More! More!” 🙂

    • Elise August 12, 2018

      I mean “Mine”! Lol

  4. Anna August 11, 2018 Reply

    Hi Shannon! Just a quick question, will the 8am opening at Hollywood studios come the end of this month be for on-site guests only and act like a permanent EMH or will it be for off site guests too? I couldn’t see anything about it on the disney site. Many thanks, I find your podcasts so useful.

  5. natasha August 9, 2018 Reply

    Do you know if the Bippidi Boppidi Boutique has the Minnie Halloween dress? (Specifically the MK location.)

  6. Shelley B August 9, 2018 Reply

    Hi Shannon! You mentioned that you were going to try out the Fuel Rods on your trip. What was your experience with them? I’m considering using one in our next trip.

    • Shannon Albert August 10, 2018

      Super handy since I forgot my external battery in my room one day. Hoping to write about them very soon.

  7. Amanda Porcelli August 9, 2018 Reply

    Hi Shannon! Question I have been wondering about. I thought it was a good opportunity to bring it up since you called about the bounceback being offered right now. Does everyone get the same offer? I love the free dining you were offered because I am planning on going next fall. If I make a quick trip there soon (second question – how long does a current bounceback usually last?), then would I be offered free dinging too for next fall? If so I would definitely consider a short trip! Thank you!!

    • Shannon Albert August 9, 2018

      Everybody staying onsite gets the same offer, yes. This one has lasted through October for the past couple of years. I had a reader fly down for a night, book it, and fly back home once.

    • Amanda Porcelli August 12, 2018

      Wow! Awesome, thanks!

  8. Tasha Toy August 9, 2018 Reply

    I heard you were staying at the Dolphin on 9/6. I know last time you went you didn’t love Garden Grove for dinner. I just went last weekend for breakfast and my family truly enjoyed it. Saturdays they have 2 characters and Sundays they have 3 or 4. It was the best bang for our buck when it comes to a character meal and might be worth checking out again.

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I just got back from a five night stay at Coronado Springs and had the best time! Even though I went during the busy season I barely waited in any lines and was able to do everything I wanted!

Jonathan C.

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Instagram post 2195165576133294818_547098091 How to tour Hollywood Studios with an 8 a.m. scheduled opening:
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1.) Arrive by 6 a.m. if you want the shortest standby waits and Rise of the Resistance boarding group with a low number.

Buses and Minnie Vans are NOT operating early enough to get you there by 6 a.m., so you would need to have your own car, Lyft, or walk to get there by 6.

Have little ones? Uber Car Seat is an option as well.

Arriving a bit later will likely still be ok, but increase your wait times and boarding group number slightly.

2.) The park is likely to open way before the scheduled 8 a.m. time. The opening time was 6:26 a.m. for us this morning.

Once open, you’ll scan your MagicBand/park ticket to enter, and then immediately open the app to snag a boarding group.

Scroll through the pics for info on how to get a boarding group.

3.) After getting a boarding group, it’s time to start riding rides. This order should allow you the shortest standby times:

First hour: Slinky Dog Dash, Alien Swirling Saucers, Toy Story Mania

Second hour: Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror (could also do Star Tours if you like)

Third hour: Smugglers Run and hope that your Rise of the Resistance boarding group has been called so you can head there next (higher boarding group number? you can leave the park and come back when you’re called if you’d like).
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Of course, if you have a FastPass for a ride, you may want to skip that attraction (or ride it in the standby line and again later with FastPass).
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Keep in mind that characters and most dining won’t begin until park opening, so you’ll want to hit those after 8 a.m.

Hopefully that helps those of you traveling over the next few weeks. What questions do you have? 📲Click the ribbon to save this post for future reference.

#riseoftheresistance #hollywoodstudios
Instagram post 2193115991424601780_547098091 Here’s a recap of what we’ve learned about Hollywood Studios w/Rise of the Resistance so far:

1.) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. This week it’s 6 a.m. (like today), and next week is likely to be 7:30.

After that, we don’t know, but Flight of Passage has been available early for 2+ years, so it might continue for awhile (or not).
.
🚌 Transportation: buses will be running that early, but Skyliner won’t. It didn’t start until 8:00 today.

2.) 𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙜 𝙖 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠. ALL members of your party must be in the park to get a boarding group.

All groups were full by 8 a.m. today (an hour before official park opening!). Get there early to ride.

According to sources, this virtual queue system will be in place for at least the next several weeks before Disney moves to using the FastPass system.

3.) 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (we were told “morning”), but there is no guarantee, especially as the ride goes down often.

Our group ended up being called at 12:52.

Once called, you have 2 hrs to return. No need to stay in the park. You can leave, get the notification, then return to Studios.

4.) 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 which allowed us to go on all Toy Story Land rides, Rock n Roller Coaster, & Tower of Terror in 90 minutes w/no waits. No characters available during this time.

5.) 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 & 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 at Rise, but everybody must have a boarding group.

Since everybody will be in a boarding group, we aren’t sure we see the value of Rider Switch for most, but it won’t hurt to snag it JUST in case.

However, if the 1st members of your party enter toward the end of your boarding window, you will definitely want to snag a Rider Switch pass for the 2nd group to use.

DAS varies in how it’s handled. Participants should inquire at the ride.
✨
WHEW. That’s a lot to take in.

What questions do you have? #waltdisneyworld
Instagram post 2192428562363229697_547098091 Moved over to the Boardwalk Inn today where it’s looking as gorgeous as ever with Christmas decor everywhere you look. 😍
✨
(You know how Epcot looks its best during Flower and Garden Festival and it’s a tough transition to see the park without all the extras? So many resorts are like that with Christmas decor.)
✨
Lots more on my stories as we explore the hotel and Boardwalk area.
Instagram post 2191647241818984579_547098091 Hello from Galaxy’s Edge where we’ve been able to ride Rise of the Resistance multiple times (and we know what a privilege that is!).
✨
It is indeed an incredible new attraction and will be the star of Galaxy’s Edge. Answering questions about it in my Stories so feel free to follow along and ask us anything you want to know.
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