We're just over two months away from the most anticipated addition to Disneyland since the park was built in 1955. Start Wars; Galaxy's Edge is almost ready for the public. When the attraction opens on May 31, you can be sure a lot of Star Wars fans are going to be ready to check out everything the new land has to offer. If you want to be among the first to see the new land, you still have a chance. but it looks like time may be running out
Last week, Polygon reported that all three of the Disneyland Resort hotels, the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel, and Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, were sold out for the night before the opening of Galaxy's Edge, the night of May 30. However, as of this writing, there are actually some rooms available at both the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian for that night. It's possible that some cancellations have taken place, or that rooms that were not expected to be available, due to refurbishments or whatever, have now opened up. Either way, if they were sold out before, you can be sure there aren't many rooms left right now.
These rooms are important because if you have a reservation at a Disneyland Resort hotel between May 31 and June 23, you'll also get a reservation to get into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. While the exact way the reservation process will work has not been revealed, it would seem that the only way to ensure getting into the new land is to book a hotel room.
Of course, since we don't know how the reservation system works, it's not entirely clear if having a room booked the night before the new land opens will get you a reservation. If you're checking out on the first day, does that still work? Still, for some it may not even be a question of getting into Galaxy's Edge. Many fans will just want to be at Disneyland when the new land opens. It's sure to be a historic day in the park and one that will never be repeated.
Initial estimates were that Disneyland could see crowds of 150,000-200,000 people on opening day of Galaxy's Edge. It's hard to tell at this point if that's still the case. The fact that reservations will be required to get into Galaxy's Edge for the first three weeks means that many who don't have those reservations might stay away, waiting for the reservation period to end. Initially, it seemed that those looking to avoid the insane crowds might not show up on opening day, but thanks to the reservation requirement, opening day looks perhaps a bit more inviting.
The other thing that could limit some crowds is that not all of Galaxy's Edge will be up and running on day one. The new land boasts two E-ticket attractions, but only one of them will be running on May 31.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run will be available to guests, but the Rise of the Resistance attraction will not be. No official opening date has been announced for that ride, but it will arrive later this year.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be opening at Walt Disney World at the end of August, with the same missing attraction but without the reservation requirement. Both lands are actually opening earlier than anticipated, which may be the reason one attraction won't be available. Of course, for the serious Disneyland or Star Wars fan, it's not like going back to Batuu more than once was ever really a question.
