DISNEY fans came out in force for the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge attraction, which launched in the Florida resort’s Hollywood Studios today.
Crowds of people queued through the night to get into the park as soon as it opened, with those arriving later being told they could wait up to five hours to go on the new ride.
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Before the attraction opened, there were predictions that wait times could be up to six hours.
As early as 5am today, crowds were already forming in the park to go on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Even then, fans said there were waits of at least 2.5 hours expected.
But as the morning progressed, guests were being told via the Disney World app and outside the attraction that the wait time was 300 minutes, or five hours.
The queue was seen snaking around Galaxy’s Edge and into Toy Story Land, as guests waited for their boarding group to be called.
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Fortunately for those arriving later, wait times have since fallen to four hours and then three hours.
Despite the wait, fans seem to be in good spirit with many sharing pictures of the queues and of themselves in Star Wars gear.
It’s also good news for guests visiting other parks at Disney as there’s almost zero queues elsewhere, as was seen when the new Star Wars land debuted at the Disneyland in California earlier this year.
Guests had to pre-book to see the new area in California due to overwhelming demand, with early tickets being snapped up within hours.
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Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is one of two new rides opening in the new land.
The second, Rise of the Resistance, is set to open later in the year.
The attraction has a spaceship that’s the exact replica of the ship from the films, measuring more than 100 feet long.
As part of the experience, a team of six people will operate the spacecraft during an interactive experience that, just like the movies, will get a little bumpy.
Modelled on an encounter with First Order fighters, the ride puts guests in the role of pilots, gunners or flight engineers to ensure their mission is completed.
On Rise of the Resistance, guests will play as new Resistance recruits and go on a journey on a full-size starship.
A hologram image of Rey will appear with a message before guests board their ship that takes off from Batuu.
It will then head into the orbit, only to be intercepted by a nearby Star Destroyer.
This sets up a climactic battle against military members of the First Order.
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It’s not unusual for fans to queue for an extended amount of time for a new ride.
Fans queued for ten hours at Universal Studios in Florida after the new Hagrid rollercoaster tide launched earlier this year.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed how fans were using the ‘pounding the app’ technique to get on the busiest rides.
