Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party Review

First off, let me start by saying, Disney got this right. They got this SO right. We were absolutely impressed with the Spectacular! I felt like the Incredible's neighbor when it was all over:

If you haven't seen it yet, you are missing out! For real. And if you are a Star Wars fan at all, this is something you have to put on your "Must Do" list for your next trip. I loved it! All of it.

And if you want to make the most of your Galactic Spectacular, consider adding the dessert party to your day at Hollywood Studios. It's an extra ticketed event, so on top of your park admission, you will need to purchase tickets. Currently, the price per adult is $58.63 and $33.20 per kid (3-9). Here's what you get for that price:

1. Desserts. So many desserts! But not just desserts, there are also savory items as well as fresh fruits, AND a very nice assortment of drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. You can go back as many times as you like and take your food all around the Launch Bay. For a full menu, head over to AJ's blog and see what all is on offer. (The write up is old, but the menu is just about the same.) Even with my restricted diet, I was able to find desserts to enjoy!
2. The Launch Bay is open for you to enjoy. With all the Star Wars artifacts, the movie and the Chewbacca and Kylo Ren meet and greets, you could easily spend most of your time seeing all there is to see.
3. Wait times for Chewie and Kylo Ren were only 10 minutes or less. I definitely recommend using this time for meeting them.
4. Storm Troopers are patrolling the area. Our Storm Troopers were not in a photographic mood claiming they were not allowed to be photographed while on duty; although I have heard that at other parties they have been willing to pose with guests and be photographed.
5. Jawas are also roaming the party and willing to trade if you have something of value. Our 15 year old tried to complain that the droid he traded for had a bad motivator, but this Jawa wouldn't hear of it. 
   
6. Storm Troopers will escort you to the reserved viewing area for the Galactic Spectacular. It is PRIME viewing.
7. A souvenir Chewbacca stein and a bottle of water are waiting for you when you arrive for the Galactic Spectacular. We only had to wait 8 minutes once we arrived before the show began. And I can't say it enough: it was SPECTACULAR!

What you don't get:

The one downside we found (which Disney is clear about on their dining page) is that there are NO seats. And by 8 pm, our feet were tired and begging for a seat. Given the space, I am not sure how Disney would manage that; and if you use your time at the Launch Bay well, going to all the attractions, you don't really have a long time to stand around before you're headed out to see the show.

Was it worth it? For my money, this experience is totally worth it, at least once. We are bona fide Star Wars fans, we are crazy for Disney and we value our time in the parks; we would rather pay for the party than spend hours saving a place for the Galactic Spectacular. And bonus, it was on our eldest kid's 15th birthday. What could be better than that? 

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

What Are The Best FastPass+ Selections? | Wish With Amy

If you are headed to any of the Disney Parks, then you may be wondering about FastPasses and how to choose them. FastPasses are a reserved time slot for a particular ride or experience at one of the Disney Parks. If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you will be able to make your reservations 60 days in advance of your trip. If you are not staying at a Disney Resort, you can make your FastPass reservations 30 days in advance. This is another reason I highly recommend staying at a Disney Resort.

This is a question I get all the time: What are the best FastPass+ selections? And while the answer completely depends on your touring style, the ages and heights of the people you travel with and your personalities, there are a few ways to figure it out.

First: There are some rides that have wait times that consistently exceed the 60 minute mark no matter the time of day or time of year. If you are at all interested in them (and tall enough to ride them), these are the FastPasses to get first. Peter Pan's Flight (MK), Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (MK), Meet & Greet with Anna & Elsa (MK), Toy Story Midway Mania (DHS), Test Track (EP) and Soarin' (EP) are all in this category. If you want to do these things without spending and hour or two, a FastPass is your best option.

Secondly: If your children have high expectations and don't deal well with adjusting and/or being flexible, you might want to consider opting for their favorite(s) at the best time(s) for them (like making sure you are there after breakfast but before nap).

Third: Decide if you are willing to use one of these strategies to go without a FastPass:

• Use the single rider line; if you don't mind riding as a single rider, you can easily cut your wait time in half.
• Be at the park for rope drop; if you can get up early and walk in as the park opens, you can go straight to your favorite ride. This has worked for us at several of the biggies with less than a 30 minute wait.
• Utilize extra magic hours; as a resort guest you can often get into a park an hour before it opens to the public, or stay an hour (or more) after the park closes to the general public. This allows for much shorter lines, and wait times.
• simply wait in line; sometimes it's just what you need to do. Arm yourself with snacks and games and just wait. More and more queues are becoming interactive too, with things to do/games to play as you wait.

If you are trying to make your decisions for FastPass selections, feel free to use this FastPass+ Selection printable we give to our clients. And until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!