This is for anyone planning an upcoming trip to Disney World, or for those who may be headed there in the future and like to stay on top of the changes. If you have no interest in Disney, it's okay to close out.
Changes to FastPass Tiers and New Attraction!
* FastPass+ booked for visits on or after February 19, the tier structure has changed. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Slinky Dog Dash will be the two Tier 1 choices (until March 4th.) All other rides and attractions will be in Tier 2.
* Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is scheduled to open on March 4th. This has also been added as the third Tier 1 option for visits on or after March 4th.
* As a reminder, guests can make one FP+ selection from Tier 1 and two from Tier 2. After guests have used their FastPasses for the day, they may book another. (And another after they use that.) I always give the tip of making your FastPasses for earlier in the day so you can add more.
* So which should you choose? What's the best strategy? The general consensus is that Runaway Railway is going to be the most popular Tier 1 selection for some time. It's the newest ride and the curiosity factor will make it more attractive to guests. In addition, there is no height restriction on Runaway Railway. Both Slinky Dog Dash and Smugglers Run have a height requirement of 38 inches. Presumably, families with little ones will pick Runaway Railway as their Tier 1 FP+.
* Because Runaway Railway is new, no one knows what the boarding situation will be. Slinky Dog Dash, for example, is slow to board, which is why it has long standby lines. From what I've read, standby times for Smugglers Run have been somewhat reasonable thus far. Unfortunately, some are predicting that standby times for Smugglers Run will increase now as FP+ riders will have priority.
* Personally, I think I'd go with Runaway Railway for our Tier 1 choice. We've already experienced Slinky Dog Dash, and while we'd like to ride it again, it's generally agreed that seeing something new is more fun. We are not Star Wars fans at all, but still interested in checking out Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. If the standby time for Smugglers Run is under an hour, we'd definitely wait in line.
Roundup Rodeo BBQ
* Last spring, Disney announced the addition of a new table service restaurant to Toy Story Land. Roundup Rodeo BBQ is scheduled to open in 2020, which is a pretty big range of time. Construction on the building began earlier last month but no further updates have been provided by Disney. If you're planning to visit Hollywood Studios later in 2020, keep in mind that there may be a new restaurant to check out. Personally, I feel like table service restaurant choices at Hollywood Studios are weak and I can't wait for this one to open.
Final Thoughts on Planning
* I know planning a Disney vacation can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Keep in mind that despite what some may tell you, you do not need to have every minute of your day planned out. We like to do a mix of planning and winging it. We always have our three FastPasses booked for the day and then we fill in based on wait times, which are so easy to check with the My Disney Experience app.
* Reading planning blogs and websites is helpful but I also find trip reports to be useful. You can read in detail on how to plan your vacation but planning can be quite different from reality. Seeing what others did or did not plan and how their Disney vacation went can help you in thinking about what to expect.
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