Cultural Phenomenon

It's not too often that I get a chance to participate in a veritable cultural phenomenon. However, this past week, with my geek mode set to maximum, I had an opportunity that was too good to pass up: be one of the first to try out the new Star Wars rides in Disney World.

It was a crazy - but fun - experience!

First, my family (yes, Glosette Girl and Margot came along for the ride too) dragged themselves out of bed at 5:45 am. Then we took an uber over to Hollywood Studios, in Disney World, and walked into the park around 6:30 am, which is before the park rides officially open.

The dark rises...and the light to meet it!

You might be thinking we were one of the few who did so. Not so! I'm guessing we were joined by about 20,000-30,000 other Star Wars fanatics who all had to be in the park to join a virtual queue for the new Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride at 7:00 am. On some days, this virtual queue fills up in about 20 minutes.

We booked our spot at around 7:05 am, which meant we were able to get on the ride at around 7 pm later that day (did I mention that Rise of the Resistance is insanely popular?).

Luckily being in a virtual queue means you are free to do other things until your virtual  number is called up. So what did we do after we virtually signed up to one queue? Well, of course, we hopped in another queue - this time a real one -for the other new Star Wars ride, Smuggler's Run.

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy...

Smuggler's  Run is not as popular as Rise of the Resistance so it only takes about two hours to get through. But c'mon. You get to ride the MILLENNIUM FALCON.

Who wouldn't wait 2 hours to drive this? 

I'm not going to give any spoilers away about either ride but if you are near a Disney World park and are even mildly amused by Star Wars, you have to check out the Star Wars world that Disney has created.

Even if you get stuck in a line (and you will) it'll be a memorable experience. There's just something fascinating about sharing an experience with thousands of other souls who are willing to go the extra mile for something they love. May the force be with you!

p.s. bonus points to Glosette Girl for sticking this out with me. She isn't even a Star Wars fan...yet.