1st Star Wars Weekend - Info needed

[arizonacolbys]

We will be attending our 1st ever Star Wars weekend in May - we are trying to catch everything on our last full day in the parks - Friday, 5/20. We will be at WDW for 10 days & will have already done everything we wanted to at MGM earlier in the week. If we only care about seeing some of the sights, looking for characters, and maybe checking out WWTBAM Star Wars edition - how early/late can we get to the park?

I thought I read something about a parade around 11 am on another thread - can anyone tell me more about this? Is this just a parade with Star Wars characters, or the normal parade?

We are trying to squeeze in all of our favorites on our last day, but also would love to check out the Star Wars events. Any input on how much time we'll need to allow at MGM for SWW would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

 

[ophie]

There is usually an early parade with Star Wars characters. Unfortunately, it tends to be around the same time as the Star Wars edition WWTBAM. The SW-Millionaire is usually the first Millionaire showing of the day. We like getting to SWW early because of the show that the StormTroopers do on top of the turnstile building pre-park open.

 

[cdnmom22teens]

We have teengers 15 & 18 so we aren't usually morning park people but I think mornings are a must during SW Weekends. WWTBAM SW Editions are only the first one (or maybe two?) shows. The parade is awesome for SW lovers - all kinds of SW characters and Mickey in his Jedi robe - and it's a mid-morning parade. All day long there are lots of photo ops with SW characters, kids have a chance to train as Jedi and fight Darth Vadar, and test their SW knowledge before the Jedi Council at the Padawan Mind Challenge. Most stuff happens in the Star Tours vicinity, but storm troopers roam the entire park and interact with guests. While my dh was taking a picture of our sons and one storm trooper, he was oblivious to another storm trooper searching his backpack- very funny!

My guys are mega SW fans and to be honest, they were are bit disappointed that they weren't still kids because most of the activities other than WWTBAM are geared to kids under 12. I think they had expected many more guests to be in costume (like they are at SW Celebration), but they still loved it and were glad that SW weekend was not too Disney-fied. We met some interesting people - one woman in Jedi robes told us she had legally changed her last name to Skywalker.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks for the input! It sounds like maybe we need to re-think our plan & get to MGM first thing & skip the EMH at MK that morning. I thought I had read that the WWTBAM Star Wars edition takes place all weekend - I didn't realize it would only take place during the morning hours.

Hubby & I are definitely SW fans - we both grew up on the original movies. We don't have kids, so none of the "kid's" activities will really apply to us. Thanks & feel free to keep the info coming!

 

[ophie]

You should think about signing up for the adult trivia contest. It's been called Tatooine Trivia Trials in the past. You have to sign up for that early. They only take a certain number of people (50-60?) and only play once a day.

 

[Laura's Dad]

Check out last year's schedule at www.galactichunter.com/sww04/ This will tell you what is happening at what time. One change that will happen this year will be two seperate themed areas: one for the rebeliion (good guys) and one for the Empire (bad guys). I can't wait to she how this will be set up. We will be at the first SWW also. Hope to see you there.

 

[bytheblood]

I am so very disappointed in the Star Wars stars that will be there this year. With the very last movie being released just a few weeks prior, you would think they would be promoting the heck out of that.

 

[ophie]

I am so very disappointed in the Star Wars stars that will be there this year. With the very last movie being released just a few weeks prior, you would think they would be promoting the heck out of that.

No, actually, all the celebrities are off promoting elsewhere. Makes perfect sense. I didn't go, but I've heard that when EpII came out there were no celebrities at all.

 

[bsmandi]

Any tips on how to get picked for Jedi Training? My 5 year old is a huge star wars fan and practices his lightsabers skills daily!! I realize there are other young fans who are probably just as excited about Star Wars Weekends and it is purely luck to get picked, but didn't think it would hurt to ask! This is our first trip to Disney..we will be there the first weekend too! Thanks!

 

[ophie]

They "train" a lot of kids at once and then the kids take turns fighting Darth Vader or Darth Maul. At least, that's what it was last year. We saw them with about 30 kids at once.

 

[Baloo]

I'd try and make it there a least a half hour before MGM's "official " opening time the day you're going. The opening is a fun event in itself!

 

[Ilovestitch]

Make sure you get a times guide so you know where to find all the characters. My bf and I got some awesome pics w/Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, Chewbacca, Ewok, Kit Fisto, Darth Maul, Jedi Mickey and a couple others that I can't think of. I'm not a big star wars fan, but SWW is awesome!!

 

[ophie]

We never found Vader or Maul, but we got Luke & Leia, Queen Amidala, Stormtroopers, Chewbacca, Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Jango Fett, Jedi Mickey... I know I'm missing some others... But this year... I MUST find the Darths!! And Wicket... I need Wicket!

 

[Laura's Dad]

Disney has also announced thta this year there will be Anakin Skywalker and a Darth Sidious (Emporer Palpatine) characters available for pics and autographs. 3 weeks to go.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Thanks again for all the great info!! Our biggest goals at this point are to try & be there for the parade at 11 am & then, if at all possible, get into the WWTBAM at 11:30. I'm worried if we go to the one at 10:30 that we'll be cutting it too close & miss the parade. Since we aren't worried about any of the celebrity autographs, I'm not sure we'll get there much before the parade.

Thanks for the info on all the great characters to possibly get pics with! My hubby will be so excited if he gets to see some of the characters mentioned. I'll just be happy with Chewy! I really hope that some sort of schedule for the SWW comes out before we leave - I kind of doubt that will happen, but I can always hope! Thanks again!

 

[QuickGold]

This site may be helpful: http://sww.mgmstudios.org/main