A DISers Guide to Star Wars Celebration

[JenM]

My suggestion is to do that at 5 PM when you get there because many Celebration attendees probably haven't been on Star Tours, so it could get to 60 minute plus waits during the Hard Ticket event.

Yeah, that’s what I’m planning - I figured once the event starts and the place is flooded with SW fans, Star Tours is going to have a crazy wait time.

 

[yulilin3]

A probably dumb qquestion: If I already received mmy 4 day badge, I just line up to whatever panel I want to go to, after the security check, right? Or do I need to pick up something else?

Here is my preliminary plan:
Thursday:
11am-12:30pm 40th Anniversary Panel. I will arrive at 5am that day, if I make it inside the main room that's great, if not I'll watch from one of the other 2 rooms
1:30pm-2:30pm Dave Filoni at Galaxy Stage
5:30pm-6:30pm Disney Parks Behind the Scene Stage

Friday:
11am-12:30pm Last Jedi. I will arrive at 5am that day, if I make it inside the main room that's great, if not I'll watch from one of the other 2 rooms
Walk around the main floor
4:30pm leave for Galactic Nights

Saturday:
11am-12:30pm Rebels. I will arrive at 5am that day, if I make it inside the main room that's great, if not I'll watch from one of the other 2 rooms
Walk around main floor
3:30pm-5pm Cosplay at Celebration Stage
Walk around main floor until closing
7:30pm whose line is it Alderaan (I'm a huge improv fan)

Sunday:
11am-12pm These are the Droids Panel. Plan to arrive around 8am, if I make it in great, if not I'll be ok
Walk around all day

Does this sound doable? I figured if I'm bored (I know I won't be) I can just pop into some panel, there are a lot to choose from but I don't want to over plan. I'll be surviving out of uncrustables and protein bars

 

[Temp77]

Hi my name is Helen and I'm travelling over from the UK for SW Celebration. I've never been to a Celebration in the USA before but I was at Celebration Europe in London last year and can share my experiences of how the wristband process worked then.

I was actually relieved when I saw they were doing the wristband procedure again this time as whilst I had huge reservations and was confused about how wristbands would work when it was announced shortly before Celebration last year, in practice I found it worked really well. I managed to get into all the main panels on the main stage last year and did so without camping out overnight. I stayed in a hotel close to the venue in London and on the days of the big panels, Rogue One and the Future Films/Closing Ceremony, I got to the venue around 5:30 am and got wrist bands without a problem. Mark Hamill's panel was the same day as the Rogue One panel and I was able to get a wrist band for that panel after securing my Rogue One wristband.

Once I'd gotten my wristbands for each day I was even able to leave the venue for a bit to go back to my hotel to get breakfast and still make it back in plenty of time to get in line before they properly opened the venue for the day.

I'm staying at the Rosen Plaza and my plan is to pick up my 4 day pass from will call when I arrive from the UK on the Wednesday and then head back to the hotel for some sleep. I aim to be up in time so that I can join the line for the 40th anniversary panel at 5 am. There's obviously no guarantee that will be early enough to secure me a wristband for the 40th anniversary panel but I'm hoping it will be based on my experience in London. If not, I'd be disappointed if I couldn't at least get a wristband to watch the 40th panel in one of the other rooms.

If the security checks are anything like London last year I would say that it was really quick when entering before 6 am but the lines were a lot longer when I returned around 8 am after having my breakfast back at the hotel.

yulilin3, based on my experience of London last year I'd say your plan sounds doable.

If anyone has any questions about how things worked in London last year to help them prepare for Orlando I'd be happy to answer them.

 

[Torrentia]

Hello everyone! I'm glad I found this forum, it's been tough getting information about the Celebration. As a first-timer as well as an obsessive pre-planner, I've been very anxious to get everything together!

Me and my husband were originally planning on going to Hollywood Studios on the Monday after the convention (haven't bought any Disney tix yet), but it looks like tickets are still available for the Galactic Nights event. Do you guys think this would be a better option? Are the "regular" rides at DHS still open, so we can experience those too? What will the waits be like as opposed to a normal (crowded) day at DHS? I get really scared when I don't have a schedule to study ahead of time.

Also a question about the SWC itself...I wanted to thank the above poster for the seasoned advice. What time should we show up to get a wristband for The Last Jedi panel? I really don't want to stay overnight...lol. We don't mind being in one of the streaming rooms, we just want to be with the fans during the action!

One more thing, just a general question. Because parking costs a lot and we like to come and go (naps, food, etc.) is Uber a fair choice for getting around in greater Orlando? Cost and efficiency wise? We are staying about 4mi from the convention center.

Thanks for being awesome, everyone. I'd love to meet new people too!

 

[yulilin3]

Hello everyone! I'm glad I found this forum, it's been tough getting information about the Celebration. As a first-timer as well as an obsessive pre-planner, I've been very anxious to get everything together!

Me and my husband were originally planning on going to Hollywood Studios on the Monday after the convention (haven't bought any Disney tix yet), but it looks like tickets are still available for the Galactic Nights event. Do you guys think this would be a better option? Are the "regular" rides at DHS still open, so we can experience those too? What will the waits be like as opposed to a normal (crowded) day at DHS? I get really scared when I don't have a schedule to study ahead of time.

Also a question about the SWC itself...I wanted to thank the above poster for the seasoned advice. What time should we show up to get a wristband for The Last Jedi panel? I really don't want to stay overnight...lol. We don't mind being in one of the streaming rooms, we just want to be with the fans during the action!

One more thing, just a general question. Because parking costs a lot and we like to come and go (naps, food, etc.) is Uber a fair choice for getting around in greater Orlando? Cost and efficiency wise? We are staying about 4mi from the convention center.

Thanks for being awesome, everyone. I'd love to meet new people too!

At DHS during Galactic Nights these will be the attraction open

• Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
• Star Wars Launch Bay
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi
• Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
• Toy Story Mania!
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• The Great Movie Ride
• Muppet*Vision 3D
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid

I would also think that Rockn Roller Coaster will be open since they did have it available, with Star wars music during the Fore Awakens opening night event and it was very popular, but there has no mention of it this time around
If you are interested in a regular park experience I would go with a regular park day, more hours and less money for the ticket
I can't answer about the wristbands sine I'm also a Celebration newbie
Uber is very popular here, I've never use it cause I'm a local. Where is your hotel? there's a trolley that runs up and down I-Drive so that could be an option, not sure how much it costs and it obviously does several stops along the way. There will also be taxis on site waiting to take people

 

[tstidm1]

Hello everyone! I'm glad I found this forum, it's been tough getting information about the Celebration. As a first-timer as well as an obsessive pre-planner, I've been very anxious to get everything together!

Me and my husband were originally planning on going to Hollywood Studios on the Monday after the convention (haven't bought any Disney tix yet), but it looks like tickets are still available for the Galactic Nights event. Do you guys think this would be a better option? Are the "regular" rides at DHS still open, so we can experience those too? What will the waits be like as opposed to a normal (crowded) day at DHS? I get really scared when I don't have a schedule to study ahead of time.

Also a question about the SWC itself...I wanted to thank the above poster for the seasoned advice. What time should we show up to get a wristband for The Last Jedi panel? I really don't want to stay overnight...lol. We don't mind being in one of the streaming rooms, we just want to be with the fans during the action!

One more thing, just a general question. Because parking costs a lot and we like to come and go (naps, food, etc.) is Uber a fair choice for getting around in greater Orlando? Cost and efficiency wise? We are staying about 4mi from the convention center.

Thanks for being awesome, everyone. I'd love to meet new people too!

Will answer the questions in reverse order. I am a major Uber user because I am carless and prefer it to Mass Transit. From my tests online, they seem plentiful and always run under 10 minutes. It will be busy, so you may face a higher than normal price all weekend because of Spring Break and Celebration. Check both Uber and Lyft apps before booking one.

I would say to get a streaming room you should be in line by 6 AM. After getting your Wristbands, you can leave the building. You should put some at least 90 minutes to get to and from the convention center though. I would stay from 5:30 am until 12:30 PM in the building.

Star Wars Galactic Nights is now sold out. It sold out earlier this weekend. If you want a regular Disney day at DHS, get an after 2 PM Ticket for $84.00 from Visit Orlando. I would do this Easter Saturday or Sunday even though it's going to be busy that weekend. http://conventiontickets.visitorlando.com/store/ for the tickets. They aren't blacked out for Easter week.

 

[Torrentia]

Will answer the questions in reverse order. I am a major Uber user because I am carless and prefer it to Mass Transit. From my tests online, they seem plentiful and always run under 10 minutes. It will be busy, so you may face a higher than normal price all weekend because of Spring Break and Celebration. Check both Uber and Lyft apps before booking one.

I would say to get a streaming room you should be in line by 6 AM. After getting your Wristbands, you can leave the building. You should put some at least 90 minutes to get to and from the convention center though. I would stay from 5:30 am until 12:30 PM in the building.

Star Wars Galactic Nights is now sold out. It sold out earlier this weekend. If you want a regular Disney day at DHS, get an after 2 PM Ticket for $84.00 from Visit Orlando. I would do this Easter Saturday or Sunday even though it's going to be busy that weekend. http://conventiontickets.visitorlando.com/store/ for the tickets. They aren't blacked out for Easter week.

Thank you both yulilin3 and tistidm1 for the great replies! I think we've agreed on using Uber/Lyft to not have to hassle with parking n stuff.

5:30...aiyaaa. Better than overnight. We'll be there!

I guess my indecision made my choice for me! I didn't know about the after 2pm tix, will be looking into those.

If anyone has more tips or input about the upcoming Celebration, please share!

 

[tstidm1]

If anyone has more tips or input about the upcoming Celebration, please share!

This is my first time doing Celebration, but my biggest challenge is what things to focus on (Panels, Exclusives, Autographs, Cosplay Photos). Since we're starting to get the schedule, you should look at it along with the Exhibitor List and Autograph list and choose one or two main focuses on the show. My big focus will probably end up being smaller panels and totally avoiding Main stage panels because the earliest I realistically expect to be on site is 8:30-9.

 

[yulilin3]

I think one of the biggest headaches will be traffic getting into the convention center west parking.
I did mega con last year and we arrived 1 hour before opening and it wasn't that bad but this is a new kind of beast. I'm basically playing it by ear since i plan to be there at 5am, but my back up plan is Pointe Orlando parking which is only about a 10 to 15 minute walk and you can access from universal blvd instead of idrive

 

[Temp77]

I was thinking about other tips I can share based upon my experiences at Celebration Europe last year and these are just some I have thought of:

• If anyone wants to visit the Celebration Store the earlier in the Convention you can do so the better. I visited on day 1 last year and by the final day stock of many items were reported to be low. Also, take advantage of the Lightspeed Lane tickets if you are able to do so. The regular line to enter the store last year frequently had waits of at least 1 hour and sometimes I'd pass the store and waits to enter the store would be around 90 minutes or more. Lightspeed Lane tickets work exactly like the old paper Fastpass tickets at WDW. You can collect a paper ticket with a return time which drastically reduces wait times to get into the store. I'd highly recommend going to get a Lightspeed Lane ticket as soon as you are allowed to enter the show floor from the queue hall as Lightspeed Lane tickets ran out very quickly in London especially over the weekend. Availability for Lightspeed Lane tickets tend to be slightly better when the available times coincide with the most popular panels as those with wristbands for the main panels can't take tickets for then but even those timed tickets will still go quickly.
• From memory all wristbands for the main stage for the Rogue One and Closing Ceremony panels last year had been given out by around 7:30 am perhaps slightly earlier. Like with this year they started giving the wrist bands out at 6 am. From what I've read the capacity of the main stage in Orlando will be slightly higher than the capacity of the main stage in London. Also at London the venue didn't close overnight like Orlando is between midnight and 5 am so people were able to join the line all night. Tickets sold out for London last year and thousands were in attendance. I can't say whether or not more people will be willing to camp out in Orlando than were prepared to do so at London. There certainly were several hundred willing to camp out overnight in London but there were still plenty who didn't camp out overnight like myself who were able to get all the wristbands they wanted just by ensuring arrival at the venue before they started to give wristbands out. There's a chance that so long as you arrive no later than 7 am you might be lucky enough still to get a ticket for the main stage though I personally wouldn't leave it as late as 7 am to arrive if you are desperate to get a wristband for the main stage. If I remember correctly there was still availability for the most popular panels (Rogue One, Closing Ceremony) in the screening rooms till around 9 or 9:30 am.
• I suspect it will be easier to get a wristband for one of the panels on the main stage on Saturday than on the other days especially with no overnight queuing allowed on Friday night. Last year I didn't get to the venue on the Saturday until around 7:30 am and was still able to comfortably get two wristbands for the main stage for that day. They had the Rebels panel on the main stage on the Saturday and even though I didn't get a wristband for the Rebels panel I could have got one had I wanted to. I think Rebels was still available till around 9 or 9:30 last year.
• Some less popular panels on the main stages last year still had availability mid/late morning so if you arrive later you may still get into a main panel even if you miss the major most popular ones.
• If I'm reading the Navigation Guide correctly it looks like anyone who wants to attend the evening screenings of Rogue One/A New Hope and Empire/ROTJ/TFA will need a wristband as they are listed on the schedule for the main stage. Wristbands were announced as being required for the film screenings pre-Celebration Europe but they did end up dropping the wristband requirement during the convention itself. Having secured wristbands for the Rogue One panel and Mark Hamill's panel on opening day last year that initially meant I couldn't get another wristband for the screening of A New Hope that evening. However, there was still plenty of availability for A New Hope by the time Mark Hamill's panel had finished around 12:30 pm so myself and quite a few others took our used Mark Hamill wristbands off and were then able to get wristbands for A New Hope at that time. There was still availability for A New Hope right up to when the movie started and they didn't even bother giving wristbands out for the screening of The Force Awakens on the Saturday night. Both screenings were very busy but weren't completely packed to capacity. I suspect they may wait to see what demand is like for wristbands for the screening of Rogue One/A New Hope and then make a decision on the day whether to relax wristband requirements as they did with last year.
• Follow Star Wars Celebration on twitter for updates on availability of wristbands especially for the most popular panels. They made announcements last year when availability was limited and when they were sold out. The screens inside the venue also give updates on availability of wristbands which is useful especially when you arrive and want to know what is still available.

If I think of any more tips I'll let you know and if anyone has any questions I might be able to answer let me know.

 

[tstidm1]

A couple of more autographing were announced today. We have Denis Lawson (wedge from the original trilogy) and Temmera Morrison (Jango Fett from the Prequels) will be signing autographs at the show. Autograph tickets are available on Star Wars Authentics website in the first post.

 

[yulilin3]

A couple of more autographing were announced today. We have Denis Lawson (wedge from the original trilogy) and Temmera Morrison (Jango Fett from the Prequels) will be signing autographs at the show. Autograph tickets are available on Star Wars Authentics website in the first post.

Temuera Morrison is a great guy, fun to meet. He is also Chief Tui from Moana (the dad)

 

[Chris Beckham]

Hello everybody I have never been to Star Wars Celebration. This will be my first time. Me and my dad are flying down on that Tuesday. What time should we get up in the morning to get a wristband and to get in the main hall for the 40th anniversary panel and repeat for The Last Jedi panel?

 

[tstidm1]

Hello everybody I have never been to Star Wars Celebration. This will be my first time. Me and my dad are flying down on that Tuesday. What time should we get up in the morning to get a wristband and to get in the main hall for the 40th anniversary panel and repeat for The Last Jedi panel?

I would say to get into any of the rooms you should be parked, through Security and in Line by 6 AM. I expect them gone by 7-7:30 AM depending how fast they're given out.

 

[jane2073]

I can't believe I only thought about looking for this thread today.

I remember a lot of you from SWW.

We have four day passes.

I have read about their weapon policy but it did not say much about lightsabers.
We are making our own (polycarbonate tubes and PVC handles). Will that be acceptable at the convention?

Is James Arnold Taylor going to be there? It wouldn't be a Florida Star Wars event without him.

 

[yulilin3]

I can't believe I only thought about looking for this thread today.

I remember a lot of you from SWW.

We have four day passes.

I have read about their weapon policy but it did not say much about lightsabers.
We are making our own (polycarbonate tubes and PVC handles). Will that be acceptable at the convention?

Is James Arnold Taylor going to be there? It wouldn't be a Florida Star Wars event without him.

Hi!! 4 day tickets as well.
JAT hasn't been announced yet

 

[tstidm1]

I can't believe I only thought about looking for this thread today.

I have read about their weapon policy but it did not say much about lightsabers.
We are making our own (polycarbonate tubes and PVC handles). Will that be acceptable at the convention?

Is James Arnold Taylor going to be there? It wouldn't be a Florida Star Wars event without him.

James Arnold Taylor hasn't been announced yet. If we don't get an announcement tomorrow, I think he won't be coming at all. Lightsabers are going to be allowed and will be everywhere. You will not be able to sneeze and avoid them. If they banned them, they would be such social media unhappiness it would be all over mainstream news.

 

[Temp77]

I've just read that the stage schedule has been updated to confirm Mark Hamill will be doing two panels on the Celebration Stage. The first will be on the Friday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm and will be 'Mark Hamill's tribute to Carrie Fisher'. The second will be on the Sunday from 1 pm to 2 pm and will be 'Hamill Himself'.

Whilst I'm pleased to see Mark officially added to the schedule it leaves me with a dilemma. I'd love to attend Mark's tribute to Carrie but I have a ticket for Galactic Nights and I'd be late getting to Hollywood Studios if I attended the panel.

 

[wilkeliza]

I can't believe I only thought about looking for this thread today.

I remember a lot of you from SWW.

We have four day passes.

I have read about their weapon policy but it did not say much about lightsabers.
We are making our own (polycarbonate tubes and PVC handles). Will that be acceptable at the convention?

Is James Arnold Taylor going to be there? It wouldn't be a Florida Star Wars event without him.

Your sabers should be fine. Worst case they'll make you go to secondary security where they expect and tag prop weapons. Blasters have more to worry about then sabers.

 

[yulilin3]

I've just read that the stage schedule has been updated to confirm Mark Hamill will be doing two panels on the Celebration Stage. The first will be on the Friday from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm and will be 'Mark Hamill's tribute to Carrie Fisher'. The second will be on the Sunday from 1 pm to 2 pm and will be 'Hamill Himself'.

Whilst I'm pleased to see Mark officially added to the schedule it leaves me with a dilemma. I'd love to attend Mark's tribute to Carrie but I have a ticket for Galactic Nights and I'd be late getting to Hollywood Studios if I attended the panel.

I can tell you that I have heard Hamill speaking and could listen to him, and Frank Oz for hours (went to both their talks during SWW) if you have tickets already I would just attend Galactic Nights and attend the Sunday talk. You don't want to be late for GN, there will be so many things to do that you will want to line up early for them