Calling all Star Wars Experts

[WallyBear]

My husband and 8 year old son are huge Star Wars fans. What do you recommend that we do on our visit in November? Any tips we should follow to ensure a successful Star Wars experience? Are there any Star Wars themed restaurants? Thanks!

 

[JCH]

My husband and 8 year old son are huge Star Wars fans. What do you recommend that we do on our visit in November? Any tips we should follow to ensure a successful Star Wars experience? Are there any Star Wars themed restaurants? Thanks!

If they are huge Star Wars fans, I would consider changing the trip to May/June for Star Wars Weekend. During that weekend, all of Hollywood Studios is taken over by Star Wars, with actors from the movies and TV series, discussion panels, a parade, etc. There is an another "Maul" of merchandise. It's pretty awesome.

However, in November, the one thing really you need to make sure you do when go to Hollywood Studios is take your son straight sign up for Jedi Training Academy. Otherwise, the Star Wars Ride, Star Tours, rarely has a wait. It has 50 different variations, so you'll want to ride is multiple times. No Star Wars themed restaurants. No characters out on non Star Wars Weekend days. Really just a small section of HS with the Training Academy, Star Tours, and a small shop...

 

[ethanwa]

My husband and 8 year old son are huge Star Wars fans. What do you recommend that we do on our visit in November? Any tips we should follow to ensure a successful Star Wars experience? Are there any Star Wars themed restaurants? Thanks!

No themed restaurants unfortunately.

I would say that in order to get the best of Star Wars, spend a good amount of time hanging out near Star Tours in Hollywood Studios. It's nicely themed. They have a Jedi Training Academy for kids, which is actually really enjoyable to watch (and have some Star Wars characters appear) even for adults. Seeings the kids with light sabers is fun, and your 8 year old might want to give it a try (although that is the high end for age range for that I think).

Go on Star Tours MULTIPLE times. The ride video changes every time you go (there are up to 50 different sequences that can occur) so you can go on 10 different times and still see new parts of the ride. It's really quite amazing how they do it. After you get off the ride you'll go into a big Star Wars/Tours shopping area. You may want to hang out in there for a while.

Unfortunately though that is about it for now. There are rumors of a "Star Wars Land" coming to one of the parks (Disneyland or Walt Disney World), but no one knows if/when that will happen.

Ethan

 

[Zooshoveller]

If they are huge Star Wars fans, I would consider changing the trip to May/June for Star Wars Weekend. During that weekend, all of Hollywood Studios is taken over by Star Wars, with actors from the movies and TV series, discussion panels, a parade, etc. There is an another "Maul" of merchandise. It's pretty awesome. However, in November, the one thing really you need to make sure you do when go to Hollywood Studios is take your son straight sign up for Jedi Training Academy. Otherwise, the Star Wars Ride, Star Tours, rarely has a wait. It has 50 different variations, so you'll want to ride is multiple times. No Star Wars themed restaurants. No characters out on non Star Wars Weekend days. Really just a small section of HS with the Training Academy, Star Tours, and a small shop...

This. ^

There are 5 Star Wars Weekends between May and June. There is an official thread on here. It's awesome! Tons of characters and even regular Disney characters dressed up (like Jedi Mickey, Stormtrooper Donald, etc). A SW parade, a massive SW merchandise tent, SW snacks...

If you can't change your dates, HS has the Star Tours ride and the Jedi Training Academy. For JTA, get there at opening and take your child straight to sign ups. We adore JTA.

 

[Reddog1134]

Just to clarify, when they say "50 different sequences", they mean the number of possible combinations of scenes.

It's entirely possible to ride 3 times and see all the different individual scenes.

But that's not to say the ride isn't good. As a Star Wars fan, I love it.

 

[BrianL]

Also in Star Tours someone gets picked to be "The Rebel Spy" and their face will be shown on one of the screens. It might be fun to ride several times to try to get that honor.

In the shop there is the build-a-droid station which is fun, where you make your own small R2 droid and they even have Mickey ears and other "hats" for them. Also, there is another area where you can build your own lightsaber from various handles, rings, colors and such. A lot of kids like that as I see them walking around with their sabers a lot.

 

[ammeador2]

Also in Star Tours someone gets picked to be "The Rebel Spy" and their face will be shown on one of the screens. It might be fun to ride several times to try to get that honor.

In the shop there is the build-a-droid station which is fun, where you make your own small R2 droid and they even have Mickey ears and other "hats" for them. Also, there is another area where you can build your own lightsaber from various handles, rings, colors and such. A lot of kids like that as I see them walking around with their sabers a lot.

LOL, I am a HUGE Star Wars fan and once I got to be the Rebel Spy when we were in Disneyland! We keep trying to get it at WDW but haven't been lucky enough to have that honor yet.

Most definitely if they are Star Wars fans you need to go in May/June. It's amazing and I loved seeing all of the characters walk around the park, the photopass photos amazing! My kids LOVED trading with the Jawas and my son and daughter dressed in their finest jedi gear. They got to go up on stage and meet Ray Park, he taught them how to use a light saber and he let them keep it when he was done. It was worth it on so many levels.

 

[WallyBear]

Unfortunately, we are locked in on the dates but I think you all gave me an excuse to plan another trip I have heard great things about the JTA. Can I get a fast pass for that or do we need to be there right at rope drop and sprint to the venue?

 

[PeanutButterMom]

Jedi Training Academy was an absolute blast. My 4.5 and 7.5 year old did it, and I would say most of the kids in our group were in the 6-9 age range. We also build our our lightsabers and the Build-a-Droid is also really fun and my kids still play with them a lot (actually, my now 8yo asked to go back soon so we could get more...).

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Unfortunately, we are locked in on the dates but I think you all gave me an excuse to plan another trip I have heard great things about the JTA. Can I get a fast pass for that or do we need to be there right at rope drop and sprint to the venue?

CMs have to verify the age of the JTA participants (it's for 4-12 year olds only) and verify that they're willing to participate, so signups are only done in person.

DHS doesn't do a rope drop ceremony, so you won't be running with a herd. When you get into the park, just go straight to sign ups. If it's a must-do, make sure you're to DHS no later than 8:30. I highly recommend the Hollywood & Vine breakfast, and making the reservation at 8:00. You'll be done eating within 35-40 minutes, and you'll be right by the JTA signup spot. Once they open the park, they'll release you from the restaurant and you'll be one of the first people to sign up, because you'll be ahead of everyone coming into the park.

 

[TDC Nala]

it's also necessary for the child to be at the signup so they can verify the age and the child's willingness to participate (i.e. would they be willing to go up on stage and face Darth Vader without their parents being close by)

 

[WallyBear]

Thank you for all the tips. I definitely think I have enough info to formulate a game plan.

 

[gwmort]

Never done star wars weekends but big star wars fans.

in addition to the above, it is possible to catch a rare star wars character for a photo op outside of starwars weekends (I know I have a photo with Chewy). there are also some speeder bikes set up for guests to pose for pictures on.

We also have a star wars themed Duffy bear (with a jedi robe and light saber), and last trip we got a Darth Maul themed Donald Duck toy which my son carried into a Donald Duck Meet and Greet in MK and spurred some hilarious interactions.

I believe there is an R2-D2 popcorn bucket you can get at some vendor carts in DHS and if you look in some of the artsy shops you can see some of the paintings and things with Mickey as Luke etc...besides just the tatooine shop.

If you're doing a pre-arrival in room celebration I think I've seen some of those star wars themed as well.

 

[pad406]

As others have said go straight to sign up when you get into the park, it fills up real quick. The sign up area is just beside the America Idol building.

Also the photopass photographers can do 'magic' shots if you ask them nicely. One of these it a fight scene with Darth Vader. He even brought us the whole way across the park to do the shot beside the speeders, really nice of him.

Lastly on star tours, the rebel spy is not randomly picked by computer or anything, one of the CM's picks a person on a little screen just to the left as you enter. Once I spotted this I had my son hop up and down real excited and I kept pointing to him. The CM made him the rebel spy. he was so happy. Later on that day he got it again by pure luck. His sister was so jealous

 

[BrianL]

As others have said go straight to sign up when you get into the park, it fills up real quick. The sign up area is just beside the America Idol building.

Also the photopass photographers can do 'magic' shots if you ask them nicely. One of these it a fight scene with Darth Vader. He even brought us the whole way across the park to do the shot beside the speeders, really nice of him.

Lastly on star tours, the rebel spy is not randomly picked by computer or anything, one of the CM's picks a person on a little screen just to the left as you enter. Once I spotted this I had my son hop up and down real excited and I kept pointing to him. The CM made him the rebel spy. he was so happy. Later on that day he got it again by pure luck. His sister was so jealous

Oh, I had no idea it wasn't computer controlled. It's cool that they get to pick someone, like an excited kid, and make their day. I got picked for it last November, but I rode a bunch of times and they were't even full Starspeeders, so the odds favored me.

 

[cgattis]

I figured it wasn't random after my DD got picked during SWW when she was the only kid on the ride in costume. DS got picked yesterday too. Cool

 

[kaybird]

Right across from star tours is one of the vehicles for photo op. Have your son practice planking, and you can get a great picture that looks like he is hanging on for dear life!!!

I love love love the ride!! I can ride it over and over as long as my group can stand it!! If there is no line, try to take your time anyway, the destination screens, TSA luggage screening, and port silhouettes are hilarious and well worth seeing!

 

[bigtony777]

Right across from star tours is one of the vehicles for photo op. Have your son practice planking, and you can get a great picture that looks like he is hanging on for dear life!!!

Do you have a picture to illustrate this?

OP, unless you are going around Thanksgiving, you should not have an issue getting signed up for JTA. As others have already stated, be there early and go right away to sign up.

 

[kaybird]

Do you have a picture to illustrate this?

OP, unless you are going around Thanksgiving, you should not have an issue getting signed up for JTA. As others have already stated, be there early and go right away to sign up.

Can't find the pic of my grandson, but basically he held on propped up on his elbows with his feet out behind him.
You can just sit on it, too.