In WDW for Star Wars: The Force Awakens Release

[ZephyrHawk]

So, we'll be visiting the World over the time period when the new Star Wars movie is being released. Obviously, since we are geeks (and so is DSIL, who will be traveling with us then), we'll want to see the movie. I hadn't really put any thought into it beforehand, other than planning to get tickets at the AMC in DTD and wondering when they might become available online. But then today I had a thought: "Hey, isn't there the option to dine while watching a movie at the AMC DTD? That would be cool? Would they bother doing that for a midnight special showing? Probably not."

So, the point of this thread is several-fold. First, is anyone else planning to be in WDW during the release, and are you thinking of taking time out of your WDW trip to sit in a packed movie theatre with a bunch of other crazed fans? If so, post here and we can share our mutual SW excitement!

Second, has anyone done the dining option at the AMC DTD? Is it worthwhile?

Third, has anyone been at the AMC DTD during a major motion picture release? If so, do they do anything special?

 

[BrianL]

Man, I would really geek it up if I were there for the release! I would definitely get tickets to the AMC, and probably spend the day beforehand at HS riding Star Tours over and over again and watching a JTA show. I wonder if they'll have anything else going on for the release (it wouldn't shock me if they ran some kind of preview in the ABC Sound Studio like they've been doing lately).

I have never done the dining at a movie theater. Honestly, I think trying to have dinner would distract me from concentrating on the movie.

 

[ammag]

There have been some rumors of a Star Wars dining experience coming in the fall but I don't put much weight in them yet. How fun would it be to do DHS like suggested then see the film, and eat in a themed dinner? Good times!!! I am hoping there are some previews or things in the shops in November

 

[bbjunkie]

I would bet my house that they will do something huge for the release date, especially with the increased presence of Star Wars in the parks, the impending Stars Wars World at HS, etc....I would think with their ownership of the franchise now, it will be the next big thing since Frozen for Disney, and they will milk it for all it's worth.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I wish I was there for the opening but we will be there in November. If I was you and was interested in the DTD AMC, I would call them up today and ask when they think advanced tickets will be sold for screenings. Because I could see tickets selling out very quickly (however as my avatar will tell you I am very biased though). I hope they have something cool for you at HS that week as well.

Selfishly I'm also hoping they add a SW character meal by the fall, as my DS (4) just saw the first two trilogies and loves them. Looking forward to the expanded SW presence at WDW. Jealous you will be there that week - have an awesome time!

 

[lovndisney12]

We are hoping for something too! Have a house full of SW geeks. We will be there 12/21 - 12/27. Right now plan is to do fork and screen at AMC DD on Christmas day. Know it will be packed but so will the parks... I like that we can reserve our seats in advance. My teenage boys are hoping they will do something special around release. Never too old for SW!

 

[poohntigger]

We have been to a dinner and movie and enjoyed it a lot. Two of us went to see Jurassic World the day before official release and it was just in the standard theater. We arrive the 18th so we definitely want to see it at some point while we are at Disney.

 

[BrianL]

We are hoping for something too! Have a house full of SW geeks. We will be there 12/21 - 12/27. Right now plan is to do fork and screen at AMC DD on Christmas day. Know it will be packed but so will the parks... I like that we can reserve our seats in advance. My teenage boys are hoping they will do something special around release. Never too old for SW!

That's a great plan for Christmas day, because the parks will be so mobbed. Even a full movie theater will feel like getting away from the crowds.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I will be there about 5 weeks before the dec 18th release (running the wine and dine half!) so I am really excited for what may happen come this fall! I figure disney will really ramp this one up so by November I (we) should see a whole slew of things!

 

[nancipants]

The AMC in Downtown Disney is one of my local movie theatres. I saw both Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith there for the midnight showings. It was packed. They didn't do anything special other than the regular midnight shows. I've heard rumors that they might be doing marathons beforehand, but I won't be going to them because I want to actually be somewhat awake when I see The Force Awakens. Also, now movies don't really premiere at midnight anymore, but sometime in the early evening the previous day--pretty sure this will be the case with The Force Awakens.

You'll have to check the Fork and Screen times. I'm not sure if that will be available at midnight, but if it's earlier showing the night before, it might be.

 

[soniam]

This is vaguely related. Please let me know if I am hijacking your thread. I have been trying to determine where to ask this question on the net. We will be in Germany during the release. Will it be shown in English or German dubbed? We will be back home on Xmas day, so we may just wait until then and do our Xmas meal at the theater. Really looking forward to the movie.

 

[CAS239]

Yea you don't have to wait until midnight. For quite some time now all new releases are shown the day before starting around 8pm. I believe the midnight premiers are all gone away for safety reasons.

So yea I'd recommend getting tickets and catching the 8 or 9pm showing while eating some food. I'd get tickets early, but wouldn't rush to get the day they go on sale as I don't see them selling out. If they do it'll be a couple days before the showing

 

[rlovew]

We have been to the Fork and Dine at DTD and the seating is very comfortable and we did not feel as though the dining took away from the movie. We actually ordered during the previews and then got our food during the movie- if we needed anything like refills on drinks there was a button on the table we could push to bring back a server so it wasn't like they needed to keep checking with you to see if you needed anything. I was surprised that the food tasted as good as it did and was just slightly higher than the counter service places in DTD- I think our food bill for hamburgers and drinks was just over $20.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Selfishly I'm also hoping they add a SW character meal by the fall, as my DS (4) just saw the first two trilogies and loves them. Looking forward to the expanded SW presence at WDW. Jealous you will be there that week - have an awesome time!

I hear you. If they start one this fall I can guarantee there will be some ADR shifting in my plans as well!