Need tips for Star Wars Weekend!!

[kritter]

Any tips for Star Wars weekend?? Thanks,,

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

I like the movies, but our plan is to avoid MGM during the Star Wars weekend.

 

[kritter]

oh my husband is such a fan we are going just for that......

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Well, The Force will be with you - as will all the other fans. Hope you all have fun there and its not too mobbed!

 

[Belle1962]

If you check the theme park board there are a few posts with SWW info and tips. HTH

 

[TBLaube]

We went a couple of years ago when they extended it. I recommend getting there before the ropes drop in the morning. Storm Troopers put on a little pre-show and it was great and completely unexpected. Also, most people went to the Star Tours area where the "good" guys were. We went to where the villians were by Millionaire and no one was there so we got to take pictures with all of the villians including Darth Vader, Darth Mal, and Darth Sidius(SP?). It was awesome because there were villians all over and they were following us and it was amazing. It was so much fun. The boys loved it!

The park as really croded though but it was a really nice day. We left in the late afternoon/early evening. We didn't get in line for autographs or anything like that...

 

[kritter]

Bumping this up!!!!Thanks for the tips thus far!!!!!!!!

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

We went the last 2 years to feed DH's NEED I def. recommend getting there at least 30 min before rope drop. If you are wanting the actor's autographs, you should get in one line and he should get in another. There is NO WAY(IMO) for one person to make it through more than one line. (You have to wait to get a fastpass that gives you a time to come back for the autograph!)

Unless you really want to buy the SWW exclusive items, avoid the Star Tours gift shop and the special area that they have set up for these items. WAY too busy!

No personal experience here, but if the kiddos want to do the Jedi Training Academy, sign up first thing in the am for that too!

Other than that, just enjoy your time there! It's like a busy summer day at the World! Just alot more chances for character interactions!

 

[kritter]

Thanks that is why we are going to fill Dh's need for SW..>LOL!!!!
Ok thanks for the tip. I think we will both get a fast pass. Where should we go for the special merchandise I know he will want something...LOL!!! THanks,.

Did you see the parade tooo???!!!!!!!

We went the last 2 years to feed DH's NEED I def. recommend getting there at least 30 min before rope drop. If you are wanting the actor's autographs, you should get in one line and he should get in another. There is NO WAY(IMO) for one person to make it through more than one line. (You have to wait to get a fastpass that gives you a time to come back for the autograph!)

Unless you really want to buy the SWW exclusive items, avoid the Star Tours gift shop and the special area that they have set up for these items. WAY too busy!

No personal experience here, but if the kiddos want to do the Jedi Training Academy, sign up first thing in the am for that too!

Other than that, just enjoy your time there! It's like a busy summer day at the World! Just alot more chances for character interactions!

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

Last year the SWW merchandise was located in the warehouse between Backlot Tours and Journey into Narnia. This was a much better set-up than 2005, waiting in the sun for 6 hours to get into Star Tours gift shop, people were going through the ride line so they could "cut" into the shop lines At the warehouse location you are inside an AC'd building and there were alot more cashiers and it was very organized and fast (less than an hour wait!)

All the characters were also located along Mickey Ave. They were walking around posing for pics, and the main characters were set up w/ lines to get into specific areas for meet-n-greets.

For the stars autographs-When you arrive at opening you will veer to the left to line up in one of the lines for the fastpass for the auto. that you want. Make sure you know who you want before you arrive and that you have a plan of who goes for which pass (and who is keeping which kid!), and where to meet when you get your fastpass!!! They have a set amount of fastpasses for each star, so you have to get the pass first thing in the AM, there are NO other options throughout the day. It's a one-shot deal!

And NO! We never did see the parades! We have always been in line for either an autograph or a collectible Here is the schedule for the weekends (in case you haven't seen it yet)
Celebrity schedule of events:

Three Daily One Hour Autograph Sessions at 10am, 1:45 & 3:45pm
Motorcade at 11:15am
Stars of the Saga Talk Show and Q&A Session at 1:00pm
Jedi Training Academy at 9:30am, 10:20am, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 4:40pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm
Behind the Force at 10 & 11am, 3:45, 5:00 & 6:00pm
Padawan Mind Challenge at 12:00 and 6:00pm
Hyperspace Hoopla at 7:00pm

Hope all this helps, let me know if you need more info!

 

[kritter]

Last year the SWW merchandise was located in the warehouse between Backlot Tours and Journey into Narnia. This was a much better set-up than 2005, waiting in the sun for 6 hours to get into Star Tours gift shop, people were going through the ride line so they could "cut" into the shop lines At the warehouse location you are inside an AC'd building and there were alot more cashiers and it was very organized and fast (less than an hour wait!)

All the characters were also located along Mickey Ave. They were walking around posing for pics, and the main characters were set up w/ lines to get into specific areas for meet-n-greets.

For the stars autographs-When you arrive at opening you will veer to the left to line up in one of the lines for the fastpass for the auto. that you want. Make sure you know who you want before you arrive and that you have a plan of who goes for which pass (and who is keeping which kid!), and where to meet when you get your fastpass!!! They have a set amount of fastpasses for each star, so you have to get the pass first thing in the AM, there are NO other options throughout the day. It's a one-shot deal!

And NO! We never did see the parades! We have always been in line for either an autograph or a collectible Here is the schedule for the weekends (in case you haven't seen it yet)
Celebrity schedule of events:

Three Daily One Hour Autograph Sessions at 10am, 1:45 & 3:45pm
Motorcade at 11:15am
Stars of the Saga Talk Show and Q&A Session at 1:00pm
Jedi Training Academy at 9:30am, 10:20am, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 4:40pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm
Behind the Force at 10 & 11am, 3:45, 5:00 & 6:00pm
Padawan Mind Challenge at 12:00 and 6:00pm
Hyperspace Hoopla at 7:00pm

Hope all this helps, let me know if you need more info!

Thanks for the GREAT INFORMATION!! DH really appreciates it it helps with the planning...

When you get the fast passes can you decided what time. He does not want to miss hte parade. So he would want the second autograph session.......????Thanks,,!!!!!!

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

Nope unfortunately not! Each star has a certain # of autographs he can sign during each session. So they start w/ the first session time for the first people in line, and continue until the first session's passes are gone, then they continue through the second and third (if applicable) session's passes. When they are gone (anywhere from 50-100 passes/session) then the rest of the people in the lines are out of luck! That's why I emphasize that it is VERY IMPORTANT to get to the park early and go straight to the fastpass distribution lines!!!

BTW-the girls are beautiful! You are soooo blessed!

 

[kritter]

Nope unfortunately not! Each star has a certain # of autographs he can sign during each session. So they start w/ the first session time for the first people in line, and continue until the first session's passes are gone, then they continue through the second and third (if applicable) session's passes. When they are gone (anywhere from 50-100 passes/session) then the rest of the people in the lines are out of luck! That's why I emphasize that it is VERY IMPORTANT to get to the park early and go straight to the fastpass distribution lines!!!

BTW-the girls are beautiful! You are soooo blessed!

Thanks for the comment about the twins. We are doubly blessed...

Ok great advice we will be sure to get the fast pass for the autograph session first and foremost.....Thanks, Any other tips.....Can you have any thing you want autographed/????/

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

Most stars will let you get anything auto'd, it is their perogative! The rule is that you can only get one autograph per fastpass. They do provide a special pic that identifies it as coming from SWW. The stars have these at their tables. There will also be CM's passing out the same photos presigned...but I'm pretty sure they are copies of the signature and not an original!

Our "free" pics from 2005 SWW in custom frame

A close-up of the "free" pic.

 

[kritter]

Most stars will let you get anything auto'd, it is their perogative! The rule is that you can only get one autograph per fastpass. They do provide a special pic that identifies it as coming from SWW. The stars have these at their tables. There will also be CM's passing out the same photos presigned...but I'm pretty sure they are copies of the signature and not an original!

Our "free" pics from 2005 SWW in custom frame

A close-up of the "free" pic.

AWESOME THANKS FOR SHARING DH WANTS THE PICS FOR HIS OFFICE NOW!!!!!!!!

 

[lisaluvsmickey2000]

We took the 2 photos to the local craft store (Hobby Lobby), picked out a frame off the shelf that would hold both (I think it's 16x20), and had the framing dept cut 2 mats (black and white) and mount w/ acid free stuff and UV protective glass. I think the frame was on sale for about $10, and the rest of the mouting and matting was about $35 w/ 50% off coupon!

 

[nbodyhome]

I put up about 120 or so photos of the SWW from this past Sunday here: http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=39&Itemid=66

We didn't end up but with Bonnie Piesse's autograph, but we did get there just after 9am. It is easy to get a place for the parade, to get into the question/answer session, etc. The merchandise line was very long during the day, and I was told that there was a line for autographs at 4am!

 

[hddanis]

We didn't do the actor's autographs. DS is way to young and wouldn't know who they were if not in costume. He had much more fun with the "character" autographs. I HIGHLY recommend going to the "dark side" first. Almost everybody else went to see the good guys. We had Darth Sidius, Darth Vader, Aura Sing ???, and Jengo Fett's autographs within 30 minutes. Darth Maul didn't come out until the afternoon, but we got his as well. We were able to get into three different lines at once. DH in one, me in another and DD12 in the third. With this strategy, we were able to get all autographs of all the characters.

They do rotate many of the characters. So if you're standing in line for the ewoks, you may see Chewbacca instead. What helped with this is to stay in the line and then place another person from your party (ie, DD12) further back in the line. This way, we were able to get both autographs. This worked for Annakin and Mace Windu perfectly for us. Talking to the handlers and photopass people also helped. They had a schedule of when each character was going to be out and at what time. That gave us a heads up on both Darth Maul and Queen Amadala. We were 3rd and 4th in line for them...waiting when they came out. The lines formed immediately once people saw they were out.

There are Photopass photgraphers at all the character signings..USE THEM! they're great and usually take several pictures, including candids when the character is interacting with you. I've got a couple of great ones with Luke Skywalker and Darth Maul.

We also went back on Monday when it wasn't crazy to watch the Jedi Training. I think DS would have been picked if he had put his hand up. But he was being cranky. The guy kept looking at him like he wanted to pick him!

The stormtroopers are lots of fun.They stole my DDs mister fan and started squirting it at everybody around. Another one took some lady's water bottle out of her backpack and threw it on the ground. Another stalked a woman and tried to steal her popcorn...then tried to eat it..very funny.

Most of all, arrive early and ave fun!

 

[McKelly]

Is the line to ride Star Tours exceptionally long during SWW, or just what it would be on a normal day? Sounds like most people are going for merchandise and autographs.

 

[The Big Fez]

I went this last weekend.

If you want to get the autographs, you do need to go get those fastpasses first thing. And then you need to make sure that the first one you get is for the one person you want the autograph from the most (unless you can go for more than one day).

Outside of the autograph sessions and Q&A, there isn't much more to do. The parade is OK, but not one of those "can't miss" things. With Millionaire being gone and the trivia challenge is just for kids, my buddies and I headed for Epcot about 3pm.

The best thing is all of the Star Wars characters being out and about.

The lines for Star Tours fluctuate like they do on any other day (when Indiana Jones lets out, it is long). I guess it may be a bit busier, but not much if they have all 6 of the simulators running.

I had a good time and would reccomend it for a Star Wars fan.

Just beware of Peter Mayhew. I've encountered him at a few comic conventions and he seems to be kinda snippy (this happened on more than one occcasion).

Fez