Official Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend - The Dark Side 2017

[mbwhitti]

So looks like Rivers of Light at AK is going to be up and running(hopefully) in February. Have to figure out to how to fit that in the schedule now. Lot of good things to do for Dark Side weekend.

All the Disney announcements are throwing off my schedule for the weekend! I switched my arrival night to a ROL dinner package when they announced it. Then they dropped Wishes was being replaced so this trip will be my last viewing of Wishes so now I have to work that in. It'll have to be the night after the half since I leave on Monday so the celebratory dinner is out the window! Going to have to stake out a spot on the lawn to view Wishes! So much rearranging to do!

I really want to fit in the Star Wars fireworks too since I haven't been able to see them yet.

Add me to the list of making adjustments. I got Yak and Yeti for dinner on Friday to try to catch Rivers of Light. Originally we were going to fly in around 5pm on Thursday but I'm looking at an earlier flight in order to fit in both O'hana and Wishes. Ohana is a requirement to get DH to WDW and Thursday is our only option since we aren't running on Friday and we fly out Sunday evening (I HAVE to be at work on Monday for an event). We have Brown Derby for early dinner on Saturday in hopes to watch Star Wars fireworks as a pre-half marathon get pumped session, lol. Disney's calendar only shows Star Wars fireworks as showing through the end of March... anyone heard any information on this? I've heard rumors of great movie ride shutting down... starring rolls cafe just closed indefinitely.. Will there be a DHS left?

 

[croach]

Add me to the list of making adjustments. I got Yak and Yeti for dinner on Friday to try to catch Rivers of Light. Originally we were going to fly in around 5pm on Thursday but I'm looking at an earlier flight in order to fit in both O'hana and Wishes. Ohana is a requirement to get DH to WDW and Thursday is our only option since we aren't running on Friday and we fly out Sunday evening (I HAVE to be at work on Monday for an event). We have Brown Derby for early dinner on Saturday in hopes to watch Star Wars fireworks as a pre-half marathon get pumped session, lol. Disney's calendar only shows Star Wars fireworks as showing through the end of March... anyone heard any information on this? I've heard rumors of great movie ride shutting down... starring rolls cafe just closed indefinitely.. Will there be a DHS left?

Oh that will stink if the Stars Wars fireworks aren't there but it would make my weekend planning easier. And I know what you mean about DHS - I think I was there for like two hours for marathon weekend.

 

[lovingeire]

To add to my confusion I booked a ROL Tiffins reservation now too and might cancel the celebratory dinner or lunch reservations for Sunday and just hang out at MK after a shower and nap. I was going to take a flight that got in around 3 on Wednesday, but now I think I'll take an earlier, and probably more expensive one, so I can squeeze more in. I thought about flying in late Tuesday, but I wouldn't be able to leave until evening and I am not sure it's worth the extra night's hotel stay. (Tuesdays are normally out because my FIL has a golf league and he watches my youngest for me.) But I think I've finally narrowed things down!

 

[mbwhitti]

To add to my confusion I booked a ROL Tiffins reservation now too and might cancel the celebratory dinner or lunch reservations for Sunday and just hang out at MK after a shower and nap. I was going to take a flight that got in around 3 on Wednesday, but now I think I'll take an earlier, and probably more expensive one, so I can squeeze more in. I thought about flying in late Tuesday, but I wouldn't be able to leave until evening and I am not sure it's worth the extra night's hotel stay. (Tuesdays are normally out because my FIL has a golf league and he watches my youngest for me.) But I think I've finally narrowed things down!

We are debating a late evening Wednesday flight. It's cheaper BUT that's another night hotel and it isn't a direct flight and gets in at 1:30 AM... bah.

 

[cavepig]

Star Wars fireworks as a pre-half marathon get pumped session, lol. Disney's calendar only shows Star Wars fireworks as showing through the end of March... anyone heard any information on this? I've heard rumors of great movie ride shutting down... starring rolls cafe just closed indefinitely.. Will there be a DHS left?

I bet Star Wars fireworks will continue, I hope so anyway. Great Movie Ride shutting down rumor seems to always come & go, I don't see that anytime soon with half the park already down with construction.

I need to figure our park days out as well but will probably go for a FP for ROL as we don't want to do any ADRs.

 

[lovingeire]

We are debating a late evening Wednesday flight. It's cheaper BUT that's another night hotel and it isn't a direct flight and gets in at 1:30 AM... bah.

I also thought I could maybe drive to Baltimore and stay overnight there near the airport and take an early flight out, but again, is the additional cost really worth it. Life is full of tough choices...me trying to squeak out a little more time at Disney is apparently one of them! LOL!

 

[mbwhitti]

I also thought I could maybe drive to Baltimore and stay overnight there near the airport and take an early flight out, but again, is the additional cost really worth it. Life is full of tough choices...me trying to squeak out a little more time at Disney is apparently one of them! LOL!

We are definitely on the same wave length of thinking here!!

 

[DreamRunner1]

Illuminations will always be my favorite but the new Star Wars show is AMAZING!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I don't think Disney is going to suddenly stop showing the Star Wars fireworks show in April. Especially considering that the week before Dark Side weekend is Star Wars Celebration Orlando, the official Star Wars convention. If they did that, they would be turning away money because a lot of Star Wars fans will buy park admission and possibly pay for the dessert party or 7 hour Star Wars tour.

 

[mbwhitti]

I don't think Disney is going to suddenly stop showing the Star Wars fireworks show in April. Especially considering that the week before Dark Side weekend is Star Wars Celebration Orlando, the official Star Wars convention. If they did that, they would be turning away money because a lot of Star Wars fans will buy park admission and possibly pay for the dessert party or 7 hour Star Wars tour.

I sure hope your right! Sounds reasonable to me!

 

[croach]

I also thought I could maybe drive to Baltimore and stay overnight there near the airport and take an early flight out, but again, is the additional cost really worth it. Life is full of tough choices...me trying to squeak out a little more time at Disney is apparently one of them! LOL!

I booked a 5:30 flight on Monday morning just so I could stay over Sunday night and get in a little extra Disney time. Plus I can still get work that day and not use up a vacation day. The things we do for a extra time at Disney.

 

[GrandMum]

In case it hasn't been posted yet, I just found out that Disney has cancelled the black-out dates in April for the Military Salute tickets.

 

[Barca33Runner]

Just switched our plans from spending Friday afternoon/night at HS and seeing Fantasmic! to AK to watch ROL. Made a 5:15 ADR at Yak & Yeti. Will be first time eating there and only second time at AK; should be exciting.

 

[mbwhitti]

Just switched our plans from spending Friday afternoon/night at HS and seeing Fantasmic! to AK to watch ROL. Made a 5:15 ADR at Yak & Yeti. Will be first time eating there and only second time at AK; should be exciting.

First time at Yak and Yeti for us too! It looks delicious!!

 

[DreamRunner1]

Just made plans for ROL Dining Package with Tiffins in March. So excited!

Yak and Yeti is great but Tiffins is to die for!

 

[Ndusmama]

In case it hasn't been posted yet, I just found out that Disney has cancelled the black-out dates in April for the Military Salute tickets.

No it hasn't posted yet. This will save me money!!!

 

[Ndusmama]

You would think planning solo trip with race would be easier to plan. Then they add ROL, flower and Garden and not having seen and night show at wdw ever and my mind just goes nuts.

 

[lovingeire]

In case it hasn't been posted yet, I just found out that Disney has cancelled the black-out dates in April for the Military Salute tickets.

I saw that on FB! Now I wish they'd take the blackout off the rooms that would really help me!

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

FYI - the official WDW site now has times posted for the Star Wars fireworks up until April 8th (9:00 pm that day). As of a couple days ago, I don't think they had any times listed for any days in April (pretty sure it only went up through March 31st). So keep checking back everyone - they may be slowly adding them a few days at a time. I think it would be crazy if they showed them in early April but then cancelled them before Spring Break and Dark Side weekend when a lot of Star Wars fans will be around.

Illuminations will always be my favorite but the new Star Wars show is AMAZING!!

The other Star Wars fireworks show that they had before this one started was pretty awesome too. I got to see it last Spring Break and loved it (minus the ash in the air, including the little bit that landed on me).

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

On another note, I've now got an annual pass purchased to use on this trip, which means I can have park time for a couple hours after the half marathon and not feel guilty using a full day of a park ticket. And I'll have the included Memory Maker so I can download race photos. I went with an annual pass since I can easily plan another trip within the next year (most likely for next Spring Break which will be earlier than late April). Now I'm ready to make my FP+ reservations on Tuesday!