Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[kmcdougan]

Just booked my D-Tech experience. So, once I get done with the parade, I will get made into a Stormtrooper. Awesome. It's an early birthday present from the wife. This trip keeps getting better all the time.

Ash

 

[PrincessKida]

. This trip keeps getting better all the time.

Ash

I have altered the trip. Pray I do not alter it any further.



Sorry... I just couldn't resist!

 

[501st disney trooper]

I have altered the trip. Pray I do not alter it any further.

Sorry... I just couldn't resist!

Lolol. I was going to do. !!!!! Hahahhaa

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Just booked my D-Tech experience. So, once I get done with the parade, I will get made into a Stormtrooper. Awesome. It's an early birthday present from the wife. This trip keeps getting better all the time.

Ash

That's so kewl!

My BF and I haven't decided whether to do the storm trooper or the carbonite figure yet, we are both doing one. Our appointment is for 8:30 on Saturday May 18th. I am having a really hard time with the decision too... I have been drooling over the carbonite figure for so long and then they surprise me this year with the storm trooper...

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I have altered the trip. Pray I do not alter it any further.



Sorry... I just couldn't resist!

LOL I think my BF keeps thinking that every time I have bumped up the time we are going to get to DS to get in line for our celebrity FP not that his is disagreeing mind you just that damn, it's getting to be crazy early especially for the Ray Parks attempts!

 

[yulilin3]

I have gone back quite a ways in the thread and haven't found answers.
We are heading down for the last weekend (3 adults) and I had a few questions. We are frequent disers but this is our first SWW and we are getting really excited. I am trying to come up with our plan of attack to see/do everything we want.
1) DH is into Pin Trading and I know he wants to buy the SWW pins. Will everything be sold out by the last weekend or do they replenish for each Friday? We are going on the 7th for sure and can go back Sunday if we miss anything.
We may be buying APs and if so, he will likely want the AP exclusive pins...will he be out of luck? Should he go straight to Darth's Mall when we get there?
2) Where and what time should we line up for the motorcade parade? I will probably have a monopod to record the video as well as my tripod for my camera and really want a good spot to get some great shots.
3) I think we want to do more character photos than anything but does anyone have a good touring plan they can share or tips. I was thinking if DH went to Darth's Mall first thing, we could just make seeing Leia, Luke, R2, C3 our first stop of the day since they are in the same place. I really want pics with them, Chewy & Darth (a Storm Trooper would be nice as well)...anything else is a bonus.
4) I am surprising DH with a Carbonite Freeze...I don't know anything about it other than I made a reservation for the 7th at 1p. Is there anything I need to know about it for him?

Ok...that's all for now! I am trying to manage my expectations with this being our first time. We have some friends there now and I am hoping she can bring us back some times guides and maps from the first weekend. I am getting pumped!

1.- They have open edition pins and LE pins. No one knows how popular the LE will be but for the last weekend the LE are usually sold out. I would go straight to Darth Mall if the pins are a priority
2.- The motorcade is very popular, at least an hour before.
3.- see the post below
3.- just show up 10 minutes before, don;t have anything blocking your face.

Yay! Was the parade confirmed for 11, or is that still rumor?

Yes, the parade will be at 11am. And like CentralFloridian said Hoopla has been confirmed for 8pm

 

[yulilin3]

Answer to your character question Alicia080979:
This is the order I would do the characters based on popularity and the sun/heat:
1.-Disney SW: Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy ,Stormtrooper Donald and R2MK. The rotate so you may start making the line for a pair and then they switch which contributes for this line being so long, also it’s in the sun all day and even though they put up some umbrellas, it doesn’t help that much. They are by the exit to Great Movie Ride (1 hour and up)

2.- Chewbacca and Ewok: Another very long line, they go in every 20min., they come out about 5 minutes after they go in, Chewbacca is very popular, this line stays consistently long thru out the day. It’s semi-shaded so that helps. They are at the Speeder by Star Tours. (1 hour and up)

3.- Darth Vader: It’s the Dark Lord what more can I say. The good thing is that it’s under roof all day but, again, it stays long all the time. He meets by the exit to Backlot Tour (45min and up)

4.- Darth Maul: His line gets some shade during the day, he meets next to the entrance to Backlot Tour. (30 min. line)

5.- Bobba and Jango Fett: very little shade for them, they also rotate, they meet by the entrance to Backlot Tour (30 min. line)

6.- Clone Wars. Ahsoka Tano, Asajj Ventress, Rex and Cody: the line is in direct sunlight all day and they also rotate. They are by the Premiere Theater (Muppetvision 3D area) (30 min line)

7.- Jedi Council. Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, Shaak Tii and Kitt Fisto: they are by the San Francisco mural and get sun during the day. (30 min. line)

8.- Queen Amidala: the poor Queen is in the sun all day, she meets next to Sounds Dangerous (20 min. line)

9.- C3P0, R2D2, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia: They rotate and it takes time to get all four of them but the good news and why I leave this one for the end is that they met inside the Merhandise tent last year. A/C makes a huge difference.
There are roaming characters that are around the park. These are easier to get a picture, you just jump in.
Around Star Tours you may find the Cantina Band
Around Premiere Theater you may find Jawas, Clone Troopers
Around Backlot Tour Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Gamorrean Guard, Aurra Sing (my fave) and Zam Wessell
This year there are rumors we might see Chip and Dale as Ewoks, talking to a character CM during May the 4th he said that they should have a separate line…also pictures from the May the 4th event we saw Greedo meeting outside Backlot Tour. Like Berlioz said he makes an appearance during Hoopla but has never been out for M&G.

 

[yulilin3]

For all Her Universe merchandise fans, here's what will be available at SWW inside Darth Mall
http://www.heruniverse.com/news/dsww2013/

 

[lovethattink]

Yes, the parade will be at 11am. And like CentralFloridian said Hoopla has been confirmed for 8pm

Thanks for answering.

I'm having to juggle everything. Between the parade time at 11, making my ADRs 6 months out, and now getting my son's play schedule last night...I have to switch around everything.

 

[lovethattink]

For all Her Universe merchandise fans, here's what will be available at SWW inside Darth Mall
http://www.heruniverse.com/news/dsww2013/

I saw that yesterday afternoon. I really like the dress, the R2-D2 hoodie, and the Darth T.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Yullin, for C3PO and R2D2 meeting in the merchandise tent, where is that going to be? They are at the top of DH's list, with Chewbacca, Boba and Jango Fett.
Thanks for all the info!

 

[Zooshoveller]

Oh the dilemmas. Every show looks awesome. I can't prioritize the characters because I love them all (except the Clone Wars, never really watched it but DS loves them) We only have one day. Just waiting patiently for the official schedule to be posted as well as Kenny to work his magic. No ADRs, we'll just grab whatever QS/CS is closest. And not concerned with regular HS, we have another day planned for that.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Yullin, is the map up on The Hub yet?

 

[yulilin3]

Yullin, for C3PO and R2D2 meeting in the merchandise tent, where is that going to be? They are at the top of DH's list, with Chewbacca, Boba and Jango Fett.
Thanks for all the info!

Last year they were at the very back of the tent, when you went in, the line was to the left. This year with D-Tech inside as well not sure how everything will be placed. Remember that chewie, Jango and Bobba meet outside in the sun so try and get to those first and then you can just relax in the A/C of the tent. I'm going this Friday to record the motorcade, but I'll also do a quick scan of all the character lines and if the line isn't too crazy to go inside the tent I'll get a good video of how Darth Mall is set-up.

Oh the dilemmas. Every show looks awesome. I can't prioritize the characters because I love them all (except the Clone Wars, never really watched it but DS loves them) We only have one day. Just waiting patiently for the official schedule to be posted as well as Kenny to work his magic. No ADRs, we'll just grab whatever QS/CS is closest. And not concerned with regular HS, we have another day planned for that.

It's really hard to plan for only one day of SWW, I think it's an excellent idea not to have any ADR's so you're not pressured from that point.
It's so close now, I'm refreshing the HUB every 5min. too see if any new info is up...

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Wasn't there an open space in the back left of the tent last year? I have a feeling it'll be going there.

 

[Zooshoveller]

Yullin, is the map up on The Hub yet?

What is The HUB?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

What is The HUB?

The cast member website.

 

[yulilin3]

What is The HUB?

The HUB is the internal site for Cast Members, and no, the map is not up yet. As soon as it's up I'll get the info and post it here.

 

[Cshel85]

What is the D-Tech Experience?

 

[lovethattink]

Wasn't there an open space in the back left of the tent last year? I have a feeling it'll be going there.

Last year they were at the very back of the tent, when you went in, the line was to the left. This year with D-Tech inside as well not sure how everything will be placed. Remember that chewie, Jango and Bobba meet outside in the sun so try and get to those first and then you can just relax in the A/C of the tent. I'm going this Friday to record the motorcade, but I'll also do a quick scan of all the character lines and if the line isn't too crazy to go inside the tent I'll get a good video of how Darth Mall is set-up.

CentralFloridian99 and yulilin3, I wonder how they are going to work this out in the tent. Didn't you say the Rancor was going to be there too? He drew HUGE and I mean HUGE lines at Celebration VI. I would not want to be a cm those first few hours the tent is open. Hopefully they have thought and planned how to streamline guests to all the different areas and prevent bottlenecks for shoppers. I hope the queues are clearly distinguished so they don't have a total mess on their hands at opening.