Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[MyKidsMom1820]

Ok... so help me out (asking the same question yet again )..


Friday May 17th.. the first day. I see EMH are at Epcot.
So does that mean the park opens at regular time? 9am?

I really want the boys to see the Storm Trooper Show.
This is the only day/time chance they will have to see it.
Based on crowds and such, what time should we be there?

I'm staying at POP (which isn't far from HS), but I'm willing to pay for
a cab to get there without hassle.

Thanks

We are staying at pop too!

 

[bentopher]

We are staying at pop too!

OOh exciting!

What are your exact dates??
We are going May 15-22nd..

Our kids are close in age! My boys are 6.5 and 6 years old

Where ya from??

 

[CalSea12]

OOh exciting!

What are your exact dates??
We are going May 15-22nd..

Our kids are close in age! My boys are 6.5 and 6 years old

Where ya from??

We are at POP too from May 11-21, will be tons of fun!

 

[bentopher]

Sooo cool!!! We should get ourselves acquainted and make sure we schedule an in person meet up!!!

 

[shelbyf31]

Where did you see that? So I can keep my own eye out

On the Disney website. For some reason the new site confuses me. I believe it was under park hours then I clicked on the calendar to change the date. MK hours were extended throughout that week too. We are going May 12-19. So I have been obsessing.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

what is everyone's opinion of J.J. Abrams directing the new Star Wars movie?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

what is everyone's opinion of J.J. Abrams directing the new Star Wars movie?

Who? (Just Kidding!!)

I care more about the script and casting then I do the director, to be honest. Hopefully it will be better than the Phantom Menace...

(But quite honestly, this topic is probably better off for its own thread, rather than this one. Historically this thread gets quite long on its own by staying on topic. We probably shouldn't add to it!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3053449

Here is on already started on the subject on the Rumors & News Board)

 

[39CINDERELLA]

Who? (Just Kidding!!)

I care more about the script and casting then I do the director, to be honest. Hopefully it will be better than the Phantom Menace...

(But quite honestly, this topic is probably better off for its own thread, rather than this one. Historically this thread gets quite long on its own by staying on topic. We probably shouldn't add to it!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3053449

Here is on already started on the subject on the Rumors & News Board)

your right it can get quite lengthy with just our tips and info!
I saw this after my post (of course) thanks

 

[CentralFloridian99]

what is everyone's opinion of J.J. Abrams directing the new Star Wars movie?

He's a great director and as long as the lens flare is at a limit we'll be fine

 

[cjnix29]

Oh my gosh, we just booked a trip yesterday, and realized that we will be there for the LAST day of SWW! DS is a huge Star Wars fan and this is a fantastic surprise for us! So....with ONE day only, and the last day....what should we try to do/avoid. He is a fanatic for Ahsoka, so hoping we can find her at some point. I haven't read through this entire thread yet, but imagine that between now and June I will! Any hard to get reservations? My mind is swimming!!

 

[cheer25mom]

We will make the last weekend of SWW for our June trip. This is our fifth WDW trip, but the first for SWW. My daughter and husband are HUGE SW fans so they are super excited to go. We are planning the Friday of the last SWW to devote solely to the special events figuring it will be the least crowded of the 3 days. Are we correct there, or should we be looking at going Sunday? We have another day to devote completely to DHS during the week.

 

[tammilynne]

We will be there the last weekend also. We are planning the Friday and Sunday at HS.. this will be our 2nd SWW..

 

[zaz]

I've browsed through this thread. What if my family and I are not Star Wars fan and we still want to visit HS during that week-end? Will the fact that people are interacting with SW characters actually be better for us and less busy at the rides? Or we just shouldn't go at all?

 

[merbobear]

I just rearranged my entire vacation schedule, carefully planned ADR's & all, just so we can get a day in at the first SWW this year. I have to admit I have done very little research, because Star Wars isn't my thing..but I am looking forward to it! I'm subscribing so I can come back and read this thread front to back

 

[Music City Mama]

We will be there the last weekend also. We are planning the Friday and Sunday at HS.. this will be our 2nd SWW..

Same here -- Friday and Sunday of the last weekend -- 2nd SWW. Can't wait!

 

[ajh88]

Ok... so help me out (asking the same question yet again )..


Friday May 17th.. the first day. I see EMH are at Epcot.
So does that mean the park opens at regular time? 9am?

I really want the boys to see the Storm Trooper Show.
This is the only day/time chance they will have to see it.
Based on crowds and such, what time should we be there?

I'm staying at POP (which isn't far from HS), but I'm willing to pay for
a cab to get there without hassle.

Thanks

Let's see if my memory serves me correctly from last year. With an 8 am advertised opening time, we got there at around 7:15 am and it seems they actually opened around 7:30. Stormtroopers came out sometime between 7:15 and 7:30 - I'm sure someone else here remembers a bit more specifically than this, but I would suggest getting there no later than 7:15 am.

Also, they have updated park hours already to reflect the earlier openings on the weekends - May 17th now shows an 8 am opening time.

But now noticing that it is the first day, you might want to consider getting there even a bit earlier - I have never been opening weekend (or opening day), but it might be a tad busier than some of the other days.

 

[ajh88]

Hello Jedis, Dart Lords, Stormtroopers, Droids and all other intergalactic beings...
Glad to see this thread is soooo long...not gonna lie, I'm not reading thru all the pages but just wanted to subsribe, say hello and let you guys know that I'm on the lookout for any and all information on SWW on the HUB (internal Cast Member site) so as soon as I have anything new I'll post it here.
I'll be attending all Saturdays and Sundays like last year, maybe the frist Friday as well.
Glad to see so many familiar names from last years planning thread.
as always....MTFBWY

I am forever indebted to you for sharing your secret HH spot...loved it so much! Looking forward to another great year - we'll be at Weekend #2!

 

[CalSea12]

Sooo cool!!! We should get ourselves acquainted and make sure we schedule an in person meet up!!!

That would be awesome! I have never done a meet

 

[ajh88]

My little ones are TOTAL Star Wars fanatics, but at the same time, I don't think they will be able to stand in line for much longer than 45 minutes. If we get there early (leaving our resort at 7am), will there be long wait times to see characters already? I think they would want the Star Wars people, not the Mickey and Friends dressed in Star Wars stuff. I think it would be cool if they were able to get autographs and pictures with some of their favorites, but if the lines are too long then maybe just standing on the side and seeing them would be enough.

Depends on the character...Vader typically has quite a long line, but we have lucked out in the past and caught him with only about a 20-30 minute wait. If he is important to you, I'd get there early and head straight for him. We waited for about 45 to 60 minutes for Chewbacca - most of that was before the park was "officially" supposed to be open (I guess by the time he came out, the park was open). We were about 3rd in line and by the time we had met him, the line stretched a VERY long way and people at the end were easily looking at 60-90 minutes (if not more). (DH reminded me that Chewie meets at the speeder bike outside Star Tours and the line reached all the way to the entrance to American Idol when we walked by it).

OTOH, there are many, many wandering characters who can be photographed relatively easily and several character lines that don't get TOO out of control. I will be stalking Kenny the Pirate's site after the first weekend for all of the reports and times (I can't recommend him highly enough - he was absolutely spot on last year).

Not sure what, if any changes, might be in store since Star Wars is now owned by Disney - hopefully all things for the good - but everything I know is based on our past experiences.

 

[yulilin3]

I've browsed through this thread. What if my family and I are not Star Wars fan and we still want to visit HS during that week-end? Will the fact that people are interacting with SW characters actually be better for us and less busy at the rides? Or we just shouldn't go at all?

If you can go to DHS on a non SWW day that would be better...even though the mayority of people going to SWW only focus on those events there's alsoa group that will do a couple of SWW things but also do the rides and other attractions.
The park will be busier than usual around the Star Tours; Muppets, Backlot Tour areas (They have SW characters in all these areas)...also the Merchandise tent is located behind Rock n Roller Coaster so that area should be busy as well.