Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[lovethattink]

I showed my boyfriend the shirt you have and he said that it was event exclusive as well... so you both must be on to something.

He also said he hates the fact that the Mara Jade shirts are only for women!

I love my Her Universe shirts.

Has he looked at Zazzle or cafe press? They might have an unofficial one.

Hyperspace Hoopla is the show they do at the end of the day at the Hat Stage. People grab a spot hours (yes, plural) before the show to get a decent spot. In past years even though you might be close to the stage alot of parents grab their kids and put them on their shoulders blocking peoples view.
There are 2 spots where you can enjoy the show without risk of this obstruction:
1.- There's a ledge right next to the sound booth (it's hard to explain where but when you get there you'll see the sound booth). If you're facing the stage it's on your right, there's a litthe pathway that leads you to the Brown Derby...You can grab a spot on that ledge, you need to be there early, sit down and when the show starts you can stand on the ledge and be above people's heads. It's a great spot...that is, if they don't change the rules, which they always do.
2.- You can easily enjoy HH in front of the American Idol Experience screen, they show it there and you can turn around and see the show on stage. I love watching HH live at least once, but after that, on other nights we just sit down on a bench in front of the screen and watch it from there. This spot tends to be a bit more relaxed and people that don;t grab a bench sit on the floor and don't obstruct your view.

We always sit at Idol, except for the one time we attempted to get a spot in front of the actual stage...but that show was cancelled.

I love how everyone just sits in front of the screen. It's so much more relaxed and laid back.

I'm sure we've sat in front of the screen at many of the shows where you were on a bench.

 

[MLC2002]

Hyperspace Hoopla is the show they do at the end of the day at the Hat Stage. People grab a spot hours (yes, plural) before the show to get a decent spot. In past years even though you might be close to the stage alot of parents grab their kids and put them on their shoulders blocking peoples view.
There are 2 spots where you can enjoy the show without risk of this obstruction:
1.- There's a ledge right next to the sound booth (it's hard to explain where but when you get there you'll see the sound booth). If you're facing the stage it's on your right, there's a litthe pathway that leads you to the Brown Derby...You can grab a spot on that ledge, you need to be there early, sit down and when the show starts you can stand on the ledge and be above people's heads. It's a great spot...that is, if they don't change the rules, which they always do.
2.- You can easily enjoy HH in front of the American Idol Experience screen, they show it there and you can turn around and see the show on stage. I love watching HH live at least once, but after that, on other nights we just sit down on a bench in front of the screen and watch it from there. This spot tends to be a bit more relaxed and people that don;t grab a bench sit on the floor and don't obstruct your view.

Thank you for the tips! That's the best part of this type of thread/board!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Hyperspace Hoopla is the show they do at the end of the day at the Hat Stage. People grab a spot hours (yes, plural) before the show to get a decent spot. In past years even though you might be close to the stage alot of parents grab their kids and put them on their shoulders blocking peoples view.
There are 2 spots where you can enjoy the show without risk of this obstruction:
1.- There's a ledge right next to the sound booth (it's hard to explain where but when you get there you'll see the sound booth). If you're facing the stage it's on your right, there's a litthe pathway that leads you to the Brown Derby...You can grab a spot on that ledge, you need to be there early, sit down and when the show starts you can stand on the ledge and be above people's heads. It's a great spot...that is, if they don't change the rules, which they always do.
2.- You can easily enjoy HH in front of the American Idol Experience screen, they show it there and you can turn around and see the show on stage. I love watching HH live at least once, but after that, on other nights we just sit down on a bench in front of the screen and watch it from there. This spot tends to be a bit more relaxed and people that don;t grab a bench sit on the floor and don't obstruct your view.

HH = Hyperspace Hoopla Face... plant on desk... WOW I can't believe I messed that up...

Thanks for the tip on hours early. My boyfriend and I might have to try the hours early at least one of the nights out of the 5 that we are there for SWW.

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

We've never done star wars weekends. Are all the days the same in one weekend? Like if I go on Sunday will they have the same activities as they do on Saturday? Same parade, same meet and greets, same shows, same merchandise, etc?

 

[mesaboy2]

We've never done star wars weekends. Are all the days the same in one weekend? Like if I go on Sunday will they have the same activities as they do on Saturday? Same parade, same meet and greets, same shows, same merchandise, etc?

Pretty much. Might be some minor variance in shows, but that's about it.

 

[yulilin3]

HH = Hyperspace Hoopla Face... plant on desk... WOW I can't believe I messed that up...

Thanks for the tip on hours early. My boyfriend and I might have to try the hours early at least one of the nights out of the 5 that we are there for SWW.

Here's a list of acronyms that are going to be used to refer to SWW:
SWW: Star Wars Weekends
JTA: Jedi Training Academy
PMC: Padawan Mind Challenge
JAT: James Arnold Taylor (host)
PT: Premiere Theater (where the shows are performed)
HH: Hyperspace Hoopla.
Can you tell I'm bored
I have three main tips for SWW:
* Be early for everything you want to do, be it character meet & greets, celebrity autograph fp, shows, HH, etc
* Prioritize what you want to do, especially if you have only one day for SWW stuff.
* Stay hydrated, stay hydrated, stay hydrated.

 

[cgattis]

Can I just note that I have been reading this thread since day one, its up to 44 pages, and I don't think I've seen an ugly/snarky/judgemental post yet.......SW geeks just seem to actually enjoy helping fellow fans along.....wow. Cool

 

[lovethattink]

Can I just note that I have been reading this thread since day one, its up to 44 pages, and I don't think I've seen an ugly/snarky/judgemental post yet.......SW geeks just seem to actually enjoy helping fellow fans along.....wow. Cool

Seriously, Star Wars fans are like one big family. Just take a look at recent times when SW fans banned together to help stop bullying. There's the case of Katie from 2010 who was teased and the whole SW community was behind her. After Celebration VI, a Florida reporter made a spoof making fun of the way people dressed for C6. It wasn't long before the whole SW community got the station to pull the sick report. We are family, it goes deeper than just fandom.

 

[pigget74]

Have not read all the posts, so please forgive me if these questions have already been asked. I have done SWW twice years ago. Oldest son is now 18 and I think he was like 9 and 11 the last time.

I am now going with my family and extended family. We booked our trip in September in anticipation that our weekend would fall on SWW and it does. We are going May 26th-June 2nd. I will have my youngest son (7) and my nephew (10)--who has never been to Disney. Will also have my daughters (15 and 5). We are all Star Wars fans. The boys really want to do JTA--so I know we need to head there first thing that morning to secure a spot...is this correct? These weekends have evolved a lot since the last time we have been there. What else other than meet-n-greets and build your own saber is not to be missed. I would like to get shirts for the boys with a coordinating skirt and shirt for the youngest daughter--any ideas on where to order? I know part of this is very vague, but we want to see the most and do the most that we can this day--this will be our only day for SSW.

The boys only care about JTA and characters. Of course we will ride the rides. What time should we be there in order to do JTA?

Thanks

 

[pigget74]

We headed down the walking path from YC around 7:30 am last year. The first boat was pulling into BWI right around 7:35am. This was during Weekend 4.

This is good to know...as this is how we are going and we want to get there very early! Thanks.

 

[yulilin3]

Have not read all the posts, so please forgive me if these questions have already been asked. I have done SWW twice years ago. Oldest son is now 18 and I think he was like 9 and 11 the last time.

I am now going with my family and extended family. We booked our trip in September in anticipation that our weekend would fall on SWW and it does. We are going May 26th-June 2nd. I will have my youngest son (7) and my nephew (10)--who has never been to Disney. Will also have my daughters (15 and 5). We are all Star Wars fans. The boys really want to do JTA--so I know we need to head there first thing that morning to secure a spot...is this correct? These weekends have evolved a lot since the last time we have been there. What else other than meet-n-greets and build your own saber is not to be missed. I would like to get shirts for the boys with a coordinating skirt and shirt for the youngest daughter--any ideas on where to order? I know part of this is very vague, but we want to see the most and do the most that we can this day--this will be our only day for SSW.

The boys only care about JTA and characters. Of course we will ride the rides. What time should we be there in order to do JTA?

Thanks

Yes,get there early,park is scheduled to open at 8am and for sww it has unofficially as early as 7:15 so I would be there no later than 7:15am. The kids that want to do JTA have to be there to sign up. Then I would start making lines for characters. The most popular are Darth Vader, Chewbacca and the Disney SW characters. Other than that they have the PMC if your kids are interested in answering Trivia questions, the sign up for that has been at Sounds Dangerous. The shows are fun, especially if they watch the Clone Wars. Get a spot early for the parade and HH.

 

[501st disney trooper]

Speaking of katie She is a friend of our garrison

As we have many female costumers in the midwest garrison of the 501st legion ..
The members made katie a full storm trooper costume for her very own ..

Take that boys .. Sw is for girls too
My eldest has a full sandtrooper - 16.
And my middle is working on a bikerscout
Youngest wants a jawa --
All girls

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Yes,get there early,park is scheduled to open at 8am and for sww it has unofficially as early as 7:15 so I would be there no later than 7:15am. The kids that want to do JTA have to be there to sign up. Then I would start making lines for characters. The most popular are Darth Vader, Chewbacca and the Disney SW characters. Other than that they have the PMC if your kids are interested in answering Trivia questions, the sign up for that has been at Sounds Dangerous. The shows are fun, especially if they watch the Clone Wars. Get a spot early for the parade and HH.

To be fair, the Fab Five didn't get higher than 30 minutes when I went on May 20 last year.

 

[lovethattink]

Speaking of katie She is a friend of our garrison

As we have many female costumers in the midwest garrison of the 501st legion ..
The members made katie a full storm trooper costume for her very own ..

Take that boys .. Sw is for girls too
My eldest has a full sandtrooper - 16.
And my middle is working on a bikerscout
Youngest wants a jawa --
All girls

That's great about Katie and that your girls like SW and have costumes. Are they in the Galactic Academy?

To be fair, the Fab Five didn't get higher than 30 minutes when I went on May 20 last year.

Just out of curiosity, do you remember what times you visited them? I know we went just before they were done for the night and caught Donald and Minnie, don't remember which we saw first. But each was about a 25 minute wait. We caught the last of Donald and the last of Minnie.

 

[yulilin3]

To be fair, the Fab Five didn't get higher than 30 minutes when I went on May 20 last year.

Yeah, it's usually 30 min. for Donald, Goofy, Minnie and Mickey, but take into consideration the heat, and that this particular line has little shade (provided by some umbrellas) And that some people wait for a specific character and then they trade them and have to wait all over again

 

[501st disney trooper]

That's great about Katie and that your girls like SW and have costumes. Are they in the Galactic Academy?

My eldest is - in her imperial crewman - before her sandtrooper She was like 13 maybe ?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Here's a list of acronyms that are going to be used to refer to SWW:
SWW: Star Wars Weekends
JTA: Jedi Training Academy
PMC: Padawan Mind Challenge
JAT: James Arnold Taylor (host)
PT: Premiere Theater (where the shows are performed)
HH: Hyperspace Hoopla.
Can you tell I'm bored
I have three main tips for SWW:
* Be early for everything you want to do, be it character meet & greets, celebrity autograph fp, shows, HH, etc
* Prioritize what you want to do, especially if you have only one day for SWW stuff.
* Stay hydrated, stay hydrated, stay hydrated.

I have saved off your acronyms list, thank you... since we have 5 mornings to start out with (coming in Friday during the 1st day) we should be able to pick what we are shooting for that day and get their early.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Speaking of katie She is a friend of our garrison

As we have many female costumers in the midwest garrison of the 501st legion ..
The members made katie a full storm trooper costume for her very own ..

Take that boys .. Sw is for girls too
My eldest has a full sandtrooper - 16.
And my middle is working on a bikerscout
Youngest wants a jawa --
All girls

TOO AWESOME!!!

Started working on my Mara Jade idea... taking it slow and fun like you said, not going to crazy on items and will be upgrading in time.

 

[501st disney trooper]

TOO AWESOME!!!

Started working on my Mara Jade idea... taking it slow and fun like you said, not going to crazy on items and will be upgrading in time.

heres some 501st links
for mara
http://www.theflagshipeclipse.com/
http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:SL_mara_jade
http://www.501st.com/databank/Costuming:SL_mara_jade_black_nebula

these should be a good stat ,,
lots of info on the forum ,

 

[SheilaHeartsDisney]

We are going the first weekend. How would you rank the order of days to go? Which day is least crowed and which is most?