Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[lovethattink]

I am SO suprised at the timeline they have... I am so used to having to plan everything so far out by Disney's design that it feels weird the most basic of info isn't released yet. Can't even pick a time to sit down to eat since I haven't seen a schedule... 180 days I have to know where to eat when, but 60ish days out they don't know then the events is or if this will be offered?

I made mine at the 180 day time frame. I went off of last year's schedule with the hopes that times will stay similar.

Last year we found out the schedule a few days before the first SWW. The character schedule from ktp came out after the start of SWW, but it didn't take long for him to post it on his blog.

You can get a pretty solid feel for the schedule from the past years' schedules. Most of the times for events do not change. THe content and persons in the autograph sessions do, but over the past two years, at least, the time slots have not (that I noticed). Thus, I was able to build a schedule that, last year, got me all but my build a droid and the parade done on Friday, including getting Ray Park's autograph. I had the Carbon Freeze already set for First thing Saturday AM.

Ash

Yep, agreed. The only changes were minor, a half hour here or there to accomodate for Ray Park's extra show. And I think 2 years ago the day George Lucas made an appearance there were some small schedule changes too.

The best selection of merchandise will be found at darth mall. the best time to go is the afternoon when most of the sw shows are going on.

The first day in the morning is the worse time to visit Darth Mall if you are looking for carefree shopping. We arrived at 10am the first day and it was a 2 hour wait to get in there.

If it's busy, as you enter there could be 2 lines. One for characters and one for merchandise. There are also often separate lines for LE merchandise too.

We spent alot of afternoon time in there cooling off and visiting characters. We saw alot of Luke. I fully agree with yulilin3 that afternoon is a good time to visit. People are getting autographs, shows are going on and it's a great escape from the heat.

 

[kmcdougan]

The first day in the morning is the worse time to visit Darth Mall if you are looking for carefree shopping. We arrived at 10am the first day and it was a 2 hour wait to get in there.

If it's busy, as you enter there could be 2 lines. One for characters and one for merchandise. There are also often separate lines for LE merchandise too.

Yep on the line thing. I've gone the second weekend both times. Friday was not that bad, but, by second weekend, some LE items were gone (like the Chewie bandolier pin lanyard last year). All in all, I was able to get what I wanted with ease and no long lines then. Build a Droid was a zoo last year - 45 minute wait every time. Well, except for the first time - my buddy did that while my other buddy and I rode something. When we got back, the line had doubled from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. It was like that the rest of the weekend.

Ash

 

[lovethattink]

As mentioned previously, Build-a-droid, build a saber, JTA are all offered throughout the whole week. These are much busier during the weekends of SWW. I would recommend doing these during the week if you are able.

If they offer Carbon Freeze Me, I'd suggest doing that during the week as well. We did it on a Thursday with absolutely no wait.

PMC is not offered during the week just weekends of SWW.

Yep on the line thing. I've gone the second weekend both times. Friday was not that bad, but, by second weekend, some LE items were gone (like the Chewie bandolier pin lanyard last year). All in all, I was able to get what I wanted with ease and no long lines then. Build a Droid was a zoo last year - 45 minute wait every time. Well, except for the first time - my buddy did that while my other buddy and I rode something. When we got back, the line had doubled from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. It was like that the rest of the weekend.

Ash

Hopefully they will not run out of parts like last year. Wasn't it hats for the droids that ran out?

 

[kmcdougan]

As mentioned previously, Build-a-droid, build a saber, JTA are all offered throughout the whole week. These are much busier during the weekends of SWW. I would recommend doing these during the week if you are able.

If they offer Carbon Freeze Me, I'd suggest doing that during the week as well. We did it on a Thursday with absolutely no wait.

PMC is not offered during the week just weekends of SWW.




Hopefully they will not run out of parts like last year. Wasn't it hats for the droids that ran out?

They were out of hats. I got stuck with green mouse ears only. They also ran out of solid color legs (ie - solid red, blue, black and green), so if you wanted an all red droid, you were SOL. My buddy has a black droid with one white leg. We will try to rectify that this trip.

Ash

 

[AquaDame]

They were out of hats. I got stuck with green mouse ears only. They also ran out of solid color legs (ie - solid red, blue, black and green), so if you wanted an all red droid, you were SOL. My buddy has a black droid with one white leg. We will try to rectify that this trip.

Ash

When we were there in November they were out of the hats and some legs as well... my husband's has two left feet and is quite the cruddy dancer.

 

[501st disney trooper]

If I meet the requirements, this is what I expect for myself this year. But, until my costume is in hand, completed, and I have my official approval email, I wil be doing the regular up early thing. Last year, I was in line for 5 for Ray Park, so, 7:30 was no issue. The year before, staying on property, I was able to catch the bus and be there in time for 7:00, so, no worries there, either.

Ash

Once your approved and your able to get into the legions members areas .
There will be planning and mech threads on 501st areas on the legion boards .. And the flg board will be havi g the planning thread and approval info .. As its their event You will need to also submit your aproval photos again to be approved to march the parade -- info and instructions will be posted soon ?

 

[d-r]

I've heard Jeremy Bulloch confirmed for weekend 1 and Peter Mayhew for weekend 4 - tifwiw

 

[kmcdougan]

Once your approved and your able to get into the legions members areas .
There will be planning and mech threads on 501st areas on the legion boards .. And the flg board will be havi g the planning thread and approval info .. As its their event You will need to also submit your aproval photos again to be approved to march the parade -- info and instructions will be posted soon ?

Thanks much for that info, brother. I'm already on the FLG boards watching for whatever info I can get (without being full member yet). I go for my final fitting tomorrow, and hopefully there won't be too many last alterations. Then submission pics, and voila.

Ash

 

[501st disney trooper]

Great to hear .. Having full access anything i hear i will pass along in pm .

 

[kmcdougan]

Great to hear .. Having full access anything i hear i will pass along in pm .

Thanks again, my brother. If you are on FB, hit me up over there.

Ash

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I've heard Jeremy Bulloch confirmed for weekend 1 and Peter Mayhew for weekend 4 - tifwiw

Sounds great! Looks like I'll have to go early in the morning on the first weekend aswell!

On another note, does anyone recall when the pins ran out last year?

 

[torontominnie]

sorry if this has already been answered; I waded through most of the thread and didn't notice. in a couple of the posts on the previous page it sounds like the (long) line for darth mall is also the line for the character meet in that area. while it would be amazing if we only had to get in one line to accomplish both, i imagine that would be too easy for us and potentially too inconvenient for people who are not interested in the meet. could someone who attended the event last year please clarify the line procedures for darth mall? many thanks!!

 

[lovethattink]

sorry if this has already been answered; I waded through most of the thread and didn't notice. in a couple of the posts on the previous page it sounds like the (long) line for darth mall is also the line for the character meet in that area. while it would be amazing if we only had to get in one line to accomplish both, i imagine that would be too easy for us and potentially too inconvenient for people who are not interested in the meet. could someone who attended the event last year please clarify the line procedures for darth mall? many thanks!!

It depended on the day and the amount of people in the tent. The only time we encountered a line for Darth Mall was the first day. All other days we either walked right in or just had a little wait before getting inside.

To the far right was the line for the characters. There was a separate line for the LE merchandise near the check out. Then there was another line for check out. There were also additional lines for the build a saber, name tags, and snack bar. Outside the tent there was just 1 single line.

 

[yulilin3]

I've heard Jeremy Bulloch confirmed for weekend 1 and Peter Mayhew for weekend 4 - tifwiw

Jeremy Bulloch has been confirmed by this site: http://starwarsactorappearances.blogspot.com/
no word on Peter Mayhew yet.

So it looks like this, as of today:
MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul)
Jeremy Bulloch (Bobba Fett)
MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
JUNE 7-9
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) ??

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Jeremy Bulloch has been confirmed by this site: http://starwarsactorappearances.blogspot.com/
no word on Peter Mayhew yet.

So it looks like this, as of today:
MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul)
Jeremy Bulloch (Bobba Fett)
MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
JUNE 7-9
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) ??

Yup, then Dave Filoni will be coming according to JAT.

 

[lovethattink]

Jeremy Bulloch has been confirmed by this site: http://starwarsactorappearances.blogspot.com/
no word on Peter Mayhew yet.

So it looks like this, as of today:
MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul)
Jeremy Bulloch (Bobba Fett)
MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok)
JUNE 7-9
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) ??

Ooooooh! That's a great first and 2nd weekend! Any word on who the Clone Wars celebs will be?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Ooooooh! That's a great first and 2nd weekend! Any word on who the Clone Wars celebs will be?

Haven't found anything yet, so we'll probably have to wait for Disney's announcement.

 

[yulilin3]

Ooooooh! That's a great first and 2nd weekend! Any word on who the Clone Wars celebs will be?

Like CentralFloridian said, Dave Filoni is expected...I would also think that Tom Kane and Dee Bradley Baker will come (the've been regular CW people), maybe Matt Lanter again since 90210 is cancelled

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Like CentralFloridian said, Dave Filoni is expected...I would also think that Tom Kane and Dee Bradley Baker will come (the've been regular CW people), maybe Matt Lanter again since 90210 is cancelled

Yeah, that'll probably be the voice actors.

 

[lovethattink]

On another note, does anyone recall when the pins ran out last year?

Sorry, I don't remember.

Haven't found anything yet, so we'll probably have to wait for Disney's announcement.

I love all the details trickling in.

Like CentralFloridian said, Dave Filoni is expected...I would also think that Tom Kane and Dee Bradley Baker will come (the've been regular CW people), maybe Matt Lanter again since 90210 is cancelled

For selfish reasons, I really hope that Dee Bradley Baker is coming. I have a picture of him revealing a secret about series 5 at CVI to my son that I'd loved autographed for ds. My son even kept it secret until the previews of the 100th episode aired and he saw it was that episode that he was telling him about.