Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[softballmom3]

Ok. We are considering going to SWW June 9--I believe it's the last day for it. We aren't interested in any of the celebrity meets,etc. all we really want to do is just see some of the characters walking around, my daughter wants to see storm troopers and from then on it will probably just be a normal day for us.

Are we crazy for wanting to go just to see this? We will likely want to ride rides like normal throughout the day and possibly watch the Hoopla (I think that is part of what it's called) at night.

 

[yulilin3]

Stormtroopers are easy to catch since they roam around the backlot tour entrance so you don't even have to wait in line for them and if you go early, at park opening you'll be able to do rides with lower wait times. Hyperspace Hoopla is the show that ends all the star wars festivities of the day, last year it wad at 8pm

 

[softballmom3]

Stormtroopers are easy to catch since they roam around the backlot tour entrance so you don't even have to wait in line for them and if you go early, at park opening you'll be able to do rides with lower wait times. Hyperspace Hoopla is the show that ends all the star wars festivities of the day, last year it wad at 8pm

Thanks!

 

[501st disney trooper]

Ok. We are considering going to SWW June 9--I believe it's the last day for it. We aren't interested in any of the celebrity meets,etc. all we really want to do is just see some of the characters walking around, my daughter wants to see storm troopers and from then on it will probably just be a normal day for us.

Are we crazy for wanting to go just to see this? We will likely want to ride rides like normal throughout the day and possibly watch the Hoopla (I think that is part of what it's called) at night.

If you only want to bask in the glory of star wars weekends - and take in the sights and sounds ..
Enjoying what it is .without committing time to being here or there etc .. Just going with the flow of the day !!!

Wich is what we do after we march

I recommend seeing the before show --
A sww staple. Stormtrooper show up on the roofs of the entrance of hollywood studio's before park open ... Also the 12:40 parade a whole lot of star wars characters marching the parade - she will love it -- my girls love seeing us coming down the street - in double the #s of troopers we have here at home . Then see hoopla .. And finish the night off with fantasmic if its showing that eve ?

 

[Superman81]

Hey guys.

This may be a stupid question, but I am new to SWW. Do they usually release a schedule of events prior to the first weekend? or do you have to wait until you get there? I am going May 17th and I am trying to roughly plan out my day. Thanks.

 

[the5wills]

Hey guys.

This may be a stupid question, but I am new to SWW. Do they usually release a schedule of events prior to the first weekend? or do you have to wait until you get there? I am going May 17th and I am trying to roughly plan out my day. Thanks.

I had the same question???

 

[lovethattink]

Hey guys.

This may be a stupid question, but I am new to SWW. Do they usually release a schedule of events prior to the first weekend? or do you have to wait until you get there? I am going May 17th and I am trying to roughly plan out my day. Thanks.

I had the same question???

Last year it was released just before sww, maybe a week? Other years we found out after the first day. With Ray Park's show, times will differ the weekends he's not there. I've been going off last year's schedule to make my adrs.

 

[yulilin3]

I had the same question???

here's what we know for sure:
MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul )
Jeremy Bullock (Bobba Fett)
MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul )
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
JUNE 7-9
Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian)
there are usually 2 Star Wars guest and 1 Clone Wars Guest signing autograph plus the 2 host that are there every weekend


here's last year's schedule for the weekends including Ray Park/ Trip to the Maul Show
Padawan Mind Challenge: 2:10 & 6:30pm
Hyperspace Hoopla: 8:00pm
Jedi Training Academy: 9:15am, 9:45am, 10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am, 11:45am, 12:15pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm, 4:45pm, 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm, 6:45pm
Star Wars Character meets: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Behind the Force: 11:00am & 1:45pm
Stars of the Saga: 3:15pm
Obi-Wan and Beyond: 4:45pm
Visit to the Maul: 6:00pm
Star Wars Motorcade 12:40pm
Autograph Sessions:
James Arnold Taylor 9:45am
Ashley Eckstein 4:30pm and 5:45pm
Ray Park: 10:15am and 1:45pm
Jeremy Bullock 10:15am 1:30pm and 4:30pm
Clone Wars Celeb (not yet announced) 3pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm

 

[mommy2jack]

You guys are scaring me with how early you need to be at the park to get autographs! Has anyone done a wish trip to Star Wars Weekend before? We are going through Make A Wish and my sons wish is to be a Jedi at Star Wars Weekend and the day they have us going is June 7th. I'm wondering if we show our Make A Wish button if it will get us in faster for meet and greets and autographs? I know it does with the regular characters. Just wasn't sure if it would for the SW characters too?

I have asked our chapter if they have planned the day for us or if we have to and they still haven't told us either way.

Thanks!
Jackie

My BIL's family is going to WDW in July for my niece's MAW trip. My nephew is REALLY into to Starwars and wants to do the JTA. They were told that MAW would make sure he got in as long as they got to the park early enough to secure a spot. Hopefully since this is your son's wish they will be able to make it happen for him with out you having to get to the parks super early!

 

[jackemail]

Ok. We are considering going to SWW June 9--I believe it's the last day for it. We aren't interested in any of the celebrity meets,etc. all we really want to do is just see some of the characters walking around, my daughter wants to see storm troopers and from then on it will probably just be a normal day for us.

Are we crazy for wanting to go just to see this? We will likely want to ride rides like normal throughout the day and possibly watch the Hoopla (I think that is part of what it's called) at night.

Glad to see I am not alone! I am taking three 15-year old girls on June 8. They also just want to see Stormtroopers, and maybe the parade... just want to do the rides and take in the atmosphere of people excited about SWW, totally not interested in any of the other Star Wars goings-on.

 

[delmar411]

My BIL's family is going to WDW in July for my niece's MAW trip. My nephew is REALLY into to Starwars and wants to do the JTA. They were told that MAW would make sure he got in as long as they got to the park early enough to secure a spot. Hopefully since this is your son's wish they will be able to make it happen for him with out you having to get to the parks super early!

Well that's fine and all except early enough to secure a spot means you are there at opening. SWW jta fills up pretty much instantly so they would be out of luck if they were not there immediately. There isn't any wiggle room on how many kids are allowed in each show since its a spacing issue.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

I am confused on the lines prior to opening. After people get their wristbands, FPs, do they then stand in line with everyone else for opening of the gates. Is the separate lines for those not getting wristbands etc? I know we would need to get there early but was trying to figure out how long we would be waiting in line after the gates open to actually get through. Thanks for all your expert help!

 

[yulilin3]

I am confused on the lines prior to opening. After people get their wristbands, FPs, do they then stand in line with everyone else for opening of the gates. Is the separate lines for those not getting wristbands etc? I know we would need to get there early but was trying to figure out how long we would be waiting in line after the gates open to actually get through. Thanks for all your expert help!

The lines for each visiting celeb start at the far right of the turnstiles, outside of the park. You line up, they put a wristband and give you a fp around 7ish...then you go to the regular lines that form in front of the turnstiles to enter the park.
People who don't want a fp for celeb autograph can line up at the regular lines to get into the park.
As to how long you'll have to wait to get in, it depends on the amount of people and if you have an old park ticket (the ones you put in the regular turnstiles) or the new RFID cards...DHS only has about 8 regular turnstiles left, and about 20 of the new touch point. So I would say 25% are the old turnstiles and 75% of the new RFID access points

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

The lines for each visiting celeb start at the far right of the turnstiles, outside of the park. You line up, they put a wristband and give you a fp around 7ish...then you go to the regular lines that form in front of the turnstiles to enter the park.
People who don't want a fp for celeb autograph can line up at the regular lines to get into the park.
As to how long you'll have to wait to get in, it depends on the amount of people and if you have an old park ticket (the ones you put in the regular turnstiles) or the new RFID cards...DHS only has about 8 regular turnstiles left, and about 20 of the new touch point. So I would say 25% are the old turnstiles and 75% of the new RFID access points

Thanks for this clarification! That helps a lot!

 

[Supermom3]

here's what we know for sure:
MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul )
Jeremy Bullock (Bobba Fett)
MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul )
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
JUNE 7-9
Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian)
there are usually 2 Star Wars guest and 1 Clone Wars Guest signing autograph plus the 2 host that are there every weekend


here's last year's schedule for the weekends including Ray Park/ Trip to the Maul Show
Padawan Mind Challenge: 2:10 & 6:30pm
Hyperspace Hoopla: 8:00pm
Jedi Training Academy: 9:15am, 9:45am, 10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am, 11:45am, 12:15pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm, 4:45pm, 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm, 6:45pm
Star Wars Character meets: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Behind the Force: 11:00am & 1:45pm
Stars of the Saga: 3:15pm
Obi-Wan and Beyond: 4:45pm
Visit to the Maul: 6:00pm
Star Wars Motorcade 12:40pm
Autograph Sessions:
James Arnold Taylor 9:45am
Ashley Eckstein 4:30pm and 5:45pm
Ray Park: 10:15am and 1:45pm
Jeremy Bullock 10:15am 1:30pm and 4:30pm
Clone Wars Celeb (not yet announced) 3pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm

Thank you for this great information!

Does anyone know an idea of the duration of each event? I'm trying to make a touring plan, and I think tht I am overestimating how much we will accomplish in one day.

If you had to pick one from Behind the Force, Obi-Wan and Beyond, or Stars of the Saga which would it be? I think we will most definitely try to make Visit to the Maul.

 

[yulilin3]

Thank you for this great information!

Does anyone know an idea of the duration of each event? I'm trying to make a touring plan, and I think tht I am overestimating how much we will accomplish in one day.

If you had to pick one from Behind the Force, Obi-Wan and Beyond, or Stars of the Saga which would it be? I think we will most definitely try to make Visit to the Maul.

The shows are between 30 and 40 min. The parade itself is about 10 minutes with the welcome ceremony at the hat stage about 5 min. Padawan mind challenge about 20 min. Hyperspace hoopla about 30 min.
Behind the Force is about the process of voice over and Clone Wars
Stars of the Saga is a q & a with the visiting. SW celebs, they talk about their experience making the movies.
Obi Wan & Beyond is a story about how James A Taylor got into voice over acting, he shows a lot of his voices and it's inspirational.
you have to decide for yourself, each show is very different.

 

[Supermom3]

Yulilin3 you rock! Thanks so much. My boys are huge Clone Wars fans and so disappointed that it is not continuing next season, do we may need to do Behind the Force.

 

[yulilin3]

Yulilin3 you rock! Thanks so much. My boys are huge Clone Wars fans and so disappointed that it is not continuing next season, do we may need to do Behind the Force.

If they love CW they'll love Behind the Force it's fun to see the people that make the voices, plus alot of them do other cartoons and commercials and they usually show all of the different voices during the show.

 

[bjakmom]

Joining in! Will be there for weekend two and I'm really hoping to at least catch a glimpse of Warwick Davis!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Don't forget he will also be at the Stars of the Saga show - we saw him a couple of years 5/6 or so years ago - I think he was the host back then - he is a RIOT!! We loved him. So excited he's there for our weekend with our other fav Ray Park!!
PS: As much as I love Billy Dee I am glad he's on another weekend - hoping he pulls some guests away from weekend 2 - LOL Now if they could just schedule Carrie Fisher or Mark Hamill for weekends 3 and 4 that would pull even more fans to those weekends!!

 

[Mark P.]

This may be common knowledge already, but if not...
I called the WDW Tech number on Sunday to see if the Carbon-Freeze Me Experience will be at this year's SWW, and was told that if it will be around, it will most likely be announced around in early May.
Here's a link if anyone (like me and DS) was wondering what in the world this was, looks real cool!
Carbon-Freeze Me Experience

-Mark