Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[OhStuffandFluff]

JTA during a non SWW day is less hectic to sign up for, there's something cool about doing it during SWW, the SW music pumping all around, the atmosphere, the people dressed up, but still it's up to you.
As for not having a plan after signing up for JTA the only thing is that if you decide to do characters you need to do them in a certain order, the biggest issue here is the SUN and the HEAT
The Disney SW characters (Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy) are by the exit to GMR, in the sun, all day. They do provide some umbrellas along the line but it can get very long, not to mention the characters rotating...
Another one outside is Chewbacca's line, even though it does get more shade, this line is another extremely long one, since Chewie needs to go rehydrate very frequently.
Darth Vader's line is also long but it's under roof, so the sun won't affect it much.
Just make sure you know what characters you want to meet and try to make a plan for meeting them
I always say: Disney SW characters first, followed by Chewbacca and then Darth Vader

This is great info about visiting the characters! Thanks for this! Are other characters in direct sun? Which ones are the busiest? Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks! It just occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to take a taxi anyway because I won't have car seats for the kids . I guess I will need to get out to the bus stop as early as possible to make sure we are on the first one to HS. My kids will be devastated if I can't get them into JTA!

All the major taxi companies that work around Disney carry carseats, so just check with your front desk and ask about that.

 

[yulilin3]

Oh goodie, I will go and look online now at the Her Universe stuff.




So if I'm at the parks on Wed. May 15th... will I be able to find this information somewhere? or am I going to have to sneak on here to get all the details... so I can alter my plan that I've worked so hard at all day to make

You can ask but they probably won't release a map and schedule until that first morning...a lot of people have access to the HUB (internal Disney site for CM) and that's how I get the schedule a few days in advance, so I'm hoping I can get it this year as well, and I'll post the details here

This is great info about visiting the characters! Thanks for this! Are other characters in direct sun? Which ones are the busiest? Thanks!

Busiest are the Disney SW characters, Darth Vader and Chewbacca. In direct sun are the Disney SW characters, the Clone Wars Characters (Ahsoka, Asajj, Cody, Rex) The Jedi Council, they have some shade, not alot (Anakin, Mace Windu, Shaak Tii and Kit Fisto)...same with Bobba and Jango Fett, some shade but not all the time. And Queen Amidala (almost all the time in the sun)

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

Busiest are the Disney SW characters, Darth Vader and Chewbacca. In direct sun are the Disney SW characters, the Clone Wars Characters (Ahsoka, Asajj, Cody, Rex) The Jedi Council, they have some shade, not alot (Anakin, Mace Windu, Shaak Tii and Kit Fisto)...same with Bobba and Jango Fett, some shade but not all the time. And Queen Amidala (almost all the time in the sun)

Thanks so much!

 

[ChandraM]

All the major taxi companies that work around Disney carry carseats, so just check with your front desk and ask about that.

GREAT to know!! Thanks so much!!

 

[bentopher]

You can ask but they probably won't release a map and schedule until that first morning...a lot of people have access to the HUB (internal Disney site for CM) and that's how I get the schedule a few days in advance, so I'm hoping I can get it this year as well, and I'll post the details here

So when the front desk let's me down, I'll know where to go!

Thank you

 

[Fire14]

For some reason I'm listed twice on first weeks roster.

 

[Haley/Hayden Mom]

We will be there may 18th. It's our daughters unbirthday day . She turned 13 on valentines day but we always celebrate it at Star Wars weekends because she is a HUGE Star Wars fan.

 

[yulilin3]

Let me start of by saying this is a bit Off Topic and definately a RUMOR at this point:
DHS is scheduled to be open on May 4th (Star Wars Day: May The Fourth be With You) from 9am to 12 midnight, with EMH from 8am to 9am, needless to say they are expecting big crowds that day or else they wouldn't have done this, MK is closing at 11pm, I don't think I've ever seen DHS closing later than MK on a non night EMH.
The RUMOR is that they will be announcing Star Warsland...
I can only hope...

 

[mesaboy2]

Let me start of by saying this is a bit Off Topic and definately a RUMOR at this point:
DHS is scheduled to be open on May 4th (Star Wars Day: May The Fourth be With You) from 9am to 12 midnight, with EMH from 8am to 9am, needless to say they are expecting big crowds that day or else they wouldn't have done this, MK is closing at 11pm, I don't think I've ever seen DHS closing later than MK on a non night EMH.
The RUMOR is that they will be announcing Star Warsland...
I can only hope...

Rumor yes, but I like the way things seem to be aligning for this. Hope you're right!

 

[skylizard]

Please be careful when you repost this list. Use the most current list. I got deleted at some point when someone copied it and didn't use the newest list.

May 17,18, 19
bluedoggy (Friday)
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
bizeemom4 (Friday, Sunday)
bentopher (Friday)
jennyjinx3 (Sunday)
Tjmj9801 (Sunday)
shelbyf31 ( Friday)
hsmamainva Friday, maybe Saturday)
fire14 and fires_grumpy ( Friday, Possibly Saturday, and Sunday)
centralfloridian99 (Saturday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
fire14 and fires_grumpy ( Friday, Possibly Saturday, and Sunday)*
Mark P. (Friday & Sunday)
moqu (Sunday)
Dreamsdocometrue9112 (Fri & Sat)
ChandraM (Friday)
KingsKidsx4 (Sunday)
Skylizard (Friday)

May 24, 25,26
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
kmcdougan (definitely Friday, early part of Saturday)
bizeemom4 (Friday)
Zooshoveller (Saturday)
Supermom3 (Sunday, maybe Saturday)
bjakmom (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
obx_mama (Friday & Saturday)
lovethattink (Saturday, Sunday)
RobertLC (Saturday)
ajh88 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Meech Loves Mickey (Friday afternoon/evening, Saturday, maybe Sunday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
moqu (Friday)
wdwviabuffalo (Friday Only)
LoKiHB (Friday & Sat)

May 31, June 1,2
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
AquaDame (Friday, maybe Sunday)
Nole95 ( Friday)
wishinuponastar (Saturday and Sunday)
centralfloridian99 ( Saturday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
Disneymomma76 (Sunday)
AFVChic (Fri & Sat)
WDWChloe (Sunday)

June 7,8,9
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
Hanover (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Music City Mama (Friday and Sunday)
cheer25mom (Friday and possibly Saturday)
HappyHaunts999 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)*
humboldthny (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Disneymomma76 (Friday)
Gooshy & DarthGooshy (Friday, maybe Saturday)
Ninja Mom (Friday Saturday and Sunday!)
Lilfoot93 (Friday)
Diegosmom (Sat. and Sunday)
Welovmickey! (Sat. and Sun.)
MLC2002 (Sat. & Sun.)
tammilynne (Friday and Sunday)

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Let me start of by saying this is a bit Off Topic and definately a RUMOR at this point:
DHS is scheduled to be open on May 4th (Star Wars Day: May The Fourth be With You) from 9am to 12 midnight, with EMH from 8am to 9am, needless to say they are expecting big crowds that day or else they wouldn't have done this, MK is closing at 11pm, I don't think I've ever seen DHS closing later than MK on a non night EMH.
The RUMOR is that they will be announcing Star Warsland...
I can only hope...

I wonder if this *could* be the May announcement easywdw.com reported several weeks ago....

After this year, we probably won't be back to WDW until late 2015 at the earliest so *if* its true, I wonder how far along it would be by then....

 

[kpitarresi]

May 17,18, 19
bluedoggy (Friday)
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
bizeemom4 (Friday, Sunday)
bentopher (Friday)
jennyjinx3 (Sunday)
Tjmj9801 (Sunday)
shelbyf31 ( Friday)
hsmamainva Friday, maybe Saturday)
fire14 and fires_grumpy ( Friday, Possibly Saturday, and Sunday)
centralfloridian99 (Saturday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
fire14 and fires_grumpy ( Friday, Possibly Saturday, and Sunday)*
Mark P. (Friday & Sunday)
moqu (Sunday)
Dreamsdocometrue9112 (Fri & Sat)
ChandraM (Friday)
KingsKidsx4 (Sunday)
Skylizard (Friday)

May 24, 25,26
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
kmcdougan (definitely Friday, early part of Saturday)
bizeemom4 (Friday)
Zooshoveller (Saturday)
Supermom3 (Sunday, maybe Saturday)
bjakmom (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
obx_mama (Friday & Saturday)
lovethattink (Saturday, Sunday)
RobertLC (Saturday)
ajh88 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Meech Loves Mickey (Friday afternoon/evening, Saturday, maybe Sunday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
moqu (Friday)
wdwviabuffalo (Friday Only)
LoKiHB (Friday & Sat)

May 31, June 1,2
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
AquaDame (Friday, maybe Sunday)
Nole95 ( Friday)
wishinuponastar (Saturday and Sunday)
centralfloridian99 ( Saturday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)
Disneymomma76 (Sunday)
AFVChic (Fri & Sat)
WDWChloe (Sunday)

June 7,8,9
yulilin (probably Friday, def. Saturday and Sunday)
Hanover (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
lovethattink (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Music City Mama (Friday and Sunday)
cheer25mom (Friday and possibly Saturday)
HappyHaunts999 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
joanna71985 (most likely Fri, Sat, and Sun)*
humboldthny (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Disneymomma76 (Friday)
Gooshy & DarthGooshy (Friday, maybe Saturday)
Ninja Mom (Friday Saturday and Sunday!)
Lilfoot93 (Friday)
Diegosmom (Sat. and Sunday)
Welovmickey! (Sat. and Sun.)
MLC2002 (Sat. & Sun.)
tammilynne (Friday and Sunday)
Kpitarresi (Friday)

 

[mesaboy2]

I wonder if this *could* be the May announcement easywdw.com reported several weeks ago....

After this year, we probably won't be back to WDW until late 2015 at the earliest so *if* its true, I wonder how far along it would be by then....

This is one of the things that makes yulilin3's rumor curious to me. The recent cessation of Pixar Pals and DCR, the rumors of the hat coming down, the acquisition of LucasFilm obviously, and the odd extended hours on May the Fourth are all very interesting indeed....

 

[yulilin3]

This is one of the things that makes yulilin3's rumor curious to me. The recent cessation of Pixar Pals and DCR, the rumors of the hat coming down, the acquisition of LucasFilm obviously, and the odd extended hours on May the Fourth are all very interesting indeed....

In doing research I found nothing that stands out...just a couple of private events at the Fantasmic! patio, Disney Music Day Bands rehearsing at the Prop Shop...the various rehearsing after midnight for Hoopla, the building of the merchandise tent...all programmed for that night...
I'm running the Expedition Everest Challenge on May 4th, the race is at 10pm...I hope that whatever announcement is done in the morning hours so I can be at the park.

 

[Ninja Mom]

RE: the RUMOR of a Star Wars land Announcement:

My son and I have great fun discussing all the ways that Disney can become "Star Wars Land". Things like making Space Ship Earth into the Death Star and Turning Ellen's energy adventure into Mustafar. We go on and on about this.... Of course we would never really want some of our favorite rides to change but it is fun to speculate on which rides could be altered.

We will be over the Forest Moon of Endor (Living with the Land would make a great Endor!) if they do announce a Star Wars Land!!

Can't wait until May 4th!!!

Ninja Mom (SWW June 7,8,9)

PS. We have decided to put Jar Jar Binks in the Figment attraction (Journey into Imagination). We think the two of them will get along just fine and they probably deserve each other.

PSS. Anybody wanna have a 'Star Wars throw down' while we are waiting for SWW info.? Name an attraction anywhere on WDW property and connect it to a Star Wars theme/idea

 

[yulilin3]

I would have to think about attractions, but something we (my kids and I) always thought would be a great fit was converting Backlot Express (The Counter Service restaurant next to Star Tours) into the Mos Eisley Cantina, in the morning they could have a character breakfast with Blue Milk and all...

 

[Ninja Mom]

Another thing we obsess about is studying Google Earth and seeing where they would put the expansion...

~NM

 

[lovethattink]

What if the announcement May 4th is only to make the official announcement of the celebrities for SWW? Or have they already made the list official?

 

[bdtracey]

I would have to think about attractions, but something we (my kids and I) always thought would be a great fit was converting Backlot Express (The Counter Service restaurant next to Star Tours) into the Mos Eisley Cantina, in the morning they could have a character breakfast with Blue Milk and all...

YES YES YES!!!!!! This is definitely needed!!!!! I could totally go for some blue milk!