Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[The Sunrise Student]

Last year, we got in line for 5 for Ray Park. We were in the last 5 people for his morning session. I would expect that with only one session, 5 would not even be early enough, due to his popularity. I'd say bring coffee and donuts, a chair, and be there for 4 at the latest. Yes, I may be panicky and overly cautious, but, I would likely be doing the same, if I had not gotten it last year.

Ash

No Ash, you aren't cause I am right there with you!

Our only saving grace is that Friday we are going to be up super early cause of our flight so we will be able (I hope) go to bed early so we can get there for 4 am Saturday morning.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

This will be my first SWW. I'm an AP and go all the time, what are the waits like? I went for May the 4th Be With You and ST was 1hour!!! Longest I've ever waited. Will it be like this then as we'll? Same for everything else? 1 hour waits all around?

 

[PrincessKida]

This will be my first SWW. I'm an AP and go all the time, what are the waits like? I went for May the 4th Be With You and ST was 1hour!!! Longest I've ever waited. Will it be like this then as we'll? Same for everything else? 1 hour waits all around?

Star Tours was severely inflated at the May the 4th Event because it was down from 9:20-1:30 that day. Now the crowds at SWW will be worse than at May the 4th, so it still may be around an hour. Fastpass will be your friend there and the line should continuously move since they should have all the simulators up @ SWW. The Star Wars related things will all have crazy waits. At the May the 4th event I waited an hour to meet Minnie/Mickey/Donald/Goofy/R2Mk and 1.5 for Chewbacca and Logray- expect that and more for those characters. The shows I think just be there 30-45 mins early and you'll have a good seat and enjoy the AC. The merch line is hard to predict other than this Friday will be terribly ugly. The rest of the rides and shows will be average to slightly above average wait times. Hope this helps!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Would love to see you in costume. Mine is a glorified suit, but without a dress shirt. Being a lawyer in New Orleans, I'm used to that during the summer, so, the heat does not really bother me. Plus, the parade is not going to be that long. THe guys in the armor, especially the black armor of a TIE pilot or Imperial Gunner will ahve it the worst. Trapped in plastic for an hour or more in direct beating sunlight with limited access to water. I feel for them. I really do.

You will get a full report after the event. It may take me a week or so to fully digest it and get it written up.

Ash

Oh I agree with you on the storm troopers and tie fighters, I think 501st Disney Trooper is going to die!

IF, and this is a big IF, cause of boots, I do dress up there will be no harness/holster, just belt with lightsaber, maybe the arm bands, but there definitely will be the cloak, black unitard, cowl, and goggles... and the boots....

Now if only I don't get disappointed, again!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Star Tours was severely inflated at the May the 4th Event because it was down from 9:20-1:30 that day. Now the crowds at SWW will be worse than at May the 4th, so it still may be around an hour. Fastpass will be your friend there and the line should continuously move since they should have all the simulators up @ SWW. The Star Wars related things will all have crazy waits. At the May the 4th event I waited an hour to meet Minnie/Mickey/Donald/Goofy/R2Mk and 1.5 for Chewbacca and Logray- expect that and more for those characters. The shows I think just be there 30-45 mins early and you'll have a good seat and enjoy the AC. The merch line is hard to predict other than this Friday will be terribly ugly. The rest of the rides and shows will be average to slightly above average wait times. Hope this helps!

I hadn't remembered Star Tours having FP, is that new since the remodel?

 

[kmcdougan]

Oh I agree with you on the storm troopers and tie fighters, I think 501st Disney Trooper is going to die!

IF, and this is a big IF, cause of boots, I do dress up there will be no harness/holster, just belt with lightsaber, maybe the arm bands, but there definitely will be the cloak, black unitard, cowl, and goggles... and the boots....

Now if only I don't get disappointed, again!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. There will come a time when I am waiting on costume parts to come by mail. This time, it was only waiting on approvals to come by email/board post and I was nervous enough abotu that.

Ash

 

[kmcdougan]

I hadn't remembered Star Tours having FP, is that new since the remodel?

They've had it as long as I can remember.

Ash

 

[PrincessKida]

I hadn't remembered Star Tours having FP, is that new since the remodel?

No, they actually still have the old style machines too. I just don't think it was used too often during Star Tours 1.0

 

[The Sunrise Student]

They've had it as long as I can remember.

Ash

I must be blind!

No, they actually still have the old style machines too. I just don't think it was used too often during Star Tours 1.0

I haven't ever had to worry about FP for Star Tours, so maybe that's why... my rule of thumb is normally 30 minutes or less wait get on the ride. I know my normal go to FP for DS are Toy Story Manina, go ride either the Tower or Rockin roller coaster, and when I get done which ever one I didn't ride I go get a FP for it. But I know there are some times when I have had to ride the tower 3 times in a row before my hour was up and I could go get another FP. (Can't tell I am a rope drop junkie, can ya?)

But you will also notice I have gone most of the time while school is in session, so this will be a whole new ballgame!

 

[kmcdougan]

I must be blind!



I haven't ever had to worry about FP for Star Tours, so maybe that's why... my rule of thumb is normally 30 minutes or less wait get on the ride. I know my normal go to FP for DS are Toy Story Manina, go ride either the Tower or Rockin roller coaster, and when I get done which ever one I didn't ride I go get a FP for it. But I know there are some times when I have had to ride the tower 3 times in a row before my hour was up and I could go get another FP. (Can't tell I am a rope drop junkie, can ya?)

But you will also notice I have gone most of the time while school is in session, so this will be a whole new ballgame!

Last year, entering at park open, we walked right on ST (twice) adn TSMM, but we also did a FP for TSMM imediately. We also did build a droid right then, before going to Darth's Maul and then Ray Park's autograph session for out time of 11:00.

Ash

 

[501st disney trooper]

Would love to see you in costume. Mine is a glorified suit, but without a dress shirt. Being a lawyer in New Orleans, I'm used to that during the summer, so, the heat does not really bother me. Plus, the parade is not going to be that long. THe guys in the armor, especially the black armor of a TIE pilot or Imperial Gunner will ahve it the worst. Trapped in plastic for an hour or more in direct beating sunlight with limited access to water. I feel for them. I really do.

You will get a full report after the event. It may take me a week or so to fully digest it and get it written up.

Ash

Yes the black suits are like sun magnets - i have an all black stormtrooper -now 2 - i wear .
And i have had burns on my fore arms and tops of my ? Above my kneed in front - not quite thighs ... From the plastic getting to hot - i now wear cold gear under armor all year the thicker stuff helps on plastic bites and burns . But all the layers don't help to dissipate heat So its a sweaty hott suit in summer in a 2 mile + parade --- water is your best friend but too little is as bad as too much .. So always good to have a handler/wrangler near by too keep tabs on you .

The folks behind the scenes are just as important as those out in the lime light .. Sometime more so !! With out them wed be in trouble !!

Weve many local handlers i love to have - having my back -- when i see them show up at an event i know im in good hands !!

 

[kmcdougan]

Yes the black suits are like sun magnets - i have an all black stormtrooper -now 2 - i wear .
And i have had burns on my fore arms and tops of my ? Above my kneed in front - not quite thighs ... From the plastic getting to hot - i now wear cold gear under armor all year the thicker stuff helps on plastic bites and burns . But all the layers don't help to dissipate heat So its a sweaty hott suit in summer in a 2 mile + parade --- water is your best friend but too little is as bad as too much .. So always good to have a handler/wrangler near by too keep tabs on you .

The folks behind the scenes are just as important as those out in the lime light .. Sometime more so !! With out them wed be in trouble !!

Weve many local handlers i love to have - having my back -- when i see them show up at an event i know im in good hands !!

I wrangled while working on my costume. I have the garrison record time for getting a Boba Fett all suited up - 20 mintues flat, and that included him changing from street clothes to the jumpsuit, in 15-20 degree weather in a parking lot. ANd I had never done it before.

Ash

 

[501st disney trooper]

I wrangled while working on my costume. I have the garrison record time for getting a Boba Fett all suited up - 20 mintues flat, and that included him changing from street clothes to the jumpsuit, in 15-20 degree weather in a parking lot. ANd I had never done it before.

Ash

Thats what im talking about !! You rock !!

 

[GeekyGirl]

So I'd like to meet Ashley Eckstien, how early would I have to be in line to receive an autograph fastpass?

 

[yulilin3]

I just put what we know and what we can assume from last years schedule, together:


MAY 17-19
Ray Park – (Darth Maul) Autograph session: 1:45pm
Jeremy Bullock (Bobba Fett) Autograph session 9:45am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm
Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clones on CW) Autograph session: 9:45am, 3pm, 4:30pm
Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) Autograph session: 4:30pm, 5:45pm
James Arnold Taylor (Voice Obi Wan in CW) Autograph Session: 9:45am

MAY 24-26
Ray Park (Darth Maul )
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
Jim Cummings (voice of Hondo Ohnaka-Star Wars Clone Wars)

MAY 31 - JUNE 2
Warwick Davis ( Wicket)
Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)
Sam Witwer (Voice of Darth Maul - Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

JUNE 7-9
Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
Tom Kane (Voice of Yoda in Star Wars Clone Wars)

Weekend 1:
Padawan Mind Challenge: 2:10 & 6:30pm (last year's schedule)
Hyperspace Hoopla: 8:00pm (ast years schedule)
Jedi Training Academy: 8:45a, 9:20a, 10:05a, 10:35a, 12p, 12:30p, 1p, 1:30p, 2p, 2:30p, 3p,3:30p, 4p, 4:30p, 5p, 5:30p, 6:30p, 7p, 7:30p (confirmed)
Star Wars Character meets: 8:00am - 7:30pm (confirmed)
Behind the Force: 1:45pm (last year’s schedule)
An Ewok’s Tale, My Short Story (weekend 2 & 3)
Stars of the Saga: 3:15pm (confirmed)
Obi-Wan and Beyond: 4:45pm (last year’s schedule)
Visit to the Maul: 6:00pm (weekend 1 & 2) (last year’s schedule)
Star Wars Motorcade 11:00am (confirmed)

I'm going away this weekend so I won't be able to log into the HUB, I'll try and check in tomorrow and Sunday night and see if there are any questions that I might be able to answer, I won't be back until Monday night.
Keep an eye out on the Disney Parks Blog and on Studios Central.com
I'll try and check the HUB tomorrow morning before I leave to see if they posted anything new.
Have a great weekend everyone, now is the time to start hydrating for all you coming the first weekend

May the Force Be With You

 

[yulilin3]

So I'd like to meet Ashley Eckstien, how early would I have to be in line to receive an autograph fastpass?

She'll be fairly easy to get. You can get in line by 6:30am and I think still be able to get a fp.
She is awesome, we met her the first time she came to SWW and the year after she still remembered my daughters name, she's very sweet. We also have a lot of her merchandise from Her Universe.
She actually started working at MGM Studios doing the Aladdin Parade back in the day.

 

[GeekyGirl]

She'll be fairly easy to get. You can get in line by 6:30am and I think still be able to get a fp.
She is awesome, we met her the first time she came to SWW and the year after she still remembered my daughters name, she's very sweet. We also have a lot of her merchandise from Her Universe.
She actually started working at MGM Studios doing the Aladdin Parade back in the day.

Perfect! Cause if all goes as planned, we will be pulling in to the Studios around 6 am. (If this doesn't work out, I've always got day 2 to get there earlier since I'll be staying in Orlando.) I'm really excited to meet her, I saw her last year at San Diego Comic Con but never got the chance to say hi.

Thank you for answering

 

[RedM94]

Yulilin,

With Matt now in NY, Is it safe to assume that the Studios Central meet for the first Saturday has been cancelled? I can't wait to see everyone there nest week!

Rick

 

[yulilin3]

Yulilin,

With Matt now in NY, Is it safe to assume that the Studios Central meet for the first Saturday has been cancelled? I can't wait to see everyone there nest week!

Rick

Yeah that meet was canceled, sorry I forgot to post that. We can still meet, if anyone else wants to.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Yes the black suits are like sun magnets - i have an all black stormtrooper -now 2 - i wear .
And i have had burns on my fore arms and tops of my ? Above my kneed in front - not quite thighs ... From the plastic getting to hot - i now wear cold gear under armor all year the thicker stuff helps on plastic bites and burns . But all the layers don't help to dissipate heat So its a sweaty hott suit in summer in a 2 mile + parade --- water is your best friend but too little is as bad as too much .. So always good to have a handler/wrangler near by too keep tabs on you .

The folks behind the scenes are just as important as those out in the lime light .. Sometime more so !! With out them wed be in trouble !!

Weve many local handlers i love to have - having my back -- when i see them show up at an event i know im in good hands !!

Holy SMOKES, literally on the burning! I can imagine the handlers would be very important during hot marches for sure!