Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[501st disney trooper]

If they counted each Trooper in the 501st and Rebel Legions as individual characters, there would be well over 100 each day, including the Disney official ones. I have to believe the 60 number takes into account only the Official folks. I could be wrong, though. It would not be the first time.

Ash

Yes ash again is right on point

But they just mean you will see us all in the parade -- and the characters you see will be randomly throughout the parks for various pic opportunities ( but only cast members in costume ! ) we could probably go helmet less or say officers deck crew etc .. But we dont . It creates unwanted attention for us and disney - with a chance for things to go awry plus you cannot get more than 2 feet at a time to anyplace ... The sw brand is just to popular at this event .. Ive done mnsshp in costume before even as deck crew its still an endeavor to get around .. And you cannot say no !! So my family prefers i go to events as joe public for their sanity alone ;p

 

[kennythepirate]

No problem, I actually managed to post it here as well If you see me Friday come say Hi...

You got it. I'll be looking for the blue shirt.

Thanks kenny...any idea on price?

I think I saw the themed buckets were 11.99, but don't quote me on that one.

@ Kenny can you pay for it with a normal credit card or is it cash only?!

Sure, they like credit cards too.

 

[kennythepirate]

I created this little mini-site to help other SWW fans know what's going on. It's mobile friendly too.

http://kennythepirate.com/2012/08/08/star-wars-weekends-show-schedules/

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Don't worry - so many things about that article don't make sense.... When was the last time you saw a wait at Its a Small World be 2.5 hours long? Reports of people who properly use GAC cards are very different as well - when my mother broke her foot and was in a scooter we NEVER got front of the line 2 minute waits when there was a long standby. In fact we often had to wait longer than we would in a normal line because they had to stop certain ones to let her on (she could not move fast at all).

That doesn't even count the fact that they aren't allowed to question you if you ask for a GAC card... at best, they're wasting thousands of $$ needlessly to get their 'perk'.

When I went with my cousin as her companion on her WDW vacation in JUNE 2010 we didn't get to the front of the line but we never used fast pass because every wait was under 30 minutes. So it might not be true on wait times but it was quicker.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I think I saw the themed buckets were 11.99, but don't quote me on that one.


Sure, they like credit cards too.

Kewl on the credit cards, I know that when I do the Food and Wine fest it's easier to do cash but still a pain to carry alot of it.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I created this little mini-site to help other SWW fans know what's going on. It's mobile friendly too.

http://kennythepirate.com/2012/08/08/star-wars-weekends-show-schedules/

very kewl Kenny, thanks!

 

[lovethattink]

I created this little mini-site to help other SWW fans know what's going on. It's mobile friendly too.

http://kennythepirate.com/2012/08/08/star-wars-weekends-show-schedules/

Got it bookmarked, now just need my android to work in the parks. MK and DHS do funky things to my phone. My clock gets all out of wack at the MK as soon as I get to the TTC, and it's a dead zone at most places throughout the DHS. It's either Disney or Sprint.

 

[kennythepirate]

Got it bookmarked, now just need my android to work in the parks. MK and DHS do funky things to my phone. My clock gets all out of wack at the MK as soon as I get to the TTC, and it's a dead zone at most places throughout the DHS. It's either Disney or Sprint.

Have you tried the Disney Wifi?

 

[Zooshoveller]

Ok. I'm making a tentative schedule based on the maps and times for the first weekend. We (me, DH, DS8 & DD8) will be there for the second weekend on Saturday May 25. We have another day planned for regular HS. We will try to get character autographs between show times.

5:00am - get in line for autograph FPs

7-8:00am (when gates open) - sign up for Padawan Mind Challenge and then Jedi Training Academy (if we don't make JTA, we'll try on our other HS day)

11:00am - Motorcade

3:30pm - Stars of the Saga

5:00 - Visit to the Maul

8:00 - Hyperspace Hoopla


What time do we need to get in line for Stars of the Saga & Visit to the Maul?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Darth's Mall is now on the My Disney Expirence app.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Ok. I'm making a tentative schedule based on the maps and times for the first weekend. We (me, DH, DS8 & DD8) will be there for the second weekend on Saturday May 25. We have another day planned for regular HS. We will try to get character autographs between show times.

5:00am - get in line for autograph FPs

7-8:00am (when gates open) - sign up for Padawan Mind Challenge and then Jedi Training Academy (if we don't make JTA, we'll try on our other HS day)

11:00am - Motorcade

3:30pm - Stars of the Saga

5:00 - Visit to the Maul

8:00 - Hyperspace Hoopla


What time do we need to get in line for Stars of the Saga & Visit to the Maul?

Was Visit to the Maul confirmed for 5? You'll have to line up an hour before Maul since it's pretty popular, but for SOTS 20-30 minutes beforehand is fine.

 

[Zooshoveller]

Was Visit to the Maul confirmed for 5? You'll have to line up an hour before Maul since it's pretty popular, but for SOTS 20-30 minutes beforehand is fine.

Kenny's website says confirmed.

This trip is a surprise for the kids, so we will narrow down characters a day or two before.

How late is the Mall open? We may get a souvenir or two before we head out.

 

[kennythepirate]

Was Visit to the Maul confirmed for 5? You'll have to line up an hour before Maul since it's pretty popular, but for SOTS 20-30 minutes beforehand is fine.

Yes, it's confirmed and on the map on page 143

 

[PrincessKida]

Ok. I'm making a tentative schedule based on the maps and times for the first weekend. We (me, DH, DS8 & DD8) will be there for the second weekend on Saturday May 25. We have another day planned for regular HS. We will try to get character autographs between show times.

5:00am - get in line for autograph FPs

7-8:00am (when gates open) - sign up for Padawan Mind Challenge and then Jedi Training Academy (if we don't make JTA, we'll try on our other HS day)

11:00am - Motorcade

3:30pm - Stars of the Saga

5:00 - Visit to the Maul

8:00 - Hyperspace Hoopla


What time do we need to get in line for Stars of the Saga & Visit to the Maul?

If you want to meet Vader, I'd suggest going right after you finish signing up. His line will be the shortest then.

And of course for all of your character needs...even Star Wars Weekends- check Kenny's site!

 

[GeekyGirl]

If you want to meet Vader, I'd suggest going right after you finish signing up. His line will be the shortest then.

And of course for all of your character needs...even Star Wars Weekends- check Kenny's site!

(Going a little off topic here.)
Seriously, Kenny's site is the best! By chance I stumbled upon it last year and it came in such use when I was making a birthday video for my sister. If it wasn't for that site I probably would not have made as awesome of a video.

 

[yulilin3]

Ok. I'm making a tentative schedule based on the maps and times for the first weekend. We (me, DH, DS8 & DD8) will be there for the second weekend on Saturday May 25. We have another day planned for regular HS. We will try to get character autographs between show times.

5:00am - get in line for autograph FPs

7-8:00am (when gates open) - sign up for Padawan Mind Challenge and then Jedi Training Academy (if we don't make JTA, we'll try on our other HS day)

11:00am - Motorcade

3:30pm - Stars of the Saga

5:00 - Visit to the Maul

8:00 - Hyperspace Hoopla


What time do we need to get in line for Stars of the Saga & Visit to the Maul?

Sounds good! who are you trying to meet, celeb-wise?
If you want to do JTA on the same day I would sign up for JTA first then PMC, but if you do have another day to do JTA yu could just take it easy, and sign up for PMC first.
Another thing about the shows they start loading the theater 10 to 15 min . before hand and for Stars of the Saga they let you in around 3:10pm since they have the stormtroopers pre-show at 3:15pm and you don't want to miss that, it's really funny.

 

[lovethattink]

Another thing about the shows they start loading the theater 10 to 15 min . before hand and for Stars of the Saga they let you in around 3:10pm since they have the stormtroopers pre-show at 3:15pm and you don't want to miss that, it's really funny.

The pre-show is just as much of a must-see for us as the show itself!

 

[yulilin3]

2 things worth mentioning again:
If you're staying at a Disney resort the buses start running 45min. before the park is scheduled to open, so that means the first bus leaving each resort will go out at 7:15am, if you want celeb autographs or to sign kids up for JTA you must drive in or hire a cab. The entire park is going to be "show-ready" before the 8am hour so it could open earlier.
For the boat service for the Epcot resorts the first boat leaves the Epcot dock at 7am, it's a 20 to 25 min. trip from the Epcot dock to the DHS dock, I would walk it if at all possible.
And one more thing, for you APholders that have a paper ticket you can convert it to the new RFID ticket at the DHS ticketing window. You just have to ask, they have opened the ticketing windows an hour before the park is scheduled to be open, so around 7am, if you can get your RFID card beforehand better.

 

[lpoeppelman]

Is JTA any different from the regular one? Wouldn't it be better to jist go to that one a different day if u can?

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Is JTA any different from the regular one? Wouldn't it be better to jist go to that one a different day if u can?

Thanks!

the only difference in JTA during SWW is that they have 2 tiers, on stage will be Darth Vader and on the bottom will be Darth Maul/Assaj Ventress (they alternate) and when Assaj is at the bottom the Jedi instructor is Ahsoka Tano. Also in the past they would give a small toy to each JTA participant during SWW but last year that didn't happen, so not sure if they'll do it again this year or not ( it had something to do with Hasbro not renewing contract with Disney)
If you can do JTA on a non SWW it'll be easier to sign up for it. But you still have to be at the park early for JTA sign ups even though it's not SWW