Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[yulilin3]

Where do you have to go to sign up for the Jedi Training Academy?

First of all Welcome to the Dis
During SWW JTA sign ups will be at the Indiana Jones Theater. During non SWW it's by Sounds Dangerous
In case you don't know you must be at the entrance to DHS around 7:15am to be able to sign up for JTA. Stay to the left as you enter and CM will direct you. This is a very popular thing for kids to do and it books within an hour of park opening.
Your child needs to be with you to register

 

[mom2william]

What time do the buses start running from resorts to DHS? We are going on May 24 and staying at the port orleans. Will we be able to get a bus and be there for 715?

 

[karabeunso]

First of all Welcome to the Dis During SWW JTA sign ups will be at the Indiana Jones Theater. During non SWW it's by Sounds Dangerous In case you don't know you must be at the entrance to DHS around 7:15am to be able to sign up for JTA. Stay to the left as you enter and CM will direct you. This is a very popular thing for kids to do and it books within an hour of park opening. Your child needs to be with you to register

Thx for the info! I was just going to ask about this. Last year was our first SWW and my 10 y/o dd could have cared less, but just since Christmas she has become a superfan. My dh had been asking her for years to watch SW with him and she wouldn't have anything to do with it but this past Christmas she made him a coupon book and one of the coupons was to watch ONE SW movie with him. But then she wanted to watch another and another and another and... It's crazy.

ANYWAY, she REALLY wants to do the JTA. WE plan on being at the gates around 5 am in hopes of getting autograph FPs. When we get in the park and stand behind the ropes for the Storm Trooper thing, is that when we go to the left (once they are done doing their thing) or is it something we need to do before the rope drops? Does that make sense?

Thx!

-Kara

 

[karabeunso]

What time do the buses start running from resorts to DHS? We are going on May 24 and staying at the port orleans. Will we be able to get a bus and be there for 715?

Pretty sure I read the buses start an hour before parks open? We plan on taking a taxi since we won't be renting a car.

 

[mesaboy2]

Pretty sure I read the buses start an hour before parks open? We plan on taking a taxi since we won't be renting a car.

An oft-repeated misconception. Buses start running about 6:30a every morning.

 

[karabeunso]

An oft-repeated misconception. Buses start running about 6:30a every morning.

Good to know! Still won't matter to us because we want to be there by 5, but thx! I swear I read that on an official Disney site but maybe I'm dreaming.

 

[juliebug1997]

We will definitely be taking a taxi for our two mornings there.

I wish they would release more information about who all is coming. This waiting is HORRIFIC!

Or maybe it's just these last seven and a half weeks of school.

 

[mesaboy2]

Good to know! Still won't matter to us because we want to be there by 5, but thx! I swear I read that on an official Disney site but maybe I'm dreaming.

You probably did. Doesn't make it accurate though.

 

[kmcdougan]

We will definitely be taking a taxi for our two mornings there.

I wish they would release more information about who all is coming. This waiting is HORRIFIC!

Or maybe it's just these last seven and a half weeks of school.

Last year's early guest list was a fluke. I would expect something in the next two weeks.

Ash

 

[yulilin3]

Thx for the info! I was just going to ask about this. Last year was our first SWW and my 10 y/o dd could have cared less, but just since Christmas she has become a superfan. My dh had been asking her for years to watch SW with him and she wouldn't have anything to do with it but this past Christmas she made him a coupon book and one of the coupons was to watch ONE SW movie with him. But then she wanted to watch another and another and another and... It's crazy.

ANYWAY, she REALLY wants to do the JTA. WE plan on being at the gates around 5 am in hopes of getting autograph FPs. When we get in the park and stand behind the ropes for the Storm Trooper thing, is that when we go to the left (once they are done doing their thing) or is it something we need to do before the rope drops? Does that make sense?

Thx!

-Kara

Yep, you go in and stand to the left hand side of Hollywood Blvd. behind the rope, as soon as the Stormtroopers finish their show make a left on Vine (you'll see plenty of CM) and you will be directed to the sign up area

We will definitely be taking a taxi for our two mornings there.

I wish they would release more information about who all is coming. This waiting is HORRIFIC!

Or maybe it's just these last seven and a half weeks of school.

The waiting is the worst part

You probably did. Doesn't make it accurate though.

I totally agree with you

 

[jeeperwy]

I am contemplating doing the VIP package for me and DS11. For those of you that have been to SWW before, can you give me a little info about the "shows" with the actors? DS11 has never been diagnosed as autistic, but sometimes exhibits some of the traits. He is pretty good about being patient sometimes, but other times not so much!! This is one of the reasons I am even considering it--so that we would have a place to watch the parade without camping out for a couple of hours. Are the shows entertaining to an antsy 11 year old? He absolutely LOVES Star Wars and is really into details about certain topics (like WWII, the Titanic, Star Wars characters, etc...).

Any info about the afternoon activities would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!
Kari

 

[yulilin3]

I am contemplating doing the VIP package for me and DS11. For those of you that have been to SWW before, can you give me a little info about the "shows" with the actors? DS11 has never been diagnosed as autistic, but sometimes exhibits some of the traits. He is pretty good about being patient sometimes, but other times not so much!! This is one of the reasons I am even considering it--so that we would have a place to watch the parade without camping out for a couple of hours. Are the shows entertaining to an antsy 11 year old? He absolutely LOVES Star Wars and is really into details about certain topics (like WWII, the Titanic, Star Wars characters, etc...).

Any info about the afternoon activities would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!
Kari

The best way for you to have an idea is to look for videos on youtube of the shows.
Stars of the Saga
Star Wars Voices
Obi Wan and Beyond
You can also read the description of each show on the first post on this thread.

 

[btowndude]

I tried to get one orange name tag with REBEL SPY as the name and YAVIN IV as the planet. However, it was rejected. Any one else have a problem?

 

[Vala]

I tried to get one orange name tag with REBEL SPY as the name and YAVIN IV as the planet. However, it was rejected. Any one else have a problem?

I got one fine with my given name and my forum name. But I guess the latter qualifies as real name. The Rebel Spy part is the problem I'd say. There's a note about it somewhere in the fine print that they'll only do name if I recall correctly.

 

[lovethattink]

I tried to get one orange name tag with REBEL SPY as the name and YAVIN IV as the planet. However, it was rejected. Any one else have a problem?

Yes, a name I requested was denied. I sent an email last night with an alternate name. Calling later today to make sure the email was received because their email said if not received by 5pm today it will be canceled from the order.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

DH actually ready the info from the first post here (I copied & pasted in an email) so I am totally psyched--when he 'engages' for the trip it starts feeling real! He also bought our flights for a grand total of $50 since we had vouchers from a bump--awwwesome, and he snagged the exact two that I 'strongly' recommended.

He has highlighted Stars of the Saga and Visit to the Maul--do we have any clue if Visit to the Maul is happening this year? How is Stars? He is not interested in rope drop at this point, but is it cool? This will be out only opportunity to sleep in for practically two years

I think we're skipping any character breakfasts because as two adults not desperate for pictures or signatures I think we'll just overeat, when we could be sipping coffee and eating bakery on the Boardwalk, where we are staying.

We normally order groceries but since we are staying in a studio instead of a 1Br we'll only have the kitchenette--but DH would probably like a 6 pack of something and I should pick up some pregnant snacks--would you order groceries from offsite, from disney, or just walk to the Hess? How far is that walk? Even pregnant we try to do a lot of walking and plan to walk to DHS.

DH would also like to check out merch, is it tolerable to shop at Darths Mall at any time if you are not after autographs/pictures? We are not line people Is there a time better than others?

Any other must not miss components, given that meets, autographs and pics are not on the radar?

 

[twinsouvenirs]

One more question--what are some extras I can prep that will make it more special? I heard something about name tags, and some vtech thing--anything i could plan or order to surprise him? The VIP thing seems like we would not really enjoy it.

 

[yulilin3]

DH actually ready the info from the first post here (I copied & pasted in an email) so I am totally psyched--when he 'engages' for the trip it starts feeling real! He also bought our flights for a grand total of $50 since we had vouchers from a bump--awwwesome, and he snagged the exact two that I 'strongly' recommended.

He has highlighted Stars of the Saga and Visit to the Maul--do we have any clue if Visit to the Maul is happening this year? How is Stars? He is not interested in rope drop at this point, but is it cool? This will be out only opportunity to sleep in for practically two years

I think we're skipping any character breakfasts because as two adults not desperate for pictures or signatures I think we'll just overeat, when we could be sipping coffee and eating bakery on the Boardwalk, where we are staying.

We normally order groceries but since we are staying in a studio instead of a 1Br we'll only have the kitchenette--but DH would probably like a 6 pack of something and I should pick up some pregnant snacks--would you order groceries from offsite, from disney, or just walk to the Hess? How far is that walk? Even pregnant we try to do a lot of walking and plan to walk to DHS.

DH would also like to check out merch, is it tolerable to shop at Darths Mall at any time if you are not after autographs/pictures? We are not line people Is there a time better than others?

Any other must not miss components, given that meets, autographs and pics are not on the radar?

No official list is out yet for the celebrities in attendance. Visit to the Maul only happens when Ray Park comes so not sure if it'll happen this year or when. Stars of the Saga is a great show, you do have to get in line for it at least 45minutes before, depedning on the celebrities that weekend. Mark Hamill weekend will be crazy busy for any/all of the shows he's in
You could walk to the Hess it's very, very close to Boardwalk, I'm not sure about off site ordering since I'm a local.
Darth's Mall tends to be busier first thing in the morning, if you go in the afternoon it'll be better.

 

[yulilin3]

One more question--what are some extras I can prep that will make it more special? I heard something about name tags, and some vtech thing--anything i could plan or order to surprise him? The VIP thing seems like we would not really enjoy it.

Here's the info on D-Tech: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...g-to-star-wars-weekends-starting-may-16-2014/
The name tags are like regular CM name tags that have the Star Tours logo and you can put your name and pick a SW planet and they write it in Aurebesh (SW language) this you cannot pre-order, you go to Darth's Mall and get them there

 

[Linda67]

We always watch any of the DHS fireworks that are offered (4th of July, NYE, Last Tour to Endor) from Echo Lake, by 50s Prime Time and also have watched on the stairs by Indiana Jones Theater and the music is pumped into that area

Awesome - thanks