Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[melnbil]

I have read the first page, and am still a little unsure what to do and have I guess a logistical question. We are there Weekend 3. Ultimately, we would like to meet Ratzenburger, but would like to meet Ray Park too. If I waited for one and DH waited for the other, would they let all three of us (9yo son and us) in the line? or only the one with the wristband? Also we will need to go thru bag check (I will do this) and sign up for JTA. What is the best way to accomplish actor FP, bag check and JTA?

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

That weekend with mark hamill, ray park and billy Dee is gonna be slammed

I don't want to be slammed - so worried now...

I am not the StarWars fan (don't judge, I'm just still traumatized by not being 'allowed to see a PG movie' when it came out) but as Mom I am planning our vacation for DH, DD and DS who are fans. I booked the Feel the Force pkg for our last full day at WDW to see these guys in the parade. I wanted to see the shows too, but now wondering if/how we will ever be able to get into them.
Did I mention that I don't like crowds? Seriously don't like - was crushed at a concert in college so I get a bit wiggy in crowds. I need your expert tips for how to not go crazy on June 6th? I do have a lunch ADR after the parade (I know, it will conflict with a show - maybe it will conflict with lining up for all shows) so I have a place to go with assigned seating out of the heat and crowd. Any other areas of "escape" I could visit for a break during the day? (I am wanting to suck-it-up, armed with a decent strategy, rather than bailing out on the family)

 

[Itinkso]

I don't want to be slammed - so worried now... I am not the StarWars fan (don't judge, I'm just still traumatized by not being 'allowed to see a PG movie' when it came out) but as Mom I am planning our vacation for DH, DD and DS who are fans. I booked the Feel the Force pkg for our last full day at WDW to see these guys in the parade. I wanted to see the shows too, but now wondering if/how we will ever be able to get into them. Did I mention that I don't like crowds? Seriously don't like - was crushed at a concert in college so I get a bit wiggy in crowds. I need your expert tips for how to not go crazy on June 6th? I do have a lunch ADR after the parade (I know, it will conflict with a show - maybe it will conflict with lining up for all shows) so I have a place to go with assigned seating out of the heat and crowd. Any other areas of "escape" I could visit for a break during the day? (I am wanting to suck-it-up, armed with a decent strategy, rather than bailing out on the family)

After Starring Rolls closes, the patio area is virtually empty and is a nice, shaded area in which to take a break. The Hollywood Brown Derby outdoor lounge is also great - you can get a soft drink, tea, or cocktail with one of their small plate apps. Animation Academy is fun and air conditioned. Watching Beauty and the Beast or Little Mermaid is a great way to take a break, too.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

I'm going on the 16. I'll try to do a short, quick recap on here that day.

Thank you! I will look forward to it

 

[spritna]

Im confused, i have the fantasmic sw dinner and the dessert party. Fantasmic is at 9 and the dessert party is 9-10 with fireworks at 9:30. Do i have to use my fantasmic seating voucher at the first show (9:00)? Or can i use the voucher for the 10:30 fantasmic. I cant be at 2 diff. Places at same time

 

[ktate82]

Considering the times the celebrity FP are for weekend 4, will that affect how early we need to be there for JTA?

 

[Itinkso]

Im confused, i have the fantasmic sw dinner and the dessert party. Fantasmic is at 9 and the dessert party is 9-10 with fireworks at 9:30. Do i have to use my fantasmic seating voucher at the first show (9:00)? Or can i use the voucher for the 10:30 fantasmic. I cant be at 2 diff. Places at same time

The voucher is only valid for reserved Dining Seating at the first show. You can go in standby for the second show immediately after the fireworks. If you are paying out of pocket, you may want to pay for the lesser priced H&V dinner rather than the Fant package dinner.
Fireworks are scheduled for 9:45 - you really should go to the 2nd Fant show.

 

[juliebug1997]

I booked it for the two weekends that I will be there (once with DH and once with my friends). I even canceled the Illuminations party as this has more value to it.

 

[spritna]

Thanks for the quick reply, i think the vouchers were only a couple of bucks more so ill just keep them, turn them into pixie dust and give them to someone waiting in standby line for first showing.

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks for the quick reply, i think the vouchers were only a couple of bucks more so ill just keep them, turn them into pixie dust and give them to someone waiting in standby line for first showing.

That's so very nice of you!! Especially because the Standby area gets filled within the first 30 minutes and then guests have to wait to enter the Fp+ area. Nice pixie dust!!

 

[Pylegirl]

So glad I was sent here!!!

 

[Itinkso]

So glad I was sent here!!!

If you want to join the Roll Call Thread, add your name and dates SWW 2014 Roll Call

 

[Pylegirl]

If you want to join the Roll Call Thread, add your name and dates SWW 2014 Roll Call

Thanks we are planning our 1st trip for June 2015 so we have a long wait yet. We didn't even realize they had SWW and we have a crazy obsessed Star Wars family.

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks we are planning our 1st trip for June 2015 so we have a long wait yet. We didn't even realize they had SWW and we have a crazy obsessed Star Wars family.

Okay! Next year, then. Watch for yulilin's thread in October or so.

 

[Itinkso]

Somehow a duplicate post.

 

[lostdecoy]

So bummed Bulloch is there the second weekend, boyfriend REALLY wanted to get his 6" Black Series figure autographed with silver sharpie Andddd the first weekend we get Jar Jar - bah!

 

[bucky1023]

I have read the first page, and am still a little unsure what to do and have I guess a logistical question. We are there Weekend 3. Ultimately, we would like to meet Ratzenburger, but would like to meet Ray Park too. If I waited for one and DH waited for the other, would they let all three of us (9yo son and us) in the line? or only the one with the wristband? Also we will need to go thru bag check (I will do this) and sign up for JTA. What is the best way to accomplish actor FP, bag check and JTA?

In order to meet the celebrities each person in your party has to have a wristband... they won't let any person without a band (for the same time frame) in line to wait see or get an autograph/picture without one. I would wait in line for the more popular celebrity, get a band for them with an early return time, then see if the second person you wan to see still has space available.

As for the bands you get them well before the park opens so depending on how popular the celebrity is people can line up as early as 4am (last year when we were there people wait all hours to get bands for Warwick Davis).

 

[juliebug1997]

I'm a little bummed with the line up for the last weekend, but it's for the best. I don't think my friends are quite the SW nuts that I am. And I don't hold a candle to my husband.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

argh!!! We are missing Ray Park!!!!! I had really convinced myself that we'd get to see a Visit to the Maul.... but I guess it's youtube for me. My DH thinks my disappointment is excessive but he doesn't even know what a fall from tamoe nage is....

 

[lovethattink]

I'm a little bummed with the line up for the last weekend, but it's for the best. I don't think my friends are quite the SW nuts that I am. And I don't hold a candle to my husband.

That is the weekend my youngest son is most excited about!