Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[HMfan82]

So glad I waited to make my plans this year. Usually I go the first Friday and get lucky with the celebs I want to see showing up at that time but this first weekend looks a little weak so I'll be going on the 3rd weekend to finally get my Ray Park autograph. For anyone going for Jeremy Bulloch I saw him last year and he was great. He signs fast but also does some small talk. He knew more about my toy I brought to get signed than I did lol.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using DISBoards

 

[lovethattink]

I booked two of the new package, and I'm thinking of canceling. DS.couldn't make it 30 minutes outside for Buddy Ball. Granted he won't be running at sww, but that 30 minutes was even with his cooling vest on. I will be paying close attention that first day to see I'd there is ample shade at that viewing area.

 

[ladylyons]

Sandra, I'm so sorry I forgot to get back to you yesterday. Took Ds for his lesson and planned to get back after. I think it's best on your noon-SWW day. That way you can try to catch shows at the Premiere Theatre and other SWW stuff. After all, you're making a cross county road trip to get ds and dh to that one day of SWW!!

No worries. I figured you got busy and didn't have the chance to respond. You've been very helpful already and I appreciate it. I was thinking non-SWW day was best but I didn't know if they did anything special on the SWW. Yes it's going to be a very interesting trip for sure!!!

Agree with lovethattink, it's easier to get in on a non-sww day. The only difference is that during it's double tier (DV on stage and Darth Maul or Ventress at the bottom)

Thanks! I was leaning towards the non-SWW day so it's nice to get help from people who would know.

I booked two of the new package, and I'm thinking of canceling. DS.couldn't make it 30 minutes outside for Buddy Ball. Granted he won't be running at sww, but that 30 minutes was even with his cooling vest on. I will be paying close attention that first day to see I'd there is ample shade at that viewing area.

Hope that it works out for you to keep the package for at least one weekend. I hope the cooling vest helps because like you said he won't be running around.

 

[aym4Him]

I booked two of the new package, and I'm thinking of canceling. DS.couldn't make it 30 minutes outside for Buddy Ball. Granted he won't be running at sww, but that 30 minutes was even with his cooling vest on. I will be paying close attention that first day to see I'd there is ample shade at that viewing area.

:-( Oh no. I was hoping that best would be so helpful.

 

[aym4Him]

I just booked FTF for Sunday May 25. I hate making decisions this far ahead of time (if DH were here, he'd say I hate making decisions, period!). At least we will have a chance on Fri to see what everything is like as far as...everything, since this is our 1st SWW. I like being able to be a free spirit and do whatever. Doggone it, Disney. You're cramping my style!

DS will likely have a stroller as a wheelchair tag so I put "Wheelchair accessible" under special needs/requests. The thing is, he may not need it for the parade since it's early in the day. I hate to take up space (I will make him sit in it, all the while wishing I could!!). Anyway, I wasn't sure what to do but I figured it's better to be safe than sorry.

To the one who's surprising her husband with this trip, that makes my heart so happy!!! That's awesome!!!!

 

[yulilin3]

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?

Bag check happens way before they start handing out the wristbands so no worries there.
If you want to meet a certain person, (Say Ray Park) you have to get in his line and have a wristband and fastpass. So if you separate, you on Park's line and your DH in Ratzenberger's line you would only be able to meet the person youa actually have a wristband/fp for. Your son, if he wants to meet anyone needs to also get in the appropriate line so he has to be there early as well.
As for JTA o worries because you will be there early for autographs, they give out the wristbands/fp before the park opens, outside the park, then you go make the line to go inside. Stay on the left side of the street and you'll see CM guiding you to the JTA sign up, your saon needs to be with you to sign up.
You can see the celebs and your family member that has their fp/wristband while they meet because the tent they use is open so you can stand outside that area and see them meeting the celeb.
Here's a video someone took (a parent I assume) of their kid meeting Ray Park. So the person taking the video does not have a wristband/fp for Ray but this is how close you can stand to the meet and greet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNCq3NTglk0
Hope this helps

 

[lovethattink]

No worries. I figured you got busy and didn't have the chance to respond. You've been very helpful already and I appreciate it. I was thinking non-SWW day was best but I didn't know if they did anything special on the SWW. Yes it's going to be a very interesting trip for sure!!!

Hope that it works out for you to keep the package for at least one weekend. I hope the cooling vest helps because like you said he won't be running around.

Your dh and son are going to have an awesome time at SWW. You need to get the younger children use to seeing storm troopers, DV, DM, Chewbacca because they are big and can be intimidating. Maybe they know all about Star Wars from big bro? Darth Vader and Chewie are super tall like Goofy or the Beast. The Storm troopers and Darth Maul are intimidating. My ds was actually intimidated by Darth Maul and you know how he is about Star Wars.

I hope the vest works for SWW too. I'm in the process of working out details with First Aid and that is going well. I'm so glad mitomom pointed me in the direction of a cooling vest with "icepacks" that freeze with refrigeration.

:-( Oh no. I was hoping that best would be so helpful.

It is helpful to some degree. But he was in direct sunlight yesterday afternoon and it was 85 degrees. I had an ice cold cloth under his hat and helmet, the vest, and a neck cooler on him. It didn't take near as long for him to cool down once we got in the car and cracked up the air. Before the vest it was taking hours for him to recover after playing outside.

And with his special needs team, they are use to players going on and off the field. They thought nothing of us staying 30 minutes and leaving. It's all about having fun, learning the game, interacting with others and getting some exercise.

I just booked FTF for Sunday May 25. I hate making decisions this far ahead of time (if DH were here, he'd say I hate making decisions, period!). At least we will have a chance on Fri to see what everything is like as far as...everything, since this is our 1st SWW. I like being able to be a free spirit and do whatever. Doggone it, Disney. You're cramping my style!

DS will likely have a stroller as a wheelchair tag so I put "Wheelchair accessible" under special needs/requests. The thing is, he may not need it for the parade since it's early in the day. I hate to take up space (I will make him sit in it, all the while wishing I could!!). Anyway, I wasn't sure what to do but I figured it's better to be safe than sorry.

To the one who's surprising her husband with this trip, that makes my heart so happy!!! That's awesome!!!!

Hopefully you'll get some down time where you can just wing it too.

Neither person I talked to when I made the reservations asked me if there were any special needs or requests. They asked if we were celebrating anything. We will have his chair with us. The last 2 years he was in it more than out of it.

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

Have they released the parade time yet?

 

[yulilin3]

Have they released the parade time yet?

11:30am
So people don't have to read back thru all pages I update the first post each time we get new information

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

Thanks!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I know this has been answered somewhere, but I can't find it. What attractions are open early at HS during SWW? We will be there very early and heading over to sign up for JT and PMC. Wondering where we should head next. We have FP+ for TSM, ToT and Star Tours, so those are covered. Any advice? Man this is getting close! I can't wait! Also, when can we expect the show times to be announced?

 

[yulilin3]

I know this has been answered somewhere, but I can't find it. What attractions are open early at HS during SWW? We will be there very early and heading over to sign up for JT and PMC. Wondering where we should head next. We have FP+ for TSM, ToT and Star Tours, so those are covered. Any advice? Man this is getting close! I can't wait! Also, when can we expect the show times to be announced?

The attractions that have been opened before official opening time (8am) have been TSMM and Star Tours, all the rest have opened at 8am
Showtimes are usually released with the map and that doesn't come out until the same Friday, day of the first SWW. I have access to the HUB (internal CM site) and can get a copy of the map the Sunday before the first Friday.
I'm hoping they release all the info earlier this year but that hasn't been the case in the past

 

[yulilin3]

Report from someone that attended the try out (Dress Rehearsal) for breakfast at Sci Fi, I will not name this person as to not get them in trouble but you can be sure that this is a first hand account:
The following walk around the restaurant:
2 Stormtroopers paired up
2 Jawas paired up
Greedo

Characters will be signing autographs.

Darth Vader in front of a backdrop at check in
Boba Fett also in front of a backdrop also at check in

The SW clips were shown
Vader backdrop is the Death Star.

the Yoda melons look great!! There is a puff pastry with a Vader impression on it!

You sit in the cars and eat while the characters do their run through.

Now we have a better idea about that breakfast

 

[MakiraMarlena]

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!

well, the actor, not actually Jar Jar. I'm thinking his interview will be hilarious.

I did book Feel the force for weekend 4 before knowing Ray and Billy Dee will be there too...yikes. Must keep it now.

 

[Hulles]

Quick question about Jedi Academy. We will be in Hollywood Studios on Wed June 11th. My wife has just expressed to me that she wants our son (5 almost 6) to do the Jedi Academy this year. I know you need to get in the park early to get a slot for that. We do have a breakfast ADR at Hollywood and Vine at 8:10am. There are EMH that day though. Im trying to figure out if we should use or cancel that ADR, and just go get in line to snag a spot in Jedi Academy? or keep the ADR and try to eat quickly and get in line before 9:00am?

Suggestions? Thanks for any insight!

 

[Itinkso]

Quick question about Jedi Academy. We will be in Hollywood Studios on Wed June 11th. My wife has just expressed to me that she wants our son (5 almost 6) to do the Jedi Academy this year. I know you need to get in the park early to get a slot for that. We do have a breakfast ADR at Hollywood and Vine at 8:10am. There are EMH that day though. Im trying to figure out if we should use or cancel that ADR, and just go get in line to snag a spot in Jedi Academy? or keep the ADR and try to eat quickly and get in line before 9:00am? Suggestions? Thanks for any insight!

Have one adult quickly go with your son to Jedi sign-ups while the other adult goes and checks in @ H&V. You can enter the park early with that early ADR, so you should be fine signing up quickly. If you wait until 9:00, all the slots will be gone.

 

[yulilin3]

This site will take you directly to the SWW event page on the DIsney site:
www.disneytheforce.com
It has no new information, but it's a good, direct way to get to the official events page. Once the map is out it'll be found on this site

 

[ratlenhum]

I love this thread but it sure is starting to cost me a lot of money!!!

The Wookey's are now booked for 2 character meals and Feel the Force

Same here, plus 2 D-Tech appointments. We are going for 3 days, 2 nights. We could do a week for what this weekend is costing me!!

 

[Hulles]

Have one adult quickly go with your son to Jedi sign-ups while the other adult goes and checks in @ H&V. You can enter the park early with that early ADR, so you should be fine signing up quickly. If you wait until 9:00, all the slots will be gone.

Awesome thanks itinkso, that sounds like a good idea. I can run over there with my son while my mother and wife head to the ADR

 

[Golden Rose]

The way our schedule works now, a Tuesday is the only day we were planning to be in DHS. With our 3 year old and my DM with us on the trip, there is just no way we can manage the extra chaos of the actual weekend.

What I wanted to know is, are any of the extra things for sale available during the week? Is there likely to be anything extra we can walk through, or sets we can take pictures on? I know this year they are trying out the new character meals, which we already have booked. That was my best hope for letting DS and DH feel like they are getting a little of the SWW feel during the week, but I was just wondering if there will be other things available.