Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[yulilin3]

So glad I found this useful thread! In May I'll be visiting Disney World for the first time and during Star Wars Weekends! Technically I have been to DHS for the Last Tour to Endor party during Star Wars Celebration, but I didn't get to see much.

It's great to see fellow Rebel Legion and 501st members on here. I was tempted to sign up to march in the parade, but I don't really want to stand around sweating in costume (I'm not used to humidity) - plus I want to watch!

I'm trying to get my game plan together for SWW. I do like to collect, but I won't be there until the 3rd weekend. Will all the limited edition items be gone by then or do they hold some back for each weekend? Should I try to hit the shop first thing?

How crowded will Star Tours be? I'll probably get a FP+ for it, but may want to ride more than once!

I am not a collector of any kind of merchandise (other than snowglobes) so I'm not completely sure but I think most things were there during all the weekends. I know that the big vinylmation was released weekend 3 if I'm not mistaken, and that went out very quickly but they still had a lot of Limited Edition merchandise thru weekend 4. If there's something you have in mind that you must have I would say go early to the tent to see if it's still there.
You'll be able to ride ST at least 4 times with almost no wait if you're there at rope drop. It'll start to get crowded later in the morning and never really stop. So I would say be there early and ride over and over again on standby.

 

[AthenaBolina]

You guys are brave for going! I'd love to go but the crowds scare me lol I don't do shoulder to shoulder well at all. Maybe we'll attempt HS Memorial Day evening after we're at done at EP. I'd love to see chip and dale as ewoks!

 

[lovethattink]

You guys are brave for going! I'd love to go but the crowds scare me lol I don't do shoulder to shoulder well at all. Maybe we'll attempt HS Memorial Day evening after we're at done at EP. I'd love to see chip and dale as ewoks!

Character meet and gets end at 7pm. The lines for them close a little earlier, an hour earlier in some cases.

 

[AthenaBolina]

Character meet and gets end at 7pm. The lines for them close a little earlier, an hour earlier in some cases.

Well there goes my idea lol

I wanted to use our FP+ at Epcot that day so it's doubtful when we arrive that anything would even be available at HS, am I right?

 

[yulilin3]

Well there goes my idea lol

I wanted to use our FP+ at Epcot that day so it's doubtful when we arrive that anything would even be available at HS, am I right?

If you're going to DHS Memorial Day evening (a Monday) there will be nothing related to SWW since they only do it Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[AthenaBolina]

If you're going to DHS Memorial Day evening (a Monday) there will be nothing related to SWW since they only do it Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Oh bummer oh well. Not a huge deal so we'll just do something else or still ph to HS just for fun. It wasn't even in my original plans so I'm not too disappointed

 

[lovethattink]

If you're going to DHS Memorial Day evening (a Monday) there will be nothing related to SWW since they only do it Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Good catch. I was reading fast and assumed Memorial Day Weekend.

 

[yulilin3]

At Hollywood Studios now. The R2D2 magic slider $12.95. The cover bands are $15.95 and the bandits are $8.95

 

[disney mom of 6]

2 weeks before the first SWW I'll be able to know at what time all of the restaurants close, so I'll post it here

That would be wonderful.

for those of youg etting magic bands I took some pictures yesterday of what's it being offered to decorate them:

Very cute. I really like the r2d2 slider.

I have a question. If I take the girls to sign up for JTA and DH gets in line for Chewbacca will we make it to the line in time to meet him? We are planning on being at the park by 7:00am.

Thanks

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I think I read somewhere that during SWW the Star Wars related events draw big crowds but the other attractions at DHS have normal wait times and are manageable. Any truth to that?

 

[JediLeia]

I am not a collector of any kind of merchandise (other than snowglobes) so I'm not completely sure but I think most things were there during all the weekends. I know that the big vinylmation was released weekend 3 if I'm not mistaken, and that went out very quickly but they still had a lot of Limited Edition merchandise thru weekend 4. If there's something you have in mind that you must have I would say go early to the tent to see if it's still there.
You'll be able to ride ST at least 4 times with almost no wait if you're there at rope drop. It'll start to get crowded later in the morning and never really stop. So I would say be there early and ride over and over again on standby.

Thanks! I think it will help when I can see a preview of the merchandise for this year to see if it's anything I really want. I do like the SWW pins.

That's good news about ST too!

 

[yulilin3]

I think I read somewhere that during SWW the Star Wars related events draw big crowds but the other attractions at DHS have normal wait times and are manageable. Any truth to that?

True, it'll be crowded but manageable. Just have a plan going in

 

[yulilin3]

That would be wonderful.

Very cute. I really like the r2d2 slider.

I have a question. If I take the girls to sign up for JTA and DH gets in line for Chewbacca will we make it to the line in time to meet him? We are planning on being at the park by 7:00am.

Thanks

Yes you will. Let's say the park opens around 7:45 if you're one of the first in line for JTA you should be done in less than 15 minutes, the characters don't come out until around 8:30 .

 

[yulilin3]

I saw this Yoda backpack yesterday at Tattoine Traders, it's not new I just thought I would start posting some pics of merchandise while we wait for the celebrity list. isn't it adorable. $39.95

 

[yulilin3]

Freddy Prince Jr. makes an appearance at the annual Toy Fair to talk about Star Wars Rebels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDfNODd_l8A

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I saw this Yoda backpack yesterday at Tattoine Traders, it's not new I just thought I would start posting some pics of merchandise while we wait for the celebrity list. isn't it adorable. $39.95 http://s283.photobucket.com/user/yulilin/media/yodabackpack.jpg.html

oh I want one! thanks fpr posting!

 

[Vala]

This will be my first time at SWW. Actually first time to WDW in over 7 years too, and that was more a quick run through than anything else back then. This topic has already been a ton of help.

Anyway, there's one question that I couldn't find an answer for. I'm assuming I have gone temporarily information blind as it's probably not too strange. When does the parking lot open for SWW? I'm reading about people getting in line for merchandise early and I am assuming they don't all take a taxi. We'll have a rental car and are staying at OKW. If the parking is a problem we may just pay for a taxi after all.

 

[yulilin3]

This will be my first time at SWW. Actually first time to WDW in over 7 years too, and that was more a quick run through than anything else back then. This topic has already been a ton of help.

Anyway, there's one question that I couldn't find an answer for. I'm assuming I have gone temporarily information blind as it's probably not too strange. When does the parking lot open for SWW? I'm reading about people getting in line for merchandise early and I am assuming they don't all take a taxi. We'll have a rental car and are staying at OKW. If the parking is a problem we may just pay for a taxi after all.

Not a strange question at all...the parking lot stays open all night long. they just don't have CM at the toll booth (so you don't have to pay for parking) or directing you where to park (so you can park as close to the front entrance as you can find). Cast members start working around 7am.

 

[Vala]

Not a strange question at all...the parking lot stays open all night long. they just don't have CM at the toll booth (so you don't have to pay for parking) or directing you where to park (so you can park as close to the front entrance as you can find). Cast members start working around 7am.

Thank you, that helps a lot.

We always stay local in Anaheim, so I have no experience at all with parking at the US parks. In Disneyland Paris there's actually barriers at the parking lot which are not removed until the cast members show up. That got me a little worried.

 

[franandaj]

I apologize in advance for going

I've been a little bummed that it's going to be several years before I can attend another Star Wars Weekend (living halfway around the world in Europe at the moment).

But now I'm really jazzed because I just got tickets for Star Trek Destination Germany in Frankfurt next weekend!



I'm one of those rare individuals who loves both Star Wars AND Star Trek instead of arguing about which one is better!

I'll be getting my picture made with Captain Kirk... William Shatner! Plus getting his autograph.

Most of the cast from The Next Generation is also going to be there (Sadly, not Patrick Stewart or Jonathan Frakes, but the rest of the main cast is attending) as well as several other big names from other Trek series and lots of "guest stars" as well.

Also getting to meet Karl Urban, who plays Dr. McCoy in the new movies (he was also in Lord of the Rings, Judge Dredd, Riddick, and Hercules/Xena).

Set phasers to fun!



Ok... sorry for that disturbance in the force. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

I don't think you're strange, I love both too! I hope you have a great time. We are going to the one in Las Vegas in late July, a whole lot of the cast will be there too. I'm looking forward to 2014 as being a summer of galactic traveling all over the place!