Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[yulilin3]

Where exactly is Soundstage 1? I wish I had known this, my entire touring strategy revolved around Darth Maul being near RnR.

Building between TSMM and the entrance to Backlot Tour

 

[Nemo32]

Thank you! We will be in DHS on May 16 and 17. We planned to go to Darth Maul on May 16 in the 8-9am hour. Would it be the end of the world if we went on May 17 around 12:30 when our D-Tech ressie is? My bf is worried about stuff being sold out if we wait that long. Thoughts? I rather that than rearrange all of my plans with 4 weeks to go.

 

[yulilin3]

Thank you! We will be in DHS on May 16 and 17. We planned to go to Darth Maul on May 16 in the 8-9am hour. Would it be the end of the world if we went on May 17 around 12:30 when our D-Tech ressie is? My bf is worried about stuff being sold out if we wait that long. Thoughts? I rather that than rearrange all of my plans with 4 weeks to go.

The line for merchandise the first Friday is very, very long. Some people line up outside the entrance the night before to get the limited edition stuff and wait hours and hours
In my experience nothing really sells out that first Friday. You could go Saturday and still find plenty of things

 

[hemmie]

Ok, I just changed my FP+ times for Fri, May 23 to end early afternoon, with the thought that we would take an afternoon break back at AKL and come back in the evening. Questions:
1. how are the ride lines in the evenings? Any better at all than during the day?
2. how early do you have to get a spot for Fantasmic/Symphony in the Stars (and are they in the same place?)
3. are there any special shows/talks/events during the evening that might interest us? (3 adults plus two boys ages 8 & 10)

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Ok, I just changed my FP+ times for Fri, May 23 to end early afternoon, with the thought that we would take an afternoon break back at AKL and come back in the evening. Questions:
1. how are the ride lines in the evenings? Any better at all than during the day?
2. how early do you have to get a spot for Fantasmic/Symphony in the Stars (and are they in the same place?)
3. are there any special shows/talks/events during the evening that might interest us? (3 adults plus two boys ages 8 & 10)

Thanks!

1.- lines get longer as the day progresses
2.- Fantasmic! is in a theater by Tower of Terror and has 2 showings during SWW. Symphony in the Stars fireworks will be launched behind the Hat. So not in the same area. If you watch the fireworks first at 9:45pm you can walk afterwards to Fantasmic! to catch the 10:30 show.
3.- No schedule had been released so there's no way of knowing. But if you read the first post on this thread you can see last years schedule

 

[hemmie]

1.- lines get longer as the day progresses 2.- Fantasmic! is in a theater by Tower of Terror and has 2 showings during SWW. Symphony in the Stars fireworks will be launched behind the Hat. So not in the same area. If you watch the fireworks first at 9:45pm you can walk afterwards to Fantasmic! to catch the 10:30 show. 3.- No schedule had been released so there's no way of knowing. But if you read the first post on this thread you can see last years schedule

Thx. So just to clarify:
1. Lines are longer at night than during the day?
2. I think 10:30 will be way too late for my kids; is the earlier showing of Fantasmic a total nightmare without the dining package?

Also any info on Fantasmic FP?

 

[yulilin3]

Thx. So just to clarify:
1. Lines are longer at night than during the day?
2. I think 10:30 will be way too late for my kids; is the earlier showing of Fantasmic a total nightmare without the dining package?

Also any info on Fantasmic FP?

They just stay consistently long.
The first Fantasmic! will be harder to get into, you have to line up at least an hour before and then to leave and get to the fireworks will be hard.

 

[hemmie]

They just stay consistently long. The first Fantasmic! will be harder to get into, you have to line up at least an hour before and then to leave and get to the fireworks will be hard.

So sorry, I have one more question - you've ren so helpful! - how early do you recommend getting to the fireworks then?

 

[yulilin3]

So sorry, I have one more question - you've ren so helpful! - how early do you recommend getting to the fireworks then?

If you want them centered behind the hat, then about an hour and a half anywhere on Hollywood Blvd. If you don't mind them not being centered , anywhere around Echo Lake, Star Tours area about 30 minutes before

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Yes, the glow with show ears will work with the fireworks

Ok, I'll bite, what is "Glow with the show ears"?

I saw Yulilin your later posted where you stated where you could purchase them, what shows they interacted with and how much they are, but what do they do?

 

[lovethattink]

Mickey Ears that glow and do their own "light show". They synchronize with all the other ears too in the crowd. It's pretty neat.

 

[Itinkso]

Ok, I'll bite, what is "Glow with the show ears"? I saw Yulilin your later posted where you stated where you could purchase them, what shows they interacted with and how much they are, but what do they do?

Here is a photo when the Glow Ears were given to everyone in the Dining Area at Fantasmic!:

 

[RAPstar]

Re-watching all the movies. On The Empire Strikes Back today.

 

[yulilin3]

Re-watching all the movies. On The Empire Strikes Back today.

I'm re-watching all the movies starting next weekend. Finished Star Wars The Clone Wars last season last week. Loved the last 3 episodes!!

 

[franandaj]

Re-watching all the movies. On The Empire Strikes Back today.

We're rewatching them too! We need to get a move on, we're up to the first episode or the fourth in the series.

We also bit the bullet and purchased the VIP package for May 30. Between fighting people for places to watch the fireworks, and guaranteed admission into the various shows, it just seems worth it. We're older, have no kids, so we might as well spend whatever inheritance we have!

I'll report back on how it goes for us, and hopefully, those doing the VIP package on the first two weekends can let us know what to expect!

 

[yulilin3]

We're rewatching them too! We need to get a move on, we're up to the first episode or the fourth in the series.

We also bit the bullet and purchased the VIP package for May 30. Between fighting people for places to watch the fireworks, and guaranteed admission into the various shows, it just seems worth it. We're older, have no kids, so we might as well spend whatever inheritance we have!

I'll report back on how it goes for us, and hopefully, those doing the VIP package on the first two weekends can let us know what to expect!

Awesome!! Please make sure to report back

 

[kmcdougan]

Re-watching all the movies. On The Empire Strikes Back today.

WHat order you watching them in?

Ash

 

[ciachef]

Lol!! 1977 replies to this thread!! ... Get it??

 

[kmcdougan]

Lol!! 1977 replies to this thread!! ... Get it??

Wow. We missed 1138.

Ash

 

[RAPstar]

WHat order you watching them in?

Ash

The alternate order: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6

I read about it on tumblr, and I actually agree with that flow. Yes, it does tend to work better for newbies (mainly cause watching numerically destroys the big Vader twist in Empire), but I figured why not try it for myself and see how it goes. I'm gonna get around to the Clone Wars series soon. I rewatched the movie/pilot for it a few weeks ago. Just have all my other regular shows to watch as well, so time and everything lol.