Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[lovethattink]

Yullinin3, you picked those dates!

Ooohh..I have been thinking about going next year, but was waiting for official dates. Looks like it's time to start planning. Is the first weekend usually the best? Less crowded? More?

The first day is super busy. People looking for merchandise line up in the wee hours of the morning to get to the LE stuff. It's typical around 10am to see a couple hours wait to get into the merchandise tent. Media is also present the first day. Other than that, many kids are still in school so there are less families traveling that first weekend although plenty of local SW fans on Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Jacie]

Yes! Glad the dates are what I thought they'd be because our APs will still have a day or two left!

 

[Izzy&LiamsMomma]

YAY!!! So excited to see the official dates! We will be there for the first and second weekends, and our first time doing Star Wars Weekends! My three boys are over the moon, especially my 4 year old who lives and breathes star wars!

 

[yulilin3]

Yullinin3, you picked those dates!

Yep, I still got it
Hopefully we'll get better weather since it's earlier in May

 

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

SWW 2014 dates released!!! Yahooooo!!! Officially booked May 14-18 at POR!!! Eeeekkk officially EXCITED!

 

[d-r]

we'll be there weekends 2, 3, 4. Kids still in school weekend 1. Can't wait!

 

[BrianL]

Yullinin3, you picked those dates!

The first day is super busy. People looking for merchandise line up in the wee hours of the morning to get to the LE stuff. It's typical around 10am to see a couple hours wait to get into the merchandise tent. Media is also present the first day. Other than that, many kids are still in school so there are less families traveling that first weekend although plenty of local SW fans on Saturday and Sunday.

So it sounds like on Firday I could be at MK (or anywhere besides DHS), then hit the SWW on Saturday or Sunday since I don't care about merchandise. Is there a cool opening ceremony or anything though?

 

[lovethattink]

Yep, I still got it
Hopefully we'll get better weather since it's earlier in May

I sure hope so. DS was started on another med and this one's side effect is no sweating. Here it's been high of 70 and he's got the rosiest red cheeks! Went to the Candlelight Processional on Monday night and we were all bundled up and he was wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. This weekend should be fun as we hit the 80's. Hoping he can be off that one med by SWW.

 

[PinballFamily]

Yay - yulilin, you're the best!

Will be watching for you in the Christmas Day parade, too!

 

[yulilin3]

So it sounds like on Firday I could be at MK (or anywhere besides DHS), then hit the SWW on Saturday or Sunday since I don't care about merchandise. Is there a cool opening ceremony or anything though?

The park will most likely be scheduled to open at 8am, but every SWW they open earlier, so if you want to see the opening ceremony be at the gates by 7:30am. Here's a video of this years opening skit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfmRqvjddH8

I sure hope so. DS was started on another med and this one's side effect is no sweating. Here it's been high of 70 and he's got the rosiest red cheeks! Went to the Candlelight Processional on Monday night and we were all bundled up and he was wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. This weekend should be fun as we hit the 80's. Hoping he can be off that one med by SWW.

I hope so too...I was at Candlelight this past Wednesday, my son was singing in the choir and it was cold (for Fl. standards).

Yay - yulilin, you're the best!

Will be watching for you in the Christmas Day parade, too!

hopefully you can see me, still looking for any promos of the parade.

 

[lovethattink]

So it sounds like on Firday I could be at MK (or anywhere besides DHS), then hit the SWW on Saturday or Sunday since I don't care about merchandise. Is there a cool opening ceremony or anything though?

We found that Friday to be good for the earlier shows, less of a line to get into the Premiere Theatre. More popular characters might be good early on too. If you have hopper passes you could hop to MK in the afternoon and hop back for Hyperspace Hoopla? Merchandise will be mobbed.

This year there was a little thing with the Storm Troopers. In the past, they went on the roof, but this year they were on moving platforms that went from the main stage towards the entrance. They were in front of the rope for rope drop.

 

[BrianL]

We found that Friday to be good for the earlier shows, less of a line to get into the Premiere Theatre. More popular characters might be good early on too. If you have hopper passes you could hop to MK in the afternoon and hop back for Hyperspace Hoopla? Merchandise will be mobbed.

This year there was a little thing with the Storm Troopers. In the past, they went on the roof, but this year they were on moving platforms that went from the main stage towards the entrance. They were in front of the rope for rope drop.

So you're saying that other than merch, the Friday SWW events might be less crowded because everyone will be waiting for merch? Could benefit me then! Is the opening skit only on the first day, or everyday? I am an early kind of guy, so it's not a problem for me!

I guess I really don't know what all goes on at this thing, but I love Star Wars, so I figure it'll be great.

 

[yulilin3]

So you're saying that other than merch, the Friday SWW events might be less crowded because everyone will be waiting for merch? Could benefit me then! Is the opening skit only on the first day, or everyday? I am an early kind of guy, so it's not a problem for me!

I guess I really don't know what all goes on at this thing, but I love Star Wars, so I figure it'll be great.

Opening skit is every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of SWW...if you look at the first post of this thread it shows all the info on entertainment during SWW. It'll be crowded every day but Fridays are better because most locals are at school/work. Saturday tends to be the busier of the 3 days.

 

[nancipants]

I'll be there every weekend, as usual! Well, probably not much the second weekend, but I have a good excuse as I'm getting married on May 25. Yup, the anniversary of Star Wars! But we're having a day wedding and will be staying at the Swan that night, with the intention of watching the Hoopla to end out the day.

I usually don't go to the merchandise tent until Saturday or Sunday. I wouldn't go at all until the last weekend, but Her Universe usually has special items that debut at SWW and they're known to sell out. But no way will I wait in the two hour line in the hot sun.

I do wonder if they're going to announce anything related to the new Rebels cartoon, or even show a trailer like they used to do for The Clone Wars. I sure hope they do!

 

[d-r]

I am sure that they will have a show each weekend that shows previews of star wars rebels. Like the one that always showed previews of the next season of clone wars.

 

[yulilin3]

To all who are subscribed (so far ) to this thread I want to wish a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hannukah (I know it already passed), Happy Boxing Day (for you Canadian friends) and to all other Happy Non Specific Winter Holiday.
And to celebrate this happy, happy time of year nothing better than the
Star Wars Holiday Special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c3B18gAJyc

 

[BigCatEars]

Thinking of traveling for SWW with 4yo daughter. Is attendance affected much by SWW? What about attendance at other parks? Thinking of traveling a Wed to Wed.

 

[yulilin3]

Thinking of traveling for SWW with 4yo daughter. Is attendance affected much by SWW? What about attendance at other parks? Thinking of traveling a Wed to Wed.

If you don't want to do any of the activities related to SWW I would recommend going on a non SWW day. Attendance at other parks is not affected. At DHS you'll find heavier amounts of people around Star Tours, Backlot Tour area and behind Rock n Rollercoaster because of the merchandise tent. Plenty of people only go for SWW things but there are plenty of others who do some SWW things and also do other attractions

 

[The Sunrise Student]

We're staying at BWV for just that reason! Well, that reason and it's our favorite resort.

We are staying at BWI for third SWW, can't wait... WOOT WOOT! Just waiting to hear who I am getting up early to wait in line for CFP...

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We are lucky enough to be going for the third SW weekend yeah! Staying at SSR. Today I opened the last day of my Star Wars advent calendar and got the bonus mini fig Jango Fett in a cute little Christmas outfit. Merry Christmas everyone!