Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[lovethattink]

And now you get charged for no show.

 

[yulilin3]

And now you get charged for no show.

Good point

 

[CadenZanesMom]

Hi Yullin, My son and I are going to Disney the 18th through the 24th. I added the 23rd to our original plan so we could go to HS just for SWW. We have been to Disney twice in May. The first year we were at the park shortly after opening and had already missed all the spots for the JTA. The second trip our HS day didn't fall on a weekend. My son will be 11 for our trip this year and I am hoping we make it. Since Friday, the 23rd is our designated day for SWW I was hoping you could give me a plan of attack? I have subscribed to this thread and am still a little confused. Right now the major thing is JTA and possibly the PMC. Everything else comes second. If that makes sense. Thanks in advance!

 

[marypoppins81]

We have the fantasmic dining package booked Sunday 18th may - will it still go ahead with sww? I am a Star Wars fan so wanted to combine with the girls seeing fantasmic so it's not all for me!
Also has the park ever closed to capacity during sww? I was thinking of going back for a mid afternoon break at pofq or walking across to a resort near hs then coming back for our fantasmic dinner package.
Thanks.

 

[yulilin3]

Hi Yullin, My son and I are going to Disney the 18th through the 24th. I added the 23rd to our original plan so we could go to HS just for SWW. We have been to Disney twice in May. The first year we were at the park shortly after opening and had already missed all the spots for the JTA. The second trip our HS day didn't fall on a weekend. My son will be 11 for our trip this year and I am hoping we make it. Since Friday, the 23rd is our designated day for SWW I was hoping you could give me a plan of attack? I have subscribed to this thread and am still a little confused. Right now the major thing is JTA and possibly the PMC. Everything else comes second. If that makes sense. Thanks in advance!

For JTA just arrive no later than 7:30am. The park will most likely have a scheduled open time of 8am but during SWW they open earlier. As you enter the park stay to the left of Hollywood Blvd. and there will be CM directing you to JTA sign ups, they have been at the Indiana Jones Theater in the past. Your child needs to be with you to sign up. After that head to the Info Desk next to Sounds Dangerous to sign up for the PMC. If you have any other questions let us know.

We have the fantasmic dining package booked Sunday 18th may - will it still go ahead with sww? I am a Star Wars fan so wanted to combine with the girls seeing fantasmic so it's not all for me!
Also has the park ever closed to capacity during sww? I was thinking of going back for a mid afternoon break at pofq or walking across to a resort near hs then coming back for our fantasmic dinner package.
Thanks.

Yes, Fantasmic! will still go on during SWW and the park has never been closed for capacity.

 

[delmar411]

Hi Yullin, My son and I are going to Disney the 18th through the 24th. I added the 23rd to our original plan so we could go to HS just for SWW. We have been to Disney twice in May. The first year we were at the park shortly after opening and had already missed all the spots for the JTA. The second trip our HS day didn't fall on a weekend. My son will be 11 for our trip this year and I am hoping we make it. Since Friday, the 23rd is our designated day for SWW I was hoping you could give me a plan of attack? I have subscribed to this thread and am still a little confused. Right now the major thing is JTA and possibly the PMC. Everything else comes second. If that makes sense. Thanks in advance!

You need to be at the front of the rope drop pack for JTA. You can't show up after rope drop. I would plan to arrive no later than 7am. That way you aren't stuck in a long JTA sign up line and can get over to sign up for PMC right after.

 

[lovethattink]

You need to be at the front of the rope drop pack for JTA. You can't show up after rope drop. I would plan to arrive no later than 7am. That way you aren't stuck in a long JTA sign up line and can get over to sign up for PMC right after.

Also, it will be on the left hand side of the rope drop if it's like last year. Just look for the cm holding the sign. We were 3rd through the turn stile, but from all the people rushing in front of us when the rope dropped, we ended up with 2nd session. People are brutal. Strollers are not allowed in the JTA sign up queue, so parking it will put one further back in line. W/C are allowed in the line, the ground is uneven and the queue is winding. Do NOT lose the FP ticket you are given for the JTA time, or you may lose his spot.

 

[LoKiHB]

I'm wondering the same thing. We picked memorial day weekend to go because I knew, at the time, that would be a Star Wars weekend. Now i'm wishing that we were going the weekend before. Oh wells Going to be a fun trip no matter what.

In our experience, the first day tended to have smaller crowds than the other 2.

We were there Memorial Day Weekend last year - with a 6 year old with ADHD and a 15 month old. We did have to take a cab from Wilderness Lodge to get there by 7. I think we were maybe 3rd in line out our entry point, and we were right at the rope on the left side for JTA, but because people were running, and I mean that in the most literal sense of the word- it was like a free for all, we were not among the very first in line. We were waiting by Indy, and stood in line for maybe 25 minutes, but in the end, we got a 10:30 times slot, so all the people that were attempting to trample each other (again literally), didn't really get any advantage. They have double sized JTA's during SWW. One group on stage fighting Darth Vader, the other to the side fighting Darth Maul. It is SOOOOO awesome!!!

My advice. Get there for rope drop. If you don't want to get celeb autograph's 6:45 - 7:00 am is fine IMHO. If they do it the same as last year, after the show, follow the CM with the sign. Don't run, or get involved in the mass hysteria, and you too will end up with a nice time for JTA.

 

[LoKiHB]

Thanks for all the information so far! I'm a new AP holder, and have decided that my nephew's 12th birthday present will be a trip for the two of us to SWW.

I want him to help with the planning, so I'm not making too many plans yet, but am planning for us to go Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the 3rd weekend. I'm hoping that will allow us to get to most things.

For those that have gone in past years, what are your thoughts about making ADRs vs Counter Service? I like the idea of ADRs for the AC and guaranteed place to sit, but with celebrity autographs, JTA, the parade, and character meet & greets, it seems like it would be difficult to time things correctly.

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions, and I'm looking forward to sharing the excitement with all of you! Thanks in advance!

We had lunch and dinner ADR's for both Friday and Saturday last year. For us it worked out well, as we had a 6 year old and a 15 month old. We were able to work our ADR's around the events and characters we wanted to get to, and were lucky enough to get a 10:30 JTA slot.

I would recommend ADR's - at least for lunch for one reason only. It gets really, REALLY hot during the day. It's nice to be able to sit down and cool off, and just relax for an hour or so. If you are the type of family that wants some down time, then go for the ADR's for lunch. I recommend Sci-Fi and 50's Prime Time. Just be sure to know what you want to do and when, and work around that. I could be wrong, but I doubt you'll be able to get same day ADR's at HS during SWW.

 

[sammyjo1871]

Did I see that JTA sign up is not where it normally is? My son has done this on our last 2 trips, so I don't want to make the mistake of heading to the building I'm used to, to find it is different for SWW.

Also, we currently have an 8am ADR at H&V, mostly so we can be in the park ahead of rope drop. Is this going to help at all? I know our first priority is JTA sign up and then trying to decide which character meet to head to next. Any suggestions for who to meet first? TIA!

 

[delmar411]

Did I see that JTA sign up is not where it normally is? My son has done this on our last 2 trips, so I don't want to make the mistake of heading to the building I'm used to, to find it is different for SWW.

Also, we currently have an 8am ADR at H&V, mostly so we can be in the park ahead of rope drop. Is this going to help at all? I know our first priority is JTA sign up and then trying to decide which character meet to head to next. Any suggestions for who to meet first? TIA!

I'd say your morning ADR is a mistake. The park will most likely be opening at 7:30 regardless of any currently posted 9am opening.

Over the past few years they have been doing the JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones. There is more space there for people to line up.

 

[yulilin3]

Did I see that JTA sign up is not where it normally is? My son has done this on our last 2 trips, so I don't want to make the mistake of heading to the building I'm used to, to find it is different for SWW.

Also, we currently have an 8am ADR at H&V, mostly so we can be in the park ahead of rope drop. Is this going to help at all? I know our first priority is JTA sign up and then trying to decide which character meet to head to next. Any suggestions for who to meet first? TIA!

I'd say your morning ADR is a mistake. The park will most likely be opening at 7:30 regardless of any currently posted 9am opening.

Over the past few years they have been doing the JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones. There is more space there for people to line up.

Agree 100% with Delmar, the park will most likely open by 7:30am, even if you were at H&V the CM will hold you outside the restaurant until the park opens and then you just have to line up with everyone else.
As for the characters and their order, in the first post on this thread I posted the link to Kenny The Pirate character locations from last year.
My general order is:
1st Mickey and the Gang in SW attire: simply because this line rotates and it's completely in the direct sun, no shade at all. It can get hot and long very quickly.
2nd. Chewbacca: he's very popular and takes a lot of breaks.
3rd. Darth Vader: popular as well but his line is under roof. He did meet during the parade last year but his line is consistently long all day long
As for the rest their lines shouldn't be longer than 20 minutes, apart from Luke, Leia and the Droids, but they are inside the Merch Tent and 1 hour in A/C is a good thing.
Plenty of other characters are free roaming, again see Kenny's site.

 

[LoKiHB]

Did I see that JTA sign up is not where it normally is? My son has done this on our last 2 trips, so I don't want to make the mistake of heading to the building I'm used to, to find it is different for SWW.

Also, we currently have an 8am ADR at H&V, mostly so we can be in the park ahead of rope drop. Is this going to help at all? I know our first priority is JTA sign up and then trying to decide which character meet to head to next. Any suggestions for who to meet first? TIA!

It's over by Indy during SWW. As long as you're there at RD, you can follow the CM with the sign and they will take you directly to it.

With regards to your ADR, I'm going to have to agree, not a great idea. The park will open around 7:30, although, if I remember correctly, the path to sign ups goes directly past H&V.. Yep, looked at the map, they definitely take you down that path. If you get in early enough, you might be able to sign up and make your ADR, but with the whole credit card hold thing, I wouldn't recommend it. If you really want to eat breakfast at H&V, I would try going for an 8:30-9 reservation.

Also, one other thing that was awesome or us... We signed up for JTA right at RD, and walked into Star Tours back to back right after. Most people are making the run directly to Darth's Maul, or TSMM or getting on what will shortly be a really long line for character meets. We signed up for JTA, rode Star Tours back to back with no wait, and then walked out to see Chewie just arriving by the speeder bike, and waited maybe 15 minutes for him? All the time just to our right and behind us about 20 feet away were Chip & Dale

 

[lemonears6]

My husband and our 4 kids( 4,6,8,9) will be going to our first sww on May. 30th. The JTA is a must. And meeting mickey , Minnie , and goofy in there starwars gear is another must. Tips please. Thanks. ( we are stay off site)

 

[lovethattink]

Yulilin3, did you start the who is going when post?

 

[LoKiHB]

My husband and our 4 kids( 4,6,8,9) will be going to our first sww on May. 30th. The JTA is a must. And meeting mickey , Minnie , and goofy in there starwars gear is another must. Tips please. Thanks. ( we are stay off site)

Get to the gates by 7 AM the latest. Try and get to an entrance as far to the left as possible and as close to the front as possible. Once they let everyone in- if they do it the same as last year, they will let everyone in up until the first possible turn off of Hollywood Blvd. That is where you will see the CM with a sign for JTA. You will want to be as close to the left side of the street as possible. Once the entrance show is over, the CM will lead everyone to the JTA sign up which is over by Indy. Don't run, don't get crazy. Just walk with the group. We walked- not strolled, but walked at a pretty decent pace and got a 10:30 time. Don't get caught up in the hype and frenzy. As long as you are there before RD and line up close you will get a time. They double the size of JTA during SWW, and I don't remember exactly, but I think they may also double the amount of shows. All children signing up MUST be present during sign up.

As for Mickey and crew... get in line EARLY. It may be worthwhile to send 1 or two party members to wait on line, as their line is one of the longest. It is very difficult to get all of them at once. They usually switch out every half hour or so. So you'll get two of them then if you want to get the other two, you have to get right back in line, and hope that when you get back to the front, you're lucky enough to get the others. I HAVE heard tale that it IS possible to get them all at once

Also, keep a lookout for roaming characters- Gamorrean Guards, Storm Troopers (they are hilarious), Sand People, Cantina Band... Last year, we were lucky enough to catch the return of Greedo.

My biggest tip to everyone, and I've said it here before..... LISTEN to people around you. SWW brings in ALL of the Star Wars crazies (our family included). Some of these people have inside-inside-INSIDE information and feel the need to brag about it to anyone that will listen.

More than anything... HAVE FUN!!! SWW is an amazing time to be at DHS. Get everything you want to do done... but definitely take some time to just enjoy the atmosphere!!!

 

[yulilin3]

My husband and our 4 kids( 4,6,8,9) will be going to our first sww on May. 30th. The JTA is a must. And meeting mickey , Minnie , and goofy in there starwars gear is another must. Tips please. Thanks. ( we are stay off site)

Read the first post of this thread, I put a lot of information there.
As you may have already read, get to the park no later than 7:30am, sign up for JTA (child must be with you) and then make the line for the DIsney characters in SW gear (by the exit to Great Movie Ride.
Let us know if you have any other questions and happy planning

 

[yulilin3]

Yulilin3, did you start the who is going when post?

No I haven't, I was waiting for it to get closer May.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Hey Gang,

(I haven't read through the whole thread to see if someone already posted this cause I wanted to get this out quick!)

Disney is doing some major discounts on resort rooms during SWW! As WELL AS a buy 4 day tickets and get the 5th free offer!

We are staying at BWI May 28th - June 2nd and we got both the 30% off room discount and the 5th day ticket free... saving us nearly 600 bucks... woot woot!

We already had our reservations booked months ago, BUT I called and they applied this discount to our current reservation!

I am doing the happy dance star wars shuffle as we speak I am so excited!

 

[ktate82]

Hey Gang, (I haven't read through the whole thread to see if someone already posted this cause I wanted to get this out quick!) Disney is doing some major discounts on resort rooms during SWW! As WELL AS a buy 4 day tickets and get the 5th free offer! We are staying at BWI May 28th - June 2nd and we got both the 30% off room discount and the 5th day ticket free... saving us nearly 600 bucks... woot woot! We already had our reservations booked months ago, BUT I called and they applied this discount to our current reservation! I am doing the happy dance star wars shuffle as we speak I am so excited!

I don't see any info about the ticket discount, where did you find it?