Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[njpyro]

I was looking forward to the Hoopla, having never been to a star wars weekend before, but I'm looking at the bright side: one more dinner in EPCOT

 

[yulilin3]

Yulilin, is that just for this year, or is this going to be something they do from now on?

Don't know, they did extend one year in the past to 5 weekends but that was on the fly (SWW had already started and the announced a 5th weekend) so who knows.

Alright I guess I'm not done with Hoopla just because this popped in on a friend of mines (one of the hosts of The Show at Orlando Attractions Magazine) FB page, I'll give you snippets of what this guys said without revealing his name:

As someone connected to the Star Wars Universe both inside and outside of Walt Disney World I have been asked to comment on the changes being made at Star Wars Weekends this year... Here is my take...

Don't jump on the Hate Star Wars Weekends bandwagon yet! There's gonna be something pretty exciting in the evenings, and we'll find out more as we get closer... besides the fireworks are gonna be awesome!

Why the changes you ask? Well now that Disney owns the Star Wars property they have to be very careful how they present these new "timeless" characters. We poked fun at Star Wars because George thought it was funny (i.e. Robot Chicken, the now shelved Star Wars Detours, etc)...

Disney realizes the value and importance of these new characters, and are very careful when it comes to their portrayal. Hence why any project relating to Star Wars prior to the merger has been shelved or discontinued (i.e. Expanded Universe, Clone Wars, Video Games, etc.). Disney has finally given these beloved characters value and a new life and the same level of protection we give to all our classic characters. You would never see a show in the style of Hoopla with our Disney properties in it. I mean sure seeing the Disney Princesses dance to Single Ladies would probably be hilarious, and the Beast wearing a Kangol hat dancing to Werewolves in London amusing, but we're cautious because those characters are "timeless" just like our newly acquired friends from the Star Wars Universe....

Just know that everything is in the hands of people that care about these characters and aren't willing to compromise their integrity, even if it's one of the top rated shows at Star Wars Weekends. There are so many great surprises you'll hear in the next few months coming to Star Wars Weekends this year... So much that they had to add another weekend. So hang in there, besides how do you top last years Hoopla anyways! Here's to bigger and better.... I'm just excited to be a part of it... MTFBWY and I'll see you in out there in May!

I have looked this guy up and found out he works for entertainment at WDW he's actually one of the Djs that played at the Hat Stage last year. As to his connection to SW I didn't find any, not saying that he doesn't have one. But it seems he might be in the know as to what is planned, so I'll take his word for it that it's going to be good.
To the excuse that they decided to drop Hoopla to maintain the integrity of the characters...I'm not sure. This is no, in any way, an official announcement from DIsney, this is just a person giving his thoughts on a Fb page.

Like I said before I don't like for this thread to go negative, and I'm glad it hasn't. So in the words of that most famous Stormtrooper, let's just ...move along...move along

 

[Nanu57v]

My mom just tipped me off to check the Disboards because they added a 5th weekend and took away the Hoopla. I feel like the lack of the Hoopla is a deal-breaker, and I am so bummed we skipped last year! I guess we'll just have to wait and see what is planned in its place and decide in the next few months if we want to cancel our trip.

The 5th weekend part is hilarious though. I had assumed the SWW would be last two May and first two June weekends like in the past, so without checking dates, we had planned our June 11-16 trip. That's the FIFTH weekend! Talk about disappointment if we had shown up when SWW was over. OOPS!

 

[lovethattink]

In bold, did I read that right? Extending another weekend? Or was that in reference to the past?

 

[yulilin3]

In bold, did I read that right? Extending another weekend? Or was that in reference to the past?

Yes, I posted the announcement a few pages back: http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ee-issued-by-the-evil-sith-emperor-palpatine/

 

[lovethattink]

Sorry I missed it. Thought I read all the posts. I was told there were lots of changes in store for this year's SWW. Can't wait to see the rest of the changes.

 

[boBQuincy]

We last went to a SWW maybe 10 years ago and it was pretty low key compared to recent years. We usually don't go to WDW in June because of the crowds and heat but decided to go to SWW this year, mainly to see Hyperspace Hoopla. We also thought that since Disney now owns the franchise that there could be some exciting new features to SWW.
It is disappointing to hear HH is gone but hopefully the new show and fireworks will make up for it.

 

[d-r]

Don't know, they did extend one year in the past to 5 weekends but that was on the fly (SWW had already started and the announced a 5th weekend) so who knows.

Thanks for posting this. It makes sense. I can get my head around it.

 

[cvjpirate]

Now I have to redo all my thinking with them extending SWW as I will be there on the 15th.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

glad we got to experience Hoopla a few times. To be honest it was getting a little crazy to view it. had to get there nearly 3 hours early! Don't get me wrong, we will miss it. looking forward to the fireworks this year and now that they added a weekend I may change from 1st weekend to the last 2 weekends and get more in (ds will be out of school)

 

[Autumnslight]

I've never been to SWW, so clearly I don't know what I'm missing with the Hoopla being retired. That being said, I was actually kind of relieved when I heard that. If it was happening, my kids would HAVE to see it. But I kind of hate trying to see Disney stage shows in the parks with my kids. They always get upset because they can never actually SEE the show with the crowd. It was kind of a nightmare when we went to MVMCP and tried to see the show on the castle stage.

I'm excited about the fireworks show though. What I've seen on YouTube looks great! I can't wait to hear more details about whatever else they might be planning too.

 

[mrstomrice]

We have June 1 as our DHS day. It is Ds's 10th birthday and this is a surprise trip. I booked the Mama Melrose F! package. Where are the fireworks going to be and at what time, or has that not been announced? I don't care if we miss F! We've done it many times. MM is his favorite restaurant.

 

[Reizo]

Alright I guess I'm not done with Hoopla just because this popped in on a friend of mines (one of the hosts of The Show at Orlando Attractions Magazine) FB page, I'll give you snippets of what this guys said without revealing his name:

Why the changes you ask? Well now that Disney owns the Star Wars property they have to be very careful how they present these new "timeless" characters. We poked fun at Star Wars because George thought it was funny (i.e. Robot Chicken, the now shelved Star Wars Detours, etc)...

Disney realizes the value and importance of these new characters, and are very careful when it comes to their portrayal. Hence why any project relating to Star Wars prior to the merger has been shelved or discontinued (i.e. Expanded Universe, Clone Wars, Video Games, etc.). Disney has finally given these beloved characters value and a new life and the same level of protection we give to all our classic characters. You would never see a show in the style of Hoopla with our Disney properties in it. I mean sure seeing the Disney Princesses dance to Single Ladies would probably be hilarious, and the Beast wearing a Kangol hat dancing to Werewolves in London amusing, but we're cautious because those characters are "timeless" just like our newly acquired friends from the Star Wars Universe....

I actually can understand what he means of not making fun of a newly acquired property. It makes sense when considering production on the new movies begins in May 2014 and I would think by the end of the year, we're looking for a teaser trailer at some point since the movie releases Christmas 2015.

You have to believe that now Star Wars has to be less of a fandom gimmick that represents our love for the franchise for it's timeless material to now looking at it as a real Disney franchise moving forward and it would be mockery to keep Hoopla teasing us on scenes and lines that now have to actually mean more to us like classic scenes and songs of our other favorite Disney characters.

Don't get me wrong, I will surely miss seeing Hoopla too but I think now after thinking about it, the new curtain call may not be as hilarious or entertaining as Hoopla but I think it will at least live up to what Star Wars celebration is all about.

 

[yulilin3]

We have June 1 as our DHS day. It is Ds's 10th birthday and this is a surprise trip. I booked the Mama Melrose F! package. Where are the fireworks going to be and at what time, or has that not been announced? I don't care if we miss F! We've done it many times. MM is his favorite restaurant.

It's hasn't been officially announced but the fireworks will go off at 9:45pm.... keep in mind that tsm and one man's dream will probably close around 8pm during sww nights because they have to clear the area for fireworks fall out

 

[dumbolove]

So excited to be going the first weekend! First time going! We are dedicating one whole day to HS. What do I need to know? Is fireworks all weekend? We have the F! Package planned the following night. Do they cross in time? Does the park ever close because of capacity? Sorry to ask questions that probably have been answered!

 

[lovethattink]

So excited to be going the first weekend! First time going! We are dedicating one whole day to HS. What do I need to know? Is fireworks all weekend? We have the F! Package planned the following night. Do they cross in time? Does the park ever close because of capacity? Sorry to ask questions that probably have been answered!

The first page has all the info you need to know.

I've never seen the park close due to capacity, though I have seen the parking lot close.

 

[yulilin3]

The first page has all the info you need to know.

I've never seen the park close due to capacity, though I have seen the parking lot close.

Adding to this, I updated the first page to show the new weekend added (June 13-15) I show the hours as 8am to 10pm, this has not been changed in the official WDW calendar, in fact, it still shows Saturday 14th as a morning EMH, I expect them to change it to 8am to 10pm.
I'll keep checking the hours and if I see no change by April I'll correct the first post

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

This is my first SWW so I never saw the Hoopla (besides youtube) but I agree with the PP about respecting the brand.

And honestly, it is a bit of a relief because I was already worried about how early we'd have to park ourselves in front of the stage to be able to see.

I hope the new stuff they add is awesome.

Also a question for people who have been before: people talk about lines forming for the merchandise tent the night before. Which items in the past have sold out that early? Like, say that I don't want to go to the tent until later afternoon. What has been sold out before in that time?

 

[Tasmen]

We have June 1 as our DHS day. It is Ds's 10th birthday and this is a surprise trip. I booked the Mama Melrose F! package. Where are the fireworks going to be and at what time, or has that not been announced? I don't care if we miss F! We've done it many times. MM is his favorite restaurant.

Yeah I'm curious if they are going to overlap with Fantasmic! or not. I know we have a 9pm Fantasmic show one night and would love to catch the fireworks as well if at all possible. If it is the 9:45 start time, though, it's going to be rough.

Now to find another night we can squeeze in DHS for fireworks.

 

[lyannuzzi]

Hi! This will be our first SWW and I would love some advice from the vets. Our trip is June 8-13 and we were planning to hurry down and try to get to SWW on June 8th thinking it was the last day. Now that the following weekend is included, I'm thinking of making June 13 our SWW day. Fridays are better than Sundays, right? Even once we are into June? If we can only do the 8th or 13th, which would you choose? TIA!