Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[SolitaryPhoenix]

SWW newbie. I actually inadvertently booked an overnight at WL for myself and my daughter during SWW, and while I'm a fan (of the original movies), she's a bigger fan. Of course, we now have to spend a good chunk of time at HS. While wandering around and seeing characters will be great, I know she'd love to meet some of the celebrities. From what I'm understanding, you need to get there at some ungodly hour to get a wristband to get an autograph; are they not utilizing FP+ with this?

 

[jsh1975]

Last time I was at WDW was over Thanksgiving week. How is the crowd size the week after memorial day (last Star Wars weekend before June) in comparison to Thanksgiving week?

 

[yulilin3]

SWW newbie. I actually inadvertently booked an overnight at WL for myself and my daughter during SWW, and while I'm a fan (of the original movies), she's a bigger fan. Of course, we now have to spend a good chunk of time at HS. While wandering around and seeing characters will be great, I know she'd love to meet some of the celebrities. From what I'm understanding, you need to get there at some ungodly hour to get a wristband to get an autograph; are they not utilizing FP+ with this?

No fp_ for celebs and depending on who you want to meet it doesn't mean you have to camp out overnight. Some of them, by getting to the park around 6am you'll get a wristband and fp but since we don't have the list yet we don't know who is coming or when.

Last time I was at WDW was over Thanksgiving week. How is the crowd size the week after memorial day (last Star Wars weekend before June) in comparison to Thanksgiving week?

The week after Memorial day is not bad, crowd-wise. Not as bad as Thanksgiving or Spring Break. You will still need to plan for the things you want to do but it won't be shoulder to shoulder people, actually even at the busiest it never gets that way, only places that are crowded are by Star Tours area and by Backlot Tour, of course people need to get a spot early for the parade just because the route is so short.

 

[dumbolove]

What time should you try to get a spot for the parade? I'm not much into parades in Disney because of time but I want to do this one! One whole day is for SW in our plans.

 

[yulilin3]

What time should you try to get a spot for the parade? I'm not much into parades in Disney because of time but I want to do this one! One whole day is for SW in our plans.

A whole for for SW is a good idea.
If you want shade (during SWW shade is a must if you want to enjoy it) you need to grab a spot 1 1/2 to 2 hours before, I know this sounds crazy but the parade route is so short that you need to grab a spot this early. Looking at the Hat the left side of the parade route remains shaded or semi-shaded the whole time.
If you don't mind the sun and heat then an hour before should be Ok.
They have a welcome ceremony at the Hat stage after the parade so you can just walk behind the parade rope to the Hat and get great pictures of all the SW characters, celebrities and host.
We grab our spots around 9am and then just people watch.

 

[d-r]

Man I am waiting for the celebrity list.

 

[dumbolove]

A whole for for SW is a good idea. If you want shade (during SWW shade is a must if you want to enjoy it) you need to grab a spot 1 1/2 to 2 hours before, I know this sounds crazy but the parade route is so short that you need to grab a spot this early. Looking at the Hat the left side of the parade route remains shaded or semi-shaded the whole time. If you don't mind the sun and heat then an hour before should be Ok. They have a welcome ceremony at the Hat stage after the parade so you can just walk behind the parade rope to the Hat and get great pictures of all the SW characters, celebrities and host. We grab our spots around 9am and then just people watch.

Thank you! Yeah I changed our regular plans so we could just have a whole day for SW!

 

[yulilin3]

Man I am waiting for the celebrity list.

 

[Music City Mama]

Man I am waiting for the celebrity list.

Me too. Can someone remind me again when this was announced last year?

 

[d-r]

Me too. Can someone remind me again when this was announced last year?

If I remember correctly, last year was atypically early.

 

[yulilin3]

Me too. Can someone remind me again when this was announced last year?

Searched and searched and found the entire list was revealed May 8th last year
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...kends-continues-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[yulilin3]

If I remember correctly, last year was atypically early.

The SWW dates and hosts for 2013 were released via Disney Parks Blog on December 27th 2012 but the list of celebs was in May...

 

[franandaj]

I'd just like to know the list of programs and shows.

 

[d-r]

OK, that makes sense.
but it usually starts trickling before the official list is released. Someone will notice it on a celebritiy's calendar, someone will tweet something, etc. The only thing I've heard so far this year is JAT.
Mine I don't want to wait until May, lol.

 

[Thenwood]

I'm reading these posts and I'm confused. Everyone is talking about the crowds from the hoopla for the fireworks display but according to: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/events/st-starwars-weekend.htm The hoopla was cancelled. Am I misreading something?

 

[d-r]

Ok Peter Mayhew is scheduled to be in Houston May 23-26 and Niagra Falls June 7-8. Jeremy Bullock is in France May 3-4, but schedule doesn't go farther. Anthony Daniels is in Canada the end of April. Ray Park's and Kenny Baker's and Warwick Davis' web site I didn't find any dates. Billy Dee is dancing with the stars.

Dave Filoni has to be there with Rebels coming up. I have to think they will be promoting it pretty heavily.

 

[d-r]

I'm reading these posts and I'm confused. Everyone is talking about the crowds from the hoopla for the fireworks display but according to: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/mgm/events/st-starwars-weekend.htm The hoopla was cancelled. Am I misreading something?

hoopla is canceled. There will be a new character presentation. Probably meant crowds from fantasmic?

 

[yulilin3]

Ok Peter Mayhew is scheduled to be in Houston May 23-26 and Niagra Falls June 7-8. Jeremy Bullock is in France May 3-4, but schedule doesn't go farther. Anthony Daniels is in Canada the end of April. Ray Park's and Kenny Baker's and Warwick Davis' web site I didn't find any dates. Billy Dee is dancing with the stars.

Dave Filoni has to be there with Rebels coming up. I have to think they will be promoting it pretty heavily.

DWTS ends mid May I believe...here's a site with all the SW actors appearances:
http://starwarsactorappearances.blogspot.com/

 

[d-r]

wow, that site is amazing. Thank you.

There are a lot of star wars people at megacon in Orlando this weekend - plus Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch from BSG...and Stan Lee!

 

[yulilin3]

wow, that site is amazing. Thank you.

There are a lot of star wars people at megacon in Orlando this weekend - plus Dirk Benedict and Richard Hatch from BSG...and Stan Lee!

I've never been to Megacon, and can't go this weekend I was looking on their site and they charge for autographs anywhere from $10 to $50. I think that's then ormal thing during conventions