Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[Itinkso]

We will be going on a Friday of SWW and hope to get the boys signed up for JTA. What time do we need to arrive at the DHS? Will taking the first bus available from AKL be good enough?

My DD is an onstage CM at JTA and on a regular park day, it's recommended to be at the gates at least 45 minutes before the scheduled park opening.

On SWW with a mass of people heading to the sign-ups, as early as you can possibly get there would be best. Even 45 minutes before park opening may be much too late.

 

[hemmie]

My DD is an onstage CM at JTA and on a regular park day, it's recommended to be at the gates at least 45 minutes before the scheduled park opening. On SWW with a mass of people heading to the sign-ups, as early as you can possibly get there would be best. Even 45 minutes before park opening may be much too late.

Wow, really? That's depressing. I don't think DH is going to be on board w getting there much earlier, esp. if it means getting a taxi. Maybe my kids won't notice it's going on

I know there are no guarantees, but I'd love to know whether it's even worth trying for - I'd rather just use the time to do rides or line up for Chewie if chances are slim we'd get JTA.

 

[yulilin3]

We will be going on a Friday of SWW and hope to get the boys signed up for JTA. What time do we need to arrive at the DHS? Will taking the first bus available from AKL be good enough?

You have to be at the entrance by 7:30 at the latest... you'll see the masses heading toward the Indiana Jones Theatre, that's where you sign up, remember that the child had to be with you. I know busses start around 7am, if I'm not mistaken. If you have the possibility to drive over that would be better

 

[yulilin3]

Wow, really? That's depressing. I don't think DH is going to be on board w getting there much earlier, esp. if it means getting a taxi. Maybe my kids won't notice it's going on

I know there are no guarantees, but I'd love to know whether it's even worth trying for - I'd rather just use the time to do rides or line up for Chewie if chances are slim we'd get JTA.

Whether it's worth trying is up to you and your family, and your kids will probably notice what's going on, they pump star wars music all around the park you can even hear it from the parking lot, there will be a huge stage at the hat with a large screen showing different scenes from star wars... it's hard to miss

 

[obx_mama]

BTW - since Billy Dee Williams is out of Dancing with the Stars, is there speculation that he may be back to SWW (on his scooter) this year???

 

[kgc07]

Thinking that we should probably take a cab to DHS on the first Saturday morning of SWW... we are staying at AKL and want to be at the gates by 7am. Think that it will possible to get a taxi that early? Any tips for it as we have always just relied on WDW transportation... but we are also the ones who always miss the bus by like 2 minutes... Thanks!

We took a cab from AKL last year. There was a few cabs waiting outside the resort.

 

[yulilin3]

BTW - since Billy Dee Williams is out of Dancing with the Stars, is there speculation that he may be back to SWW (on his scooter) this year???

I haven't heard anything but it's a possibility, he was huge last year...imagine if he's there the same weekend as Mark Hamill

 

[obx_mama]

I haven't heard anything but it's a possibility, he was huge last year...imagine if he's there the same weekend as Mark Hamill

That might get a tad crowded.

 

[hemmie]

Thx. I will discuss with DH. I may just ask the boys (ages 8&10) what they want to do. I was hoping to keep the SciFi character breakfast a surprise, but it may help them not be as disappointed by the prospect of not making JTA.

I could also show them the YouTube video of JTA but that would be kind of a bummer to ruin it for them if they do it!

 

[obx_mama]

Thx. I will discuss with DH. I may just ask the boys (ages 8&10) what they want to do. I was hoping to keep the SciFi character breakfast a surprise, but it may help them not be as disappointed by the prospect of not making JTA.

I could also show them the YouTube video of JTA but that would be kind of a bummer to ruin it for them if they do it!

My two cents... my DD saw a video and it didn't phase her a bit. She was 9. LOVED JTA. We got there just after rope drop. Straight to the line and signed up by 9:15 and she had a mid-afternoon show, so it can be done.

Also, JTA is done every day so if they really want to do it, could you park hop over on a weekday?

 

[yulilin3]

That might get a tad crowded.

If you look at Billy Dee Williams convention schedules he's keeping pretty busy, and there are a couple of dates still available for SWW http://starwarsactorappearances.blogspot.com/

 

[Itinkso]

Thx. I will discuss with DH. I may just ask the boys (ages 8&10) what they want to do. I was hoping to keep the SciFi character breakfast a surprise, but it may help them not be as disappointed by the prospect of not making JTA.

I could also show them the YouTube video of JTA but that would be kind of a bummer to ruin it for them if they do it!

Plus, some kids really don't want to do JTA. At times, kids from a family will be onstage and refuse to train against Vader because they think it's "stupid." They took slots away from kids who really wanted to go up against Vader. So, it really does help to show them a JTA video before your trip.

 

[hemmie]

My two cents... my DD saw a video and it didn't phase her a bit. She was 9. LOVED JTA. We got there just after rope drop. Straight to the line and signed up by 9:15 and she had a mid-afternoon show, so it can be done.

Also, JTA is done every day so if they really want to do it, could you park hop over on a weekday?

That's definitely a possibility, though would mess up all my other planning LOL.... I had planned for us to go the day before (Thursday) to Blizzard Beach in the AM and head to DHS in the afternoon for a less crowded way to do experience it before braving the SWW crowds. Plus that way I was able to FP+ both days to do both RnR and TSMM. I suppose we could switch the order and do DHS first thing Thursday and then hop over to BB for the afternoon, but that means much longer lines at BB....

[...these are good problems to have, these are good problems to have, these are good problems to have...]

 

[KatieKat]

We have a 8:00 AM breakfast at sci fi, any suggestions of what time to get on the bus from Pop to get there at? I really don't want to spend the money to get a taxi, and we don't care about getting there early enough for fast passes or anything.

 

[yulilin3]

We have a 8:00 AM breakfast at sci fi, any suggestions of what time to get on the bus from Pop to get there at? I really don't want to spend the money to get a taxi, and we don't care about getting there early enough for fast passes or anything.

You can get on the bus by 7:30 at the latest. Pop to DHS is about 5 minutes. There might be a long line for the bus to DHS

 

[Itinkso]

We have a 8:00 AM breakfast at sci fi, any suggestions of what time to get on the bus from Pop to get there at? I really don't want to spend the money to get a taxi, and we don't care about getting there early enough for fast passes or anything.

There are specific bus runs for guests with early morning ADRs. Check with the Pop front desk and they will let you know when those buses run... a little earlier than the regular park runs.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If there are no taxis waiting outside your resort, the bell services will call one for you.

 

[kmcdougan]

Finally caught up - with school and work, have missed everything since page 16.

1) AS a 501st member - Thanks for all the love for our organization and our sister group the Rebel Legion. We love doing what we do, and we love seeing people enjoy it as much as we enjoy doing it.

2) Quick responses: @ Reizo - What costume did you do? I would love to see pics of it. I might be able to give you some tips on getting it approved.

@ Tasmen - re: your "Han shot first" shirt. If you remember the original theatrical release (which is hard as all get out to find these days - luckily I have a copy), Han is the ONLY one to shoot there. He preemptively takes Greedo out. Which is why in the special edition they edit Greedo firing. It has been a point of contention since that edition came out in the late 90's.

@Sunrise - How goes the costume build and approval process? I did not see anything posted about you being approved yet.

I will post more later when I get home, as I need to run to class, but, these are the things I needed to get out before I forgot.

Ash

 

[delmar411]

We have a 8:00 AM breakfast at sci fi, any suggestions of what time to get on the bus from Pop to get there at? I really don't want to spend the money to get a taxi, and we don't care about getting there early enough for fast passes or anything.

Get on the 6:30am bus. Don't miss it because the next bus won't be until 7am at least.

 

[ktate82]

We are debating taking a cab to Hollywood Studios from Old Key West or renting a car. Does anyone know how much it would be for a taxi? I have tried to google it, but the calculators I find don't "find" Old Key West, lol.