Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[GatorLady]

Yep, I got one too. Maybe they want to make sure people know it is a Star Wars theme? I know that they have called people who booked H&V before the character meal was announced to make sure they knew it was now Star Wars and to see if they wanted to cancel. Of course, Sci Fi is not open for breakfast normally, but I guess people could have booked it without knowing the theme.

You might be right about making sure people are aware of the theme. I'm pretty sure when I was looking for alternative times on MDE, it didn't show that it was a Star Wars event.

Well, I feel better knowing that I was not the only one that got the email!

Thanks everyone!

 

[KSL]

If you have the app, everything is listed under My Plans for each specific day. You can take a screenshot and save to Photos or email it to yourself so that it's in more than one place if MDE is running slowly in the parks.

Great ideas, thanks! I try not to use my phone too much when in the parks for a variety of reasons, but mostly because I'm afraid of dropping it or putting it down somewhere and losing it! So I will probably also have a small card with me with everything listed on it. We're only going to be there for 5 days, but with 5 people and various ADRs, FP+, DTechMe, FTF, etc., I'm feeling in need of a security blanket, LOL!

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you!! I'm just helping her out. She had no idea the 501st even existed. I'm making pool noodle lightsabers for the occasion



I got one too. So far, just for the breakfast.

Check out Trev's MAW reveal on his ptr/tr. Jackie made jedi cloaks, pool noodle light sabers, some 501st was there. It was a great reveal!

 

[horse11]

Ok so since I missed out on Feel the Force it was suggested I start to stake out a place for the Parade 11/2 to 2 hours before. Problem is we have a breakfast ADR at 9:10am at Sci Fi. I doubt anyone in our group is going to want to skip it to hold down the fort sort of speak. How hard will it be to get a good spot an hour out? Will we still be able to get a good spot near the stage or should we not even attept it and try for a different spot?
Also is there any activities before the fire work show at night? We have a dinner package for F and I am wondering if the firework show would be better. Since we have not seen either.

 

[Itinkso]

This info is from the SW Breakfast thread in the Dining forum:

plan on at least an hour to see every character..they are hoping to have 70 min table turns

Mom2of2 has shared some great info to help in planning!

 

[alayne]

Just for the fun of it I pulled up the weather for the next 10 days in Orlando and they are already showing some days in the 90s. I use to hate hot weather until this winter and now I say bring on the heat. However, once I start getting hot I may take that back. Any tips or suggestions on things to buy or bring that help with the heat?

 

[horse11]

This info is from the SW Breakfast thread in the Dining forum:



Mom2of2 has shared some great info to help in planning!

I pretty much knew we would be looking at at about an hour for our ADR but that only leaves us around 50minutes before the parade to stake down a spot assuming the parade will be at 11:00. How hard will it be to find a good spot for the parade given the circumstance. Where would we have the best chance to get a good spot 50 minutes before?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Have you seen this, kinda changes our strategy just a bit!

http://attractionsmagazine.com/unlimited-fastpass-walt-disney-world-park-hop/

 

[Itinkso]

I pretty much knew we would be looking at at about an hour for our ADR but that only leaves us around 50minutes before the parade to stake down a spot assuming the parade will be at 11:00. How hard will it be to find a good spot for the parade given the circumstance. Where would we have the best chance to get a good spot 50 minutes before?

The parade is scheduled for 11:30 so you have a few more minutes to look for a shady spot.

 

[horse11]

The parade is scheduled for 11:30 so you have a few more minutes to look for a shady spot.

Oh WOW!!! That is GREAT!!!! When was that released? I did not think they had the scedule out yet. Did I miss it some where?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Oh WOW!!! That is GREAT!!!! When was that released? I did not think they had the scedule out yet. Did I miss it some where?

The Feel the Force Package revealed the time. Feel the Force people have to check in at 11 am for the 11:30 parade.

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

Did anyone else doing the Star Wars breakfast at Sci-Fi get a "special" email today from Hollywood Studios Food and Beverage wanting to "confirm" their reservation? I got one this afternoon stating: "Thank you for choosing to dine with us during your upcoming visit to the Walt Disney World® Resort. We are looking forward to hosting you and your party and would like to confirm your dining reservation. You are booked to attend the “Star Wars” Dine-In Galactic Breakfast! at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. This unique Character dining experience includes classic “Star Wars” movie characters and various scenes from the films." If you would like to make changes to your reservation, or have concerns, please contact us at 407-WDW-DINE (407) 939 – 3463, 7:00a.m.–11:00p.m., EST. A member of our DINE Team will assist you." The email also included all of my specific reservation information. Never received anything like this before no matter what special event I have booked.

I just got this same message as well this afternoon.

 

[TeamGuinn]

Please disregard this .....I have pixie dust in my eyes

 

[TeamGuinn]

Has anyone that booked the Ultimate VIP Package gotten their email confirmation yet? It's been two weeks since I reserved it and I know he said it would be awhile. I think we will cancel it now because of the Feel the Force package, but I want to make sure they haven't added something else to the Ultimate since the guy I reserved it from said they were still "fine tuning".

Also, was the Ultimate VIP Package every officially announced on the Disney website? I can't find it.

I have not received a confirmation email but they have certainly charged my credit card Hope to hear something soon

 

[horse11]

The Feel the Force Package revealed the time. Feel the Force people have to check in at 11 am for the 11:30 parade.

Well that explains a lot. I seemed to miss the release on Feel the Force and did not see it untill 12:00am this morning when I checked the boards before heading to bed. They were already booked online. I tried to call at 7:00 Orlando time and they said it was booked and they are started it a couple days ago. So I guess I missed all the info on it too. I just saw something about 11:00am. I am so happy to find out it will not start until 11:30!!!!

 

[lemonears6]

I just got this same message as well this afternoon.

Did not get the email

 

[yulilin3]

Just for the fun of it I pulled up the weather for the next 10 days in Orlando and they are already showing some days in the 90s. I use to hate hot weather until this winter and now I say bring on the heat. However, once I start getting hot I may take that back. Any tips or suggestions on things to buy or bring that help with the heat?

Yep, 90 degrees expected for this weekend...Fl heat is no joke
We usually bring small washcloths and dunk them inside the big coolers where they keep the mister/fans they sell. Or just go into any resroom and wet the, Of course there are fancy stuff you can buy on Amazon that would be the same thing. Place the towel around your neck and wrists. Whatever your preference, don't wait to hydrate. Drink as much water as possible not only the day that you are outside but pre-hydrate. It's like getting ready for a marathon Avoid sugary drinks (soda, red bull,etc) go for water or powerade.
The fastest way to cool your body is to put something cold (ice or washcloth/towel) directly on your wrists. The veins in the wrist area are very close to the surface and the cold will spread around your body.
Obviously try to stay in the shade as much as possible and avoid being in direct sun from noon to 4
Every SWW I count how many people just collapse from heat lit's a lot and ruins your day so stay ahead of the game

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We took an umbrella so we could make our own shade. I just bought a cheapy from Target and it was fine, and I was happy to have it, especially in some of those lines where there is just no shade. The heat is one thing...the sun is another.

 

[lovethattink]

The heat is brutal. My son has Buddy Ball tomorrow. We'll see how it goes. We pre-hydrate and since he can't have high fructose corn syrup, he drinks vitamin water for the electrolytes.

We keep an ice cold wash cloth for his head. Polartech cooling vest and neck wrap. My oldest son use to take baseball lessons from a retired pro and he always stressed cooling the back of the neck first.

Never heard of the wrists being just as important. Will try that too tomorrow.

Did not get the email

I didn't get an email either.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Yep, 90 degrees expected for this weekend...Fl heat is no joke
We usually bring small washcloths and dunk them inside the big coolers where they keep the mister/fans they sell. Or just go into any resroom and wet the, Of course there are fancy stuff you can buy on Amazon that would be the same thing. Place the towel around your neck and wrists. Whatever your preference, don't wait to hydrate. Drink as much water as possible not only the day that you are outside but pre-hydrate. It's like getting ready for a marathon Avoid sugary drinks (soda, red bull,etc) go for water or powerade.
The fastest way to cool your body is to put something cold (ice or washcloth/towel) directly on your wrists. The veins in the wrist area are very close to the surface and the cold will spread around your body.
Obviously try to stay in the shade as much as possible and avoid being in direct sun from noon to 4
Every SWW I count how many people just collapse from heat lit's a lot and ruins your day so stay ahead of the game

That was me a few years ago! Got in line in the direct sun for the Disney characters as Star Wars characters since I wanted to meet Stormtrooper Donald. Forty minutes later-- Almost at the front of the line, Donald was about to come out, and down I went. Couldn't breathe, beet red all over, burnt even though I had reapplied sunscreen a half hour before entering the line.

Cast was great. Got me water, took care of me. When I was better they let me go to the front of the line to meet Donald (Minnie was with him) before I headed back to WL.

Never again will I stand in one of those lines in direct sun in the heat for more than a few minutes. We're doing the Hollywood & Vine character dinner this year since I've never met Darth Goofy or Jedi Mickey and H&V is the only DHS restaurant we've never tried. I'm looking forward to it.