Official Star Wars Weekends 2014 Tips and Tricks

[lovethattink]

If anyone is looking I'm getting ready to cancel the following ADR's. They are both for 6 people (2 adults, 3 kids, 1 infant). We have decided to cancel our WDW trip and are heading back to Disneyland (much closer of a drive for us.)

June 15 –
9:10 AM Sci Fi – Star Wars Breakfast
5:55 PM H&V – Star Wars Dinner/Fantasmic

Oh Sandra! I'm so sad, but understand. Definitely closer and a less expensive trip.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

And here I thought they were going to wait til May 4th, to announce it but either way!

I think with the current leak that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher are all in London at the same time, they rushed the announcement.

 

[handicap18]

Getting super excited planning for our trip. Only 29 days away!! A few questions I thought of...

1. When we went two years ago, we did not do any shows since our boys were still pretty young (5 & 7). Trying to decide whether to plan for any, all or none this year with our now 7 & 9 DS. Which shows do you guys recommend for children? Also has anyone had any luck taking younger uninterested siblings (I have 4 & 4 DD) to these shows or should we split up?

2. Planning on being at DHS all 3 days of our SWW, but trying to decide whether we'll do 1, 2 or 3 RD there or if we'll RD somewhere else & park hop... If we aren't doing JTA or celebrity autographs and have ADR for both SW dining & FTF, what things would be must do RD activities? We plan to go straight to Chewie one morning but curious if there are other SW things that will save us significant time doing first thing in the morning? (I realize all this is subject to change once we see a schedule of events & see what characters are there)

3. Speaking of characters, anybody else excited about Kenny's rumor of a potential Emperor Palpatine Stitch. Anyone hear anymore buzz on this?

Thanks for all this great info!!!

This would be so freakin cool!!!

 

[handicap18]

If anyone is looking I'm getting ready to cancel the following ADR's. They are both for 6 people (2 adults, 3 kids, 1 infant). We have decided to cancel our WDW trip and are heading back to Disneyland (much closer of a drive for us.)

June 15 –
9:10 AM Sci Fi – Star Wars Breakfast
5:55 PM H&V – Star Wars Dinner/Fantasmic

I have Mamma Melrose for the same time w/fantasmic but would love H&V for the characters instead. I just checked and there is still nothing. :-(

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I'm a little let down only one female. Come on.

There are jokes all over the net (even crude ones) about it being a mostly male cast again and that Daisy Ridley is ONLY the third woman to join the now 7 movie run.

 

[ladylyons]

Oh Sandra! I'm so sad, but understand. Definitely closer and a less expensive trip.

Thanks Michelle! Less expensive on gas for sure. Hopefully something works out and we will meet. But I can't complain too much, I'm still going to Disney!!!!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

The Jawas will be there as they've been heavily advertised as being at the breakfast. They also roam around DHS trading with guests.

Trade anything your kids won't mind giving away: a marble, old trading card, play money, etc...

I am so excited about this, I WANT TO TRADE with the Jaws!!! - can you see the adult kid bouncing in her chair right now

What to bring? What to bring?

I like all your ideas for trading, want to make sure I trade something that is fun, that they can use to trade with others too!

 

[ladylyons]

I have Mamma Melrose for the same time w/fantasmic but would love H&V for the characters instead. I just checked and there is still nothing. :-(

I did cancel ours. All I can say is keep checking. Our date to pay off the trip is May 1st so there could be others possibly cancelling soon. Good luck!!

 

[Itinkso]

I have Mamma Melrose for the same time w/fantasmic but would love H&V for the characters instead. I just checked and there is still nothing. :-(

You may have to call the Dining number rather than try online.

 

[lovethattink]

I am so excited about this, I WANT TO TRADE with the Jaws!!! - can you see the adult kid bouncing in her chair right now

What to bring? What to bring?

I like all your ideas for trading, want to make sure I trade something that is fun, that they can use to trade with others too!

We are bringing Star Wars Trading Cards also some Episode 1 stickers for the jawas.

You may have to call the Dining number rather than try online.

Yes, I had to call to cancel our dinner.

 

[poison ivy]

Can anyone tell me about "trading with Jawas"?

Do they still trade with you?

What do you give them to trade?

What do they give you to trade?

I think my son would love this!

Last year they did. they were hanging out near the Premiere theatre (San Fran City backdrop). Where the singing in the rain umbrella is.

It was great fun.

Here's a few details I wrote in my trip report section marked Stars Wars Wrap up:

II. The Jawas
They are very cool and will trade based on what you propose to barter with! Iron Man offered them a bag of Doritos he happened to have on him'
This was a big hit and he was given a Disney Conservation Expo pin in exchange. Tons of fun!!!

Here they are trading for a plastic sword and frog with a few kids.

 

[JayCab]

Okay, the Jawa Trading looks awesome. I might have to take one of the plethora of Episode 1 ILM Crew shirts that I have laying about (I'm a former LucasArts employee from that time period so I've got like six of them still in wearable shape) and trade it to them, then just go sit across the street and wait for the incredulous reactions of the person they trade that back to.

Aside from that, I do have a question regarding the shows in the Premier Theater. How early should we go to get in line for the various shows (EDIT: on a "normal" weekend, not the Mark Hamill one)? And if there are shows back to back, are you permitted to simply remain in the theater for the run, or do you need to go back out and get in line again? Finally, assuming Visit to the Maul is happening this year, does it happen even on weekends when Ray Park isn't a featured guest?

Thanks, all.

 

[RalphinSC]

Also just got confirmation from our "inside source" that the Jawas will also trade during breakfast at Sci Fi

I better think of something to bring so my son can do a trade!

 

[RalphinSC]

Why not do JTA on your non-SWW day (Thursday? when you're seeing Fantasmic). We've done it during both non-SWW and SWWs and honestly, the non-SWW shows are better. During SWW they're very rushed and they cut out parts of the show. On non-SWW days, the kids are given more time to complete the routines and it's easier to see your kid because they only have one level going on stage and the parents can stand closer. Having done it during SWW once, I'm going to try to dissuade my kids from doing it during SWW again. The signups are stressful, they take up valuable time right at the beginning of the day, and the shows are rushed. Other than having a possibility of fighting with Darth Maul or Ventress (not typically available during non-SWWs) there's really no advantage to doing JTA during SWW when it's offered every other day of the year as well.

You'll still have to be there at RD to sign up, but on Thursday it will be a 9:00 opening instead of 8:00 like on SWW days, and that extra hour of sleep can make all the difference!

That's EXACTLY why we do our JTA sign-up on our NON-SWW day at DHS. Saves more time for character meeting and other fun SWW events.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Woohoo! I'm SO glad you mentioned Jawa trading. I didn't know about it last time and forgotten a it it this time! That's a must for my kids, we are at the breakfast, but if I recall correctly there wasn't much waiting to see a Jawa so we may get to trade more than once

I do need to think on things to say to characters! My kids are quiet and never say much unless prompted. My middle boy wants to bring a book he has instead of an autograph book. It's got a large picture of a character on each page and gives a 'head to head' battle - my son wants to ask characters who *they* think would win in a fight

I'm very much hoping for Palpatine Stitch! Stitch is one of my favourites at the moment and I can't wait to introduce my Stitch-like terror of a toddler to him lol

I'm currently trying to see if I can tweak days at all so that we can get to meet Chewie nice and early, *then* move on to another park...

It's all slowly pulling together!

 

[hemmie]

Okay, the Jawa Trading looks awesome. I might have to take one of the plethora of Episode 1 ILM Crew shirts that I have laying about (I'm a former LucasArts employee from that time period so I've got like six of them still in wearable shape) and trade it to them, then just go sit across the street and wait for the incredulous reactions of the person they trade that back to.

Funny. My sister was an ILM visual effects coordinator on Episode I (specifically the pod race, among other scenes).

 

[yulilin3]

Okay, the Jawa Trading looks awesome. I might have to take one of the plethora of Episode 1 ILM Crew shirts that I have laying about (I'm a former LucasArts employee from that time period so I've got like six of them still in wearable shape) and trade it to them, then just go sit across the street and wait for the incredulous reactions of the person they trade that back to.

Aside from that, I do have a question regarding the shows in the Premier Theater. How early should we go to get in line for the various shows (EDIT: on a "normal" weekend, not the Mark Hamill one)? And if there are shows back to back, are you permitted to simply remain in the theater for the run, or do you need to go back out and get in line again? Finally, assuming Visit to the Maul is happening this year, does it happen even on weekends when Ray Park isn't a featured guest?

Thanks, all.

You must get in line at least an hour before especially for Visit to the Maul and Stars of the Saga. You have too come back out and get back in line for each show. Visit to the Maul only happens when Ray Park is here as a visiting celebrity

 

[lovethattink]

I cancelled our dinner at H&V on May 4th (party of 3).

I was able to decrease the number for the breakfast.

Both changes had to be done via telephone.

 

[ajh88]

Okay, the Jawa Trading looks awesome. I might have to take one of the plethora of Episode 1 ILM Crew shirts that I have laying about (I'm a former LucasArts employee from that time period so I've got like six of them still in wearable shape) and trade it to them, then just go sit across the street and wait for the incredulous reactions of the person they trade that back to.

Aside from that, I do have a question regarding the shows in the Premier Theater. How early should we go to get in line for the various shows (EDIT: on a "normal" weekend, not the Mark Hamill one)? And if there are shows back to back, are you permitted to simply remain in the theater for the run, or do you need to go back out and get in line again? Finally, assuming Visit to the Maul is happening this year, does it happen even on weekends when Ray Park isn't a featured guest?

Thanks, all.

First, awesome on the shirt! Second, we lined up 45-60 minutes before shows. The theater is pretty huge and I don't know if people are turned away (or how many are), but if you want to pick your own location, that timeframe worked. It also allows you to wait in the shade as in the past, the queue starts in the covered area behind Muppets. As the line grows, it is eventually in the sun. I would suggest earlier for Warwick's show as we were in the sun for over an hour last year-- not fun. And as yulilin said, they clear the theater between shows. They aren't usually back to back per se, but not sure on this years schedule yet.

 

[lovethattink]

My son really liked trading with the jawas last year. We had missed it the year before. It was one of the biggest highlights of SWW.

Some of the things he received in trade:

Band-Aid

Gummies

small plastic toy

FP for Star Tours

Mickey Sticker