Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[yulilin3]

Sorry to ask this question but I'm so behind in reading the posts...what are the opportune times to get in line for the droids? I know the general times they will be out but not the times we should get in line. It's our last opportunity to get a picture with them so we must make it happen! Thanks for all the help! May the force be with everyone attending this weekend!

Be in line no later than 30 minutes before their set
They come out at 4:35 and 7:40 so at least 30 minutes before

 

[slaveone]

I don't recommend a universal resort rent a car. Much nicer to stay on Disney property. Universal ands islands of adventure close comparatively early to Disney. Plus the express pass doesn't apply to headliners

 

[soniam]

Ok...starting to think about next years trip. I have decided one weekend just really isn't enough. So I am thinking 2 SWWs with a trip to Universal mid-week for Harry Potter. This will be our big trip next year so I am thinking about splurging for deluxe. First weekend I was thinking an Epcot resort. What do you guys recommend?

Also I haven't ever stayed at universal but am I right in thinking we should switch to a resort over there to maximize our Harry Potter experience? Is 2 days enough or do we need 3?

Then my first choice would be to stay at Poly the second weekend and take a cab to HS. DS has never stayed at a monorail resort. Thoughts?

We are planning a similar thing next year. However, I don't like moving around too much, so we will do Universal at the end, staying at one of their deluxe hotels. We stayed at the Royal Pacific in March. The Universal hotels are awesome. They are reasonably priced for what you get, especially compared to Disney. Plus, they are within walking distance of the parks, or you can take a water taxi. If you stay at a deluxe, you get the Express Pass (like an unlimited FP+), which you would otherwise have to pay big bucks for. It allows you to walk up to almost any ride and get on. You also get an hour early entry to the HP lands. When we went in March, only the Studios (the one with Hogsmeade and Forbidden Journey) had early opening. However, at busy times, both parks can have it on alternating days, and maybe possibly on the same day. Since only the HP stuff is open early, you can only do that. However, since most of the HP rides do not take the Express Pass, these are pretty much the only rides at which you would have any significant wait anyway. We will do 3 days: 2 half days and 1 full day. We did 3 full days in March. However, this will allow us to ride most of the rides twice, if not 3 times. You could do 2 days, but depending upon how many rides you want to do, you may not get a lot of repeats rides or you may not get a break in the day. One thing about the Uni hotels, the deluxe benefits are good for the day you checkin and the day you checkout. So, you could cover 2 days with a 1 night hotel stay (stopping at the hotel though before you can go to the parks) or cover 3 days with a 2 night stay.

 

[only hope]

Ok...starting to think about next years trip. I have decided one weekend just really isn't enough. So I am thinking 2 SWWs with a trip to Universal mid-week for Harry Potter. This will be our big trip next year so I am thinking about splurging for deluxe. First weekend I was thinking an Epcot resort. What do you guys recommend?

Also I haven't ever stayed at universal but am I right in thinking we should switch to a resort over there to maximize our Harry Potter experience? Is 2 days enough or do we need 3?

Then my first choice would be to stay at Poly the second weekend and take a cab to HS. DS has never stayed at a monorail resort. Thoughts?

As far as Universal goes, if you come before school is out I would say the early access to the WWOHP is not necessary, and probably not afterwards either. You can easily do the rides multiple times, if you utilize the single rider lines. They only open one park early, so you start at the other park, then park hop mid-afternoon when the line for the other HP ride has died down somewhat. That being said, the Cabana resort is a lot of fun.

 

[Jawa Livin]

Thank you @yulilin3!!! Seriously you are the best!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Glitch. Ugh

 

[ruley3]

Anybody doing the Chewie run tomorrow?

Anyone? Anyone? Buhler?

Yup

 

[palmtreegirl]

Anyone camping out tonight to get autographs? Thinking of going for Ray Park, but last week so many people got turned away, I'd hate to be out all night and get nothing.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ok...starting to think about next years trip. I have decided one weekend just really isn't enough. So I am thinking 2 SWWs with a trip to Universal mid-week for Harry Potter. This will be our big trip next year so I am thinking about splurging for deluxe. First weekend I was thinking an Epcot resort. What do you guys recommend?

Also I haven't ever stayed at universal but am I right in thinking we should switch to a resort over there to maximize our Harry Potter experience? Is 2 days enough or do we need 3?

Then my first choice would be to stay at Poly the second weekend and take a cab to HS. DS has never stayed at a monorail resort. Thoughts?

We're just back from a SWW/Universal split stay. Even though I wasn't super happy with BWI due to work being done on the floor on which we were staying, I would highly recommend staying there. It's so close to DHS and an easy walk and it's so nice not relying on Disney transportation when you're in a hurry. It took us less than 15 minutes to get from the front of DHS to our room, which can't be beat.

As for Universal...we stayed at the Hard Rock, which was awesome. It has such a fun atmosphere and if you're a music fan at all seeing all the memorabilia is super cool. Plus, the 5 minute walk to the parks and City Walk is so, so nice. I agree with whoever said the Universal deluxe resorts are much better than Disney's. The beds are much more comfortable, the towels are softer, the toiletries are better...but what really makes it worth the money is the Express Pass and the preferred seating at restaurants. No prescheduled FP+ times to stress us out and no need for ADRs...AWESOME. There's not EP for the two Harry Potter headliners (Forbidden Journey at IOA and Escape from Gringotts at the Studios), but when you literally have waited in no other lines all day, dedicating 45 minutes to one of those rides doesn't feel that bad. The Forbidden Journey was a little too intense for us (motion sickness for my husband and I; too scary for our 8 year old, though she did brave it twice in a row to ride with each of her parents since we have a 5 year old who wasn't tall enough and so used child swap) but we all loved Gringotts, even the 5 year old. We were able to ride that 5 times in the 2 1/2 days we were there, and our longest wait was about an hour, and that was due to a ride breakdown. The other times we rode it, we waited under 30 minutes each time, and twice it was closer to 15. Universal does close fairly early (the Studios closed at 9:00 each night; IOA at 9:00, 6:00, and 8:00) but that worked well for us since we were all exhausted from our early mornings at Disney and it allowed us to experience such short waits for Gringotts in the last hour of park operations. I think you could probably do Universal in two days, but I was glad to have 2 1/2 and I wish we would have been there for a full 3.

 

[jomommy]

Anybody doing the Chewie run tomorrow?

Anyone? Anyone? Buhler?

Planning on it. Sending my husband ahead with a couple of our DSs, then the rest will catch up ASAP.

Speaking of which, when you see that crazy couple that brought seven kids to SWW... yep, that's probably us.

 

[delmar411]

Anyone camping out tonight to get autographs? Thinking of going for Ray Park, but last week so many people got turned away, I'd hate to be out all night and get nothing.

Both Mayhew and park are to bag check, if you want park you need to be here asap

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Both Mayhew and park are to bag check

Already? Holy cow!

 

[delmar411]

Already? Holy cow!

Ray is wrapping around now.

We got here at 9:40 for Mayhew and we are nearly to bag check.

 

[cvjpirate]

wow

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ray is wrapping around now.

We got here at 9:40 for Mayhew and we are nearly to bag check.

You're dedicated! How is the weather there tonight? We experienced the storm last Friday, and then the showers the following days and what did we come home to? RAIN. I feel like my feet are developing webbing!

 

[delmar411]

You're dedicated! How is the weather there tonight? We experienced the storm last Friday, and then the showers the following days and what did we come home to? RAIN. I feel like my feet are developing webbing!

Weather looks good for tonight and into the day.
We sleep out every Thursday of SWW so we have it down to a science. My boys are already asleep.
Thankfully we were already in the theater when last fridays rain came down. But we did leave after Ray's show

 

[palmtreegirl]

Wow, we decided against it for tonight. How's the line for Taylor Gray?

 

[xApril]

Heading out soon for Taylor. Looks like I will stay until Frank Oz's show ends today, go home for a few hours, then come back for Peter. My boyfriend is thinking about wanting to meet Ray Park on Sunday, so it looks like I'm practically living at DHS. I'm 20 minutes away, so it isn't too terrible but I need my showers after these long days in the sun!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Ray is wrapping around now.

We got here at 9:40 for Mayhew and we are nearly to bag check.

How many people do you think is in line for Ray Park right now. We are at Wyndham Bonnet creek so were close but don't think its worth it if we come now and stand a chance of not getting a fast pass.

 

[delmar411]

Wow, we decided against it for tonight. How's the line for Taylor Gray?

Barely anyone for.him