Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[Skywise]

Here's hoping it's just a few scratches. With Spock and now Harve Bennett passing away this week it's already a pretty bad week for sci-fi geeks.

Best joke I saw about Harrison Ford's crash - "Missed the green by 15 yards..."

 

[williamscm3]

So I'm just curious. That new merchandise hard ticket event isn't listed anywhere under Star Wars weekend on the Disney website. Why not? I definitely want FTF once it's released, and I know I'll hear about it here, but will it be listed on the website too? I usually check the website every morning by 6:30 in hopes of seeing some news,but im concerned now that it won't even be listed there when it's first released. Were going Memorial Day weekend and I'm afraid it will sell out quickly. What's the best way to be proactive about it?!? Thanks!

 

[Cluelyss]

So I'm just curious. That new merchandise hard ticket event isn't listed anywhere under Star Wars weekend on the Disney website. Why not? I definitely want FTF once it's released, and I know I'll hear about it here, but will it be listed on the website too? I usually check the website every morning by 6:30 in hopes of seeing some news,but im concerned now that it won't even be listed there when it's first released. Were going Memorial Day weekend and I'm afraid it will sell out quickly. What's the best way to be proactive about it?!? Thanks!

Watch the Disney Parks Blog - that's where the last event was first mentioned.

 

[yulilin3]

So I'm just curious. That new merchandise hard ticket event isn't listed anywhere under Star Wars weekend on the Disney website. Why not? I definitely want FTF once it's released, and I know I'll hear about it here, but will it be listed on the website too? I usually check the website every morning by 6:30 in hopes of seeing some news,but im concerned now that it won't even be listed there when it's first released. Were going Memorial Day weekend and I'm afraid it will sell out quickly. What's the best way to be proactive about it?!? Thanks!

check here. Seriously, they Disney site is usually about a week late when posting things for SWW. They didn't even announce the meals until about a month after they were available for booking. I expect to see the merchandise event under the SWW tab soon if it's not selling well.

 

[lovethattink]

TAs and bloggers seem to post about it first.

 

[yulilin3]

10 weeks to go

 

[DisneySchoolyFamily]

I am sure this is somewhere in the posts already but how long of a wait is it usually to get into Darth Mall? Is it better to go in the morning or afternoon to check out all the goodies available?

This will be our very first year going to SWW and I am over the moon excited!! Would I still be able to find something unique even if I don't take advantage of the special ticketed merchandise event "Galactic Gathering"?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I arrive on May 29 in the evening, plan on marching 30 and 31, be there all week, then march June 5, 6, 7, going home on the 8th.

Ash

OH NO, WICKED SAD FACE

You are marching on weekend 3 and 4, while we hoped to march weekend 1 and 2!

We will be arriving May 14th and leaving May 26th

 

[yulilin3]

I am sure this is somewhere in the posts already but how long of a wait is it usually to get into Darth Mall? Is it better to go in the morning or afternoon to check out all the goodies available?

This will be our very first year going to SWW and I am over the moon excited!! Would I still be able to find something unique even if I don't take advantage of the special ticketed merchandise event "Galactic Gathering"?

Yes, you'll be able to find many, many unique things. There will be individual pins, pin sets, vinylmation of all sizes, prints, a lot of art work,key chains, tumblers, magnets...I could go on.
Darth's Mall tends to be busiest first thing in the morning on the first Friday, first thing in the morning on any other SWW day is a good time, many people go to character lines or rides, the line picks up a bit from 10am to 11am and then around 2pm to 5pm. The best time to go is in the evening. It stays open the same as park hours so 8am to 10pm. This year it might be closing earlier because of firework fallout and we don't know exactly where the Mall will be although it's rumored to be where the old AFI and Backlot Tour gift shop used to be. If it's there it might close early because of firework fallout

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Honestly, I see almost every announcement (not rumor of, but actual announcement) directly from Disney on Twitter first. This is where I saw the Galactic Gathering and posted here first.

Within the past year or so, they've really gotten out front on these things -- I see things mostly from unofficial sources after the official one these days. Welcome change!

 

[yulilin3]

Honestly, I see almost every announcement (not rumor of, but actual announcement) directly from Disney on Twitter first. This is where I saw the Galactic Gathering and posted here first.

Within the past year or so, they've really gotten out front on these things -- I see things mostly from unofficial sources after the official one these days. Welcome change!

they did release the merchandise event there but I don't think they ever announced the character meals

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

they did release the merchandise event there but I don't think they ever announced the character meals

I thought I found out about the meals from Twitter but can't be certain. I know I found out about the following from WDW on Twitter first: Villains Sinister Soiree, SWW date announcement, Galactic Gathering, various F&W special events, dates announced for runDisney events, SW cruise day, and I'm sure many other things I'm forgetting.

There's nothing like the detailed info one can get here from fellow DISers about their experiences,etc., and sometimes a heads up about a release, or "solid rumors" that are worth paying attention to.

I'm just saying that Disney has made MAJOR strides in the last year or so at being first to notify customers in MANY cases -- as it should be! I was always astonished that so many unofficial sources used to beat The Mouse himself!


ETA: FWIW, I saw the SWW dates first from WDW's Twitter account (Dec 2), and the meals announcement from Disney Food Blog on Twitter first (Dec 3). I find Twitter easier because of that constant feed. If someone posts to DIS and I get an email notification, I won't get another notification until I visit the site. For me, that often means a lag. Depends on how people use their technology.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Harrison will never stay on the ground, the man lives in Jackson WY and flys into that airport all the time according to friends that live out there. That's his HOME, where anywhere else he rest his head is just a house.

 

[drlaurafsu]

The bad news is if Harrison Ford was possibly going to be at SWW this year this may remove that possibility.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I will be VERY surprised if Harrison Ford shows up at any convention, he doesn't do those for the most part.

 

[AuntieK]

As much as I love Harrison Ford, I would be worried if he were scheduled to come when we'll be there. I can't even imagine the crowds.

The NBC article I read last night said, he was flying solo. I can joke now that we know he's OK.

 

[AuntieK]

Today snow is a four letter word. My niece and nephew's school was cancelled today which means their last day is now 6/12. We were planning on leaving the night of 6/11 and hitting HS on 6/12. Now that plan is out the window. I seriously hope we are done with snow or there might be no SWW for us this year.

Sometime next week I will be canceling SciFi breakfast and H&V dinner ADRs. Let me know if you're interested and I'll try to coordinate.

 

[yulilin3]

Today snow is a four letter word. My niece and nephew's school was cancelled today which means their last day is now 6/12. We were planning on leaving the night of 6/11 and hitting HS on 6/12. Now that plan is out the window. I seriously hope we are done with snow or there might be no SWW for us this year.

Sometime next week I will be canceling SciFi breakfast and H&V dinner ADRs. Let me know if you're interested and I'll try to coordinate.

that sucks!! I was worried about this happening, I'm hearing a lot of school cancellations up north. Hope it still works out for you

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Attendees of last years REBEL RENDEZVOUS lend me your ears and experience

My boyfriend and I are considering attending Galactic Gatherings, however we already have a club level ONLY safari booked for 3 pm that afternoon and not sure we could do both.

Can you tell me what the schedule was like? Can you tell me if you really spent the whole 5 hours at the event? Any details of how things worked last year would be most helpful!

Would love see any event reports you might have of how things worked, and how you liked it.

Pretty please and thank you!

 

[lovethattink]

Attendees of last years REBEL RENDEZVOUS lend me your ears and experience

My boyfriend and I are considering attending Galactic Gatherings, however we already have a club level ONLY safari booked for 3 pm that afternoon and not sure we could do both.

Can you tell me what the schedule was like? Can you tell me if you really spent the whole 5 hours at the event? Any details of how things worked last year would be most helpful!

Would love see any event reports you might have of how things worked, and how you liked it.

Pretty please and thank you!

There wasn't much of a schedule. Nothing was in writing for attendees. We were told Ashley would sign at a certain time. Same with the artists. It was more of a come and go as you please thing. Than a stay from 10 to 3 thing.

You order merchandise on RSP which is a lottery system.

We are on the fence about it. Those darn light saber magic bands!