Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[AThrillingChase]

Somewhat related question - if they do nix viewing for the parade and we get a FP for a show instead and therefore have to sit and wait...what time would we need to arrive to get a seat on the curb? My friend has had some back problems the last year for a slipped disk. She has done rehab and is better now, but I know she'd rather sit while we wait. We'd hoped the reserved area with FtF would allow some extra room for her to sit and then just stand when the parade was coming.

 

[Delilah1310]

I am so confused. sigh.
just announce it already, whatever is going on!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Somewhat related question - if they do nix viewing for the parade and we get a FP for a show instead and therefore have to sit and wait...what time would we need to arrive to get a seat on the curb? My friend has had some back problems the last year for a slipped disk. She has done rehab and is better now, but I know she'd rather sit while we wait. We'd hoped the reserved area with FtF would allow some extra room for her to sit and then just stand when the parade was coming.

2 hours before just to be sure but it depends on the celebrities visiting that weekend.
There are only 2 benches on Hollywood Blvd and if you're ear;y enough you can grab one for your friend

 

[slaveone]

If curb sitting bring a towel or blanket because those curbs get wicked hot even early in morning in May and June. While not at HS I may have had burn striped on back of my legs from a certain curb I like in MK last year.

 

[Brandiwlf]

I would be happy for fp+ parade viewing as long as it's not tier 1!

 

[ConnieB]

Why must they constantly toy with my emotions.

I know I am the minority here, but I'm not huge on characters. I enjoy the SW characters more than the Disney ones for sure, but if they make it a character viewing party and jack the price up to the heavens because they threw in a couple of storm troopers...I'd rather just have a plain ol' dessert party and FP the parade. Except that you know they will make the parade a tier 1 FP. So, I'm just going to console myself by hoping still that they are just renaming it. They may split the parade viewing onto both sides of the route, one side being VIP only and therefore "private."

Either way I'm sure I'll do it. Unless they take away the bar and SW cocktails. Then we are at war. And I'm going dark side.

The pessimist in me thinks if they are going to make it a dessert only party it's not going to end up like the former Tomorrowland Dessert Party....they'll add "cupcakes with characters" add a latern on the table and double the price. This is now called Wishes Dessert Party, and seriously, that's all that they appear to have changed, but at double the price.

We love the Tomorrowland Party.....and at $27 it's worth it to have some yummy eats and a place to sit waiting for the fireworks. But at $50, I'd rather just go to the bakery or other snack places and gather several treats and go sit in the back of the park to watch the fireworks, lol. The Cheapskate Dessert Party.

 

[ConnieB]

Harrison Ford DID get out of the hospital yesterday, so...

AND he was reportedly driving around....so what happened to the broken pelvis? That does not heal that quickly!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Having the sing-along go dark just doesn't make any sense and contradicts prior information about it moving seamlessly to the new location. I think the more likely scenario is that the FP+s just haven't been loaded into MDE yet. It isn't like Disney hasn't loaded attractions late before. Maybe they're trying to come up with the right FP+/SB allocation for the summer.

As for FtF...when you think back to what they did with the "Frozen" Osborne Lights package, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a dessert party only with a higher price point. I doubt they'd offer a special character when the Lights package showed that people will pay $100/head for desserts only. FtF+, y'all!

Another thought is that the desserts offered a H&V could also be used for the VIP dessert party if they're not going to do anything other than the VIP packages this year.

 

[slaveone]

They could also just call all things vip this year to charge more with some packages including more. Also surprisingly the first two weekends of June are summer season which is cheaper in WDW hotel bookings because of perspective crowd levels and frequently is used for rehab. Particularly with FSF coming back as soon as SWW is done. The only reason HS is so busy the first two weeks in june is because of SWW and I believe the addition of the SW meals all week from 5/4-6/17 is actually 1. To make money because the things book like mad. 2. To guage just how well a SW restaraunt will go over during expansion. 3. To keep guest slightly happier and bring people into the parks during May and June during non SWW days to help with guest flow during last weeks of F&G at Epcot and in the run up to MK 24hr event.

 

[lovethattink]

I'm just not sure where they would hold it, since that one was held indoors. If it was out in the open people would just crowd around and take photos of the characters and everything, and if they did it under a tent or something I'm not sure where they'd have space to put it?

Rain location was Disney Jr. for both FTF and FSF package.

The pessimist in me thinks if they are going to make it a dessert only party it's not going to end up like the former Tomorrowland Dessert Party....they'll add "cupcakes with characters" add a latern on the table and double the price. This is now called Wishes Dessert Party, and seriously, that's all that they appear to have changed, but at double the price.

We love the Tomorrowland Party.....and at $27 it's worth it to have some yummy eats and a place to sit waiting for the fireworks. But at $50, I'd rather just go to the bakery or other snack places and gather several treats and go sit in the back of the park to watch the fireworks, lol. The Cheapskate Dessert Party.

I'm doubtful of characters, but you never know. The Frozen Holiday Package gave guests the opportunity to see Anna and Elsa on stage. No meet and greet and was $90.

Having the sing-along go dark just doesn't make any sense and contradicts prior information about it moving seamlessly to the new location. I think the more likely scenario is that the FP+s just haven't been loaded into MDE yet. It isn't like Disney hasn't loaded attractions late before. Maybe they're trying to come up with the right FP+/SB allocation for the summer.

As for FtF...when you think back to what they did with the "Frozen" Osborne Lights package, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a dessert party only with a higher price point. I doubt they'd offer a special character when the Lights package showed that people will pay $100/head for desserts only. FtF+, y'all!

Another thought is that the desserts offered a H&V could also be used for the VIP dessert party if they're not going to do anything other than the VIP packages this year.

My youngest ds will be so bummed if the sing-along goes dark. He takes to heart the instructions to sing at the top of your lungs.

I doubt there'd be a character too. Same reasoning. We did the package and it was very nice. People were obviously willing to pay.

 

[coluk003]

I think it would have to be a more exclusive character: Han, Lando, or, from reading some of the comments in this thread, Slave Leia!

I like the way you think. I hope they do something and announce soon. I came here and saw 4 pages from last night at midnight and panicked , thought I'd miss something.

I've also asked cm's to keep an eye out but I'll be honest most people are not like me and will either forget or only look once every few days .

 

[mmafan]

Told by the VIP cast member that an announcement should come out this week.
Told by every WDW DINE CM that there will not be FtF package this year

They keep saying that theres no FTF because there prob isn't....it will be named something else but I just don't see them not having a hard ticket event besides the VIP......but well see

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if there's no cocktails I'm out.

 

[yulilin3]

They keep saying that theres no FTF because there prob isn't....it will be named something else but I just don't see them not having a hard ticket event besides the VIP......but well see

I asked if it could be called something else and they said that there will be no package at all including parade viewing and fireworks. Maybe they will have something else but with different components

 

[jennab113]

Maybe it will be named something related to The Force Awakens like "Awaken the Force" or something.

 

[slaveone]

You know they could be moving to a themed dessert party because of the rain outs with the parades in past.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Too often I've seen where Dining has told people that such and such restaurant is closing down for refurb based only on the fact that times are not available on their computer and people start freaking out. Then voila - the restaurant finally gets times loaded and they aren't closed for refurb. I'm expecting whatever Disney does to be more expensive than last year and it might be different but I'd be completely shocked if they don't offer some equivalent of FtF and wouldn't put a lot of stock in the dining CM comments at this time. The impression I've gotten is that in most cases the dining CM's don't have any more info than what they have access to book which of course we know FtF isn't available to do yet.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I also bet that Disney would love to figure out a way to have a premium package that was a little more out of the way, kind of the like the Osborne Lights package that didn't interfere a lot.

 

[AThrillingChase]

I kind of feel the same way. It is entirely possible someone told them FtF was discontinued, both phone CM's AND their supervisor (because they are planning a renamed but extremely similar event not yet released). If they are keeping it under wraps and/or still deciding on details, I don't know that those two positions would have much detail or receive advanced notice. They may have just received the notice FtF was cancelled this year and figured ok no package at all. So, we will see.

I do wonder though - is any info available yet for a FSF premium package? Last year they upped the price when they extended the dates for it, but left it the same with the parade viewing, fireworks dessert party, FP for the show, etc. That could be a good indicator of where the higher ups are at since they are/were so similar.

 

[Brandiwlf]

It won't let me upload the picture but I just found storm trooper chocolate bunnies at Wal-Mart!!!!!