Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[Itinkso]

I'm doing the Chewie first fast walk on the first Friday

Do you have your "character hunt" itinerary set? Sharing so we can see and then follow along?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I would have gone in at 4 Am to get Ian McDiarmid to sign my Palpatine bobblehead. but he's not signing, so I don't have to go at 4 Am at all.

I wont' be there weekend 5 but I have Frank Oz's autograph already.

 

[yulilin3]

I have a rough idea.
Chewie,
Fab 4 SW
Chipwoks
Darth Maul
Bobba/Jango Fett
Darth Vader (I want to try and catch him during the parade to report back and make sure he does come out)
Clone Wars group
Hopefully Rebels group (I really hope they come out this year)
Roaming Characters
Jedi Council
Queen Amidala

 

[yulilin3]

I would have gone in at 4 Am to get Ian McDiarmid to sign my Palpatine bobblehead. but he's not signing, so I don't have to go at 4 Am at all.

I would've camped all night for him and Frank Oz

 

[Barbara C]

Thanks to everyone for all the information.

I'm sure I should know this but if we have the Deluxe premium package, does that mean we do NOT need fp+ for any special SWW events? These would be the shows that are included in Deluxe Premium? I'd like to make sure we're not missing something.

Thanks!

 

[Itinkso]

Darth Vader (I want to try and catch him during the parade to report back and make sure he does come out)

I can check on this one for you and get it confirmed in case Vader has a short line when you are first in that area.

 

[klsurfer76]

I posted this in the main strategy thread, but I am realizing I maybe should have posted here...

I am struggling with fp+s for Friday May 15 at HS for Star Wars Weekends. We aren't interested in standing in lines for characters or celebrities, no character meals, merch, seminars, or even hitting all the other rides/attractions. Our must do's are Jedi Training Academy, Star Tours, maybe Padawan Mind Challenge (the age cut off is 11 and my son is 12. Do they ask the age at sign up?), the parade, Toy Story, Muppets, and fireworks. I'm using touringplans.com to make my own personalized plan and I have Star Tours (no FP+), Great Movie Ride(no FP+), and Toy Story(w FP+) projecting a less than 10 min wait first thing in the morning after JTA sign up. My current FP's are:

Toy Story 8:45-9:45, Which will for sure need and use
Star Tours 2:05-3:05, We may or may not want to ride again after our no FP morning ride
Muppets 4:10-5:10, Which we have in our plan around 2p with 5 min wait using no FP+

So, if I don't really need the last two fp's, should I just re-schedule them for ANYTHING earlier so that the times can expire sooner and I can choose a 4th FP for anything I want? The only ride we would like to ride multiple time is Toy Story and I hear that my 4th, 5th, and beyond FP's can be for any tier attraction. Or should I just keep my current FP+ selections and just CHANGE them for something else? I don't have access to the My Dis Exp app so I will need to go to the kiosks to change or add anything. Will the lines for the kiosks be pretty long historically on a Friday on the first day of SWWs? If so, it may not be worth it for me to stand in a kiosk line for more than 10 minutes. Since my last two fastpasses have to be in tier 2, there is really nothing else we would want to see or need to use. So I really don't know what to do with them. Below I copied the choices for tier 2 and I described in parentheses our situation.
Tier 2

• Tower of Terror* (WE'RE NOT INTERESTED)
• Star Tours* (ALREADY RIDING IN THE MORNING W/O FP+)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid* (NOT INTERESTED)
• For the First Time in Forever: A "Frozen" Sing-Along Celebration* (NOT INTERESTED)
• MuppetVision 3D (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED DUE TO LOW WAIT SHOW TIMES)
• Disney Junior – Live on Stage (NOT INTERESTED)
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED, WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO SEE THIS AND ARRIVE EARLIER THAN SHOWTIME TO GET A SEAT)
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED, WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO SEE THIS AND ARRIVE EARLIER THAN SHOWTIME TO GET A SEAT)

If you took the time to read this or respond, thanks in advance. Your help is much appreciated!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks to everyone for all the information.

I'm sure I should know this but if we have the Deluxe premium package, does that mean we do NOT need fp+ for any special SWW events? These would be the shows that are included in Deluxe Premium? I'd like to make sure we're not missing something.

Thanks!

If you have the deluxe premium all of the SWW shows at Theater of the Stars are covered. You can use the fp+ for something else

 

[Barbara C]

If you have the deluxe premium all of the SWW shows at Theater of the Stars are covered. You can use the fp+ for something else

Thanks Yulilin - I wanted to make sure there wasn't something else I should be getting fp+ for since the shows will be covered. yay!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

WOW! I love a good spreadsheet and this is just incredible!! Thanks for sharing!

Thx!!

Spreadsheet shows seating for deluxe dessert party & fireworks viewing. From what I am noting there will be NO seating at the dessert party for anyone. but then Disney is all mucked up information-wise. Not so sure on whether the deluxe guests should be expecting chairs.

Yeah. I threw it together based on our best info yesterday. Figured I'd wait for a few more DPB questions to be answered (especially re: VIP) and then update and post if anyone is interested.

 

[WeDisney4]

Trying to plan our 1st ever Star Wars day. Working on Sun. morning 5/31 - we don't need any autographs, maybe a photo or 2, would like to catch the 10:25 am Frozen Sing A Long (this seems to be the last day). Then the Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade -- the Dis says 11:00 am and Touring Plans has it for 11:30???

Can we do both: Frozen Sing and SW Motorcade?
If so, what time would you arrive at gates?

Thanks!!

 

[yulilin3]

I posted this in the main strategy thread, but I am realizing I maybe should have posted here...

I am struggling with fp+s for Friday May 15 at HS for Star Wars Weekends. We aren't interested in standing in lines for characters or celebrities, no character meals, merch, seminars, or even hitting all the other rides/attractions. Our must do's are Jedi Training Academy, Star Tours, maybe Padawan Mind Challenge (the age cut off is 11 and my son is 12. Do they ask the age at sign up?), the parade, Toy Story, Muppets, and fireworks. I'm using touringplans.com to make my own personalized plan and I have Star Tours (no FP+), Great Movie Ride(no FP+), and Toy Story(w FP+) projecting a less than 10 min wait first thing in the morning after JTA sign up. My current FP's are:

Toy Story 8:45-9:45, Which will for sure need and use
Star Tours 2:05-3:05, We may or may not want to ride again after our no FP morning ride
Muppets 4:10-5:10, Which we have in our plan around 2p with 5 min wait using no FP+

So, if I don't really need the last two fp's, should I just re-schedule them for ANYTHING earlier so that the times can expire sooner and I can choose a 4th FP for anything I want? The only ride we would like to ride multiple time is Toy Story and I hear that my 4th, 5th, and beyond FP's can be for any tier attraction. Or should I just keep my current FP+ selections and just CHANGE them for something else? I don't have access to the My Dis Exp app so I will need to go to the kiosks to change or add anything. Will the lines for the kiosks be pretty long historically on a Friday on the first day of SWWs? If so, it may not be worth it for me to stand in a kiosk line for more than 10 minutes. Since my last two fastpasses have to be in tier 2, there is really nothing else we would want to see or need to use. So I really don't know what to do with them. Below I copied the choices for tier 2 and I described in parentheses our situation.
Tier 2

• Tower of Terror* (WE'RE NOT INTERESTED)
• Star Tours* (ALREADY RIDING IN THE MORNING W/O FP+)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid* (NOT INTERESTED)
• For the First Time in Forever: A "Frozen" Sing-Along Celebration* (NOT INTERESTED)
• MuppetVision 3D (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED DUE TO LOW WAIT SHOW TIMES)
• Disney Junior – Live on Stage (NOT INTERESTED)
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED, WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO SEE THIS AND ARRIVE EARLIER THAN SHOWTIME TO GET A SEAT)
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (FP NOT REALLY NEEDED, WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO SEE THIS AND ARRIVE EARLIER THAN SHOWTIME TO GET A SEAT)

If you took the time to read this or respond, thanks in advance. Your help is much appreciated!!!

Ok. First things first
Be at the park no later than 7:00am to get signed up for JTA. When you enter stay on the left side of Hollywood Blvd and you'll see CM with signs that indicate JTA sign up. As soon as the stormtroopers let us into the park fast walk to Indiana Jones that's where sign ups are for JTA during SWW. If you have a stroller ditch the stroller cause they are not allowed in the sign up areas.
After you can go and sign up for PMC, this is done at ABC Sound Studios and even though is not as popular as JTA it fills up. Then go straight to ST, line will be around 10 to 15 minutes.
By that time you should be close to your TSMM fp, use it and after you can start looking for a spot for the parade.
The parade is very very popular and has a short route so getting s good, curbside, shady spot requires to hold a spot for at least 1 hour and a half before the parade.
I would keep the fp as you have them. Even though Muppets tends to have a short line during SWW it can go all they way up to 45min.
If you are doing GMR without fp I would try and fit it in in the morning, GMR has been consistently getting crowds all afternoon and early evening and it closes early on SWW due to fireworks fall out (8:15pm)Same with TSMM it closes early as well (8:30pm)

 

[yulilin3]

Trying to plan our 1st ever Star Wars day. Working on Sun. morning 5/31 - we don't need any autographs, maybe a photo or 2, would like to catch the 10:25 am Frozen Sing A Long (this seems to be the last day). Then the Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade -- the Dis says 11:00 am and Touring Plans has it for 11:30???

Can we do both: Frozen Sing and SW Motorcade?
If so, what time would you arrive at gates?

Thanks!!

The motorcade is at 11am you won;t have time to watch the sing along and do the parade in the morning.
To get a spot for the parade you need to grab it at least one hour and a half earlier to guarantee you have a shady spot (anywhere on Hollywood Blvd on the left side) if you don't care that you are in the sun then grab a spot an hour before. So be at the park around 9am

 

[WeDisney4]

The motorcade is at 11am you won;t have time to watch the sing along and do the parade in the morning.
To get a spot for the parade you need to grab it at least one hour and a half earlier to guarantee you have a shady spot (anywhere on Hollywood Blvd on the left side) if you don't care that you are in the sun then grab a spot an hour before. So be at the park around 9am

Got it thanks!!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

/snip/
So, if I don't really need the last two fp's, should I just re-schedule them for ANYTHING earlier so that the times can expire sooner and I can choose a 4th FP for anything I want? The only ride we would like to ride multiple time is Toy Story and I hear that my 4th, 5th, and beyond FP's can be for any tier attraction. Or should I just keep my current FP+ selections and just CHANGE them for something else? I don't have access to the My Dis Exp app so I will need to go to the kiosks to change or add anything. Will the lines for the kiosks be pretty long historically on a Friday on the first day of SWWs? If so, it may not be worth it for me to stand in a kiosk line for more than 10 minutes. Since my last two fastpasses have to be in tier 2, there is really nothing else we would want to see or need to use. So I really don't know what to do with them. Below I copied the choices for tier 2 and I described in parentheses our situation.

/snip

FWIW, I wouldn't count on any 4th FP+s being available during SWW. There were none to be had for any rides on our trip in December, and the crowds were moderate, nothing like what we'll see during SWW. I wouldn't change up my times just to try for the possibility of a 4th. The fact is that if there are any 4th FP+s available during a SWW, then they're going to be for attractions that you're not going to need a FP+ for anyway because if there's availability, it means no/short lines for the attractions. That's the pits of FP+ during higher crowd times, unfortunately.

You'll definitely want to keep a FP+ for Star Tours even if you ride it in the morning. I'm not sure if you're aware, but the ride is different each time you ride it...you can actually see 50+ different combinations of scenes. So if you re-ride it, it's really like being on a totally new, different ride.

 

[OZMom]

I'm doing the Chewie first fast walk on the first Friday

This is our plan too! It was one of the first entries into my schedule Thanks to some awesome advice from *someone* on the Disboards

 

[luvallprincesses]

I feel like I'm the only one NOT buying a package.

No package for us, but I too feel left out reading the thread recently! I'm not sure that DS8 will have the patience to sit through more than one or two sessions per day so we're planning on 2 different days, June 12 and 14 to hit as many things as we can spread out. We can do FP's for 2 sessions that way on 2 different days and do more standby if desired. I don't think we'll regret doing it this way instead.

 

[yulilin3]

No package for us, but I too feel left out reading the thread recently! I'm not sure that DS8 will have the patience to sit through more than one or two sessions per day so we're planning on 2 different days, June 12 and 14 to hit as many things as we can spread out. We can do FP's for 2 sessions that way on 2 different days and do more standby if desired. I don't think we'll regret doing it this way instead.

sounds like a good plan.

 

[Candleshoe]

Funny I was told there was no confirmation email but I know people here got it. I even asked about it yesterday and she said there isn't anything she could send me.

I believe there were no confirmation emails for either FtF packages, but the VIP folks reported getting them.

Access to the VIP Dessert Party
Access to semi-private location with great views for the Summon the Force grand celebration featuring the Star Wars characters and Symphony in the Stars fireworks(joining with people from Feel the Force package).

The web site says: Plus, after your guided experience comes to a close, you’ll have time to enjoy the park on your own before ending your day the Ultimate way with VIP viewing of the Summon the Force finale show and the Symphony in the Stars fireworks spectacular!
No mention of the Dessert Party at all.

I thought the 'Summon the Force grand celebration' WAS the Dessert Party.

My confirmation email wording says, "Access to the VIP Dessert Party"
Which makes it sound separate to me, but there is so much conflicting info circulating...

There is alot of conflicting information. <long live the GPs!>

 

[yulilin3]

If your kids have lightsabers or are planning on building their own remember to bring them. There have been some epic battles that go on while we are all waiting for parade, fireworks, characters (if there's space) or just walking around. Kids have a way of bypassing social customs, like not knowing the other kid, and just start playing. Also CM doing SWW stuff usually have lightsabers with them and will engage in a duel.
It's also a great way to release some energy and then kids are tired and can sit and wait