Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[msmama]

I know the Feel the Force package is still up in the air, but...

I heard that in case of bad weather parades and fireworks can be cancelled. Anyone know what happens if that's the case? Dessert party still goes on? Moved inside?

 

[poison ivy]

Poison Ivy these were great... we wondered how bad the Billy Dee lines would be...

We did Ray Parks the weekend before you did, barely made it in to him and got there early like you did.

We have done Ray Park two years in a row and vowed unless we get something different and special for him to sign we will not be doing that again just cause the line this is so bad. (If he went to more sessions that would be another story, but one signing session, we'll pass, for now)

This year (2014 SWW) we had Ray sign this so it was important to us that we made it.

Love that Darth Maul Poster! Great job with the autograph.

We only had the 1 FP for Ray Park and he would only sign 1 of our action figures so I know we'll be seeing him again if we ever get another opportunity.
But I agree, it's crazy how long the autograph lines were at such an early hour for a Friday. We needed a break by the time the parade ended.

 

[poison ivy]

Looking to book a Galactic Breakfast at the Sci Fi on Friday, June 12th.

I need help trying to determine what time to make the ADR...

We would like to do JTA and see the parade. We always arrive at RD and in the past we have secured the 10am ish JTA show (I believe it is the second show of the day. We were able to get this same time slot two years in a row.)

What times have the parades been in past years?

What time should I make my ADR? I don't mind doing JTA later in the afternoon. We would like to do some meet and greets first thing after JTA sign ups, then have our breakfast, then the parade, then JTA.

Is this going to be possible??

Thanks in advance!!

It's possible with an ADR at 8am but it might be a hectic morning depending on the popularity of the weekend. We had both an 8am sci-fi seating with a FtF package on Friday 6/6/14. I would not combine the galactic breakfast and parade on the same day again unless it were my only option.

Last year the parades were at 11am, except for SWW IV which was at 11:30 with people beginning to line up as soon as .the park opened - but that's an extreme example.

I'm definitely thinking we'll do MK June 5th and then DHS the 6th and the 7th, instead of doing SWW first and then MK on our last day. In 2013, we were so exhausted that first day after a late flight the night before and I'd hate to waste a SWW day while being cranky like what happened that year.

that's the order we did it in 2014 and it worked out great.

 

[yulilin3]

I know the Feel the Force package is still up in the air, but...

I heard that in case of bad weather parades and fireworks can be cancelled. Anyone know what happens if that's the case? Dessert party still goes on? Moved inside?

If it rains the dessert party moves inside Disney Jr. After the dessert party you can go outside and see the fireworks (they almost never get cancelled unless lightning in the area)
No alternative for the parade though

 

[poison ivy]

This is the mornings JTA sign ups, believe me this was a very calm day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Fbq4h5Oq0

that was a calm day? How many JTA spots are available during SWW?
it looked like a lot of people were signing up. Do they cut the line off at some point? My kids are grown so this doesn't apply to us but I'm just curious.

 

[Music City Mama]

It's still just DHS and it's hit and miss when they work. Sometimes they work at the front gate and other times they haven't. They usually almost always work at the fastpasses, though. It stinks since DHS isn't the park we usually go to so they're really just an aesthetic thing at this point. It's cool to have a limited edition one though.

Thanks! When you say they sometimes work at the front gate, do you mean the colors/sounds sometimes work or the band itself might not even work (with the regular/green light)? I don't want to have any problems with getting in the park!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

that was a calm day? How many JTA spots are available during SWW?
it looked like a lot of people were signing up. Do they cut the line off at some point? My kids are grown so this doesn't apply to us but I'm just curious.

It's 30 per show (as opposed to the usual 15); not sure how many shows per day. ETA: When all shows are full, that's it. Anyone who doesn't make it is put onto a wait list and has to come back during each show time and hope someone who got a slot is a no-show. All shows are filled immediately at park opening...if you're not there right at RD, you're not getting a slot.

Compared to the day we did it during SWW, Yulilin's video does seem pretty tame. Heck, even compared to the day we did it during Frozen Summer Fun this past summer, that video seems pretty tame. There can me a lot of pushing and running involved with JTA signups. After having experienced it once during SWW, I told my kids we'd never do it during SWW again. We can save it for non-SWW times, because it was super stressful. Plus, the shows are more rushed during SWW (since they're doing more per day). It just wasn't as fun as doing it during regular times.

 

[poison ivy]

It's 30 per show (as opposed to the usual 15); not sure how many shows per day. ETA: When all shows are full, that's it. Anyone who doesn't make it is put onto a wait list and has to come back during each show time and hope someone who got a slot is a no-show. All shows are filled immediately at park opening...if you're not there right at RD, you're not getting a slot.

Compared to the day we did it during SWW, Yulilin's video does seem pretty tame. Heck, even compared to the day we did it during Frozen Summer Fun this past summer, that video seems pretty tame. There can me a lot of pushing and running involved with JTA signups. After having experienced it once during SWW, I told my kids we'd never do it during SWW again. We can save it for non-SWW times, because it was super stressful. Plus, the shows are more rushed during SWW (since they're doing more per day). It just wasn't as fun as doing it during regular times.

I can see this giving rise to a lot of pushing and shoving.

According to the map - I'm counting 19 shows for SWW IV 2014 = 570 kids?
and they're gone at rope drop! crazy!

 

[yulilin3]

That's why if you want to sign up kids for JTA you have to be there around 7:15am during SWW. Once you are in the JTA line it is a very slow process. If you're toward the front of the pack then you wait about 15 minutes but if you're at the back the sign up alone can take at least 45 minutes.
Def. better to do JTA on a non SWW day

 

[lovethattink]

We signed up once this year. I had forgotten. We got to the park after 9am. It was an hour wait for sign ups. Since ds was only 1 he was able to fill an earlier time slot that had 1 spot left. Not too many people after him, jta was completely filled and everyone turned away. When he and dh entered the line they were told it might be filled till they get up there. It's a shame they don't have a better way to count kids so that so many aren't in line when they get turned away. There is a standby list in case of no-shows but I'd think that would be harder on ds to be turned away right there where they meet than at sign-ups.

 

[keishashadow]

Last year our flight in on a Saturday was delayed, by the time we arrived in the park approx. 30 minutes before the posted start time, we were directed around the parade area back toward ToT.

We were able to slink into a not-so-stellar viewing spot where DH could at least reach up and snap shots so we could see the celebs via pictures. Glad we had one of the shows booked via FP+ for later in the day.

I was really surprised how deep the route was packed, far more crowded that the same dates we've visited in the past. Either vastly more popular overall or Mark Hamill drew a bigger crowd

Just wondering how early I should plan on lining up this year. We do like to grab spots near beginning of route but since it's just adults thus far, don't need a front row spot.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

It's possible with an ADR at 8am but it might be a hectic morning depending on the popularity of the weekend. We had both an 8am sci-fi seating with a FtF package on Friday 6/6/14. I would not combine the galactic breakfast and parade on the same day again unless it were my only option.

Last year the parades were at 11am, except for SWW IV which was at 11:30 with people beginning to line up as soon as .the park opened - but that's an extreme example.

Thanks, I think we may just skip the Galactic Breakfast and book an early dinner at H&V instead. I agree that it may be too hectic of a morning, especially if we want to do JTA.

I'm going to discuss with my family tonight and see if they are OK with that. They met Vader multiple times and met Boba Fett once last year, I think they will be OK with not doing the breakfast. (They didn't eat anything last year anyway, they were too excited!!!!)

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

I would recommend doing breakfast first thing, at 8am or 8:30. Breakfast takes at least 45 minutes, many reported being in there for one hour. You could meet Chewie before breakfast if you are one of the first in his line and your ADR is at 8:30am. To guarantee a good spot for the parade you need to grab it by 10am at the latest, if the parade is at 11:30am, earlier if it's at 11am

Where does Chewie normally meet? Last time we did SWW (in 2013) we went directly to Vader and Maul. I'm thinking we may head to the other side of the park this time....

 

[yulilin3]

Last year our flight in on a Saturday was delayed, by the time we arrived in the park approx. 30 minutes before the posted start time, we were directed around the parade area back toward ToT.

We were able to slink into a not-so-stellar viewing spot where DH could at least reach up and snap shots so we could see the celebs via pictures. Glad we had one of the shows booked via FP+ for later in the day.

I was really surprised how deep the route was packed, far more crowded that the same dates we've visited in the past. Either vastly more popular overall or Mark Hamill drew a bigger crowd

Just wondering how early I should plan on lining up this year. We do like to grab spots near beginning of route but since it's just adults thus far, don't need a front row spot.

Mark Hamill was a huge draw last year. I can tell you that that Saturday we entered the park at 7:45am and grabbed one of the two benches on Hollywood Blvd for the parade. The entire shady area was filled by 9am.
I always try and grab a spot at least an hour and a half before the parade just to make sure we have shade, I know it sounds extreme but when you are outside for SWW it gets extremely hot.

 

[yulilin3]

Where does Chewie normally meet? Last time we did SWW (in 2013) we went directly to Vader and Maul. I'm thinking we may head to the other side of the park this time....

Chewie meets right outside of Star Tours at the Speeder.

 

[poison ivy]

Thanks, I think we may just skip the Galactic Breakfast and book an early dinner at H&V instead. I agree that it may be too hectic of a morning, especially if we want to do JTA.

I'm going to discuss with my family tonight and see if they are OK with that. They met Vader multiple times and met Boba Fett once last year, I think they will be OK with not doing the breakfast. (They didn't eat anything last year anyway, they were too excited!!!!)

you can click on my review of the galactic breakfast w/photos HERE to get an idea of the experience if that helps.

We didn't attend the H&V dinner so unfortunately I don't have that event for comparison.

Where does Chewie normally meet? Last time we did SWW (in 2013) we went directly to Vader and Maul. I'm thinking we may head to the other side of the park this time....

Here's my map from 6/6/14 SWW IV
Chewbacca's location is the Green Circle - following the Red Arrow on Commissary Lane

Gates were open at 7:40 am

Orange Square = Designated FP Distribution Area - where autograph FP lines begin and where guests are shuffled around to collect Celebrity Autograph Fastpasses and crowd in front of the gates.

pink arrow = Stormtrooper Opening Ceremonies / Rope Drop at 7:45 am

A = ABC Sound Studio – host to certain designated Celebrity Autograph Sessions and Padawan Mind Challenge Sign-ups

X = Jedi Training Academy Sign-ups – at the Epic Stunt Theatre (Star Wars Weekends only – otherwise at the ABC Sound Studio) Break left at the pink arrow!

S = Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant – host to the Star Wars Galactic Dine-In Breakfast

P = Parade and Fireworks Viewing Area for Feel the Force and VIP Packages

Red Arrow = Commissary Lane – line up in this direction for Chewbacca meet and greet.

Green Circle = Chewbacca and Wicket character meet location.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

you can click on my review of the galactic breakfast w/photos HERE to get an idea of the experience if that helps.

We didn't attend the H&V dinner so unfortunately I don't have that event for comparison.



Here's my map from 6/6/14 SWW IV
Chewbacca's location is the Green Circle - following the Red Arrow on Commissary Lane

Thanks! Your map is very helpful!

We actually did both the Galactic Breakfast and the H&V dinner last year in early May, so I am OK with skipping it this year. Not sure if my kids will feel the same, but we will see!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

you can click on my review of the galactic breakfast w/photos to get an idea of the experience if that helps.

We didn't attend the H&V dinner so unfortunately I don't have that event for comparison.



Here's my map from 6/6/14 SWW IV
Chewbacca's location is the Green Circle - following the Red Arrow on Commissary Lane

Thanks for posting your map -- love it!

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Besides reserved seating for the Fantasmic!, what else do you get with the Jedi Mickey's H&V Fantasmic! Package?

I'm just curious is the $6 extra actually gets you anything other than the F! seating.

What time is the first F! show?

What time are the Fireworks?

Is it worth it to get the H&V F! package and will there be enough time to get a decent spot for Fireworks?

Thanks!!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Besides reserved seating for the Fantasmic!, what else do you get with the Jedi Mickey's H&V Fantasmic! Package?

I'm just curious is the $6 extra actually gets you anything other than the F! seating.

What time is the first F! show?

What time are the Fireworks?

Is it worth it to get the H&V F! package and will there be enough time to get a decent spot for Fireworks?

Thanks!!

1. Nothing, just the Fantasmic seating.

2. What day? Park hours and Fantasmic schedules are out for May but not June. May is showing only one session of Fantasmic at 9 PM with the park closing at 8:30. Can't tell if that's going to be what actually happens though, they may adjust hours later. I would bet that 8:30 showing on the DIS chart is either an error or the hours will get extended to 10. They could add some second Fantasmic shows too.
3. Fireworks were scheduled at 9:30.

I don't know if it might be worth it for you. Have you seen Fantasmic? Is it a favorite? Do you have another day you can go to DHS and maybe use a FP+ for Fantasmic? Personally I'd rather see the Star Wars fireworks and I'd only try to do both if there was a second Fantasmic show and you can't get a dining package for a second show.