Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[Skywise]

Trying to decide between BWV/BWI and CR...spending most of our time at MK and HS this trip...

I stayed at CR last year - busing to and from HS was a minor hassle (getting to HS from any of the MK resorts is a minor hassle) and the bus stop at the CR is NOT air conditioned in anyway (no fans either). Longest I had to wait was probably no more than 30 minutes around 9:45am to get to HS when Mark Hamill was there.

Note that you'll share that bus with the Poly but you'll get on first so it'll be easier to get a seat.

OTOH it's great for MK and I really like the CR in general.

You might also look at busing from GF as their bus stop was obviously built for the ritzy first class people with ceiling fans and an updated bus timetable.

 

[Itinkso]

Trying to decide between BWV/BWI and CR...spending most of our time at MK and HS this trip...

If you're planning rope drop and taking breaks during DHS days, BWV is a few steps closer when walking. But if you use the boats, BWI rooms would be closer. CR is very far from DHS especially when planning on early mornings.

 

[Koh1977]

If you're planning rope drop and taking breaks during DHS days, BWV is a few steps closer when walking. But if you use the boats, BWI rooms would be closer. CR is very far from DHS especially when planning on early mornings.

Thanks for the input! I am so torn!! We have an early ADR at MK and want to hit rope drop at least once there too, as well as an evening EMH at MK. But we'll have a day of SWW (rope drop), a breakfast ADR later in the week, and one evening EMH at HS.

 

[Koh1977]

I stayed at CR last year - busing to and from HS was a minor hassle (getting to HS from any of the MK resorts is a minor hassle) and the bus stop at the CR is NOT air conditioned in anyway (no fans either). Longest I had to wait was probably no more than 30 minutes around 9:45am to get to HS when Mark Hamill was there. Note that you'll share that bus with the Poly but you'll get on first so it'll be easier to get a seat. OTOH it's great for MK and I really like the CR in general. You might also look at busing from GF as their bus stop was obviously built for the ritzy first class people with ceiling fans and an updated bus timetable.

Thanks for the input as well! So torn!!

 

[disneygrandma]

A couple yrs ago, we started doing split stays for the very reasons you're talking about. Yes, we do have to pack up & move once. There's some time involved in doing that & checking in to the next resort. However, we now save a lot of time that we use to spend driving, parking, waiting for buses, etc. For us, it's so worth it!

For our trip coming up, we're staying at the BWV for the 1st part. We'll only do HS & EP. We then move to BLT & will do only MK & AK. Yes, we will have to drive over to AK, but otherwise, we walk everywhere. We will also have the option of the boat at BWV if we choose to do so.

This probably doesn't work for everyone, but we like it.

 

[DisneyLove2015]

Hello! Long time lurker and first time poster!!

DH, DS7, new baby (due next month) and I are planning on hitting week 2 May 20-25! We've been to disney many times but This is our first time going to SWW!!

We have military 4 day hopper tickets and plan on doing Thursday at MK and then Friday- Sunday at DHS. we go at least once a year if not twice so we want to concentrate on SWW activities.

We're staying at POFQ and this will be the first time staying without a car. How early do busses run Friday-Sunday for DHS? We aren't planning on celebrity autographs but do want to be there around 6:45-7:00 to get a good place in line. DS wants to do JTA atleast once and we have an 8:00 SCI FI res on day. We want to hit as many characters as possible between all 3 days as well as the shows.
Will the buses be running at 6:30? Really don't want to rent a car. We could take a taxi but we really dont want to take the infant car seat into the park with us.

Thank you!!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We are owners at BLT and LOVE it!!! But for SWW, short trip, we're staying at BWV. We'll venture out to MK, but want to be closest to the DHS action.

 

[yulilin3]

Hello! Long time lurker and first time poster!!

DH, DS7, new baby (due next month) and I are planning on hitting week 2 May 20-25! We've been to disney many times but This is our first time going to SWW!!

We have military 4 day hopper tickets and plan on doing Thursday at MK and then Friday- Sunday at DHS. we go at least once a year if not twice so we want to concentrate on SWW activities.

We're staying at POFQ and this will be the first time staying without a car. How early do busses run Friday-Sunday for DHS? We aren't planning on celebrity autographs but do want to be there around 6:45-7:00 to get a good place in line. DS wants to do JTA atleast once and we have an 8:00 SCI FI res on day. We want to hit as many characters as possible between all 3 days as well as the shows.
Will the buses be running at 6:30? Really don't want to rent a car. We could take a taxi but we really dont want to take the infant car seat into the park with us.

Thank you!!!

first of all
the buses will probably start around 7am. You could always do a taxi, I believe that they have car seats for people to use but you could check with them once you arrive.

 

[Itinkso]

Hello! Long time lurker and first time poster!!

DH, DS7, new baby (due next month) and I are planning on hitting week 2 May 20-25! We've been to disney many times but This is our first time going to SWW!!

We have military 4 day hopper tickets and plan on doing Thursday at MK and then Friday- Sunday at DHS. we go at least once a year if not twice so we want to concentrate on SWW activities.

We're staying at POFQ and this will be the first time staying without a car. How early do busses run Friday-Sunday for DHS? We aren't planning on celebrity autographs but do want to be there around 6:45-7:00 to get a good place in line. DS wants to do JTA atleast once and we have an 8:00 SCI FI res on day. We want to hit as many characters as possible between all 3 days as well as the shows.
Will the buses be running at 6:30? Really don't want to rent a car. We could take a taxi but we really dont want to take the infant car seat into the park with us.

Thank you!!!

Buses begin running at 6:30. With the early start time at DHS, the DHS buses should be the first ones arriving at the resorts.

The good thing about POFQ is there is only one bus stop and they don't share buses with POR all that often, if at all.

 

[yulilin3]

Buses begin running at 6:30. With the early start time at DHS, the DHS buses should be the first ones arriving at the resorts.

The good thing about POFQ is there is only one bus stop and they don't share buses with POR all that often, if at all.

thanks for the correction of the time!!

 

[Itinkso]

thanks for the correction of the time!!

I think we posted at roughly the same time!

DisneyLove: make sure you let the POFQ Concierge know the day before your SciFi ADR that you have an early ADR the next morning. There is an early bus that specifically picks up guests with ADRs. The Concierge will let you know the time to be waiting for the bus.

 

[Koh1977]

A couple yrs ago, we started doing split stays for the very reasons you're talking about. Yes, we do have to pack up & move once. There's some time involved in doing that & checking in to the next resort. However, we now save a lot of time that we use to spend driving, parking, waiting for buses, etc. For us, it's so worth it!

For our trip coming up, we're staying at the BWV for the 1st part. We'll only do HS & EP. We then move to BLT & will do only MK & AK. Yes, we will have to drive over to AK, but otherwise, we walk everywhere. We will also have the option of the boat at BWV if we choose to do so.

This probably doesn't work for everyone, but we like it.

We did our first split stay last year, and although it went pretty smoothly, I wish we would've just been at WL the entire trip. (We stayed at POR the first half) This time, we are only there 6 nights. If it were just me, I probably would do it again though!

 

[wdhinn89]

Trying to decide between BWV/BWI and CR...spending most of our time at MK and HS this trip...

Just wanted to share a tip I read.

Take the monorail to the T&TC and take the bus there to HS.. . When you take the bus from CR to HS it stops at the GF and Poly which adds 20-30 minutes to the trip as well as a crowded bus. The bus from the TTC is less crowded and direct.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Just wanted to share a tip I read.

Take the monorail to the T&TC and take the bus there to HS.. . When you take the bus from CR to HS it stops at the GF and Poly which adds 20-30 minutes to the trip as well as a crowded bus. The bus from the TTC is less crowded and direct.

The only problem is that the Resort Monorail doesn't begin running until 7:00 a.m. at the earliest. DHS will be open by the time they arrive on a SWW day.

 

[yulilin3]

Just wanted to share a tip I read.

Take the monorail to the T&TC and take the bus there to HS.. . When you take the bus from CR to HS it stops at the GF and Poly which adds 20-30 minutes to the trip as well as a crowded bus. The bus from the TTC is less crowded and direct.

Do they still offer buses from the TTC to DHS? Ever since there has been a direct route from MK buses depot to DHS I've never even bothered to look into the TTC.

 

[wdhinn89]

The only problem is that the Resort Monorail doesn't begin running until 7:00 a.m. at the earliest. DHS will be open by the time they arrive on a SWW day.

Never thought of the monorail times....probably because I would never be able to get my teens up and out that early on vacation. I just checked the calendar and it has HS hours as 8am-10pm

Do they still offer buses from the TTC to DHS? Ever since there has been a direct route from MK buses depot to DHS I've never even bothered to look into the TTC.

Not positive. This was just a tip I read on Disboards and no one said that can not be done.

 

[yulilin3]

Never thought of the monorail times....probably because I would never be able to get my teens up and out that early on vacation. I just checked the calendar and it has HS hours as 8am-10pm



Not positive. This was just a tip I read on Disboards and no one said that can not be done.

If you are planning on going to SWW remember that the park unofficially opens around 7:30am

 

[Koh1977]

If you are planning on going to SWW remember that the park unofficially opens around 7:30am

What time is the "pre-show" with the Stormtroopers?

Not planning to do any of the celebrity autographs, but I know we still want to be there at park opening in order to get everything done that we want to!

Does anyone know what time the boats start running in the am from BC/YC and BWI?

 

[yulilin3]

What time is the "pre-show" with the Stormtroopers?

Not planning to do any of the celebrity autographs, but I know we still want to be there at park opening in order to get everything done that we want to!

Does anyone know what time the boats start running in the am from BC/YC and BWI?

last year the opening of the park by the Stormtroopers was at 7:40am

 

[The Sunrise Student]

We did our first split stay last year, and although it went pretty smoothly, I wish we would've just been at WL the entire trip. (We stayed at POR the first half) This time, we are only there 6 nights. If it were just me, I probably would do it again though!

I wondered about that, I have seen so many people like doing split stays and I just feel like I am wasting a day moving resorts.