Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[cinderella'smommy]

Hello!

We are planning a trip next June, our arrival day will Saturday June 13.

Normally, I wouldn't plan on going to SWW; and, in fact, I was planning on skipping HS this time around altogether.

But, I am now thinking it might be a fun first day event. I know we would miss all the heavy duty celebrity autographs, and I doubt that we would want to go to the shows. But, it would be fun to the SW dining, do a few rides, and soak in the atmosphere; and see the fireworks.

My question is how the crowds would be? Does it make sense to even go and deal with the crowds if we are just going to do a few things in the evening?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

OK, so now that Josh's calendar got me thinking about it...I'm not sure what to do.

Daughter's last day of school will be June 5th so we'll fly down to Orlando that afternoon/evening, meaning we won't get in until late. I'd assumed we'd do DHS on Friday and Saturday, MK Sunday. But last time, we were exhausted that first day...didn't even make it to Hyperspace Hoopla, thinking we could catch it the next night, and then that Hurricane Andrea-related system went through Orlando and it rained all afternoon and evening, which meant a cancellation of the Hoopla, so we never got to see it. So I'm thinking we do MK Friday, SWW Saturday and Sunday instead. The MK shouldn't open until 9:00, which will give us an extra hour of sleep that first day, we can call it an early night, so then we should be good to go for Saturday and Sunday bright and early. What do you guys think?

 

[yulilin3]

Hello!

We are planning a trip next June, our arrival day will Saturday June 13.

Normally, I wouldn't plan on going to SWW; and, in fact, I was planning on skipping HS this time around altogether.

But, I am now thinking it might be a fun first day event. I know we would miss all the heavy duty celebrity autographs, and I doubt that we would want to go to the shows. But, it would be fun to the SW dining, do a few rides, and soak in the atmosphere; and see the fireworks.

My question is how the crowds would be? Does it make sense to even go and deal with the crowds if we are just going to do a few things in the evening?

Yes it's crowded, not shoulder to shoulder, Christmas crowded but crowded. Still with a good plan and your fp+ booked you should have no problem in enjoying the event. By what you listed you can have an awesome time.
If you have any specific questions as to timing of things let us know so you can plan better

OK, so now that Josh's calendar got me thinking about it...I'm not sure what to do.

Daughter's last day of school will be June 5th so we'll fly down to Orlando that afternoon/evening, meaning we won't get in until late. I'd assumed we'd do DHS on Friday and Saturday, MK Sunday. But last time, we were exhausted that first day...didn't even make it to Hyperspace Hoopla, thinking we could catch it the next night, and then that Hurricane Andrea-related system went through Orlando and it rained all afternoon and evening, which meant a cancellation of the Hoopla, so we never got to see it. So I'm thinking we do MK Friday, SWW Saturday and Sunday instead. The MK shouldn't open until 9:00, which will give us an extra hour of sleep that first day, we can call it an early night, so then we should be good to go for Saturday and Sunday bright and early. What do you guys think?

Saturday and Sunday for SWW sounds fine, the weather can put a big dent on plans so if you really want to see the fireworks check the weather just in case

 

[yulilin3]

What about H&V? Are they back to normal?

On the MDE app, H&V and SciFi are both showing no availability for Dinners during the May time period that is open for reservations.

I check straight online, just for their hours of operation and that's where I see the changes:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/hollywood-and-vine/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/sci-fi-dine-in-theater/
under the blue box on the right that says check availability I just change the dates and it gives me their breakfast, lunch and dinner hours.

 

[lovethattink]

On the MDE app, H&V and SciFi are both showing no availability for Dinners during the May time period that is open for reservations.

Thanks.

OK, so now that Josh's calendar got me thinking about it...I'm not sure what to do.

Daughter's last day of school will be June 5th so we'll fly down to Orlando that afternoon/evening, meaning we won't get in until late. I'd assumed we'd do DHS on Friday and Saturday, MK Sunday. But last time, we were exhausted that first day...didn't even make it to Hyperspace Hoopla, thinking we could catch it the next night, and then that Hurricane Andrea-related system went through Orlando and it rained all afternoon and evening, which meant a cancellation of the Hoopla, so we never got to see it. So I'm thinking we do MK Friday, SWW Saturday and Sunday instead. The MK shouldn't open until 9:00, which will give us an extra hour of sleep that first day, we can call it an early night, so then we should be good to go for Saturday and Sunday bright and early. What do you guys think?

Friday and Sunday will have a little less crowds. Saturday is going to be the busiest SWW day.

There is no hoopla anymore and sadly, I don't expect it back. But I'd assume there'd be fireworks again this year.

 

[lovethattink]

I check straight online, just for their hours of operation and that's where I see the changes:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/hollywood-and-vine/
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/sci-fi-dine-in-theater/
under the blue box on the right that says check availability I just change the dates and it gives me their breakfast, lunch and dinner hours.

Thanks for the links!

 

[lovethattink]

Hello!

We are planning a trip next June, our arrival day will Saturday June 13.

Normally, I wouldn't plan on going to SWW; and, in fact, I was planning on skipping HS this time around altogether.

But, I am now thinking it might be a fun first day event. I know we would miss all the heavy duty celebrity autographs, and I doubt that we would want to go to the shows. But, it would be fun to the SW dining, do a few rides, and soak in the atmosphere; and see the fireworks.

My question is how the crowds would be? Does it make sense to even go and deal with the crowds if we are just going to do a few things in the evening?

I think the fireworks alone are worth the crowds. Imho, it's the best firework show on property.

Saturday crowds are a little heavier than Friday or Sunday. You won't see much difference in ride waits since most SW fans are there for the SW stuff.

 

[yulilin3]

TBT how about some Disney characters who turned to the Force and the Dark Side

 

[jimim]

ok i have been reading the first page but have a few questions. i got two days to play with sat and sun. pretty much here is what i want to accomplish:

parade & fireworks (will do package so i don't have to sit for seats as long)
dinner with disney themed characters

meet and greets as able

afternoon shows (for myself, not family)

how should i break this up. park rides don't matter cause we are always there.

sat: meet and greets in AM till parade, then parade, send kids back with my wife to swim and stay for some afternoon shows, go back to beach club meet up with them, grab a quick bite head back over for dinner and then fireworks?

sunday: wait in line for fast pass for celebrity meet and greets if i want to, character meet and greats till the kids want to go back. call it a year. . .

or should i do parade and fireworks only saturday and let them swim longer and relax after longer morning and i'll stay over for afternoon shows

then sunday go over for more meet and greets, leave and swim and just come back for dinner?

i got a almost 3 year old in toe with me. my daughter is 5. she can go all day if we wanted but its going to be hot so i deff wanted them to get back to swim for a few hrs and maybe catch a short nap

 

[yulilin3]

ok i have been reading the first page but have a few questions. i got two days to play with sat and sun. pretty much here is what i want to accomplish:

parade & fireworks (will do package so i don't have to sit for seats as long)
dinner with disney themed characters

meet and greets as able

afternoon shows (for myself, not family)

how should i break this up. park rides don't matter cause we are always there.

sat: meet and greets in AM till parade, then parade, send kids back with my wife to swim and stay for some afternoon shows, go back to beach club meet up with them, grab a quick bite head back over for dinner and then fireworks?

sunday: wait in line for fast pass for celebrity meet and greets if i want to, character meet and greats till the kids want to go back. call it a year. . .

or should i do parade and fireworks only saturday and let them swim longer and relax after longer morning and i'll stay over for afternoon shows

then sunday go over for more meet and greets, leave and swim and just come back for dinner?

i got a almost 3 year old in toe with me. my daughter is 5. she can go all day if we wanted but its going to be hot so i deff wanted them to get back to swim for a few hrs and maybe catch a short nap

best advice is to be there before the park opens to line up for the characters. There's a character priority list on Kenny the Pirate's site. For example if you want Chewbacca or Darth Vader be there at park open and go straight to their location so you're one of the first to meet. Their lines stay consistently long thru out the day. Same for Disney SW characters.
For the shows you can line up 30 to 45 minutes before them and you should be Ok unless there's a huge celebrity for Stars of the Saga, then you would have to wait around an hour without a fp+
Also remember that y ou can meet only one celebrity per day, so if there is more than one you want to meet you would need to bethere earlier both days

Giving kids breaks is a good idea, only you know them so you can play it by ear as to when to go back to relax.

 

[jimim]

so for the shows in the afternoon there are fast passes for them too?

 

[yulilin3]

so for the shows in the afternoon there are fast passes for them too?

yes, there were fp for all the shows.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

OK, so now that Josh's calendar got me thinking about it...I'm not sure what to do.

Daughter's last day of school will be June 5th so we'll fly down to Orlando that afternoon/evening, meaning we won't get in until late. I'd assumed we'd do DHS on Friday and Saturday, MK Sunday. But last time, we were exhausted that first day...didn't even make it to Hyperspace Hoopla, thinking we could catch it the next night, and then that Hurricane Andrea-related system went through Orlando and it rained all afternoon and evening, which meant a cancellation of the Hoopla, so we never got to see it. So I'm thinking we do MK Friday, SWW Saturday and Sunday instead. The MK shouldn't open until 9:00, which will give us an extra hour of sleep that first day, we can call it an early night, so then we should be good to go for Saturday and Sunday bright and early. What do you guys think?

Hi, Are you aware the June 5th of 2015 is a Friday? The reason I know this is my older DS last day of school is the same day. His last day is a a half day, we will pick him up at noon and then we are driving to Orlando. We are hoping to arrive in Orlando late afternoon on Saturday, June 6th.

Depending on how many SWW they have scheduled, we will either go on Sunday, June 7th or wait until the next weekend and go on June 12th.


It seems like you may be looking at the wrong calendar year, as you are saying that you will be going to the parks on a Friday.... the same day you are traveling....

Just don't want your plans to be messed up!

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

yes, there were fp for all the shows.

Can you book the show FP ahead of time with MDE? Or is this a first come, first served FP that you get somewhere in the parks?

For example: If I wanted to see "A Conversation with Mark Hamill" (or whatever celebrity happens to be there) with my family of 4, how do I get to see that?


Also, the Padawan Mind Challenge........my boys are now old enough for this. How do you participate in this?

Thanks!

 

[lovethattink]

Love the throwback pictures. We have never met R2-MK. Would love to!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Can you book the show FP ahead of time with MDE? Or is this a first come, first served FP that you get somewhere in the parks?

For example: If I wanted to see "A Conversation with Mark Hamill" (or whatever celebrity happens to be there) with my family of 4, how do I get to see that?


Also, the Padawan Mind Challenge........my boys are now old enough for this. How do you participate in this?

Thanks!

Yes you could book the shows via MDX when they came available. They released them about 2 weeks before the first presentation of each weekend. I think Mark was out for booking a week and a half prior. Assuming Mark Hamill comes back, then yes you could book FP+ for your family for his show, or for any of the other offered shows. Remember that last year the shows were Tier 1 fastpasses. So you could book one show, but then you couldn't have another SW show, or a Tier 1 ride like TSM or RNRC for the same day.

I had the FP for the Mark Hamill show and then I walked into the shows by Ray Park and James Arnold Taylor. I waited in line a bit for Ray Park but not very long. JAT I could just walk in, no waiting at all. His show is awesome by the way. If you didn't get into the theater to see Mark, his show was simulcast all over the park. I wish they'd simulcast the Stars of the Saga in at least one other place for all those shows.

You sign the kids up for Padawan Mind Challenge. I think it was at the same place that you sign up for Jedi Training. First come, first served.

 

[yulilin3]

Can you book the show FP ahead of time with MDE? Or is this a first come, first served FP that you get somewhere in the parks?

For example: If I wanted to see "A Conversation with Mark Hamill" (or whatever celebrity happens to be there) with my family of 4, how do I get to see that?


Also, the Padawan Mind Challenge........my boys are now old enough for this. How do you participate in this?

Thanks!

you sign them up in the morning. JTA sign up are done in the queue line for Indiana Jones and PMC sign up is done right next to Sounds Dangerous .

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

you sign them up in the morning. JTA sign up are done in the queue line for Indiana Jones and PMC sign up is done right next to Sounds Dangerous .

How hard is it to sign up for the Mind Challenge? Would it be possible to arrive at RD, sign up for JTA, then sign up for PMC? Or would it be too late to sign up for PMC after that?

We always arrive at RD and have signed up for JTA in the past with no problems, but never the PMC. Just wondering how competitive it is for the sign ups.

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

How hard is it to sign up for the Mind Challenge? Would it be possible to arrive at RD, sign up for JTA, then sign up for PMC? Or would it be too late to sign up for PMC after that?

We always arrive at RD and have signed up for JTA in the past with no problems, but never the PMC. Just wondering how competitive it is for the sign ups.

Thanks!

Most people do that. Sign up first for JTA and then for PMC. Remember that the kids have to be with you for both cases

 

[tchrrx]

There are Starr Wars fireworks? Did I read that correctly? My plan was to hit DHS for a couple hours one morning for a Jedi Mickey picture and a little shopping. If there's nighttime entertainment then I've got some rethinking to do!