Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[Koh1977]

on the first page is all the info on the shows that were offered during last years SWW.

Thanks!!

 

[Candleshoe]

Is the Symphony in the Stars in PLACE of Fantasmic or in addition to?

Also is it in the same location? IOW are you in the theater, or are you down the main street looking up?

 

[Cluelyss]

Is the Symphony in the Stars in PLACE of Fantasmic or in addition to? Also is it in the same location? IOW are you in the theater, or are you down the main street looking up?

Last year they were in addition to, and were shot off at the end of Hollywood Blvd. Not sure if the removal of the sorcerers hat will affect this at all? Though I imagine it would only make the view better.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Is the Symphony in the Stars in PLACE of Fantasmic or in addition to?

Also is it in the same location? IOW are you in the theater, or are you down the main street looking up?

Not the same area. Fireworks were shot off behind the Graumans Theater. Now that the hat will be gone, no telling how that will look now. Vistas from the street would likely be better.

Fantasmic still presented in its theater.

 

[yulilin3]

Last year they were in addition to, and were shot off at the end of Hollywood Blvd. Not sure if the removal of the sorcerers hat will affect this at all? Though I imagine it would only make the view better.

Not the same area. Fireworks were shot off behind the Graumans Theater. Now that the hat will be gone, no telling how that will look now. Vistas from the street would likely be better.

Fantasmic still presented in its theater.

something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlL92VQvQIU
we always perfer to watch the fireworks at DHS from Echo Lake, sitting on a table right across from Prime Time, not exactly centered but a completely unobstructed view. This is my video from NYE a couple of nights ago, sorry for the shakiness but forgot to take the tripod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckWB8IcnD4E&list=UUarxr8vv__ZzTNGkYWPTUuw

 

[Artax]

Long time lurker to the boards and the SWW threads, never posted. Been to Star Wars weekend for the past 2 years. Just booked another trim for May 8-16th so we will hit day one again for a full day and maybe a partial second day. Decided I should join the party and say Hi. Met a few people from here last year in line for chewy, my son and I were first in line on day one. Also meet kennythepirate in line for darth maul. We had a great time mostly meeting characters and getting autographs for a quilt for my son. He got his quilt for Christmas and it turned out great. Will post pictures when I get to 10 posts, but wanted to make an apperance and introduce myself.

Also waiting impatiently for the Feel the Force package to open. Didnt get to do it last year becuase we had a party of 10 and it sold out before we could all get in. Hopeing and crossing fingers we can get in this year.

 

[yulilin3]

Long time lurker to the boards and the SWW threads, never posted. Been to Star Wars weekend for the past 2 years. Just booked another trim for May 8-16th so we will hit day one again for a full day and maybe a partial second day. Decided I should join the party and say Hi. Met a few people from here last year in line for chewy, my son and I were first in line on day one. Also meet kennythepirate in line for darth maul. We had a great time mostly meeting characters and getting autographs for a quilt for my son. He got his quilt for Christmas and it turned out great. Will post pictures when I get to 10 posts, but wanted to make an apperance and introduce myself.

Also waiting impatiently for the Feel the Force package to open. Didnt get to do it last year becuase we had a party of 10 and it sold out before we could all get in. Hopeing and crossing fingers we can get in this year.

 

[Artax]

Thanks for the warm welcome yulilin.

Your posts the past few years have been very helpful so thank you for that too.

 

[Beezle2]

We are headed to SWW for the last weekend June 12, 13, 14. This is our first time attending and we will do the HV dinner on the 14th. Will we be able to do everything or most everything in those 3 days? We probably won't be interested in the stuff that we would have to line up at 3 am for, but would like to see some of the other characters.

I am planning to be at HS for all 3 days but maybe 2 would be enough?

 

[yulilin3]

We are headed to SWW for the last weekend June 12, 13, 14. This is our first time attending and we will do the HV dinner on the 14th. Will we be able to do everything or most everything in those 3 days? We probably won't be interested in the stuff that we would have to line up at 3 am for, but would like to see some of the other characters.

I am planning to be at HS for all 3 days but maybe 2 would be enough?

When you say everything is that including all the characters available and all the shows?
3 days should be enough to accomplish all of them. Make sure to make a list of which characters are in your priority list. This list will be helpful to meet all of them with the least amount of time.

 

[Candleshoe]

something like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlL92VQvQIU
we always perfer to watch the fireworks at DHS from Echo Lake, sitting on a table right across from Prime Time, not exactly centered but a completely unobstructed view. This is my video from NYE a couple of nights ago, sorry for the shakiness but forgot to take the tripod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckWB8IcnD4E&list=UUarxr8vv__ZzTNGkYWPTUuw

Awesome! Thanks everyone!

Do the fireworks come after Fantasmic! ? If so do you go from the theater over to Echo Lake?

 

[minerva78]

Congratulations on taking the plunge, what a real treat your first family Disney vacation and to SWW no less. Even if you are not a super SW fan the SWW has alot to offer for every type of SW fan.


If you see my signature, I have stayed off property and on. It all depends on how you travel.

Here's a few questions that might sway you either way:

1. are you driving or flying?

2. Is your only plan to visit WDW or do you plan to see alternate locations in Orlando while you are there?

I will have additional questions once you answer those... but here is why I started this line of questioning and it might help you spin some ideas around.

IF you are flying and are only planning to visit WDW I suggest staying on property. Here's why....

1. Magical Express will pick you up from the airport and take you right to your resort (they even get your bags for you)!

A. HUGE benefit here is you don't have to make transportation arrangements!​

B. You can used Disney Transportation to get around to the parks.​

C. They check your bags back in at the airport, you do that at the resort and then they take you back to the airport, no fuss there either!​

2. You can make your FP reservations earlier than people who stay off property.

So weight the cost of your transport to the additional cost of on property resort. Then add to it you can start paying on your resort now and not have a large bill on your credit card after.

We have done both, and depending on what we are doing... this year with a long trip we are actually going to take a two day venture over to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure. But in 2014 we did a long weekend and just used all the Disney transport cause we were only going to see WDW and not venture out.

Thanks for all of the helpful information! We will be driving down and will just be going to Disney. I finally decided to stay at Bonnet Creek though, and I'm really excited about it! I thought my husband was leaning more to onsite, but he finally realized he liked the idea of having two separate bedrooms and more space, especially since I am planning a non-park day at the resort, so Bonnet Creek it is. I also changed my dates, lol. Now we will be going May 16 - 23 and doing HS on the 17th. I know DH would prefer to go the first weekend, and I figured the week would be less crowded than Memorial Day week.

Since we're staying offsite, we'll be paying out of pocket for meals. I have both the Sci Fi breakfast and H&V dinner reserved and I wonder if it will be a bit overkill, also take up too much time. I definitely want to keep the breakfast, because these are the only characters DH wants to see. I'm not sure about the dinner, although I thnk my girls will like those characters. I think I read a review on some website by someone who preferred the breakfast to dinner, but I don't remember where I read this. Anyone have any opinions?

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Long time lurker to the boards and the SWW threads, never posted. Been to Star Wars weekend for the past 2 years. Just booked another trim for May 8-16th so we will hit day one again for a full day and maybe a partial second day. Decided I should join the party and say Hi. Met a few people from here last year in line for chewy, my son and I were first in line on day one. Also meet kennythepirate in line for darth maul. We had a great time mostly meeting characters and getting autographs for a quilt for my son. He got his quilt for Christmas and it turned out great. Will post pictures when I get to 10 posts, but wanted to make an apperance and introduce myself.

Also waiting impatiently for the Feel the Force package to open. Didnt get to do it last year becuase we had a party of 10 and it sold out before we could all get in. Hopeing and crossing fingers we can get in this year.

We probably met you last year - we were 3rd in line for Chewy first weekend first day! DD was dressed as Jedi Bultar Swan.

We'll be there from the 13th - 19th this year and will probably see Chewy first thing on the Friday.

I saw Kenny in line for Darth Maul but was too shy to say anything!

Welcome!!

 

[Cluelyss]

Awesome! Thanks everyone! Do the fireworks come after Fantasmic! ? If so do you go from the theater over to Echo Lake?

Last year they moved to 2 showings of F!, one before and one after (9 and 10:30).

 

[Cluelyss]

Thanks for all of the helpful information! We will be driving down and will just be going to Disney. I finally decided to stay at Bonnet Creek though, and I'm really excited about it! I thought my husband was leaning more to onsite, but he finally realized he liked the idea of having two separate bedrooms and more space, especially since I am planning a non-park day at the resort, so Bonnet Creek it is. I also changed my dates, lol. Now we will be going May 16 - 23 and doing HS on the 17th. I know DH would prefer to go the first weekend, and I figured the week would be less crowded than Memorial Day week. Since we're staying offsite, we'll be paying out of pocket for meals. I have both the Sci Fi breakfast and H&V dinner reserved and I wonder if it will be a bit overkill, also take up too much time. I definitely want to keep the breakfast, because these are the only characters DH wants to see. I'm not sure about the dinner, although I thnk my girls will like those characters. I think I read a review on some website by someone who preferred the breakfast to dinner, but I don't remember where I read this. Anyone have any opinions?

Kenny the Pirate has great reviews of both meals on his website. We have both meals booked as well, for the same reason - breakfast characters for DH, dinner characters for the kids. Since we are making this trip primarily to experience SWW, I don't think it's overkill at all!!

 

[yulilin3]

Awesome! Thanks everyone!

Do the fireworks come after Fantasmic! ? If so do you go from the theater over to Echo Lake?

last year they had F! at 9pm and 10:30pm. Symphony in the Stars was at 9:45pm
I always recommend watching the second Fantasmic! because it's hard to get out of the theater and into position for the fireworks.

 

[Wendybird55]

We have been to Disney many times, but this will be our first time going to SWW. We will be there May 20-25. I have already made ADRs for SW breakfast and dinner. One of the other draws for this weekend is the possibility of 24. hr event that weekend. Any SWW experts...do you think if there is another 24 hr. event that going to SWW on that day is a good idea as it will be less crowded due to 24 hr event? Also, since we will be there Memorial Day weekend, do you think SWW will be that much more crowded due to holiday?

I can't change dates as we have airfare and such plus this weekend works as DS will miss less school. So this is more or a curiosity question.


Thanks!

 

[shelbyf31]

My goal is to have the kids meet Chewie first thing. With the park opening at 8am will he be there at 8?

 

[TLMcMarks]

Long time lurker to the boards and the SWW threads, never posted. Been to Star Wars weekend for the past 2 years. Just booked another trim for May 8-16th so we will hit day one again for a full day and maybe a partial second day. Decided I should join the party and say Hi. Met a few people from here last year in line for chewy, my son and I were first in line on day one. Also meet kennythepirate in line for darth maul. We had a great time mostly meeting characters and getting autographs for a quilt for my son. He got his quilt for Christmas and it turned out great. Will post pictures when I get to 10 posts, but wanted to make an apperance and introduce myself. Also waiting impatiently for the Feel the Force package to open. Didnt get to do it last year becuase we had a party of 10 and it sold out before we could all get in. Hopeing and crossing fingers we can get in this year.

What is Feel the Force pkg?

 

[Cluelyss]

My goal is to have the kids meet Chewie first thing. With the park opening at 8am will he be there at 8?

He started meeting at 8 am last year. Assume this year would be the same - we will know for sure closer to the start of SWW.