Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[lovethattink]

I'm really excited for all this and you guys are helping me get more excited!


This is our first SWW

Here's DH & I at Star Tours a few years ago:

Welcome.

Looks like you two are already fans. Now to plan the fun!

 

[Koh1977]

If DS wants to meet Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, how long are lines? Trying to decide if the breakfast is worth it, and also if my DD(4) will be terrified of them or not...

 

[lovethattink]

If DS wants to meet Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, how long are lines? Trying to decide if the breakfast is worth it, and also if my DD(4) will be terrified of them or not...

The stormtroopers roam, so no line for them. Darth Vader line usually runs an hour long. That's why it's recommended to go there early near opening.

 

[39CINDERELLA]

All of them sign, minus R2D2 and C3PO...even Aurra Sing signs, that has to be hard

I have been trying to meet her for a few years now. My mission this trip...do not leave without a picture with her

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

All of them sign, minus R2D2 and C3PO...even Aurra Sing signs, that has to be hard

do the roaming characters sign? We didn't ask any of them (just assuming they didn't)...

 

[yulilin3]

If DS wants to meet Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, how long are lines? Trying to decide if the breakfast is worth it, and also if my DD(4) will be terrified of them or not...

You can show him videos of people meeting him.

do the roaming characters sign? We didn't ask any of them (just assuming they didn't)...

Yes, all the roaming characters sign. Including stormtroopers with their own unique TK number

 

[yulilin3]

I have been trying to meet her for a few years now. My mission this trip...do not leave without a picture with her

She's our favorite roaming character and she never breaks character which terrifies kids and adults alike

 

[Cluelyss]

Gotchya, are there any plans at all of having a new setup somewhere, for some reason I thought they were going to move it, not just close it. How much of the "Frozen" themed stuff is going to stay/reopen?

This was the "moved" location...they moved it at the end of September when they eliminated the ice rink. Looks like it's gone for good .... at least for now ....

 

[lovingeire]

Hello all! Planning my family's first SWW trip and can't wait! It has been on my bucket list to do with my oldest (15) for quite some time and fingers crossed this timing works out. We plan to leave right after school is done on the last day! So we will be there for the last May weekend. We have booked both character meals as we have a big age gap and I think the younger kids will enjoy the Mickey & Minnie versions while the oldest definitely will want the originals! I think it has turned into a surprise trip as we had to move our Jan trip and DH shushed me when I talked about it in front of the 4 year old the other day. (Fortunately it was just a next trip to Disney thing not time specific since he repeats everything!) But I might do a reveal at Easter. Anyways, super excited and anxious for information!

 

[lovingeire]

If DS wants to meet Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, how long are lines? Trying to decide if the breakfast is worth it, and also if my DD(4) will be terrified of them or not...

I highly recommend having him watch videos of people meeting the characters on you tube. I did it with my 2 year old before busiest trip and wish I'd done it again before our last family trip. One of the reasons I don't want a surprise trip so we can watch videos again with him, even though he'll be almost 5, and our then 18 month old.

 

[Cluelyss]

Hello all! Planning my family's first SWW trip and can't wait! It has been on my bucket list to do with my oldest (15) for quite some time and fingers crossed this timing works out. We plan to leave right after school is done on the last day! So we will be there for the last May weekend. We have booked both character meals as we have a big age gap and I think the younger kids will enjoy the Mickey & Minnie versions while the oldest definitely will want the originals! I think it has turned into a surprise trip as we had to move our Jan trip and DH shushed me when I talked about it in front of the 4 year old the other day. (Fortunately it was just a next trip to Disney thing not time specific since he repeats everything!) But I might do a reveal at Easter. Anyways, super excited and anxious for information!

Welcome and how fun! We will be there that weekend as well, and are leaving the morning after DD finishes school. Here's hoping they don't have to extend the school year for "calamity days" again!!

 

[lovingeire]

Welcome and how fun! We will be there that weekend as well, and are leaving the morning after DD finishes school. Here's hoping they don't have to extend the school year for "calamity days" again!!

Fingers crossed for no calamity days! We live in FL so Lord willing and the polar vortex subside we should be ok. We are 6-7 hours away though so still a drive. Normally he takes the bus home, but I think we will pick him up from school that day to save time. For first semester finals he was home around 12:30 so even if we wait for the bus it won't be too late a start. I'm seriously so excited! I don't think I'll be able to keep it in till May!

 

[mom2febgirls]

I am so bummed.

I booked the SciFi breakfast the first day they came available but my DH didn't have any interest in the dinner so even though I wanted to I didn't want to spend the money if he wasn't excited about it. I was talking about it with the girls this weekend and they all want to do it so DH said go for it. And now it's all booked...waaah

 

[The Sunrise Student]

You are so lucky/blessed to be able to do both Celebration and SWW. We had a blast 2012 when we did both! It was so nice to have them so close to together. We continued in Star Wars mode right from the one to the other. Big let down once it was all over though.

This is my 1st time attending a SW Celebration and I am super excited about it. Especially to help be a part of it, and go as a member of the 501st. I am sooooo giddy I can't stand it. (I am also very worried that when the rush of SW Celebration and SWW comes to an end it will be such a downer! I know we have alot of 501st events planned this year, so I hope it will help.)

I have to tell you a tale... (I will not be offended if you feel it's TLDR, but for those that are interested...)

The summer of 2003, I was attending GENCON in Indianapolis, I alpha and beta tested a lot of computer games back then as well as play a lot of card games, particularly one called Magic The Gathering. In any event, as a person that worked a lot of the tables at GENCON I was always dressed up in some type of get up, this day it was a renaissance gown.

It was time to take a break and I stepped outside of the Indianapolis Convention Center to find myself standing in the midst of a sea of white plastic spacemen, and when I say sea it was like 30 plus people, all dressed as Stormtroopers. I was astounded. I had never seen such a beautiful sight in all my life. I nearly cried right there. I had never heard of the 501st, nor knew that there were people out there that got together in such beautiful quality SW costumes such as these. I really thought it was some stunt for publicity or something. There were a few who took off their helmets and smiled at my reaction.

They Moved Along... and soon I composed myself and went to get something to eat.

It wasn't till later (after telling people what I saw at GENCON) I would learn that SWC II had been held in Indianapolis the year prior and that these people were members of the 501st, a newly formed group in 1998. They had come out to troop for fun at the gaming convention.

I looked into some of the costumes for years, learning the high cost, AND TIME they took to make... during this time frame I was also in the process of raising three sons, the blessing that they are, would not afford me the luxury of such extravagance (both time and money).

It wasn't until the encouragement of a few Dissers/501st members both on the boards and in person when meeting them at Disney SWW in 2013 that I got the courage, and had the finances and time (my youngest was now 21 and on his own) to try to join these people I had admired for a decade from afar.

Being a member of the 501st is like a dream, the people are super awesome, super talented, and like the people on this thread super helpful!

I do not have my storm trooper completed, yet, I joined the 501st as Mara Jade (call numbers DS-10145) so I could start slow still be a member and learn how to make these awesome costumes.

I do however have two buckets (aka helmets) in pieces in my garage, waiting for me to finish them. One for a normal "Stunt Stormtrooper" that's what the call the bad guys in Stormtrooper armor (the good guys they call "Hero Stormtroopers") the second is for a Joker Squad Stormtrooper (more form fitting uniforms that both guys and girls can wear BUT the cosplay/501st community that does is all female so it gets dubbed Fem Troopers). I also have all the armor (unfinished) for the Joker Squad Trooper and I am desperately awaiting the arrival of the pieces Stunt Stormtrooper armor so can start assembly.

One day I hope to astonish people as the white plastic spacemen astonished me...

But for now I will settle for this...

and this...

THE END (or should I say the end of the beginning)

I tell you this to explain my excitement. So if I am over the top... you might get why

And if you are ever in the disney parks and see people sporting 501st shirts or badges (we are not allowed to wear our costumes except for the parades) say HI... 501st people love to talk, and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met, AND THEY STAR WARS... how cool is that?

The only Frozen left at DHS is the sing-along. There are two stores that absorbed a good amount of the Frozen merchandise.

Yesterday, the cupcakes were still at the CS, but I expect them to go.

Maybe Starrring Rolls and/or Writer's Stop might carry some kind of Frozen themed treat from time to time?

This really makes we wonder when they are going to announce SW stuff for DHS. I mean it looks like they are clearing the way!

Hopefully as part of SWW they shed some light to us.

 

[Candleshoe]

Candleshoe

Love the log in name

Thanks! Old old movie, back in my younger days

 

[Candleshoe]

I am so bummed.

I booked the SciFi breakfast the first day they came available but my DH didn't have any interest in the dinner so even though I wanted to I didn't want to spend the money if he wasn't excited about it. I was talking about it with the girls this weekend and they all want to do it so DH said go for it. And now it's all booked...waaah

I wanted to book the breakfast today and it's all book for all 10 days I'll be there.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

This was the "moved" location...they moved it at the end of September when they eliminated the ice rink. Looks like it's gone for good .... at least for now ....

Oh wow... ok so I wasn't wrong about them moving it, just the length it would be at the new location... WOW that was quick, huh?

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Thanks! Old old movie, back in my younger days

So you remember what mine is from? Here's a hint "For the Sunrise Student there is treasure among books"

 

[yulilin3]

I love your story Sunshine!! What a great accomplishment, you are an example of what following your dreams means.

 

[Candleshoe]

So you remember what mine is from? Here's a hint "For the Sunrise Student there is treasure among books"

How absolutely cool!

I haven't watched the movie since I saw it as a new release in the theater

I wonder if it's on netflix. Will have to check when I get home.