Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[yulilin3]

Nope

 

[AuntieK]

Nope

If the VIP tour is the same price as last year, it's beyond my budget for 4 people so I have not called. I did get an email from Chase yesterday with the offer for 15% off the SWW VIP tour. I wonder if someone called today if the CM would be able to book it? Here's yesterday's email:

Use your Disney Visa® Card to receive 15% off the non-discounted price of select Walt Disney World® Ultimate VIP Tour Experiences through 2015.* The whole family can experience the very best of Disney with one of these Ultimate VIP Tour Experiences! From enchanted outings to thrill-heavy adventures, there’s an Ultimate VIP Tour Experience for everyone, including:

• The Ultimate Day of Thrills. Scream, laugh and loop-de-loop your way through some of the finest of Disney’s thrilling Theme Park adventures. Take a far-out ride on Space Mountain, or trek the spooky halls of the Haunted Mansion. From Pirates of the Caribbean to the Twilight Zone Tower of TerrorTM, there are perfect thrills for everyone.
• The Ultimate Day for Young Families. Soar with high-flying friends like Peter Pan and Buzz Lightyear, or glide with Aladdin on his magic carpet. Adventure to the heights of a Kilimanjaro safari, and to the depths of the sea with the Little Mermaid. Some of your kids’ favorite worlds are just waiting to be explored!
• The Ultimate Day at Star WarsTM Weekend. Feel the power of the Force with expedited access to your favorite attractions and also enjoying Out of this Galaxy Star WarsActivities and Events.

As a Cardmember, you’ll receive 15% off the non-discounted price of these tours. Just use your valid Disney Visa Card or Disney Rewards® Redemption Card and mention this offer.

For reservations, call 1-407-WDW-Tour (1-407-939-8687).

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Ack! Really? Was thinking of paying the exorbitant fees to be able to get easy access to those rides. Oh well... might still use them to make up for any lost time spent waiting in line for the Harry Potter rides!

I just treated my BF and I to the Universal Express Passes and because of the time frame we are going it raised the tickets over 120.00 each (pre-tax) for just a two day pass, and you can not add on this feature if are getting the buy 2 day get third day free they will not allow you to even purchase the universal express online, now you might beable to upgrade this at the park and maybe do a one day express pass. I'd look into that if you are having issues with ride waits. Check out this link to see which rides are included in the UEP http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Express_Pass

My family of 3 did the VIP Star Wars Tour last year and I have to say to me it was worth it. Here is a break down of our day. (I'm not a writer so try not to fall asleep.) -snipped off a lot-

Hi Alayne... I was looking at your list of things for the VIP package, and still trying to figure out if it is really worth the money. It didn't seem like you got much more than those that did the FtF package, and I guess if I was going to buy the limited addition items and had the VIP package for day one that would probably be a huge seller for this package. What did you feel was the best part of this package for you?

Disney Visa Cardmember, you’ll receive 15% off the non-discounted price of these tours. -snipped off a lot-

I am a Disney Visa card holder as well and I was wondering the same thing. The news letter almost made it seem like we could call and make reservations right now for it, but I keep hearing people say it's not offered yet. Have you tired to call the number in the news letter yet? I haven't cause I am still debating this package.

 

[AuntieK]

I haven't called because I'm assuming it's around the same price point as last year. Too much for me, the parade and fireworks from FtF are all I really need.

I've been enjoying the Universal chatter in this thread. We are also doing Universal this trip, a first for me so I have much to learn.

 

[Koh1977]

It'd be nice if they included some character meet and greets as well, but $500/person is WAY out of our price range for something like that. Especially since we already will have the dining plan and will probably do the FtF package instead for the parade viewing and fireworks dessert party and pre-show viewing...

 

[yulilin3]

Aaaand we're back!! Just called VIP Tours and they still have no information
12 weeks to go

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for the report alayne. Though it sounds like a good package, the "disappointments" you pointed out were some of my concerns which make it seem too much $ for the experience. First, we're not BIG SW fans, though we would like to experience SWW. As far as the rides neither DS or I like ToT or RnR so that's a waste of FP for us. And since DH can only choose one of the 2...I think the FtF plan will be better for us. And chances are, DS will most likely prefer to spend his time hunting out characters. We have ADRS for both the sci fi breakfast & H&V dinner so I think I'd rather spend the money for other special Disney events as we will also be going for 11 days in August.

OZmom...I called the tours # given in the Disney Visa mailing last week and they weren't yet booking the tour. They took my name and # and said they would contact me when they were and I haven't heard anything yet. And as far as I know they are not yet taking reservations for FtF.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My concern with FtF this year is the price increase when they extended FSF, as well as the price point of the "marketed as Frozen but not really Frozen at all" Osborne Lights dessert party, which was outrageous. FtF seemed like a great value last year. FSF was an OK value when it had its original summer pricing. But the Osborne Lights package was a total ripoff, IMO, and FtF is going to be hard to swallow if it's priced at $90/person. But you know even at that price, it's going to sell out because Star Wars fans are even more crazy than Frozen fans. LOL.

I will also officially boycott Disney if they do a Frozen tie-in to FtF. I love Elsa as much as the next person, but she doesn't have a place in SWW.

 

[OZMom]

OZmom...I called the tours # given in the Disney Visa mailing last week and they weren't yet booking the tour. They took my name and # and said they would contact me when they were and I haven't heard anything yet. And as far as I know they are not yet taking reservations for FtF.

Thank you for checking! I called the number on the Visa mailing and got stuck on hold for so long I gave up.

I was really leaning towards the VIP package, it's expensive but I figured it would be a nice treat. Then our roof starting leaking last night. We discovered a huge ice dam and it's looking like we might not be going at all.

Hopefully the estimate for the damage is not too bad. After this winter, I am REALLY looking forward to our SWW.

 

[poison ivy]

I know everyone has their pricing points. For us, that VIP package was too excessive an upcharge to justify what it provided.

 

[mmafan]

My family of 3 did the VIP Star Wars Tour last year and I have to say to me it was worth it. Here is a break down of our day. (I'm not a writer so try not to fall asleep.)

We arrived early (I'm thinking 7ish but I'm not 100% sure). We meet our group. 12 of us total I believe.
We entered the park prior to opening and went to Darth Mall. We were the only people in Darth Mall and we had about 30 min to shop. Anything we purchased could be sent back to our room or to the front of the park for pick up later. At anytime that we were finished shopping we could head to the Brown Derby for breakfast. It was a good breakfast but not eggs and bacon - it was more pastries, bagels, etc.
After breakfast we headed to Toy Story Mania where we went straight to the FP line and on to the ride. When we got off he asked if we wanted to do it again. Everyone said YES so we went into the FP line and rode a second time.
Then it was on to RRC and ToT - this part was disappointing because we had to pick. One group went to one ride and another group went to the other. My son and I rode RRC and my husband rode ToT by himself. I would have liked to be able to do both and I think we had plenty of time for both.
Once this was over we went to the parade viewing - this is another disappointing part because we were treated just like the people who purchased the parade/fireworks dessert package. We did not get to go ahead of them which I felt we should have because we had paid for a bigger package. (This is just my opinion please don't hate on me.)
We were able to get a great spot. My husband and I went to the rope while my son went to get bottled water and Mickey Bars. After the parade we went to Mama Melrose for lunch. This was nice. They had a special table for our group and we got to chat with the VIP Tour Guides and other people in our group.
Our group was great. Everyone was super nice and friendly. Very polite and fun to be around.
Once lunch was over we went to see the Big Star Wars Show that starts out with the Storm Trooper show. (Sorry this was my first year going and I don't remember all the names of the shows.)
After the show we went to ride Star Tours - this was really cool because we didn't go into Star Tours via FP line we went in via a private access area that only the VIP Tour could enter. I made my son pay close attention because I thought he might never see this again.
After Star Tours they let us go on our own (no special treatment even with out tags). We had booked the Hollywood and Vine Star Wars dinner so we went straight there. After dinner I had made 3 FP selections using our allowed FP for the day. We rode the Great Movie Ride, Toy Story Mania and RRC. Then it was time to go to the Fireworks Dessert Party. Our tour guides were not there so again we had to get in the same line with everyone else who had paid for the small package. I didn't like that. However, it really wasn't a big deal because there was plenty of dessert and drinks plus all the tables had the same view.

We saw a second show but I can't for the life of me remember where it goes in the timeline of events. The second show was with Ashley. Both of the shows we entered the theater before anyone else and had front row seats. We went in a back door far from the FP and Stand By line.

I am booking this again for our trip this year. It was worth the money to me not having to stand in lines, stand in the heat, and I felt like we were able to do some of the major SWW Events. We did the tour on Saturday which allowed us to spend all our time of Friday looking for characters that we wanted to see plus ride our favorite rides with our 3 FP and still see Indian Jones Stunt Show. Then on Sunday we were able to find the last few characters we had missed, use one of our FP to see the other Star Wars Show offered that weekend which then was cancelled because the host lost his voice. I can't think of anything from the first post that we didn't do in three days and I can't think of a major character that we missed.

I will be happy to answer any questions. I have been told that the VIP Tour this year will include more. Our group provided our opinions and were contacted several times with questions from the Tour Guides after we arrived home. I told them I would love to have seen the Character Meals (at least one) included in the day and not have had all that "Free" time between the last ride and the fireworks show. I felt like we could have done a few other things - maybe meet characters, another show, more rides - something. I can't wait to book it again. My son and I have saved all our birthday, Christmas and Yard Sale money plus given up extras like desserts, coffees, etc to pay for the day again.

???????did they stop at all for pics if you wanted????? thanks

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I will also officially boycott Disney if they do a Frozen tie-in to FtF. I love Elsa as much as the next person, but she doesn't have a place in SWW.

JUST TEASING YOU, I agree wholeheartedly... I just had to show these pictures

 

[Skywise]

JUST TEASING YOU, I agree wholeheartedly... I just had to show these pictures

(ooh ooh! Now find one of Elsa as Seamus! )

Actually I thought about this some more - I think Anna could do a cool Han Solo Impersonation...

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

No...Just no.

 

[Candleshoe]

JUST TEASING YOU, I agree wholeheartedly... I just had to show these pictures

You *scared* me!!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

When Disney bought star wars the fan art pictures of princesses as SW characters went off the hook, you can find anyone of the princesses in some type of SW gear

Just do an image search on Google and type in Star Wars Disney Princesses and you will see what I mean.

 

[disneydreamin23]

Oooh oooh we're doing Princesses as SW characters. My favorite is Snowba Fett cosplay.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

At Dragon Con this past Labor day weekend, there was a huge group of Cosplaying Disney Princess Jedi! (they even had a Jedi Link in there for fun too)

 

[poison ivy]

whoa. check out Aurora! To be 25 yrs younger..........

I can't figure out the blue costume on the right.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

whoa. check out Aurora! To be 25 yrs younger..........

I can't figure out the blue costume on the right.

I am thinking she is Elsa cause here is Anna beside her in this picture