Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[yulilin3]

 

[lovethattink]

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.

From everything I've read, Disney seems to want to hold on tight to what they have deemed accurate. So there's no room for spoofing, I don't think you'll see Elsa except at the sing-along. At least, that's the reason everyone gave for hoopla's elimination.

I can see chairs added, a $90 price tag, and it being sold out each weekend too. I hope that isn't the case.

FSF package went up $10 by the end of summer. We did it twice. Did FTF once. Did Frozen Holiday Package once. I think my family is all packaged out at this point.

In fact, for FSF we didn't even stay in the reserved area for the parade. We took our snacks and went down to the Backlot Express to sit in the air conditioning and eat them. Then stepped outside for parade time. If the SWW parade continues with the FSF route then we will do the same thing, otherwise we will be cheering on the 501st and Rebel Legion. DS just doesn't handle the heat well, he can't eat sugar or sugar substitutes at the moment, so the package is not worth it to us at any price.

I did the VIP tour last year...

What did you think of the VIP package last year?

 

[yulilin3]

@Itinkso they have no clue when or if Baymax and Hiro are leaving. The merchandise kiosk where Have everything Baymax is not opened yet

 

[Itinkso]

@Itinkso they have no clue when or if Baymax and Hiro are leaving. The merchandise kiosk where Have everything Baymax is not opened yet

Thanks, @yulilin3!

 

[Brandiwlf]

In fact, for FSF we didn't even stay in the reserved area for the parade. We took our snacks and went down to the Backlot Express to sit in the air conditioning and eat them. Then stepped outside for parade time. If the SWW parade continues with the FSF route then we will do the same thing,

Can you see everything by getting a spot outside here? We have a 9:20 reservation for the breakfast so won't be able to stake out a spot too early, so looking for good last minute spots . Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Can you see everything by getting a spot outside here? We have a 9:20 reservation for the breakfast so won't be able to stake out a spot too early, so looking for good last minute spots . Thanks!

From backlot express you can only see the 501st and Rebel Legions. Unless they change it this year

 

[yulilin3]

Well just approached a JTA cast member that has been here forever. The outside sign ups were just a test and they doubt they will do it permanently. Also I asked her about the shows during sww and she said that at first they would be done at Superstar theater but changed it last minute. They are actually doing the cheerleader competition in rather than Indiana Jones today

 

[Itinkso]

Join the SWW Roll Call! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3358654

If you're thinking about joining, post your name in the Roll Call Thread and I'll add you on! It'll make it easier for me to "paste" FTF next to those who will book the package. Thanks!

 

[mmafan]

I did the VIP tour last year and received an email earlier this week from Disney Special Activities - VIP Tour Services Marketing & Product Development. It said:

"Jedi’s, Padawan’s, & Rebels,

If you are getting this message you either participated in last year’s Ultimate Day at Star Wars Weekends Disney World VIP Tour Experience or you have expressed interest.

We are finalizing plans for this year’s Ultimate VIP Tour and will be releasing the information soon. As one of our top fans and past guests, we wanted to share a few details just for you:

· We will provide you with information on this year’s Ultimate Day at Star Wars Weekend as well as offer you the first opportunity to book this year experience before it is released to the general public.

· If you book within 5 days of the e-mail blast, you will not have to call the Disney Reservation Center. Either a member of my team will call you or we will release a special line for you to call us.

· This year we know that the program will include many of the elements of last year’s tour including an upgraded breakfast, a full service lunch, early VIP access to Darth’s Maul, VIP Viewing of the Legends of the Force Motorcade, access to some FastPass attractions including Star Tours, PLUS VIP Seating for the LIVE Celebrity Talk shows. After the hosted portion of your experience you will have access to a VIP Dessert Party with great views of the closing show and fireworks PLUS other amenities that we are yet to be finalized

· Annual Pass Holders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Disney Rewards Visa Cards Holders will receive our first ever 15% discount on the Ultimate Day at Star Wars Weekends"

We hope to release this information to you by the first week in March."

Hope this helps.

...................................................lol im reading this with my credit card in my hand waiting.............lol

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Ladies and gents, and KIDOS (they have youth sizes on this one)... shirt punch has 4 cool SW themed T-shirts on sale for 10 bucks each... but the sale is only for the next 13 hours so get them while they are hot!

https://www.shirtpunch.com/

 

[OZMom]

Ladies and gents, and KIDOS (they have youth sizes on this one)... shirt punch has 4 cool SW themed T-shirts on sale for 10 bucks each... but the sale is only for the next 13 hours so get them while they are hot!

https://www.shirtpunch.com/

Those are pretty cool designs. I just got one off Thinkgeek.com that is very similar, but cost a little more. I wish I had seen these first!

 

[yulilin3]

And there are walls around soundstage 1 (home to last year's darth's mall)

 

[lovethattink]

Can you see everything by getting a spot outside here? We have a 9:20 reservation for the breakfast so won't be able to stake out a spot too early, so looking for good last minute spots . Thanks!

From backlot express you can only see the 501st and Rebel Legions. Unless they change it this year

As Yulilin3 mentioned, more than likely not, unless they change it this year. We won't find out for sure until after the 1st parade.

You'll be fine time wise, but for those who have plans closer to the parade window, keep in mind that streets are closed and some paths blocked. A rope goes up blocking the path between Star Tours and the restrooms. That area will be a total bottleneck right before and during parade time. The "secret" pathway by Chewie might be open and if it is, would make for an easier path to cut through to the parade if it's already started.

 

[Candleshoe]

@Candleshoe here's the link. $49.99 plus gratuityhttps://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/star-wars-dine-in-galactic-breakfast/

Thanks!

I swear I went there.. twice! and I didn't see this part:

The Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is available for $49.99 per adult and $31.99 per child age 3 to 9 (tax is included; gratuity is not).

So I went off looking at other sites and still didn't see it. My brain's on overload. I did my budget and i'm a few thousand over b/c my planning got away from me. I reined it in to just a little over.

OZMom, thanks too! I have been budgeting Tips at 18%. Some places I can use TiW but i'm SOL with the SciFi breakfast and H+V (if we keep it).

 

[Candleshoe]

I can see chairs added, a $90 price tag, and it being sold out each weekend too. I hope that isn't the case.

$90?!

/le sigh

 

[lovethattink]

$90?!

/le sigh

The Frozen Holiday package for $90 was just a show and dessert with a lithograph and pin. No parade, but chairs were added for sitting at the dessert. And every time we went to check out the lights, the dessert area looked full.

 

[alayne]

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

Pictures with characters - no only with the ones in Darth Mall when we were shopping
We could take as many pictures as we want every where we went except in the areas where photos are not allowed.
Hope this is what you were looking for.

 

[alayne]

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



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?

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.

I guess the best part for me was the fact that we had front row seats for the two major shows. I loved being able to get into Darth Mall without waiting in the line and seeing the Fab Five as Star Wars Characters. I felt like I accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I didn't feel like the heat was an issue at all nor did I have the tired feeling like I couldn't make it to the room. I'm hoping that this years will include at least one or two things new in addition to what we did last year. There will be five of us this trip. My son and I have saved everything we have but I still have to pay for my two nieces.

 

[alayne]

I think it's going to be at least another week before we will be able to book the VIP Package. I think they are still working out a few of the details.

 

[OZMom]

I think it's going to be at least another week before we will be able to book the VIP Package. I think they are still working out a few of the details.

So funny you posted this because I just hung up the phone and the CM was telling me they are expecting / hoping for next week.