Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[markmcalear]

Only 51 days to go!!!

 

[yulilin3]

I saw your pics of the empty park last year. Surely there cant be any waiting after the fireworks?

People just clear so fast after the fireworks. Symphony ends about 9:52 people either race to the parking lots, race to F! (this is really not needed you can casually just walk there and make it on time) or race to ToT. RnRC or ST to get one last ride in.
The day I took those pics we were waiting for my now ex husband to come out of work (he worked at DHS) and just decide to sit on a bench on Hollywood Blvd. it really amazed me how empty it gets, so fast

 

[The Sunrise Student]

I know how you feel! I am waiting for something to pop up on Twitter, Facebook, various websites, email....

I got it all running and NOTHING, this is nutz!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

T Minus 21 days till I fly out to California for SWC
T Minus 51 days till I fly out to Orlando for SWW!

Oh yeah, it's ah crazy!

 

[AuntieK]

I got it all running and NOTHING, this is nutz!

And if you're like me get a little ticked at updates which have nothing to do with SWW. I wouldn't have to be this nuts if they gave a week's notice before opening up ADR's for these events. It's crazy to me that they want to boast about the ability to pre-plan your vacation but fail to give everyone and equal chance at booking special ticket items. Ooops, I'm starting to rant again...

 

[McEeyore]

Our first SWW was in 2011 (pre magic bands and FP+). Can anyone tell me how one gets a FP now for an autograph? Do you still need to get to the park by 6AM to get in line for a paper FP or is it online now with FP+?

 

[yulilin3]

Our first SWW was in 2011 (pre magic bands and FP+). Can anyone tell me how one gets a FP now for an autograph? Do you still need to get to the park by 6AM to get in line for a paper FP or is it online now with FP+?

paper fp outside the park. Depending on the celebrity you need to get in line way before 6am

 

[AThrillingChase]

And if you're like me get a little ticked at updates which have nothing to do with SWW. I wouldn't have to be this nuts if they gave a week's notice before opening up ADR's for these events. It's crazy to me that they want to boast about the ability to pre-plan your vacation but fail to give everyone and equal chance at booking special ticket items. Ooops, I'm starting to rant again...

No please, rant more! Maybe we will get lucky and someone will see it and save us!

 

[lovethattink]

T Minus 21 days till I fly out to California for SWC
T Minus 51 days till I fly out to Orlando for SWW!

Oh yeah, it's ah crazy!

I can't wait to hear your live reports from the convention.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I get a lot of my daughter's SW shirts at Target and Old Navy in he boys section. They have some pretty clever ones.

I agree -- I've gotten a couple there as well. A lot more for my son than for my daughter, though. :-/

 

[hultrain]

So, first time SWW attendee here. Have a question, sorry if already answered in this (awesomely) huge thread, but I did a search and didn't find anything (admittedly my search skills on this site are weak).

It's my understanding that a fp+ to one of the Premier Theater shows is considered a First Tier fp+, so in other words, it'll be up against TSMM. I have a feeling my son would rather do TSMM over Stars of the Saga, so I'd rather use our First Tier fp+ for TSMM instead, and just line up for Stars of the Saga, if that's do-able.

So: is getting a fp+ for Stars of the Saga a must? If not and I don't get a fp+ for Stars of the Saga, how soon before the show should I get in line to get a decent seat?

 

[yulilin3]

So, first time SWW attendee here. Have a question, sorry if already answered in this (awesomely) huge thread, but I did a search and didn't find anything (admittedly my search skills on this site are weak).

It's my understanding that a fp+ to one of the Premier Theater shows is considered a First Tier fp+, so in other words, it'll be up against TSMM. I have a feeling my son would rather do TSMM over Stars of the Saga, so I'd rather use our First Tier fp+ for TSMM instead, and just line up for Stars of the Saga, if that's do-able.

So: is getting a fp+ for Stars of the Saga a must? If not and I don't get a fp+ for Stars of the Saga, how soon before the show should I get in line to get a decent seat?

welcome to the thread. SotS is the most popular regular SWW show. You would need to line up at least 45 minutes before the show. Is there no way to be at the park at rope drop and ride TSMM first thing and have a fp for SotS? Depending on how they set up the standby and fp lines for the shows it would most likely be a wait in the sun almost all that time, in the heat of the afternoon is not a good thing

 

[lovethattink]

So, first time SWW attendee here. Have a question, sorry if already answered in this (awesomely) huge thread, but I did a search and didn't find anything (admittedly my search skills on this site are weak).

It's my understanding that a fp+ to one of the Premier Theater shows is considered a First Tier fp+, so in other words, it'll be up against TSMM. I have a feeling my son would rather do TSMM over Stars of the Saga, so I'd rather use our First Tier fp+ for TSMM instead, and just line up for Stars of the Saga, if that's do-able.

So: is getting a fp+ for Stars of the Saga a must? If not and I don't get a fp+ for Stars of the Saga, how soon before the show should I get in line to get a decent seat?

welcome to the thread. SotS is the most popular regular SWW show. You would need to line up at least 45 minutes before the show. Is there no way to be at the park at rope drop and ride TSMM first thing and have a fp for SotS? Depending on how they set up the standby and fp lines for the shows it would most likely be a wait in the sun almost all that time, in the heat of the afternoon is not a good thing

In addition to what @yulilin3 said, the Star Wars shows will be hosted in the theater where Beauty and the Beast show is. Sorry I'm blanking on the name of the theater.

 

[HCinKC]

Funny thing is in that picture we are squinting from the sun but also laughing cause the photographer told the Stormtroopers to smile... so I am betting he was

Nice pic! It does, however, make me send some mad love to the folks who put on those heavy robes in the hot sun! I wonder what the hottest is...in that pic, I think my vote goes to the Imperial Guard.

We have been the past 2 years and mainly focused on characters, so we have done almost all the characters. There area few we may hit again and possibly hit the few we haven't gotten including any new rebels characters if they do meets. But honestly I am a little character/autographed out since we have focused on that for the past few trips with the pillowcases and quilts. Not sure if you remember but we were getting quilt squares signed for my son last year. His grandma made his quilt and gave it to him for christmas this year. Was posted earlier in this thread but here it is again. along with this pillowcase and his sisters quilt from our 2013 trip.

IMG_4678 by artax1977, on Flickr

IMG_2983 by artax1977, on Flickr

IMG_3021 by artax1977, on Flickr

Oh my word! These are fantastic! My son would love a SW quilt like that on his bed. I do sew, but quilting has always intimidated me. I assume you had fabric markers for the signatures? Where did you get the photo squares made?

 

[HCinKC]

Blarg, stupid technology. I also had quoted and responded to someone's Crocs post, but it disappeared into the abyss...

So...I was at the mall this weekend, and the Crocs store was having a b1g1 50% off. I don't know if it is still going on or if the website is participating. I did see SW Crocs, but I can't remember who it was...I want to say Yoda. I know they did have R2 and Vader, but I don't recall seeing them yesterday. I wasn't looking for shoes though. I was looking at Jibbits which they also seemed to have fewer SW than a couple of months ago.

 

[lovethattink]

SWW is noted for being a hot and humid time of year. Since we won't be cooling down at the Star Wars shows, how do you plan to stay cool?

Since my son can't control his body temp and DHS is the park we spend most of our time this past year, here are the places we've found to cool off:

- At Writer's Stop there is a powerful air conditioning vent between the entry off NY street and the cash register.

- @yulilin3 had suggested One Man's Dream as a great place to recharge and cool down. Last year, I made up scaverger hunt games for my son to play in order to spend more time in there.

-GMR is a great place to sit and cool down for about 45 minutes. We check the standby time and the times guide to make sure there is enough time.

-The shops.

-Darth's Mall, if there isn't a huge line to get in.

-Visit with Hiro and Baymax. Each times we've gone the queue has been an hour long.

-Animation Academy where you learn to draw a character.

-My son wears a cooling vest for additional help in staying cool.

-I keep a damp cloth in a cooler bag with ice from the resort or frozen water bottles if I'm coming from home instead of a resort.

-Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!

How do you stay cool?

 

[Skywise]

How do you stay cool?

I have an awesome set of shades and a leather jacket!

 

[hultrain]

welcome to the thread. SotS is the most popular regular SWW show. You would need to line up at least 45 minutes before the show. Is there no way to be at the park at rope drop and ride TSMM first thing and have a fp for SotS? Depending on how they set up the standby and fp lines for the shows it would most likely be a wait in the sun almost all that time, in the heat of the afternoon is not a good thing

Hmmm. I was hoping to meet some characters at rope drop. Maybe Chewbacca or Vader? Don't they usually do these character greetings at rope drop?

 

[hultrain]

In addition to what @yulilin3 said, the Star Wars shows will be hosted in the theater where Beauty and the Beast show is. Sorry I'm blanking on the name of the theater.

Oh yeah, I knew that actually. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[yulilin3]

Hmmm. I was hoping to meet some characters at rope drop. Maybe Chewbacca or Vader? Are they not meeting at rope drop?

Yes, both of them are out at 8am. You can go stand by for SotS it's just going to be a long wait probably in direct sun