Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[cherice95403]

I'm going to be blunt. But having the breakfast at 9:40am you will not have a chance to get a decent or even semi decent spot for the parade. If you can't find an earlier time for breakfast try to check in really early and maybe you'll be able to get out earlier

UGH! I was afraid of this!! Here's hoping someone will cancel an earlier reservation.

 

[alafond83]

There is a Jedi Mickey H&V with Fantasmic at 6:00pm on 5/22 available right now if anyone was still looking.

Edit - And its gone that quick

 

[pookadoo77]

Ok, thanks. So to trying to assure a spot at Jedi Academy I am now looking at H&V reservations at 8:10 and 8:20 (had to split us into 2 and 2) for Monday June 15th, non SWW day and posted opening at 9am. Do other people enter the park ahead of the 9am posted opening time? What time could we A: enter the park with those ressie times (8:10 and 8:20) and B: start towards Jedi Academy line? TY!!!!!

 

[Delilah1310]

@pookadoo77 I shot this video last year. This is about 7:30am when they let us in, I'm at the rope waiting for the stormtroopers looking back at everyone coming in. See how the parents stay on the left side of Hollywood Blvd (right side of this video) and then they open the ropes and the fast walking begins

thank you so much for sharing this.
I knew JTA was busier than usual during SWW, but this kind of put a knot in my stomach.
My DS7 has said that he is NOtinterested in JTA since he has done it twice and is already a Jedi.
But I fear that he will change his mind the morning of (... you know, in the spirit of things and seeing all the other Jedi ...)
thanks for reminding me how important it will be to decide first thing if he wants to do this.

 

[KKBDisMom]

We'll be coming from the Polynesian- guessing the 1st bus will be at 6:30, will that bus be okay to get there for 7:30 open? Plan is (May 15th)-
Get to park for 7:30
Sign up for JTA
Fingers crossed have Ftf, line up at 10
Line up for Chewie/Ewoks after parade
All FPs are for later afternoon (ST, ToT, TSMM)
Darth's Mall later in day or possibly Sat May 16th before Sci Fi dinner?
Any other characters that my boys decide are "must dos"
Grab a QS late lunch/dinner
Dessert Party???/Fireworks

Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

[yulilin3]

Ok, thanks. So to trying to assure a spot at Jedi Academy I am now looking at H&V reservations at 8:10 and 8:20 (had to split us into 2 and 2) for Monday June 15th, non SWW day and posted opening at 9am. Do other people enter the park ahead of the 9am posted opening time? What time could we A: enter the park with those ressie times (8:10 and 8:20) and B: start towards Jedi Academy line? TY!!!!!

with an 8:10am you can probably enter around 8am? I believe that is the first ressie time of they day. As soon as you are seated ask for the check so you pay in advance. Hopefully someone who has done this can tell you more definite times but just being inside by 8:50 will put you at an advantage. Even on days when DHS is scheduled to open at 9am it opens a little earlier

thank you so much for sharing this.
I knew JTA was busier than usual during SWW, but this kind of put a knot in my stomach.
My DS7 has said that he is NOtinterested in JTA since he has done it twice and is already a Jedi.
But I fear that he will change his mind the morning of (... you know, in the spirit of things and seeing all the other Jedi ...)
thanks for reminding me how important it will be to decide first thing if he wants to do this.

Yeah, make sure and talk to him that if he says he doesn't want to do it, it's a definite no, no changing minds once you're there

 

[yulilin3]

We'll be coming from the Polynesian- guessing the 1st bus will be at 6:30, will that bus be okay to get there for 7:30 open? Plan is (May 15th)-
Get to park for 7:30
Sign up for JTA
Fingers crossed have Ftf, line up at 10
Line up for Chewie/Ewoks after parade
All FPs are for later afternoon (ST, ToT, TSMM)
Darth's Mall later in day or possibly Sat May 16th before Sci Fi dinner?
Any other characters that my boys decide are "must dos"
Grab a QS late lunch/dinner
Dessert Party???/Fireworks

Any thoughts? Thank you!

Sounds good. I would check with the front desk to make sure at what time buses will start running from the Poly. In any case you can always schedule a cab or drive yourself (if you have a car)

 

[lovingeire]

With our time in DHS shortened due to our change in schedule I am thinking we'll table JTA for another trip. Middle DS is only 4 and the oldest is too old. I think middle DS would like it, but I'd rather focus on other things I think. Unless I can convince DH to drive the night of the middle's preschool graduation so we can get their in the morning…but seriously, I think he'll survive without it this trip and try to table it till both the younger boys are old enough.

 

[KKBDisMom]

Sounds good. I would check with the front desk to make sure at what time buses will start running from the Poly. In any case you can always schedule a cab or drive yourself (if you have a car)

Good thinking! We won't have a car so if bus doesn't come early enough then a cab will be the way to go. Thank you

 

[Skywise]

Good thinking! We won't have a car so if bus doesn't come early enough then a cab will be the way to go. Thank you

How difficult is it to call a cab at the resorts? I presume I just go to the bell desk and say "need a cab" but does it take a while for one to show up?

 

[yulilin3]

How difficult is it to call a cab at the resorts? I presume I just go to the bell desk and say "need a cab" but does it take a while for one to show up?

I'm not sure. I would think in the early hours of the morning it would take more time. I would just schedule one from the day before

 

[hultrain]

How difficult is it to call a cab at the resorts? I presume I just go to the bell desk and say "need a cab" but does it take a while for one to show up?

I haven't done it myself, but I've heard of people taking Uber from the hotel to the park, so that's another option. As for traditional cabs, I've heard of lots of people taking cabs with no problem. If you're worried about it taking a while for one to show up, you could probably just call the taxi service yourself and arrange a specific time.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Ok, thanks. So to trying to assure a spot at Jedi Academy I am now looking at H&V reservations at 8:10 and 8:20 (had to split us into 2 and 2) for Monday June 15th, non SWW day and posted opening at 9am. Do other people enter the park ahead of the 9am posted opening time? What time could we A: enter the park with those ressie times (8:10 and 8:20) and B: start towards Jedi Academy line? TY!!!!!

The first reservation time is 8:05, and they let everyone in the gate at 8:00. You won't be seated at H&V until the 8:05 ADRs are seated...they'll have you wait outside on the patio. Ask at the podium when you check in if you can combine your 8:10 and 8:20 reservation into one...otherwise you're likely to be seated at different times.

Unless you can eat really, really fast and have absolutely zero interest in the characters, I think that the 8:20 is going to be problematic for you. Instead of rushing through breakfast, I'd take the opposite approach and have a leisurely breakfast, but take a break to sign up the kids. I assume you have two adults? Around 8:45, have one adult take the kids outside the restaurant and wait for the opening music to change, which is the sign the park is open. Go over to JTA signups, get the kid(s) signed up, and then head back in to H&V to finish breakfast. If you're seated right at 8:20 you might have time to rush through breakfast, and have all 4 of you out by 8:45, but that's it's going to be stressful and rushed. I think it would be better to leave then go back into the restaurant. You're in front of the crowd so signups should literally take under 2 minutes. You'll be over to the signup area, signed up, and back in 5 minutes...it will be just like taking a bathroom break.

 

[hultrain]

When you sign up for JTA, can you sign up for any show time that you want (assuming spots are open)? Or do they assign you a spot? And how often do they do the show during SWW? Every half hour? We are so pre-scheduled I'm worried that we'd be stuck with a time that conflicts with something else!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

How difficult is it to call a cab at the resorts? I presume I just go to the bell desk and say "need a cab" but does it take a while for one to show up?

The times we've taken cabs, the bellmen just hail them right outside the resort--we didn't arrange ahead of time. There are typically a few waiting to take guests in the taxi stands.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

When you sign up for JTA, can you sign up for any show time that you want (assuming spots are open)? Or do they assign you a spot? And how often do they do the show during SWW? Every half hour? We are so pre-scheduled I'm worried that we'd be stuck with a time that conflicts with something else!

You pick your time pending availability. They used to assign you a time, but even then you could ask for a different time.

 

[yulilin3]

during SWW JTA was (2014 schedule) 8:45am, 9:20am, 10:05am, 10:35am,11am, 12:30pm,1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm,2:30pm, 3pm,3:30pm, 4pm,4:30pm, 5pm,5:30pm, 6:30pm,7pm, 7:30pm
This year the 11am will probably be changed because of the parade

 

[jtowntoflorida]

thank you so much for sharing this.
I knew JTA was busier than usual during SWW, but this kind of put a knot in my stomach.
My DS7 has said that he is NOtinterested in JTA since he has done it twice and is already a Jedi.
But I fear that he will change his mind the morning of (... you know, in the spirit of things and seeing all the other Jedi ...)
thanks for reminding me how important it will be to decide first thing if he wants to do this.

Having lived through JTA during SWW once (and having done it 4 other times during non-SWW trips) I just told my kids we're not doing it this year. We're going back in October for our full week-long trip, and they can wait until then.

 

[Brandiwlf]

What time should we leave AoA to get a good spot for jta sign ups? Would a car or bus be better? We have a 9:20 breakfast reservation, will we have any chance at a parade spot? We would just like to see it, even in the big screen would probably be ok...

 

[The Sunrise Student]

the 2016 thread should be opening around September. Keep an eye out

*Sunshine does cartwheels*

I am already bouncing around in my head which resort we will be staying at next year...

I get it... I see Disney's grand plan now... since we can't do any planning for our trip this year until the announce they know us planner will start planning next year, those turkeys!