Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[Itinkso]

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!

Mid-day, JTA runs every 30 minutes.

Factor in 50 minutes because your child will need to report and check in 30 minutes before the scheduled session and each session is 20 minutes in length.

 

[yulilin3]

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...

I always like to have your own car just to not depend on Disney transportation. If you're using your own car leave AoA no later than 7am. You'll be out of breakfast by 10:20am, not a lot of time to grab a good spot but you still might find something

 

[Skywise]

Thanks - I'm used to cabbing in touristy places like Vegas or Chicago where there's ALWAYS cabs waiting 24 hours a day. I wasn't sure if there was a ready line of cabs at the resorts or not (I don't recall ever seeing any). I've had some friends local to Orlando meet me at the resort with a cab so I know the cabs should be around the area. But (if I don't call ahead) is it wait 15 minutes for the cab or maybe up to 30 minutes for the free bus at that point.

 

[yulilin3]

Mid-day, JTA runs every 30 minutes.

Factor in 50 minutes because your child will need to report and check in 30 minutes before the scheduled session and each session is 20 minutes in length.

JTA really is a time killer during SWW.
Seriously if you can do JTA on a non SWW is waaaaayyyyyy better.
Imagine you get everyone up and early to sign up for JTA. Fight the crowds and get them in and you go line up for a character, you wait there for about 30 min and then they rotate or go for their 5 min. break...and you miss the JTA time that you have to check in. Not good.
If you have to do it on a SWW schedule a whole hour for the entire experience

 

[The Sunrise Student]

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...

Be there at rope drop.... head straight to the signups then!

 

[Itinkso]

But (if I don't call ahead) is it wait 15 minutes for the cab or maybe up to 30 minutes for the free bus at that point.

It's faster to have a Valet or Bell Desk call for you rather than pre-schedule a taxi.

If there isn't a taxi out in front, the Valet will get a cab sent over from the area where the taxis congregate between resorts.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

*Sings it just like the song from Buffy's Once More With Feeling Episode*

I have a feeling, a funny feeling... that the anounce-ments of celeb-rities will happen after they have the introd-uction panel of the new allies and villains for next sea-son's Rebels!

I am betting besides the announcement of Sara Michelle Gellar (see how I tied that in with that song, yes I know I am cracked) joining Rebels there will be more interesting additions and I bet those addition will end up at SWW some how. So until they make the special announcement at SWC Anaheim's Saturday, April 18th, Morning 11 AM Pacific time "New Allies and Villains in Rebels Season 2" Panel we aren't going to see the list of who will be showing up at SWW.

There is also the chance that more characters will be reveiled in the new Star Wars Awakenings Movie Preview, and those people too might end up at SWW as well....

Soooo.... besides the wait for a FtF package or a variant there of, I have a feeling that until after SWC is over, I figure they will announce the celebrities April 20th... or at least they will start trickling out announcements after then as contracts are finalized.

EDIT: changed time from 10:30 to 11!

 

[Brandiwlf]

Another question, is there a way to get the star wars weekends autograph book before we get to hs that morning? We arrive at the hotel Thursday but don't have Park tickets for that day, is there anywhere we can buy it outside in a non sww day? Would we be able to buy it while waiting for Park open that morning?

 

[coluk003]

Ok folks help me out. We will be at assp for the morning of Friday the 29 of May. I'm going to make sure I speak to someone about a cab and hope fully have on there upon departure to dhs.

1. When should we leave assp to make it there to have a good place, hopefully AT the rope?
2. Is this doable , RD, walk quickly over to our breakfast area at scifi, but first see the best copilot in the galaxy, then check in for breakfast at 8:10. I know he doesn't come out right away but am I livingg a dream here in being able to do that?
3. My sister the party pooper won't be going to breakfast with us. So I'm going to do is have her get a place for the parade. I'm sure I'll ask again later but do any of our maps show the shaded area for us to curb it for the parade? Regardless what time should I have her leave assp for this. I know I'm going to have to drill into her head how important this is because though she knows disneys is busy and needs to be planned I know she will see this as just another parade.(wow that was long)
4. Sorry about the late April fools joke last night.

 

[cherice95403]

If I was able to book the FTF package do you think I'd be able to show up about 10:45-11 and still get a decent spot for the parade?

 

[Cluelyss]

Another question, is there a way to get the star wars weekends autograph book before we get to hs that morning? We arrive at the hotel Thursday but don't have Park tickets for that day, is there anywhere we can buy it outside in a non sww day? Would we be able to buy it while waiting for Park open that morning?

I asked this question earlier in the thread and yulilin mentioned a shop outside HS where they should be available (on a SWW day). If Friday is your first park day, not sure if the store outside opens before the park, but the one at MK does, so probably

 

[yulilin3]

Another question, is there a way to get the star wars weekends autograph book before we get to hs that morning? We arrive at the hotel Thursday but don't have Park tickets for that day, is there anywhere we can buy it outside in a non sww day? Would we be able to buy it while waiting for Park open that morning?

There's no where to buy it during a non SWW day. The 2 gift shops that are outside DHS will have them SWW before the park opens. One is Movieland that is the one to the left of the touch points. The other one is the little kiosk right after the bag check

 

[coluk003]

SWC Anaheim's Saturday, April 18th, Morning 10:30 AM Pacific time "New Allies and Villains in Rebels Season 2" Panel .

Ran to my app and didn't see that show , I. Sure we are, but we are talking about that one at 11 am right?

And thanks for that one somehow I missed it but im sure I'll miss a lot being my first time

 

[The Sunrise Student]

If I was able to book the FTF package do you think I'd be able to show up about 10:45-11 and still get a decent spot for the parade?

Probably not, unless they change the location showing up at least an hour 45 minutes to an hour before the parade is better, and to be honest it was kinda fight to keep your good spot... my BF and I would trade who would run for goodies while the others held are place because people would try to get better positions while you were getting drinks and ice cream.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Ran to my app and didn't see that show , I. Sure we are, but we are talking about that one at 11 am right?

And thanks for that one somehow I missed it but im sure I'll miss a lot being my first time

We have noticed that app is not accurate, but the website is... in addition we have this awesome guy who put it into a google spread sheet and shares it with everyone... as well as keeps it up to date... here is the link, check it out!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10u9BsTexZW1bbkbQKlWH0SQQRH1mva_WPStGXH8abLA/edit#gid=0

EDIT holy crap they changed the time to 11!

 

[yulilin3]

Ok folks help me out. We will be at assp for the morning of Friday the 29 of May. I'm going to make sure I speak to someone about a cab and hope fully have on there upon departure to dhs.

1. When should we leave assp to make it there to have a good place, hopefully AT the rope?
2. Is this doable , RD, walk quickly over to our breakfast area at scifi, but first see the best copilot in the galaxy, then check in for breakfast at 8:10. I know he doesn't come out right away but am I livingg a dream here in being able to do that?
3. My sister the party pooper won't be going to breakfast with us. So I'm going to do is have her get a place for the parade. I'm sure I'll ask again later but do any of our maps show the shaded area for us to curb it for the parade? Regardless what time should I have her leave assp for this. I know I'm going to have to drill into her head how important this is because though she knows disneys is busy and needs to be planned I know she will see this as just another parade.(wow that was long)
4. Sorry about the late April fools joke last night.

1.- leave by 6:50am
2.- Not likely unless you are the first person to meet him.
3.- You have to get a shady spot by 9:30am for an 11am parade. The shady spots are the ones on the left of Hollywood Blvd. As long as there's a bldg you'll have shade on the left side
4.- I thought it was funny

 

[jennab113]

I got so excited when I saw there were 4+ pages this morning, but y'all are just chatty.

Question - Is R2-MK a real thing you can meet? Also, is R2-D2 as hard to meet as Threepio? I know there's a robotic Artoo that comes to DragonCon and is AMAZING. Is the one at SWW robotic or is Kenny Baker actually inside? (kidding)

 

[yulilin3]

I got so excited when I saw there were 4+ pages this morning, but y'all are just chatty.

Question - Is R2-MK a real thing you can meet? Also, is R2-D2 as hard to meet as Threepio? I know there's a robotic Artoo that comes to DragonCon and is AMAZING. Is the one at SWW robotic or is Kenny Baker actually inside? (kidding)

R2MK was available to meet one year, he wasn't available last year. I hope he comes out again. So very cute


R2D2 came out more frequently than C3PO. In the afternoons not in the morning

 

[coluk003]

So seeing Cherie in the am is about the only time hun I'm assuming the line in the after gets over an hour?

 

[yulilin3]

So seeing Cherie in the am is about the only time hun I'm assuming the line in the after gets over an hour?

If you go to his line right after the parade you'll also find a shorter wait. But the shortest wait would be first thing in the morning