Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[lovethattink]

I was wondering about this, too. We are planning to do dinner & stroll the WS Saturday night before IllumiNations, but that is only a few hours. Our actual Epcot day is Monday. Disney is SO slow on construction and what not...but they are probably lightning fast at removing F&G.

I'm trying to remember. The booths will all be closed. I can't remember when we went back after the festival. I just remember saying to dh how plain Epcot looked without all the topiaries everywhere.

 

[k9muttlover]

Ok. I was at SWW for an evening last year and will make it for one day this year as well. We fly in on the 24th so our time is limited. Is SotS worth seeing other than the Stormtrooper pre-show? We will literally have to go straight to the park to make it and is sounds like the pre-show is really the best part. *I* am the Star Wars fan in the house so I'm sure it'll be fun for me, but the talk show part may not be that thrilling for my husband?

 

[RetlawYensid71]

Is anyone else as impressed as I am with just how much Shawn Slater actually responds and answers questions on the parks blog? Has anyone ever met him in person? Seems like a nice guy!

 

[AThrillingChase]

Re: F&G topiaries, at least some will be up. Some of them are actually up for most of the year, the ones around world showcase. But over time I believe they lose some of the luster and little details here and there so they aren't as exciting. For example, peter pan on top of the shop in the UK and Bambi are technically for the event.

 

[yulilin3]

Now that I have re read page one, I see that I need to arrive by 4 am to see Ray Park. I am driving straight to Disney on Saturday 06/13 to be there Sunday 06/14, can't get there before then as my DD graduates on 06/13 and this trip is what she wanted for her present. Do you believe I could get there a little later and still get FP for Ray and if so what do you believe is the latest? (thinking your going to say 4 am)

Based on previous years and if he is once again only doing one signing then you have to get there before 4am. I know @The Sunrise Student will also shed her story on this. There's always the possibility that you might get a fp if you arrive after 4 but you could face a huge dissapointment getting there that early and then not being able to meet him. Also he is very chatty so he doesn't really have a lot of time for standby people.

I was wondering about this, too. We are planning to do dinner & stroll the WS Saturday night before IllumiNations, but that is only a few hours. Our actual Epcot day is Monday. Disney is SO slow on construction and what not...but they are probably lightning fast at removing F&G.



I think you are confusing the show "Visit to the Maul" with the shopping venue Darth's Maul? The show will only run when Ray Park is there which, IIRC, is weekend 4. The shopping area will be open all weekends.

If I'm remembering correctly they take everything down the night of the last day. The next day it's just regular Epcot.

Ok. I was at SWW for an evening last year and will make it for one day this year as well. We fly in on the 24th so our time is limited. Is SotS worth seeing other than the Stormtrooper pre-show? We will literally have to go straight to the park to make it and is sounds like the pre-show is really the best part. *I* am the Star Wars fan in the house so I'm sure it'll be fun for me, but the talk show part may not be that thrilling for my husband?

I love SotS. The actors/actresses always have fun/interesting ancedotes about their time filming and JAT does an awesome job asking interesting questions and doing funny things with the guests.

Is anyone else as impressed as I am with just how much Shawn Slater actually responds and answers questions on the parks blog? Has anyone ever met him in person? Seems like a nice guy!

First of all Second of all love your username. I haven't met Shawn Slater but he does look like a cool guy. Maybe if we see him around the park we can let him know we appreciate his work on the DPB.

 

[yulilin3]

Re: F&G topiaries, at least some will be up. Some of them are actually up for most of the year, the ones around world showcase. But over time I believe they lose some of the luster and little details here and there so they aren't as exciting. For example, peter pan on top of the shop in the UK and Bambi are technically for the event.

Not sure I've seen any topiaries from F&G staying up all year :/

 

[AThrillingChase]

Not sure I've seen any topiaries from F&G staying up all year :/

I've seen the ones around world showcase for years, Snow white, bambi, tick tock croc, were up in October and still in February. My theory is they just replace them every year during the fest so that is when they are at their brightest and the more colorful details are still alive. The larger topiaries in future world are a different story.

 

[yulilin3]

And for anyone wondering Shawn Slater just answered that the entire celebrity list is out. So no other celebrities will be added to the list

 

[yulilin3]

I've seen the ones around world showcase for years, Snow white, bambi, tick tock croc, were up in October and still in February. My theory is they just replace them every year during the fest so that is when they are at their brightest and the more colorful details are still alive. The larger topiaries in future world are a different story.

I seriously don't remember seeing any of those during times when it's not F&G but I go to the parks a lot so maybe I'm just not paying attention

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I've seen the ones around world showcase for years, Snow white, bambi, tick tock croc, were up in October and still in February. My theory is they just replace them every year during the fest so that is when they are at their brightest and the more colorful details are still alive. The larger topiaries in future world are a different story.

Ditto this. Some get moved around as well, but many are fixtures around world showcase. Less "full" or colorful, maybe, but around for sure...

 

[disneygrandma]

I was just reading the DPB, and noticed that when someone asked about FP+ for parade viewing, it was reported that none would be available for that. It also says that there will be Premium Packages, but no details. Maybe this was discussed yesterday, but since I was gone all day I missed out on several pages of this thread. Also on the DPB, it talks about other surprise guests that will be at the Rebels show. Overall, there's a lot of hinting of other things yet to be announced.

I've not rec'd any call back from VIP concerning which show the FP for sure will be for. I tried calling the TOUR line today to ask them again, but wait time was over 30+, so I hung up.

Today is my only day that I can do our taxes, so I really need to set this SWW stuff aside........but I'm not having much luck with that. Also, tomorrow night (midnight central) is my FP opening time for the next portion of our split stay, which will include MK, AK, and 1 more day at either HS or EP. So I will also need to figure all that out. After that part of our WDW stay, we're going to US & IoA, staying on property. So all we need to plan on is getting to HP during the 1 hr early time each day. 2 1/2 days of Express Pass, and really no other plans to make. What a difference!

 

[yulilin3]

I was just reading the DPB, and noticed that when someone asked about FP+ for parade viewing, it was reported that none would be available for that. It also says that there will be Premium Packages, but no details. Maybe this was discussed yesterday, but since I was gone all day I missed out on several pages of this thread. Also on the DPB, it talks about other surprise guests that will be at the Rebels show. Overall, there's a lot of hinting of other things yet to be announced.

I've not rec'd any call back from VIP concerning which show the FP for sure will be for. I tried calling the TOUR line today to ask them again, but wait time was over 30+, so I hung up.

Today is my only day that I can do our taxes, so I really need to set this SWW stuff aside........but I'm not having much luck with that. Also, tomorrow night (midnight central) is my FP opening time for the next portion of our split stay, which will include MK, AK, and 1 more day at either HS or EP. So I will also need to figure all that out. After that part of our WDW stay, we're going to US & IoA, staying on property. So all we need to plan on is getting to HP during the 1 hr early time each day. 2 1/2 days of Express Pass, and really no other plans to make. What a difference!

Yeah he said that there will be a Premium Package but no details were offered on that. There has never been fp+ offered for the SWW parade so that stayed the same.
Surprise guests for Behind the Force Rebels is probably going to be Sabine, Ezra and Chopper showing up at the end like they did last year. The full celeb list is out so no more people will be added to that
You'll love the HP areas at Universal Orlando. My son actually works as entertainment escort for Celestina Warbeck and the Beedle the Bard shows at Diagon Alley

 

[Tltorrez]

I've seen the ones around world showcase for years, Snow white, bambi, tick tock croc, were up in October and still in February. My theory is they just replace them every year during the fest so that is when they are at their brightest and the more colorful details are still alive. The larger topiaries in future world are a different story.

I have pics with Bambi in December one year. They were randomly set up in FW, actually.

 

[yulilin3]

See how much I notice things that are NOT SWW

 

[delvalle13]

This is the list for the Disney Parks Blog. Ashely Eckstein is the host for the mind challenge. She is also listed on this site as being at SWW on this weekend, does anyone know if she is going to be doing autographs this weekend?

Weekend III (May 29 – 31)

• Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
• Daniel Logan: Boba Fett (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
• Steve Blum: Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)

 

[AThrillingChase]

They should just build a death star topiary and be done with it!

Better than having the fantasia one at both HS and EP at the same time!! That one actually annoyed me a little lol.

 

[lovethattink]

In one of the comments on the blog, it mentions May the 4th. Doesn't sound like anything special happening?

 

[lovethattink]

This is the list for the Disney Parks Blog. Ashely Eckstein is the host for the mind challenge. She is also listed on this site as being at SWW on this weekend, does anyone know if she is going to be doing autographs this weekend?

Weekend III (May 29 – 31)

• Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
• Daniel Logan: Boba Fett (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
• Steve Blum: Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)

Ashley is hosting Family Padawan Mind Challenge each day, so that means she will be there. My guess is Her Universe signing.

 

[yulilin3]

This is the list for the Disney Parks Blog. Ashely Eckstein is the host for the mind challenge. She is also listed on this site as being at SWW on this weekend, does anyone know if she is going to be doing autographs this weekend?

Weekend III (May 29 – 31)

• Warwick Davis: Wald, Wicket W. Warrick (Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; Star Wars: Return of the Jedi)
• Daniel Logan: Boba Fett (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones; Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
• Steve Blum: Zeb Orrelios (Star Wars Rebels)

Ashley will be there every weekend because she's doing Padawan Mind Challenge Family Edition every day
Now, and this are just rumors and speculations, Freddy Prince Jr. was supposed to be here for weekend 4 and he backed out. So they are having Ashley fill in as guest for Behind the Force Rebels. That's why she's only listed on one weekend.
Now we don't know if she's signing autographs every weekend. She does sign at Her Universe booth inside Darth's Mall but that's only for people buying her merchandise there.

 

[slaveone]

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