Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[yulilin3]

That makes me so sad! My son loves his calendar from last year, and it ends after May 2015! And they sold out early last year, so why wouldn't they have them again!

Thanks again for offering to get me one @yulilin3

I'm still hopeful the cm was just mistaken. I pm Steven Miller the Disney park blog merchandise guy and he said he would check for me

 

[yulilin3]

is there a list somewhere of which characters do and do not sign autographs this year? I know DV and BF don't sign at the Galactic Breakfast. Are there any other SW characters at meals or around the park that don't sign? Thanks!

all the SWW characters out and about, be it in designated spots or roaming, sign autograph. With the exception of R2D2 and C3PO (If her comes out at all this year)
Galactic Breakfast: Vader and Fett don't sign characters inside going table to table do
Jedi Mickey Dinner: none of the character sign but you do get one c ard per person with all of their regular signatures (Mickey not Jedi Mickey, Minnie not Leia Minnie,etc)
Characters at Rebel Hangar: don't sign

 

[yulilin3]

Is anyone at the Blister Pack in the mornings? I was looking at KtP's app and it looks like the earliest time is 12:50 unless I am missing someone that meets there.

I didn't really check what their first set was but last year it was after the parade.

 

[yulilin3]

Did you head to Queen Amidala right after leaving the Chewie line? If so, what was her line like at that time and when were you done? This is our plan; hoping we can meet them both before our 9:10 SciFi ADR. Thanks!!

we met Chewie at 8:20am and were walking toward the Disney SW gang and saw her meeting already. It looks like she's coming out shortly after 8am

 

[drlaurafsu]

We leave tomorrow! So much to do!! First of three meetings today starts at 7am...goes all day and somehow I still need to run about 16 errands. And I promised DS his friend could come over after school since tonight's the last time they will get to hang out until July!

DS is so excited! This might be the most excited he has ever been about going to Disney...we were last there in November.

I will try to post pictures of us tonight or tomorrow morning so anyone can recognize us.

High here tomorrow is 57! MCO is going to be a shock!

 

[yulilin3]

I saw on someone's twitter that they had purchased a Tervis Tumbler with the SWW logo on it. Does anyone know where you can purchase that and what was the cost? Also, is the large Rancor back this year anywhere? Thanks!

yes, I saw the Rancor at Watto's Grotto/ Darth's Mall. Also like someone already said check all the other stores, Mickey's of Hollywood, Villains in Vogue and Prop Shop have a huge selection of SWW merchandise sometimes there's no need to go inside the Mall at all.
There's also a small cart with SWW items outside the park. They had the autograph books, hats, some tumblers and the outside cart opens around 7:30am

Yes, I meant a schedule for which times Darth Maul was the 2nd character and which times Asaaj was the 2nd character. We requested Darth Maul in 2013 with a 8 year old and ended up with Vader. Really want my son to battle Darth Maul, but I know it's luck of the draw

Vader is always on stage, the second villain doesn't have a schedule, it seems to be more Maul than Ventress though.

 

[yulilin3]

@yulilin3 did you receive a swag bag for your deluxe FTF? What was in it.







@yulilin3 so the Deluxe FTF is that section in front of Mickeys of. Hollywood?
Do you enter by the CM with the ice cream cart'?
Is that a window seat I see in that section That looks like a great spot to wait???!!! Or does it get crowded and yôur view blocked?

How many goodies can we have, without looking too piggy in you honest opinion. There's only so much ice cream we can eat but maybe one on entering and then one for the road? It's actually the drinks....I would love to grab a couple of waters and/or sodas each(some to have then and maybe one for the road). Is it the same situation for the water and soda at the Dessert party...are they bottled? Might be nice to have a coke back at the room.

Boy I sound really cheap Guess I'm too stingy to buy drinks after our FTF, GAlactic Breakfast, H&V Jedi, and a Rebel Hanger...

You enter by the check in podium. You can hang out by the window, some people might just stand right in front of you though. But like someone already said the are isn't crowded so you could move around abit. The goodies in the bag are just the autographed pictures of the celebrities meeting that week (someone already posted a picture of them) You can get as many snacks and drinks as you want. But I think they take the carts inside once the parade starts so make sure to grab them before the parade starts.

So what would you think of someone getting water for everyone, then getting a soda for two of us, maybe 3, popcorn for 2 and eating it later, then two bottles of water to go each that is my plan. And i forgot to ask @yulilin3 if they come by you to serve the food or do you go to them? And i wonder how much of each one person can get at a time *OINK OINK*

Someone can go and get water and snacks for everyone. We were in the wheelchair section across from the main roped off area and CM kept coming with arms full of water and ice cream asking if we wanted more (they would rather do this than you going under the ropes to go get it) I know people grabbed popcorn boxes for later, we grabbed 2 bottlews of water before the parade started for later, that's totally fine.

 

[yulilin3]

We leave tomorrow! So much to do!! First of three meetings today starts at 7am...goes all day and somehow I still need to run about 16 errands. And I promised DS his friend could come over after school since tonight's the last time they will get to hang out until July!

DS is so excited! This might be the most excited he has ever been about going to Disney...we were last there in November.

I will try to post pictures of us tonight or tomorrow morning so anyone can recognize us.

High here tomorrow is 57! MCO is going to be a shock!

seriously keep hydrated...water or some powerade. Stay away from the soda, milkshakes and alcoholic drinks (maybe one or 2 of those is fine )
I hope some Guinea Pig people could chime in...the number one thing all of them said to me was how the weather impacted them during their day. Even people from the south. It can literally ruin your vacation. Stay safe. Hopefully we can meet.

 

[drlaurafsu]

I grew up in FL and live last 8 years in ATL so I have the hydration thing down. DS has a camelbak and I have powerade drops to add to water bottles for him. But it definitely is worth saying again!

Haven't seen those kinds of temps since our Disney Med cruise 2 years ago.

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

Deluxe Premium Package parade spot

the spot right next to the shop on the shady side is open to any guests. This was the case this past weekend. It can change next weekend
2.- To watch the pre show on stage and fireworks I would say anywhere from the tip board toward the stage, unless you have parents that put their kids on their shoulders.
If you want you can also watch the pre show on the jumbotron of the Hyperion Theater (Old AIE) and then watch the fireworks from there.

What time was this picture @yulilin3 ? Just wondering how full this got.. Looks really managable in this picture.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Is anyone at the Blister Pack in the mornings? I was looking at KtP's app and it looks like the earliest time is 12:50 unless I am missing someone that meets there.

Blister pack is Not out in the morning. I wish they were...getting them all would have been a lot easier!

 

[yulilin3]

What time was this picture @yulilin3 ? Just wondering how full this got.. Looks really managable in this picture.

10:35am

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

Thanks! I did not realize there was a children's seating area, and that parents can sit with their children. That being said, how does that change the "spot staking" scenario for PP? Do we still run a great risk of that area being full and then DS6 and DS2 not being able to see unless we lift them and block everyone else's view? Even if parking a stroller is needed (which is perfectly fine), I am just trying to see if I need to keep all 5 of us together from credential pick-up all the way until parade start time (including waiting outside the PP ropes) in order to ensure that they can see (and we be able to be there with them - as DS2 WILL run). Thanks so much!

@kpd6901 Just a tip about this.. last year the children's area was marked off with tape. The parents that were there early lined up along behind the tape. So families that got there later, their children could go into the taped off area, but then mom and dad couldn't necessarily stand by them. So if your children aren't going to be ok sitting in there by themselves without you close by, you may want to get there earlier.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

seriously keep hydrated...water or some powerade. Stay away from the soda, milkshakes and alcoholic drinks (maybe one or 2 of those is fine )
I hope some Guinea Pig people could chime in...the number one thing all of them said to me was how the weather impacted them during their day. Even people from the south. It can literally ruin your vacation. Stay safe. Hopefully we can meet.

Agree ...we did not have problems but we had a system. We know the places we like to pick up ice and ice water ...we made sure to pick some up when walking by them and /when we were getting in a line.

Our favorite water places (remember in many CS places you do not need to stand in the long line ...you can go up to the counter on the side and ask nicely)

Backlot Express...they will give you cups to fill at their self service place. Great also because they are one of the few places you can get water early in the day ( they will give you cups before they are open)

Hey Howdy Hey across from TSM

Studio Catering Co

Writers Stop

ABC Commissary

Starring Rolls

Just try to always have a cup or 2 in hands of you or your family members.

 

[southernfriedmom]

Ugh!!! In true DISboard form, I must vent here... Broke my foot this weekend and leave for our trip in 9 days. My husband made fun of me to the ortho saying- "your athletes want to know how this affects their playing time but my wife just wants to know how it will affect her Disney trip." He put me in a walking boot for four weeks and told me I was free to walk on it once the pain & swelling subsides but there is no way I can do that at Disney so he said wheelchair/scooter bound I will be. Any advice from someone who has navigated SWW on a mobility device particularly on our DPP day? I assume I will be able to mostly transfer as long as I'm not swelling too bad. I bought compression socks yesterday to try to help. TIA

 

[Nhebron]

So I have the deluxe premium package and I am going next Sunday (holiday weekend). Is the general consensus that I need to try and check in around 9:30am? Do the snacks become available at 10am? I will need to save spots for hubby and son I guess. It will be challenging enough to keep him still for the parade without a stroller.

 

[Itinkso]

Tip about rebel hanger:
During the weekends, you will see jawas, the tattooine band, and rebels charcters. During the week mon -thurs, you will see jawas, an tattooine band pilot fighter, chewbacca, and a stormtrooper. Yep, best rebel hanger meal ever tonight. Great food, and the atmosphere is great. Only place to get the xwing glow clip, too. So glad we didn't fight or stand in the crowds for a chewbacca picture as he came right to our table at rh. Edited to add this info was given to us about characters by a cast member who worked thisweekend and this evening there while we ate.

Greedo will also appear Mon-Thurs. He was pictured in @mmafan's photo last night. Greedo and Troopers share a lot of the same friends so they can change it up character-wise.

 

[coluk003]

Ugh!!! In true DISboard form, I must vent here... Broke my foot this weekend and leave for our trip in 9 days. My husband made fun of me to the ortho saying- "your athletes want to know how this affects their playing time but my wife just wants to know how it will affect her Disney trip." He put me in a walking boot for four weeks and told me I was free to walk on it once the pain & swelling subsides but there is no way I can do that at Disney so he said wheelchair/scooter bound I will be. Any advice from someone who has navigated SWW on a mobility device particularly on our DPP day? I assume I will be able to mostly transfer as long as I'm not swelling too bad. I bought compression socks yesterday to try to help. TIA

My only advice,give plenty of time and especially space between people, nothing like getting whacked in the back of the legs with a wheelchair lol.
I'd also call Disney and ask who they recommend for rental places, there were a few that we recommended to guests to use, I just can't for the life of me remember who they were.

 

[yulilin3]

Ugh!!! In true DISboard form, I must vent here... Broke my foot this weekend and leave for our trip in 9 days. My husband made fun of me to the ortho saying- "your athletes want to know how this affects their playing time but my wife just wants to know how it will affect her Disney trip." He put me in a walking boot for four weeks and told me I was free to walk on it once the pain & swelling subsides but there is no way I can do that at Disney so he said wheelchair/scooter bound I will be. Any advice from someone who has navigated SWW on a mobility device particularly on our DPP day? I assume I will be able to mostly transfer as long as I'm not swelling too bad. I bought compression socks yesterday to try to help. TIA

I'm going to add my two cents here:
PARADE: DPP has a dedicated wheelchair area in the shade. Be there at 10am so that you and your entire family can enter that area, it's small. On Sunday I saw 3 scooters in there and the area was already closed for anyone else.
SHOWS: If you want to stay in the wheelchair for the DPP area I would think you would need to enter thru the side so you are in the lower wheelchair section. There's an upper wheelchair section but you don't want to be there, the sun will hit your back the entire time.
If you are willing to transfer then you shouldn't have a problem. Loading for the DPP happens from the top of the theater and then you walk down to the section, not sure if you'll be able to do that.
DESSERT PARTY: DPP will be fine with the wheelchair, they have tables in the front of the section that are lowered so that you could stay seated and enjoy your desserts and drinks

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

well Mr @mmafan has gotten a lot of Disney Magic sprinkled on him...no reservation, a walk up today to Rebel Hangar and gets pics with Chewie, Greedo, Stormtrooper and this guy

What day of the week was this? Was this a weekday? Thanks!