Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[yulilin3]

I've got a celebrity autograph question that I'm sure has been answered somewhere in this thread, but I sure can't find it. My wife swears she is getting up early enough to get Peter Mayhew's autograph on Weekend 5. We'll be there Saturday and Sunday. Is one day better than the other? Also, does the whole family have to be there at 5 am if all we want is a single autograph? Is it impossible to get an autograph from more than one celebrity? As many paces as I've seen this explained, I'm somehow fuzzy on the whole process. Thanks for the help!

This year the are meeting inside the old American Idol Experience audition rooms and that's why a child needs to have an adult with them at all times (safety issues once inside) everyone going into this building needs a wristband and fp for that celebrity. Everyone needs to be in line before 6am to receive both things. Last weekend we arrived around 6:25am and the wristbands were already being distributed. If one person of your group doesn't want to meet or get an autograph they can stay outside and wait for you. Obviously if it's a child under 12 I believe, not sure on the age policy I'll get back to you on that, then they need to stay with someone over 14 years old. If you have any other questions please let me know. I know it's confusing to explain,

Do you (or anyone else) know exactly what has sold out yet?

\
I was there SUnday afternoon and the only things that had sold out at that point were the Boba Fett Stein (they weren't sure if they would receive another shipment) and the AP visors.

I womder if this is new? We normally spread the kids out in the various lines and have even when they were a lot younger. It has never been an issue when they went up on their own to meet celebs.

I think now because it's an anclosed area where the parent can't really see the child once he goes in they had to make some changes.

Yep.

Yep, We know. Most our's don't get the whole "Disney thing", let alone the SW Thing... pretty cool.

He asked her on Monday why she wasn't at school on Friday and she was wearing the new Force Awakens stormtrooper shirt and she said SWW, he asked did you buy me something?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

@MickeyMinnieMom another big thank you for your detailed report on the VIP Tour. We will be part of the tour this Sunday and am now even more excited than I was before!

Fantastic -- you're so welcome!! Hope you guys have a great time!!

What's comical is when we started watching these, I constantly got -"that's not real"....

That's too funny!! My kids ultimately got into it, and they both enjoyed the Rebels Show at Theater of the Stars. I suspect they'll always like "the real movies" more, though...

 

[yulilin3]

What exactly is the passholder visor? Do you happen to have a picture or something? I've never heard of this item.

selling them for $35 on EBay, I just checked

 

[yulilin3]

Do yourself a favor and take a cab. I did and was able to snag the meet & greet I wanted. It was 8 dollars from our hotel at the Pop Century. The buses run 1 hour before park opening, but then it takes time to get to your stop and back again if they're even running on time and have no issues. Honestly, it's worth the 10-20 bucks to secure a life long experience. My wife and I met one of the voice actors and then because we had met her, noticed her in the VIP/DPPFTF fireworks area and talked with her again. Super cool and we'll never forget it. I'll take that over 8 bucks any day!

The wife and I did the "early" thing our first day, but the second SWW day we just took the bus after sleeping in. It just wasn't worth it to push ourselves the last day. Instead, we slept in and enjoyed our DPPFTF day and boy were we happy we did! We had more energy to tackle the park and crowds and didn't have to stop in the middle of everything and then come back.

Of the many magical things that happened, we had a FP to one of the rides that we didn't really care for. It broke down, so we got the message an hour before our REBEL HANGER reservation saying we could pick a ride and jumped on Star Tours one last time and got the perfect Vader openning-> Wife is a rebel spy! -> Boba Fett attack -> death star chase version. Then it was our meal time, picture with Ezra/Sabine characters, and off to the JAT show in the third row. Everything just clicked.

Now that I'm on the subject of rides, with this fast pass system and with being in the Disney Bubble for 1 week, I was able to do everything I wanted and the longest I waited in line was for Mrs. Boba Fett to get some coffee. Both of us thought we'd be in the sun, dying, waiting for 1 or 2 rides but the reality of the system was that we were constantly hoofing it to rides with fast passes or some type of meal. Using up a fast pass and then selecting the next one on our phone app while waiting for the ride was awesome (when it worked). I heard other families *****ing about "how you need a fast pass for the fast passes!", but maybe they just weren't as on the ball like us DISers? Not too sure, but this trip is still resonating with us and its been a couple days since we were there.

I'm so happy you had an awesome time!!. Thank you for sharing your day experiences with us.

 

[yulilin3]

I crashed hard last night...I felt a bit of a cold coming on and I'm sure it was from the 3 crazy days we had (we never go on Friday, this year we did and we never stay for fireworks on Sunday and this Sunday we did, the weather was too perfect in the evening to pass it up) Had to go to my daughter's last chorus concert of Middle School but after that I just had dinner and fell asleep around 8:30pm. Now to get some tea for my cold and get to 100% for weekend II.
At this point I've decided to not do the 24 hour night thing. I really want to but it's just too much with being at SWW 2 days in a row. I have a feeling we might end up staying for fireworks again Sunday night since Monday Steph has no school and the babies that I babysit are not coming.
I wish I had counted the many DISsers and lurkers that came to talk to us this past weekend. It truly is my favorite part of SWW, just getting to meet many people and hear about their experiences. Please, if you see us walking around the park don't hesitate to stop and say hi. We usually don't have a schedule, unless we're going to Rebel Hangar or a show.

 

[dkfajr1]

We're leaving tomorrow morning!!!! Can't wait! Hitting MK on Thursday for a while and then SWW all weekend long!
I know its been asked a few times but haven't seen a solid answer- anyone know if the DHS buses have been running earlier on SWW days or are they still around 7? I think I read a few people having trouble with the buses last weekend. Will take a cab if needed but we have a 3 month old so we will need an infant car seat in the cab. Fingers crossed for buses!!

Us too! We leave in the morning. Plan on mk for Thursday then SWW!
I'm not sure about the buses though. I've heard some people take cabs, but I would ask when you arrive.

 

[shannon006]

selling them for $35 on EBay, I just checked

I have read about the passholder posters, which I am so excited for! However haven't heard of the visor. Where can we buy one, other than ebay, lol!

 

[lovethattink]

We decided yesterday to skip the mk on Friday.

 

[yulilin3]

I have read about the passholder posters, which I am so excited for! However haven't heard of the visor. Where can we buy one, other than ebay, lol!

they sold out at SWW already. It's the only Limited Edition item that sold out weekend I

 

[yulilin3]

We decided yesterday to skip the mk on Friday.

If we weren't doing autographs on Saturday I would've considered it. But it's just too much

 

[RebelScumRunner]

Is it actually possible to book a Rebel Hangar adr through the mde app? I missed the original window to book a ressie after I thought that it was a walk up joint. Since then, nothing shows in mde or online. It's not that surprising, but I thought I read somewhere that it can be an issue to do it through mde app. We're going weekend V.

By nothing shows, I mean for the limited window that we can go. I wish I can be flexible about it

 

[yulilin3]

Is it actually possible to book a Rebel Hangar adr through the mde app? I missed the original window to book a ressie after I thought that it was a walk up joint. Since then, nothing shows in mde or online. It's not that surprising, but I thought I read somewhere that it can be an issue to do it through mde app. We're going weekend V.

By nothing shows, I mean for the limited window that we can go. I wish I can be flexible about it

you can't I just checked. MDE said search not found or something like that. But I went online, same date and times and it shows 2 available. Remember it's open during the week as well

 

[hiroMYhero]

Is it actually possible to book a Rebel Hangar adr through the mde app? I missed the original window to book a ressie after I thought that it was a walk up joint. Since then, nothing shows in mde or online. It's not that surprising, but I thought I read somewhere that it can be an issue to do it through mde app. We're going weekend V.

By nothing shows, I mean for the limited window that we can go. I wish I can be flexible about it

I find it's best to go to the Dining website rather than access through MDE. There is availability at 7:00ish on Thursday, June 11th - I just checked via the website.

 

[RebelScumRunner]

From Yulilun:
you can't I just checked. MDE said search not found or something like that. But I went online, same date and times and it shows 2 available. Remember it's open during the week as well


Blerg.

Going to check now. I figure that going during the week is our best option, but with our plans, it will be tough. If I see an opening then, though, I'll probably book it and try to get real creative to squeeze it in.

Thanks for the info

 

[boiledpeanut]

What do y'all think....
I was able to score a Scifi for Friday am.
Also a Jedi HV for Sat afternoon

If I could magically make a reservation appear, I would love to have a SciFi for Saturday or Sunday am.
We have a reservation at Kennedy Space Center Friday. I think I could move this but we are traveling from SC and it would be easier to just hit that up on the way down. Should I just rearrange everything and take the SciFi for Friday am???
ACK!! If I am going to pull the trigger on SWW this last minute, I have lots to coordinate in 24 hours.

PS I have had luck on the disney website, not on MDE making these reservations.

 

[jennab113]

When I was at scifi first thing Sunday morning, they said they had tons of availability for immediate walk ups. You could always try your luck with walking up on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[yulilin3]

What do y'all think....
I was able to score a Scifi for Friday am.
Also a Jedi HV for Sat afternoon

If I could magically make a reservation appear, I would love to have a SciFi for Saturday or Sunday am.
We have a reservation at Kennedy Space Center Friday. I think I could move this but we are traveling from SC and it would be easier to just hit that up on the way down. Should I just rearrange everything and take the SciFi for Friday am???
ACK!! If I am going to pull the trigger on SWW this last minute, I have lots to coordinate in 24 hours.

PS I have had luck on the disney website, not on MDE making these reservations.

it's a priority thing and I'm afraid the only one that can make that decision is you. I've been to KSC and even though it's interesting I have no interest on going back. But it's completely up to you

 

[delmar411]

I have read about the passholder posters, which I am so excited for! However haven't heard of the visor. Where can we buy one, other than ebay, lol!

I'm returning the one I bought for MIL since she said it isnt the style she was looking for. Not sure if they will put it back on the shelf or not though.

 

[yulilin3]

I've meant to report on this but have forgotten. It seems like today I'm finally clear of the fog in my head from Weekend I
About celebrity autographs: It seems that the change of venue has impacted the entire operation. Celebs and their handlers seem to be allowing, even encouraging longer interactions. Very cool for people with fps, not so great for people with standby. By different reports from different fan sites and pages only Ashley saw 2 standbys oe day, the rest just their regular amount of guaranteed fp.
I think it's because the celeb can't see the line of people waiting to meet them so they don't feel the pressure to move faster.
Just a word of caution for anyone interested in the coming weeks.
With that said I got to DHS on Friday around 6:20am and managed a fp for Tiya, I could've been in her first session but asked for her last one just because the time worked better for us

 

[moobar25]

This year the are meeting inside the old American Idol Experience audition rooms and that's why a child needs to have an adult with them at all times (safety issues once inside) everyone going into this building needs a wristband and fp for that celebrity. Everyone needs to be in line before 6am to receive both things. Last weekend we arrived around 6:25am and the wristbands were already being distributed. If one person of your group doesn't want to meet or get an autograph they can stay outside and wait for you. Obviously if it's a child under 12 I believe, not sure on the age policy I'll get back to you on that, then they need to stay with someone over 14 years old. If you have any other questions please let me know. I know it's confusing to explain,


I think now because it's an anclosed area where the parent can't really see the child once he goes in they had to make some changes.


He asked her on Monday why she wasn't at school on Friday and she was wearing the new Force Awakens stormtrooper shirt and she said SWW, he asked did you buy me something?

I'm thinking of going to wait for either Ray Park or Peter Mayhew when I'm there. I know that I need to be there bright and early and can only get one. My question is can my DD (3) go into the autograph place with me if I'm the only one with a wristband? The rest of my party will join me when park opens - so she will not be waiting with me in line. I've never done the celebrity autographs so I'm not sure what the protocol is. I think it would be nice to have her with me in the picture.