Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[mamadragona]

Sort of OT, but not. I'd like to do this again in a couple years. What resorts are best to stay in for HS? We liked HS and AK the best. Maybe we might also do one day at MK too, since the BoG dinner was TDF and DD and DS loved the teacups.

This time we tried AoA and AKL. I loved that there were several pools at AoA; The far ones by our didn't seem too crowded. But it was a lot of walking, and it seemed pretty far away. We got a Savannah view room upgrade at AKL (the magic was strong with this visit), so that was awesome, loved the water slide, and Sana'a was one if our favorite TS, but we had to do a 4 stop loop to HS in the afternoon from there because they stopped at Kidani, Jambo, and the water park, then finally HS.

Thoughts? Where do you all like to stay?

 

[basketrn]

Looking for opinions...We are going to WDW/SWW. June 11th & 12th will be our park days. I am contemplating getting Memory Maker because of our SWW day. But having a hard time justifying the cost for just 2 days. We have done MM in the past, but its always when we have been their for a week and visited several parks. Just interested in others opinions. Thanks!

 

[RedM94]

@Cynister @TXMemaw

I hope you both had an awesome time at SWW and are still enjoying your time in the world!!! When you catch your breath, I would very much appreciate hearing about your VIP experience and what you thought about it.

If you already posted about it, I apologize for missing it.

Thank you.

 

[yulilin3]

Sort of OT, but not. I'd like to do this again in a couple years. What resorts are best to stay in for HS? We liked HS and AK the best. Maybe we might also do one day at MK too, since the BoG dinner was TDF and DD and DS loved the teacups.

This time we tried AoA and AKL. I loved that there were several pools at AoA; The far ones by our didn't seem too crowded. But it was a lot of walking, and it seemed pretty far away. We got a Savannah view room upgrade at AKL (the magic was strong with this visit), so that was awesome, loved the water slide, and Sana'a was one if our favorite TS, but we had to do a 4 stop loop to HS in the afternoon from there because they stopped at Kidani, Jambo, and the water park, then finally HS.

Thoughts? Where do you all like to stay?

You can't beat staying at one of the Epcot resorts just cause of the ease of walking to DHS.

 

[missthatgator]

Still have about 15 pages to catch up on, but now seems like the perfect time to do it - 1.5 hours till our plane leaves 2 nights offsite near universal then on to Fort wilderness cannot wait for the weekend! This thread has been more than helpful, thank you so much to everyone for the tips and advice, and the consistent stream of reading material for killing time at work lol.

 

[yulilin3]

Still have about 15 pages to catch up on, but now seems like the perfect time to do it - 1.5 hours till our plane leaves 2 nights offsite near universal then on to Fort wilderness cannot wait for the weekend! This thread has been more than helpful, thank you so much to everyone for the tips and advice, and the consistent stream of reading material for killing time at work lol.

have a great flight!!

 

[Delilah1310]

Going through our Memory Maker there's also 2 animated ones! One on the main st with Ezra and Sabine and then one at the park opening in front of the movie scroll HS sign Storm Troopers walk past. I hunted down the Photopass guys for the 2 regular ones, but the animated were surprises, Yay!

can you tell me more about where these locations are? we don't want to miss these.
I think I have a good understanding of the other ones ... near the coke bottle / red gate. (both vader and force push are there, correct?)

will all photographers know what I am talking about when I ask?
Once at MK we had one that was trying to be coy ... "there may be a surprise, you never know" and I was thinking, just tell me if you take the magic shot or not!!!

thanks all!

 

[pollyanna30]

Going to get started on fixing post 1. In the meantime here are pictures of characters as they come off the stage and go backstage after the parade and some of both Rebels and SotS pre show .
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...457.1073741922.1406401066&type=1&l=a7dbccff85

These pictures are great! Where were you standing to get the pictures of the characters after the parade? Is this somewhere that you could get close to if you've watched the parade from general seating along the route? Thanks!

 

[Xenuprime]

@pookadoo77 I love the Mandalorian band! Great work!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Sort of OT, but not. I'd like to do this again in a couple years. What resorts are best to stay in for HS? We liked HS and AK the best. Maybe we might also do one day at MK too, since the BoG dinner was TDF and DD and DS loved the teacups.

This time we tried AoA and AKL. I loved that there were several pools at AoA; The far ones by our didn't seem too crowded. But it was a lot of walking, and it seemed pretty far away. We got a Savannah view room upgrade at AKL (the magic was strong with this visit), so that was awesome, loved the water slide, and Sana'a was one if our favorite TS, but we had to do a 4 stop loop to HS in the afternoon from there because they stopped at Kidani, Jambo, and the water park, then finally HS.

Thoughts? Where do you all like to stay?

Last summer we went for Frozen Summer Fun and stayed at YC. It was super convenient because you can walk to DHS and I hate relying on Disney transport when you're in a hurry to get somewhere early. Since BWI is slightly closer to DHS, we're staying there for SWW this year. Especially with all the complaints about transportation from this weekend, I'm glad that will be a non-issue for us in two weeks.

It took us about 15-20 minutes to walk to/from YC last year, so I'm guessing it will take us about half that from BWI depending on room location (we requested a room as close to DHS as possible).

 

[yulilin3]

These pictures are great! Where were you standing to get the pictures of the characters after the parade? Is this somewhere that you could get close to if you've watched the parade from general seating along the route? Thanks!

after the welcome show characters split up and take 3 paths.
The ones on the pictures exit on the left hand side of backstage and go down the ramp heading towards TSMM (so if you are facing GMR this would be to your right)
The others exit on the right hand side of backstage and head toward a backstage door by GMR (door next to the little fountain in the GMR courtyard, if you're facing GMR that would be your left)
Chewie and Ewoks exit right hand side of backstage and head to the rooms in the old AIE building, they walk down Commissary lane to get to that place
We stand here to get pictures of the celebrities when they come down from the stage and go back on their cars. If you are in this spot you will NOT see the parade at all. It is very hard to get to this spot if you are watching the parade in the general area because of the amount of people blocking everywhere. We stand here around 11:15am and just wait for the show to be over.

 

[Skywise]

The cast member said that the bands are sold out for the entire event but you can always check.

Darn.

Rant -
I understand the point of collectibles but having time limited events, let alone EXTREMELY limited merchandise like this at a "vacation resort" that requires months of pre-planning let alone trying to get friends and family on the same page is just over the top. Especially when those items sell out not even halfway through the event!!

What about all those people who wanted to see Frank Oz on the last weekend and can only afford one trip?
Rant off!

Ah well, at least I'll save money on that!

 

[yulilin3]

anyone care to have a look at the first post. I think the only things I erased on Friday (by mistake, I was so tired) were weekends II thru V schedules and the character meals information. Anything else I'm missing?

 

[wdwprincess16]

Just know the closer you are to the stage, the more limited your view of the fireworks will be as the stage blocks them if you're close up. You can still see most of them, but the firework view won't be as good as if you were further back.

The show before is great though to be up close for. To be among the first ones near the front, I'd recommend about 2 hours in advance. We went tonight just for the fireworks and got there about an hour and a half ahead of start time and there was probably about 75 or so people in front of us

Oh thank you! He just wants to see the new stormtroopers, and then I was hoping to run to the 50's diner to see the fireworks across the lake. Do you think we will have time?

 

[Skywise]

anyone care to have a look at the first post. I think the only things I erased on Friday (by mistake, I was so tired) were weekends II thru V schedules and the character meals information. Anything else I'm missing?

Scheduling/character stuff looks right to me -

Could you expand the Darth Mall section to explain about Watto's and X-wing collectibles? I'm still a little fuzzy on that and I'm sure others are too.

Oh and thanks for the work and effort!

 

[yulilin3]

Oh thank you! He just wants to see the new stormtroopers, and then I was hoping to run to the 50's diner to see the fireworks across the lake. Do you think we will have time?

the fireworks start immediately after the pre show and the area is packed, there's no time to go anywhere else if you are watching the pre show close up. The fireworks portion only lasts about 7 minutes so it's not worth it to move.

 

[yulilin3]

Scheduling/character stuff looks right to me -

Could you expand the Darth Mall section to explain about Watto's and X-wing collectibles? I'm still a little fuzzy on that and I'm sure others are too.

Oh and thanks for the work and effort!

added to first post:
This year they have a new Darth's Mall "Complex" Split in 3 parts all of them in the Backlot Area, entrance on the end of Streets of America close to LMA
X Wing Collectibles: SW D Tech Me, Dooney & Burke, LE MB, LE pins, Vynilmations, SMS Audio, art and collectibles and Passholder event merchandise
Watto's Grotto: General merchandise, build your own droid and lightsaber stations, Her Universe, Aurebesh nametags, Official Pix and passholder event merchandise.Also the place to find Boba Fett steins, Han Solo popcorn bucket and specialty cupcakes and drinks
Prop Shop: general SWW merchandise and build a lego station

 

[Pygmypuff07]

Don't know if this has already been posted yet, but they ran out of lightsaber at the sci-fi galactic breakfast. We asked and they said they ran out and probably won't be getting any back in. They said they were "surprises" and they weren't to be expected....

 

[Skywise]

Don't know if this has already been posted yet, but they ran out of lightsaber at the sci-fi galactic breakfast. We asked and they said they ran out and probably won't be getting any back in. They said they were "surprises" and they weren't to be expected....

Not even halfway through the event...

 

[jthornton94]

Don't know if this has already been posted yet, but they ran out of lightsaber at the sci-fi galactic breakfast. We asked and they said they ran out and probably won't be getting any back in. They said they were "surprises" and they weren't to be expected....

Well that doesn't seem fair! Guess I shouldn't have mentioned them to my kids