Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[jennab113]

I agree on the characters at RH. I think they should have more generic characters - like random X-wing pilots. Characters that aren't necessarily named/recognizable, but fit the Rebel Alliance theme. Then it wouldn't be a huge deal if the character doesn't make it around to all the tables in a set and they'd be generic enough that you could send someone else out in their place if the CM is needed elsewhere without it being noticable. Like Sabine and Ezra are face characters that need to stay consistent, but X-wing pilot #1 could leave and X-wing pilot #2 could come out and say his buddy had a mission if asked.

They could use the Ken doll Luke for this since he looks nothing like Luke anyway.

 

[pbb322]

I know we are probably in the minority, but I don't mind the no autographs rule at the ADRs, it gives more time for actual interaction with the characters. I do think the RH since it is inexpensive, and not advertised as character dining is just going to be a great bonus if we get to meet someone. However, for the insane price of the Galactic Breakfast, they really should have had more than enough lightsabers ordered. It might not have been promised but they do not specifically promise the wishing stars, wands or swords at CRT either - and you can bet that people would storm the castle if those disappeared for what people pay for that ADR! **sigh**

 

[lovingeire]

About to head to sci fi breakfast. Will report back on light sabers. Rebel hangar later today will do a character report. Will also be doing a character palooza hunt.

Was hopeful parks would be emptier today, but tot was 30 minute wait at 920. Sci fi was out of the light sabers some point Sunday. Sounds like they might come back.

I'm so pleased so many extra sabers were handed out so now paying guests like me are missing out.

@OhioStateBuckeye I can't wait to hear about character palooza! And I am bummed about the lightsabers at the Galactic Breakfast too!

Complaints regarding lack of lightsabers should focus on poor planning and management rather than blaming the food service and entertainment staff.

@Itinkso I completely agree. I am going to email a complain over via the email address Yuli provided so it hopefully gets to the right person. In my opinion the lack of lightsabers lies with the person who ordered them. If CMs were giving out extras, that's an issue too, but you always order more than necessary of those types of things. Hopefully if we express our dissatisfaction it can, at the very least, help prevent these problems from occurring year to year.

Yes, it was @Artax I believe. Are you willing to share any tips on how you sweet-talked your way into actual autographs? I will need some advice for our breakfast....not paying that much for a meal and having to wait in line for DV and BF's autograph in the blistering sun in the park with 2 cranky kids!!! (Though I plan on wording my request much nicer than that! LOL!)

I am hoping to do this as well. Vader and Fett are my oldest two's must do characters. I'll happily spend $60pp if we don't have to stand in line in the heat, but since we are not doing books this year and are doing the photo mats an autograph card doesn't help us out much.

In line for baymax at 945, second group to see him. Asked the character attendant, he said 90% chance they're gone when inside out comes out.

DH suggested we leave right after middle DS's pre-K graduation and drive to Tallahassee, the halfway point, spend the night and then have a shorter drive into Disney. We won't be there for rope drop, but hopefully it will allow us to meet Baymax and Hiro before they go or do some of the other things we might not have done SWW.

 

[Gianfootography]

I want to see the pic you did! Mine was horrible but I went into DH's meeting with Silas and reminded him to make the video for the boys which was awesome. I uploaded it to instagram, Im twochickstwopumpkins on there. (Im Mary from this morning. )

http://instagram.com/p/2_uelRHi2r/

 

[lovingeire]

And I totally agree on RH. It's not billed as a character meal and the pricing is certainly not that of a character meal. But I do believe you should get what you pay for, and if I'm paying the same or more as other character meals on property I'd like the signatures that my kids will expect.

 

[DisneyMama21]

Question about celebrity autographs...I read that someone said that people can only go in one at a time? DH, DS, and I all want to see Peter Mayhew Weekend V, but wanted a pic with all 3 of us together with him. Is this not possible? TIA

 

[yulilin3]

Question about celebrity autographs...I read that someone said that people can only go in one at a time? DH, DS, and I all want to see Peter Mayhew Weekend V, but wanted a pic with all 3 of us together with him. Is this not possible? TIA

You can all meet him together, each of you needs to be outside the park early to get a wristband and fp, maybe that was the confusion?

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

If I get in line for Mace by 11:50-12, I should be one of the first to meet him, right? That's 20-30 minutes prior. If I meet Mace by 12:40, I could go straight to Rex and be in line 20-30 minutes before the start of his set. If I skip Maul and do Padme in the morning, I could probably be done with the author signing by 11:30 and get in line for Mace then. If I end up missing Rex, I could always try for him on Saturday or Sunday.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies!

the Jedi Council line seems to move slower than other lines just FYI. You can always get in line and then bail if you think it is going to take too long. Is someone meeting before Mace (sorry not looking at times right now). If someone is out before him the line will already be pretty long -if he is the first character out after the parade you might luck out and have a shorter line (once a character shows up the line just grows and grows)

 

[DisneyMama21]

You can all meet him together, each of you needs to be outside the park early to get a wristband and fp, maybe that was the confusion?

Ok, that's what I thought...I don't know where I read that you can only go in one at a time, but it confused me! We will all be camping out early to get our wristbands and FPs. Thanks so much!

 

[Barbara C]

Hi all -

I am going to cancel a 9:40am Galactic Breakfast for 3 people on Sunday, May 31. Please PM if you're interested in coordinating.

Thanks.

 

[ogalban]

I just return from SWW weekend II... it was awesome!!!! I really enjoy it!

Our family really enjoy the DPP and the Galactic Breakfast.

Sorry for asking this... where is the DVC/Pass holder trade thread? I got an additional Fett poster that I would like to trade for next week (Darth Maul) poster. Maul is my DS favorite character.

Thanks!

 

[jennab113]

the Jedi Council line seems to move slower than other lines just FYI. You can always get in line and then bail if you think it is going to take too long. Is someone meeting before Mace (sorry not looking at times right now). If someone is out before him the line will already be pretty long -if he is the first character out after the parade you might luck out and have a shorter line (once a character shows up the line just grows and grows)

Good call - I just checked and Anakin meets before him 11:40-12:20, so the earlier getting in line, the better. I've already stood in the line for Anakin, so I know how long it takes. I'll plan to be there by 11:30 at the latest and then let people pass me if needed. I can always do the author signing on another day, too. Doing it Friday is nice because I can send the book back to the hotel afterwards, but I could put it off until Sunday and just carry it in my backpack.

 

[jthornton94]

Just got my room number text! Disney here we come.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I just return from SWW weekend II... it was awesome!!!! I really enjoy it!

Our family really enjoy the DPP and the Galactic Breakfast.

Sorry for asking this... where is the DVC/Pass holder trade thread? I got an additional Fett poster that I would like to trade for next week (Darth Maul) poster. Maul is my DS favorite character.

Thanks!

the trading thread is under the SWW Roll Call Thread - check the last few pages....

 

[yulilin3]

Just got my room number text! Disney here we come.

if you get a hold of the map please let us know the autograph times to see if they coincide with my predicted ones. Have fun!!

 

[ogalban]

the trading thread is under the SWW Roll Call Thread - check the last few pages....

Thank You... I used Yulilin signature link!

 

[jennab113]

Here are the magic shots. The PP photographer was standing around looking bored when I did it, so no wait at all.

 

[yulilin3]

Here are the magic shots. The PP photographer was standing around looking bored when I did it, so no wait at all.
View attachment 99225
View attachment 99226

you really sent them flying...I hope they forgive you and release the force field...I mean teeny tiny rope on Friday

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Not sww related but I'm at Epcot and character training happened at noon today at the american gates if anyone else was going to try for it.

 

[Nhebron]

So we are back from our super quick, Memorial Day weekend trip. This was our first SWW and there was definitely some highs and lows. Overall, I think we accomplished all the big items on our agenda. I purposely took it slow and didn't overbook us since we were traveling with a young child, spreading our activities over two days. Things were also a little bit more challenging with DS, who has some special needs, but I think overall we had a good time.

I am planning to do a detailed trip report, but here are the SWW highlights.

Saturday:

• Chewie dash after rope drop - I tried to follow Yulilin3's directions but turned off too soon (!) when trying to find his line, so we weren't one of the first families. Still DH was done his M&G by 8:20am. We couldn't meet as a family because DS was a bit cranky. So DS and I walked around, checking out the RH decor and shopping in Tatooine Traders. Somehow we ended up with this new friend (actually a coin bank) that we then needed to carry with us everywhere (including on TSMM) ! So we just made him our SWW mascot.

• Star Tours - couldn't get DS to get on with us, but DH and I both enjoyed a ride separately before 9am with no wait.
  
• Sci-fi breakfast - we loved the character interaction, food, and SW clips. Our service wasn't great but this was still a highlight for us. We did get light sabers (sorry for those who didn't!)
  
• DS and I took a mid-day break and ran into Yulilin3 and her daughter near the exit. I felt a bit silly flagging Yulilin3 down.
• H&V Jedi Mickey Dinner - I thought the food was decent. DS had an issue with the noise level, which I wasn't expecting. This made the dinner hard. Goes back to one of the tips "know your child," I guess...

Sunday:

• We had the Deluxe package. This was probably a waste for my family. I knew going in that we wouldn't necessarily get the value out of it but thought we would at least enjoy the parade and dessert party. I also wanted express access to Darth Mall.
  
• Parade viewing was awesome. We got to the parade area right at 10am and it was almost empty. We were near the start of the parade. During the parade, DS dropped his toy storm trooper near the parade route. Before I could lean down to get it, Zam Wesell picked it up and set it next to my son, staring at him and trying to get a reaction. I wasn't fast enough to get the picture! Donald also came right up to DS during the parade. He loved it.
• Was a bit disappointed in Darth Mall. Not sure what I was expecting (maybe more props/scenes inside store?). We didn't make it into the Prop shop but visited the other two stores. The express access was handy. There was a line when we came Sunday afternoon and there was no way I could wait in it with kiddo.
• Dessert party reaction was mixed in my family. DH really disliked it. He didn't like the music or the desserts. I told him if he had brought his light saber and had more drinks, he would have had a better time. DS loved dancing to the music but was a bit out of control. If you were at the deluxe premium dessert party last Sunday and a dancing wild child bumped into you....I'm sorry. He was having a blast though and a couple of the CM came up and started dancing with him. I really enjoyed watching the Symphony of the Stars preshow. We ended up having to leave the fireworks early though because DS couldn't handle and wouldn't wear his ear protection (again....back to tip on knowing your child but in my defense, this was a new behavior, we have done fireworks before).

Heat was brutal and Sunday the park felt so crowded. We have always done Disney in February, so dealing with the heat and the crowds was rough for us. But overall a good trip. Appreciate all the tips from this thread.