Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[jdmccon7]

Hi all - I haven't been keeping up with the thread because ... You know - vacation! But I did want to share a few thoughts about the PMC sign ups.
We were at the turnstiles about 6:30 on Sunday ... First in a line. Had to take a cab - no buses to be found from the contemporary at 6-something.
We went to the rope drop and planned to follow the path straight ... CMS told us we should go to the side with the JTA crew. We went straight and hung a left at the stage.
We passed a CM who asked where we were headed, I told her PMC, she told me to go to Indiana Jones. I said are you sure, and she very arrogantly told me 'I'm quite positive.'
I got in the PMC line and then a CM there announced for us to make two lines - one for PMC one for Visit to the Maul.
We were third for PMC and the line was nearly nonexistent for Maul ... People signed up for PMC and the moved right over to Maul.
I don't know how quickly the spots left, but the line behind us was maybe up to 10 when we left.
So do get there first for choice of show time but we didn't need to be very first.
Trust you instincts - trust this thread. Unfortunately you can't count on some of the CM.
Full report to come later!
Had a blast at SWW and having a great trip!
Thank you all!!!

So PMC and VttM sign ups are at Indiana Jones now? Everything I have read says ABC Sound Studio. Just confirming this change and that I am understanding.

 

[yulilin3]

So PMC and VttM sign ups are at Indiana Jones now? Everything I have read says ABC Sound Studio. Just confirming this change and that I am understanding.

JTA is at Indy, PMC & VttM is at ABC sound studio sww info desk. I think the CM was trying to tell the poster to go to Indy but the poster knew that wasn't right

 

[Delilah1310]

So PMC and VttM sign ups are at Indiana Jones now? Everything I have read says ABC Sound Studio. Just confirming this change and that I am understanding.

JTA is at Indy, PMC & VttM is at ABC sound studio sww info desk. I think the CM was trying to tell the poster to go to Indy but the poster knew that wasn't right

PMC and VttM Are at sound studios for sure ... I was warning that some CM are not familiar with them and assume you are trying for JTA and try to steer you there.

Go to sound studios and you will be fine ... I'm thinking first 30 minutes should be able to get in, but that is speculation only

Good luck!

 

[yulilin3]

4 am for Peter Mayhew? That may be earlier than I can drag my family there. 5 am seemed somewhat reasonable, but 4 is tougher to sell. Don't want to ruin the whole week by killing everyone the first day of the trip.

It's a matter of priority and knowing your family. If it's super important to meet Mayhew then 4am or 5am (pushing it since what happened last weekend) should be good. But if you think that the family might not enjoy the rest of the day with that early wake up time then I would rethink the plans.

Its


Its about having fun doing what you do, not trying to do everything.

I couldn't agree more

My DS is interested in all of the Blister Pack meet characters. What is the best strategy? Thanks!

Here's the schedule. You have to make the lines a couple of times to get them all.
Ahsoka 12:50-1:30pm/2:10pm-2:50pm/2:55pm-3:35pm/4:25pm-4:55pm/5pm-5:40pm/

Assaj 12:10pm-12:50pm/1:30pm-2:10pm/4:05pm-4:55pm/

Cody 12:50pm-1:10pm/2:10pm-2:30pm/3:25pm-3:45pm/5:40pm-6pm/6:50pm-7:10pm

Rex 1:10pm-1:30pm/2:30pm-2:50pm/3:45pm-4:05pm/6pm-6:20pm/7:10pm-7:30pm
there's one last set of Cody and Rex together. Make sure to ask the CM working the line, they will be able to help you

And can anyone update with what is going on with characterpalooza during SWW and Baymax's wait? Thanks!

Baymax and Hiro are still meeting, if you are not there in the morning before their 1st set you are looking at a 2 hour wait. Consistent all day.
Characterpalooza I haven't kept up with, some have reported it still happens at 6ish

 

[ruley3]

Hello everyone I am headed to SWW Have had an emotional roller coaster with my Grandmother passing away and my son's 5th grade graduation this past few weeks. I need to go have some fun with my kiddos for sure!!! I have no FPs yet or any ressies but sometimes spur of the moment is needed for coping!!! Hope to see some DIS peeps there and if anyone has adventures they want to tell me about please feel free to PM me or anything to share.

 

[msmama]

Hi everyone, a general question to anyone able to answer, i'm going for the first time this year on Saturday and I've been trying to no avail to reserve a galactic breakfast, the question is, have any of you experienced or heard of people doing the breakfast, by booking a walk-up reservation first thing in the morning? Any feedback on this would be an awesome help to our planning for the day, thanks.

Weekend 2, there was a who had checked in for their breakfast and then got inline for Chewy (apparently thinking they'd be finished by the time they were called) and then when there was still 30 minutes left in the Chewy line and they were called, they gave up their breakfasts on the spot (apparently paying the no show fee, but not sure about that). I, and the others around me, were quite shocked!! I asked the seater person about it when we were called and he said it happens more often than you'd think.

So it's probably worth a shot to walk-up (and/or check the night before).

 

[AuntieK]

I'm way behind on this thread. 3 more sleeps then it's off to Disney! Very excited for out SWW day on Saturday. Thanks to this thread I know we'll have an awesome time. We'll be doing the Chewie run, Galactic Breakfast, DPP, a few rides, and the Rebel Hangar. WooHoo.

 

[jacksmommy]

It's a matter of priority and knowing your family. If it's super important to meet Mayhew then 4am or 5am (pushing it since what happened last weekend) should be good. But if you think that the family might not enjoy the rest of the day with that early wake up time then I would rethink the plans.


I couldn't agree more


Here's the schedule. You have to make the lines a couple of times to get them all.
Ahsoka 12:50-1:30pm/2:10pm-2:50pm/2:55pm-3:35pm/4:25pm-4:55pm/5pm-5:40pm/

Assaj 12:10pm-12:50pm/1:30pm-2:10pm/4:05pm-4:55pm/

Cody 12:50pm-1:10pm/2:10pm-2:30pm/3:25pm-3:45pm/5:40pm-6pm/6:50pm-7:10pm

Rex 1:10pm-1:30pm/2:30pm-2:50pm/3:45pm-4:05pm/6pm-6:20pm/7:10pm-7:30pm
there's one last set of Cody and Rex together. Make sure to ask the CM working the line, they will be able to help you


Baymax and Hiro are still meeting, if you are not there in the morning before their 1st set you are looking at a 2 hour wait. Consistent all day.
Characterpalooza I haven't kept up with, some have reported it still happens at 6ish

Thanks so much! I really appreciate all of the time you take to answer all of my questions and also others' questions!

 

[wdwalice]

Hello everyone I am headed to SWW Have had an emotional roller coaster with my Grandmother passing away and my son's 5th grade graduation this past few weeks. I need to go have some fun with my kiddos for sure!!! I have no FPs yet or any ressies but sometimes spur of the moment is needed for coping!!! Hope to see some DIS peeps there and if anyone has adventures they want to tell me about please feel free to PM me or anything to share.

Taking time to have fun especially with family has a truly magical healing power. Sending heaps of pixie dust to you!! I say relax, take in wherever your adventures lead to and enjoy every minute!!

 

[delmar411]

Hello everyone I am headed to SWW Have had an emotional roller coaster with my Grandmother passing away and my son's 5th grade graduation this past few weeks. I need to go have some fun with my kiddos for sure!!! I have no FPs yet or any ressies but sometimes spur of the moment is needed for coping!!! Hope to see some DIS peeps there and if anyone has adventures they want to tell me about please feel free to PM me or anything to share.

I am sorry about your grandmother. (((Hugs)))

My daughter just graduated from 5th as well, very exciting time heading to middle school but yet so stressful!

I hope you have a great vacation!

 

[HCinKC]

So do the buses from all resorts start at 7am for DHS all the time? About how long do you think it takes to ride the bus from AoA Resort to DHS? We want to get there as close to 7am as possible to get a good position to get to JTA.
Thanks!

We were at CBR, and the buses seemed to be running an hour and a half before park opening across all parks. I wasn't truly timing, but I know we hit all park buses at that time frame or near it.

Haha, I'm sorry for being so late. I've been studying for NCLEX and away from the boards for too long but I passed
But yes that's me in the photo with my daughter Malia.



It was nice to talk to a lot of SW fans that day and sharing in the love of it being dressed up.

Congrats on your test! So funny to find out you are a DISer. My son liked seeing and chatting with the other kids who dressed up, too. He saw me reading Yuli's post the other day and said "hey we talked to them at dinner." You guys have such great, memorable costumes!

 

[Metz172]

to SWW or to Disney in general?
It's hard for me to say cause I've lived in Orlando for 17 years and had an AP for about 15 of those years. I love planning and even with just a quick day trip I would know which attractions I wanted to do and where to eat.
I do remember m first SWW. 2004. My daughter was 4 so we didn't really spend a lot of time in the parks, she was far less patient than her brother was and couldn't stand any waiting. I went without really knowing a lot about it and had a good time. 2007 was my first autograph session and got Bonnie Piesse (Aunt Beru) way back when you had to line up at the turnstiles and then they would open the park and it was a free for all to get your fp at the Indiana Jones theater, that process was longer than what JTA is now, about an hour depending on where in line you were. That was the last year Kenny Baker came and I am still kicking myself for not going for his autograph.
I've read a lot of reports of the event not feeling the same, that it's more popular and the addition of the packages doesn't help. People tend to forget that 9/11 did a lot of damage to the tourism industry and it's really been in the past 3 years that it has bounced back. Yes the event is more popular and you need to plan more to get most of what you want done. But, you could come and partake in activities with little planning, you just have to wait longer. For the shows at The Theater of the Stars you really only have to line up about 45 minutes before the show and still be able to get a seat (maybe not the case this coming weekend with Frank Oz)
As for me personally, I need to plan, I like to have a schedule so maybe me winging it wouldn't be enjoyable but for people that don't feel the same I think it would still be fun, to walk around, look at characters, maybe catch a couple of shows, watch the fireworks...It all depends on the person.

We did both this trip. The first day we went was this past Friday and we had the deluxe premium plan. We had fast passes for TSMM, Star Tours and Tower of Terror. We saw SOTS and VTTM. Arrived at 9am and left at 10pm and it was a great day. We moved from one thing to the next with no down time but weren't rushed and got to do everything but only managed one picture with Bobba Fett.
It worked out for us to go back on Sunday. Left the resort around 4pm. Somehow managed to get an ADR for Mama Melroses on the bus on the way to the studios for 7:20. We arrived with no plan other than to see the fireworks and dinner. Ended up getting pics with Chewie, Darth Maul and Darth Vader and saw the Indiana Jones show before dinner. Plus saw a ton of the wandering characters and interacted with a lot of people in lines and were able to appreciate the costumes that guests were wearing. I honestly don't know which day I liked better. Very glad we got to do both.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Just released a RH at 8:10 for this Friday

 

[Felipe4]

2 sleeps until I fly down! EEEK.

 

[Disaholic73]

2 sleeps until I fly down! EEEK.

Us toooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! Only problem is "I'm too excited to sleep!"

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

My DS is interested in all of the Blister Pack meet characters. What is the best strategy? Thanks!

I'd get in line when they first come out. If there is more than one adult you can stagger your positions in the line and try to get the characters as they switch. The cms who work this line are pretty good at guessing who you'll get to see when you enter the line so don't be afraid to ask. Though it'll just be a good guess, they could always be off.

And can anyone update with what is going on with characterpalooza during SWW and Baymax's wait? Thanks!

Baymax is best done by getting in line about 945. He comes out at 1030. That will probably be your shortest wait.

I was there weekend II and character palooza happened approx 610 at the tot gates two days out of that weekend. I'd get there around 6 to be safe.

 

[ruley3]

Thanks for the healing pixie dust vibes! Grief is tiresome for sure. We are staying at Bonnet Creek and leaving tomorrow to head down Wed-Sun. I have not been to SWW in a long time so it will all be exciting for us!! I will have my 2DS and DD and their Godmother is traveling along for the ride. We were last at Disney for Halloween Party in October, Only thing I am dreading is the heat.... I am trying to decide a "plan" as usually I am so so so plan ready but I know I can do this!!! I will be scrolling this thread when I cannot sleep tonight as I wait and anticipate!!!!

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

I just realized in 4 days I have to change my ticker once again because SWW will be over AHHHH But knowing me I'll changing to the CM F&W preview date because I can't simply rest and not be planning for another Disney event before the one I'm already celebrating is over.

 

[jennab113]

My DS is interested in all of the Blister Pack meet characters. What is the best strategy? Thanks!

Here's the schedule. You have to make the lines a couple of times to get them all.
Ahsoka 12:50-1:30pm/2:10pm-2:50pm/2:55pm-3:35pm/4:25pm-4:55pm/5pm-5:40pm/

Assaj 12:10pm-12:50pm/1:30pm-2:10pm/4:05pm-4:55pm/

Cody 12:50pm-1:10pm/2:10pm-2:30pm/3:25pm-3:45pm/5:40pm-6pm/6:50pm-7:10pm

Rex 1:10pm-1:30pm/2:30pm-2:50pm/3:45pm-4:05pm/6pm-6:20pm/7:10pm-7:30pm
there's one last set of Cody and Rex together. Make sure to ask the CM working the line, they will be able to help you

Ahsoka has one more set after that isn't listed. When I met her, she came out at 6:30, though I think she was supposed to come out later based on the handler's reaction. I was first in line to meet her and Rex on May 30th and my phone says the pics were taken at 6:28. Originally when I asked one of the guys working the line about meeting Rex, he said to be in line by 7:50 because Ahsoka would be meeting with one or both of the clones and then when she left, they would meet everyone left in line together. I would try to be early for Assaj's first set to get her out of the way early.

In my experience, when the line section is full, it took 20-30 minutes to get through. Assaj and Ahsoka are chatty, but it goes faster when the clones are out without a face character. The handlers there were the nicest I encountered all three weekends. I believe it is Josh that is super helpful.

 

[only hope]

My DS is interested in all of the Blister Pack meet characters. What is the best strategy? Thanks!

If the line is roughly to the end of the queue, then you will likely be meeting the next character that comes out- if the character is on time. Sunday Ashoka was late arriving and about six groups including me were telling those behind us who wanted to see Ventress to go ahead and pass us up. The CM started to get irritated with us, which I think was uncalled for. As long as there were people behind us who wanted to meet Ventress and didn't care about meeting Ashoka, then why does it matter? Win-win for everyone.