Official Star Wars Weekends Thread Tips and Tricks 2015

[RapunzelsBFF]

I just parted ways with a very close friend so I decided to book a hotel for this weekend for my third and final SWW this year.

My first solo trip too. Kinda nervous but excited as well...

 

[d-r]

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

I had no idea about the baymax and hiro line. We waited over an hour in that thing. Besides morning celebrity fast passes it was the longest thing we've waited for in, well, forever.

 

[d-r]

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.

Yeah I don't know why some get huffy about it, some do and some don't. I think they are just uptight and more worried about how the line looks than the guest experience,

 

[lowlight79]

leaving for the boardwalk in on thursday, Start of saturday at the sci fi galatic breakfast, then head to the parade!

 

[MinnieMouse100]

2 more days, I think I can make it!!!!!

 

[slaveone]

Went and got new camping pad for the bedroll and new tarp. Am so prep ready even for stormy conditions. So long as there is no flooding.

 

[Music City Mama]

Last night here at Universal. To WDW tomorrow! See y'all Friday!

 

[Gianfootography]

I saw you in the park the other day. I was going the geek out and say hi but the sea of humanity prevented me from doing so.

Next time just throw something at me. Preferably something edible.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Yeah I don't know why some get huffy about it, some do and some don't. I think they are just uptight and more worried about how the line looks than the guest experience,

I think it is the unmentioned problem. Sometimes people let too many folks in front of them - then the character shows up and 2 characters are meeting at once for a few families (sometimes more). The people who let other people in front of them in line then get upset if they "only" meet one character (ie the extra character disappears before they get up there).

Personally I think the system that a few CMs at the Jedi Council line were willing to employ worked the best - they let a secondary line form off to the right and would pull one family at a time 'forward' until the desired character turned up. IMO it worked really well and nobody was upset (that I saw). The people who wanted to wait for a specific character were happy - everyone else who then had a 'shorter' line / shorter wait was also happy. Because they were doing it sort of piecemeal the folks further back in the line didn't feel slighted when the line resumed because they hadn't made it up to the front yet. At least that was what I observed (we were in that line a few times...)

 

[lizard1]

Both droids come out at 4:35pm and 7:40pm.be in line at least 30 minutes before to make sure you'll meet them

Thanks....now how to fit this in around my Oz and Obi-Wan FPS?

 

[animalkingdom15]

Oh no - BF just told me he got a cold! Chances he'll be well by Thursday? I hope they're high.

Sorry to hear that. I was at SW Weekend two weeks ago and ended up spending most of the trip in my resort room due to sinus issues. Luckily I was able to book everything in the last 48 hours to make this weekends SW Weekend.

 

[animalkingdom15]

I just parted ways with a very close friend so I decided to book a hotel for this weekend for my third and final SWW this year.

My first solo trip too. Kinda nervous but excited as well...

You will be fine and will have a great time. I think some of my best trips to WDW have been solo trips.

 

[soniam]

I think it is the unmentioned problem. Sometimes people let too many folks in front of them - then the character shows up and 2 characters are meeting at once for a few families (sometimes more). The people who let other people in front of them in line then get upset if they "only" meet one character (ie the extra character disappears before they get up there).

Personally I think the system that a few CMs at the Jedi Council line were willing to employ worked the best - they let a secondary line form off to the right and would pull one family at a time 'forward' until the desired character turned up. IMO it worked really well and nobody was upset (that I saw). The people who wanted to wait for a specific character were happy - everyone else who then had a 'shorter' line / shorter wait was also happy. Because they were doing it sort of piecemeal the folks further back in the line didn't feel slighted when the line resumed because they hadn't made it up to the front yet. At least that was what I observed (we were in that line a few times...)

In a "giving them the benefit of the doubt" moment of weakness, I thought maybe the CM was worried about how the character felt if people didn't want to see him. That has to be a little disappointing when you are a character. However, I bet they are expecting it sometimes too, based upon the character.

 

[pollyanna30]

Went and got new camping pad for the bedroll and new tarp. Am so prep ready even for stormy conditions. So long as there is no flooding.

Sounds like you are definitely prepared. I have been going through my pictures from my trip and found this one that I took this past Friday night, just before that horrible storm. I don't know how bad it was at Hollywood Studios for SWW, but it was quite scary in the Magic Kingdom as it went from no thunder even in the distance to a large bolt of lightning and a loud boom of thunder in an instant. When the wind and rain picked up, there were actually people screaming and running for cover. I hope for much better weather for those attending this coming weekend!

 

[drlaurafsu]

I think it is the unmentioned problem. Sometimes people let too many folks in front of them - then the character shows up and 2 characters are meeting at once for a few families (sometimes more). The people who let other people in front of them in line then get upset if they "only" meet one character (ie the extra character disappears before they get up there).

Personally I think the system that a few CMs at the Jedi Council line were willing to employ worked the best - they let a secondary line form off to the right and would pull one family at a time 'forward' until the desired character turned up. IMO it worked really well and nobody was upset (that I saw). The people who wanted to wait for a specific character were happy - everyone else who then had a 'shorter' line / shorter wait was also happy. Because they were doing it sort of piecemeal the folks further back in the line didn't feel slighted when the line resumed because they hadn't made it up to the front yet. At least that was what I observed (we were in that line a few times...)

That has been the protocol at Jedi Council for a few years. I did send an email to guest relations to say how much I appreciate my favorite CM. The woman who called me back knew exactly who I was talking about and said she thought he was very good too. So nice to know that he will get a little recognition for all the great work he does.

It stinks that they can't all be more accommodating but one difference is that line has never doubled back. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

 

[animalkingdom15]

Sounds like you are definitely prepared. I have been going through my pictures from my trip and found this one that I took this past Friday night, just before that horrible storm. I don't know how bad it was at Hollywood Studios for SWW, but it was quite scary in the Magic Kingdom as it went from no thunder even in the distance to a large bolt of lightning and a loud boom of thunder in an instant. When the wind and rain picked up, there were actually people screaming and running for cover. I hope for much better weather for those attending this coming weekend!
View attachment 101748

Right now it looks like a possible PM thunder storm on Saturday, but for Thursday Friday, Sunday and Monday (knock on wood) nothing more than a 20% chance of rain. As long as I get everything in on Friday at Magic Kingdom including seeing Main Street Electrical Parade and Wishes, along with everything on Sunday for my SWW day I will be a happy camper.

 

[Cluelyss]

Has anyone noticed lighting issues with their Luke/Leia photopass photos? The first weekend the photos were great, but during the past two weekends the photos have been so dark it's almost impossible to see our faces. I figured it was just a one-time issue during weekend 3, but it happened again during weekend 4. I sent a note to the photopass team about it, so hopefully they can pass the word on and weekend 5 photos are a little better

My weekend III photos turned out fine (other than taking 2 days to load to my MM account, and I was freaking out and even sent an email about the "missing photos" while we were en route to MCO!)

 

[pbb322]

Hi all! Just finished packing to depart the Poly tomorrow. So sad to leave, but a great trip. Will post a full review on the trip report board after I get home, but a few things I wanted to mention - I think a poster above said it might be ok to get to VTTM sign ups in the first 30 mins. We missed it both Sat and Sun being there about 15 minutes after RD (Sat we went to JTA and were the 10th sign up and went straight over to sign up for PMC and VTTM but VTTM was full, PMC still had lots of spots. Sun we just got a little behind, went through the turnstiles just as storm troopers let them drop the rope. Walked at a normal pace straight to Maul sign ups and the person in front of us got the last spot. There is no wait list for this show. It was ok, DS was more interested in PMC anyway and loved it. But I'd recommend if VTTM is super important go there first (and yes, about 10 cast members tried to send me to JTA, I just politely told them that's not where we needed to be) if you have 2 adults that adult 1 go to JTA and be a few people back, and then adult 2 and child go to VTTM first and meet adult 2 in JTA line.

We loved the parade and show seating from FTF DPP, but ended up having to bail on 2 shows and miss dessert party/fireworks, and RH because 2 yr old had simply had enough. Galatic breakfast was probably our favorite part of the 2 day weekend - this pic was worth every minute of my planning and obsessing so thank you all!

 

[jacksmommy]

So our plan is to hit Chewie first thing like we did last year but following Yulilin3's video route. We did him at Rope Drop last year but the CM's rerouted us, I know better this year. I just can't remember what time we got there in the morning. It was early. We were maybe the 5th back from the tapstiles and parked in like the 2nd row. I'm thinking it was 6:30/6:45. Does that sound right?

 

[Buddyex]

I did the D-Tech Stormtrooper experience figure on the first weekend of SWW last month as a walkup , it shipped last week from the U.S and is due to be delivered to my home in Australia today, so super speedy service. Can't wait to get home tonight and unbox it.