Star Wars weekend !st timer, any tips?

[PudgetteD]

I've booked free dining 5/27-6/2 next year with the intent of attending a Star Wars weekend. DS11 has been wanting to do this for some time, we just couldn't get our schedules to coincide with SWW dates. Any tips for SWW
1st timers? Thanks!

 

[mikat]

Have SWW dates been announced yet? I know they've bounced between late May and early June in the past, but I'd love to know something more concrete. I remember hearing a rumor that SWW might be all in June this year, since Star Tours isn't supposed to be reopened until May 20th, but nothing official has been heard. We'll be 1st timers as well!

 

[PudgetteD]

Have SWW dates been announced yet? I know they've bounced between late May and early June in the past, but I'd love to know something more concrete. I remember hearing a rumor that SWW might be all in June this year, since Star Tours isn't supposed to be reopened until May 20th, but nothing official has been heard. We'll be 1st timers as well!

EEK! I hope they do it the last weekend in May like they have been! No, I haven't seen any concrete dates either, I'm just going from what was done in the past. That might come back to bite me though because we all know Disney changes things up sometimes. (Like when they moved Flower and Garden WAY up!)

 

[mikat]

EEK! I hope they do it the last weekend in May like they have been! No, I haven't seen any concrete dates either, I'm just going from what was done in the past. That might come back to bite me though because we all know Disney changes things up sometimes. (Like when they moved Flower and Garden WAY up!)

I know, I'm worried about this as well! I want to get started planning (I have too much fun planning!) but I've heard they don't announce official dates until January. THAT'S TOO FAR AWAY

This is going to be a surprise mom-son weekend trip for me and DS8 and hopefully, my sister. We're all SW geeks. DS5 is too scared of SW. I guess I need to give him time.

 

[reelmom]

We went for the first time this year. We loved it! I am not a Star Wars fan but DH and my two boys are. But I have to say, that is one of the most memorible days of our trip. I had no clue who half the characters were but it was so much fun. So my tips would be:

1) Get there early. We arrived at the turnstyles 90 minutes before the park opened. We were not the first ones there. We were probably about 7 families back from the turnstyle. It worked out because we were able to see the preshow on top of the front gates. If you were first, you would miss it. However, the first ones moved back and nobody took their spot.

2) Only plan on SWW stuff. Other than TSM, we did not visit any attraction other than SWW.

3) Get a spot for the parade early. I saved us a spot while DH took the kids for meet and greets. I believe the parade was at 11:20 or 11:40. I found a spot at 10:00. It does get hot, not much shade to wait in. That was the hard part but worth it.

We did not see any of the special events like the actors from the movies, the question and answer show, nor did we stay for the Hoopla at the end of the day. These were all real crowded and the boys did not want to wait. All in all, we had a great time and are already booked for next year.

 

[amyr1]

We did SWW in '09 and there were some things we didn't know.

1. the famous people they have to meet and get autographs was on a FP system. By the time we figured this out they were all gone. IF this is important to you run for FP first.

2. My ds wasnted to do the Padawan Mind Challenge and it took us forever to figure out where to go to sign up. He ended up getting on the waiting list but they did end up letting him participate.

3. There is a HUGE crowd of people who will head to TSM. I had never seen a crowd this large go for one ride and it kind of scared me. We started out in the front of the pack headed for that ride and quickly got run over.

4. We found several characters out and about in the oddest places--and got lots of neat pictures without any lines--so look around and keep your eyes open.

So, my advice is to really do your research and have a plan of attack. Grab a map early if you can and know where you are going.

Amy

 

[jworkkul]

There also will be "stars" at every weekend for meet and greets. If you have a particular "star" and want an autograph, make sure you do get a FP. As a note, this past year my daughter is a big fan of Ray Park (the dude who was Darth Maul). We arrived at the Studios at 4:30 a.m. and there was already a line for the "stars". The longest line was for Billy Dee Williams. So if you want an autograph from these "stars" get there early. You don't have to go into the parks for these. There are different sessions for these autographs starting at 9:00 a.m. We were lucky and received a FP for 1:00 p.m so we went back to the hotel where my daughter dressed up. She likes to dress up for SWW.

 

[PudgetteD]

Thanks for all the great tips! Thank goodness DS doesn't care too much for autographs, just seeing the characters and getting pics is enough for him. DH is looking forward to SWW more than DS! I've not told DS so if the dates don't coincide with our stay, oh well, we'll have a great time anyway! Thanks again!

 

[mickeyhunter]

I would make sure you meet the VIPS! They are adorable and take the cutest pictures with kids! Here are some pictures of them from this past SWW.

 

[laughinplace2]

Where do you meet the DIsney characters dressed in Star Wars outfits?

 

[jworkkul]

 

[delmar411]

Where do you meet the DIsney characters dressed in Star Wars outfits?

they are to the left of the hat. Characters only come out one at a time though except for Mickey and R2-MK(I think that's the name of the mickey R2) but if you hit them at 'shift change' you can get pics with more than one character. The characters change very often too so you will end up having to go through the line multiple times to get all the characters (hours of waiting w/o any shade ).

Most characters have ultra long lines. You either wait to get into the park for hours so you are at the front of the crowd or you wait in ultra long lines to see characters. Either way you are spending most of your day waiting. LOL

There is also a separate line for the SWW merchandise so you don't line up in the regular entrance lines if you want to buy SWW stuff. (the limited edition stuff)

It's a lot of fun but really you have to be prepare for just how hot is it and how little shade there is to wait in. If you get there and you aren't prepared, it can be hard to cope.

 

[skullsplitter]

Not sure if they still do this, but when we there in 08 they selected kids for the star wars parade. The kids got a jedi robe and a toy light saber then walked as group of young jedi in the parade with the rest of the star wars characters.
The people selecting the kids were not the normal cast members. They were a little better dressed, but still Disney employees. Anytime these folks were near we made sure our son was doing something to get noticed. He was already in his Jedi costume. At the Amidala meet and greet he did this very noble Jedi-ish bow to her while the Disney people were watching. They stopped us after this and asked him to be in the parade. Big highlight for him and me since I got to walk too.

 

[Quin]

Does SWW include any separate hard-ticket events the way MK does at Halloween & Christmas, & Epcot does during some of the festivals?

 

[PennyLane1084]

I'm planning on going for SSW the first weekend in June. So, I really really hope they have it the same weekends they've been doing it. I can't wait to see the characters in their SW outfits.

 

[Marshay]

3) Get a spot for the parade early. I saved us a spot while DH took the kids for meet and greets. I believe the parade was at 11:20 or 11:40. I found a spot at 10:00. It does get hot, not much shade to wait in. That was the hard part but worth it.

Can you tell me more about the parade? It sounds like this is a special SWW parade. Do they also have the regular 3pm parade as well?

We plan to go to WDW in mid-May and the day before we leave is SWW opening. I was wondering if we should try to see it (just to see what it's about ... or should we go to another park). We'll have AP so can leave DHS early if we need/want to...