Star Wars Weekend Tips ~ 2011 Update

[julwh]

Hi!

We'll be at SWW weekends 3 & 4. Will the 501st be in attendance either weekend? We really hope so.

Another question for anyone who has attended this year...Where Is Palpatine & the Red Guard? I'm hoping we just missed them, but we haven't noticed them in anyone's photos.

Thanks!!!

The 501st will be there every weekend so the parade will be big. We had Red Guard marching in the parade 1st and 2nd weekend but we are not allowed back in the park with our costumes on so it just depends if Disney has any CMs in their costumes. I don't remember seeing any when I went in the park but there are a couple in the parade.

Hope you enjoy it! We love marching in it and seeing everyone so excited.

 

[laomaktk]

Do you need fastpasses for all of the Star Wars characters or just the special guests for that weekend? Thanks

 

[tksbaskets]

When we went a few years back it was just the celebrities that you needed a fast pass for. The other characters were around and if you waited in line they were happy to sign books.

 

[Mischa]

Do you need fastpasses for all of the Star Wars characters or just the special guests for that weekend? Thanks

When we went a few years back it was just the celebrities that you needed a fast pass for. The other characters were around and if you waited in line they were happy to sign books.

That is what it was like last weekend. Fastpasses for the celebrities only.

 

[Joanna71985]

Do you need fastpasses for all of the Star Wars characters or just the special guests for that weekend? Thanks

The FPs are just for the celebrities. There are no FPs for the characters.

 

[GoofyJediMaster]

Make sure you get to make your own lightsaber. We went in 2008. They have a station in Once Upon a Toy in DT Disney. It is a lot of fun! We are going back next year. My 8 year old and 5 year old want to make one when we go back.

 

[maryserv]

Make sure you get to make your own lightsaber. We went in 2008. They have a station in Once Upon a Toy in DT Disney. It is a lot of fun! We are going back next year. My 8 year old and 5 year old want to make one when we go back.

I wonder if anyone has seen if they have this this year? We've not yet gone in to Once Upon a Toy to look for one. The only lightsabers I've seen during SWW are Darth Maul's double sword at Wicket's Warehouse.

 

[maryserv]

In the back of Wicket's Warehouse is a photoshoot area. The photographer we had there was a major Star Wars freak and a good photographer. He takes pictures of one's face then superimposes them onto the bodies of Star Wars characters.

I never would have done it if there weren't another family having fun doing it and I started watching. We shot our son as Darth Maul, it came out fantastic! The photographer then wanted to get the rest of us, so now we are the proud owners of the Empire Strikes Back movie poster with our faces. My son as Luke looks great. Seeing me on the emaciated body of Carrie Fischer was a little unnerving at first, then embarrassing, but we bought it to remind us of our trip.

I also enjoyed watching the Youngling quiz and the amazing parade with all of the costuming.

 

[yulilin3]

You can make your own lightsaber at the Star Tours Gift Shop.

 

[kbelle8995]

Avoid the stores during the day. I went in the evening and it was much less crowded. I was able to get my pins pretty easily. Wicket's Warehouse is open until the park closes.

Make your Lightsaber is also available at The Toy store at Downtown Disney

 

[Catira]

Avoid the stores during the day. I went in the evening and it was much less crowded. I was able to get my pins pretty easily. Wicket's Warehouse is open until the park closes.

Make your Lightsaber is also available at The Toy store at Downtown Disney

I'm sorry if my ? doesn't make much sense.. but how is this light saber at Downtown Disney different from one we would otherwise purchase at Toys R US? My son loves Star Wars and we will be there the last weekend.
Thanks

 

[holcomb-mania]

I think the difference is just that you get to build it yourself. Custom-made so to speak. Unless you can do that at TRU now. Which I avoid at all costs.

 

[yulilin3]

I'm sorry if my ? doesn't make much sense.. but how is this light saber at Downtown Disney different from one we would otherwise purchase at Toys R US? My son loves Star Wars and we will be there the last weekend.
Thanks

You get to pick the handle (there are different styles of handles) pick the crystals you want (each crystals give the saber different sound effects), it truly makes it your lightsaber.

 

[laomaktk]

In the back of Wicket's Warehouse is a photoshoot area. The photographer we had there was a major Star Wars freak and a good photographer. He takes pictures of one's face then superimposes them onto the bodies of Star Wars characters.

Is Wicket's Warehouse open during the week or just the weekend? Thanks

 

[Mickey's Sister]

The 501st will be there every weekend so the parade will be big. We had Red Guard marching in the parade 1st and 2nd weekend but we are not allowed back in the park with our costumes on so it just depends if Disney has any CMs in their costumes. I don't remember seeing any when I went in the park but there are a couple in the parade.

Hope you enjoy it! We love marching in it and seeing everyone so excited.

Hi! Glad to hear the 501st will be there every weekend! You people do some great work. It must be a riot to march in the parade - though I can't imagine the heat. I saw the 1st weekend parade on Youtube - everyone looked great. I was really impressed - you even had a Dooku! Why doesn't Disney allow you to stay in the park in your costumes? That could really enhance the whole experience.

Can you tell we're diehard fans? My son has wanted to attend since he was about 5 (he's 15), so we're very excited to finally be going. I promised him if we ever attended, we'd wear some kind of costumes. With every one of our ideas too hot or too expensive, we're going as Mara Jade (I'm a redhead) and Ben Skywalker...it seemed the easiest. Plus the whole mother & son thing... but that's the reason my son was hoping for Palpatine - a picture of the Emporer's Hand with the Emporer... I think we'll be excited no matter what happens! Thank you for your response & for your fine work with the 501st!

Now I have a logistical question for any experts out there... I've never driven to Disney Studios, which I4 exit is it? How early does the parking lot open? Any tips about this would be appreciated.

We're counting down the days!

 

[maryserv]

Is Wicket's Warehouse open during the week or just the weekend? Thanks

I think that it is part of the SWW. It is a warehouse atmosphere, not something that Disney would normally do on a day to day situation. They have some things in there that you cannot get anywhere else. Really neat stuff!

 

[Joanna71985]

Is Wicket's Warehouse open during the week or just the weekend? Thanks

Just for the weekends.

 

[TDC Nala]

Emperor Palpatine appeared in the Hyperspace Hoopla in 2008 but I did not see him at all last weekend.

A Streetmosphere/Citizens of Hollywood character giving away fake Star Wars autographs on Hollywood Boulevard signed an Emperor Palpatine for my friend though. He said it was a little known fact that Emperor Palpatine decorates his signature with tiny hearts.

If you want to see the Hyperspace Hoopla up close, arrive at the stage for the last Jedi Training and when it's over, make your way up to the rope. The cast members will then move the rope in toward the stage. Be careful - people may try to squash you. You will probably need to stand in a densely packed crowd to watch the show but it is a lot of fun.

Make sure you get to the Stars of the Saga early so you can see the stormtrooper preshow - they're a riot.

 

[turtlebean]

Emperor Palpatine appeared in the Hyperspace Hoopla in 2008 but I did not see him at all last weekend.

A Streetmosphere/Citizens of Hollywood character giving away fake Star Wars autographs on Hollywood Boulevard signed an Emperor Palpatine for my friend though. He said it was a little known fact that Emperor Palpatine decorates his signature with tiny hearts.

If you want to see the Hyperspace Hoopla up close, arrive at the stage for the last Jedi Training and when it's over, make your way up to the rope. The cast members will then move the rope in toward the stage. Be careful - people may try to squash you. You will probably need to stand in a densely packed crowd to watch the show but it is a lot of fun.

Make sure you get to the Stars of the Saga early so you can see the stormtrooper preshow - they're a riot.

Definitely stay to see the hyperspace hoopla. It is hilarious!! I also agree w/the stormtrooper pre-show. It was great! We just got back and it was a lot of fun. We went on Sunday 5/31 and Friday 6/5, Friday was more packed than Sunday.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Thanks again for everyone's tips! We are leaving for WDW tomorrow and are staying at my Grandma's in NC for the night. We will get to WDW on Saturday night and hopefully go to bed early. We are going to get up early on Sunday morning and head over to DHS for SSW. I will post a review once we get back! I'm so excited!!