Star Wars Weekend Tips ~ 2011 Update

[mommyintn]

Question- Am I getting this right, At SWW you have to go to the Star Wars table near Sounds Dangerous to get your child in the Jedi training? It's not waiting in line by the stage? We will be there on 6/11 for the AM EMH, will the table be out at 8AM or do I have to wait till 9A?

Yes this is correct go to Sounds Dangerous to sign up at the event table. We just got back today and went to SWW last Sunday. We were at the end of the street for rope drop and our boys got signed up for the 2:10 show. It was really great, my boys didn't battle Darth on stage but got to battle Ventress in front of the stage, also Ashooka from Clone Wars taught their group. Ventress was in full character it was great, I'll post some pics tomorrow. I don't think the table will be out at 8am but if you really want to sign them up I'd be over in that area before 9am. Have fun!

 

[tassma]

I would really appreciate some feedback - I think I am getting confused. I am going with my Mom and DS6 and DD4 to the last SWW and staying at BWI. I think my priorities are JTA, characters and parade. I assume that the actors will be lost on my kiddos and way too much work for me. Is it possible that we get there early and watch the stormtroopers show, then i got get JTA for both kids while my mom takes them to get in a character line? I am thinking that with the multiple days we have available that we can be a bit laid back, but then i get worried that I will miss A LOT. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[tassma]

As a follow up - it sounds like the fast passes are for actor autographs and not for characters. Am I wrong?

 

[mommyintn]

As a follow up - it sounds like the fast passes are for actor autographs and not for characters. Am I wrong?

Yes fastpasses are only for the actor autographs although I'd love them for the characters. We ended up only getting pics with Darth Vader, the lines were too long and not many were shaded. My boys opted out but JTA was great, I'm not sure I mentioned they gave them a diploma and a star wars action figure for being a park of it!

 

[tink1953]

We grabbed the benches between Jedi training and Indiana Jones....shaded and no one can stand in front of you.

We did sit down around 10:30 because I thought it started at 11:00 instead of 11:40 but it paid off. We had the best seats with shade and bathrooms right across from us, also ice cream and we could hear the Jedi training.

It was the end of the parade so all the characters and celebrities went on the stage and you can get a great group shot.

I sat and saved the bench while the others did stuff. I was so beat I didn't mind at all. It was worth the wait for sure.

BArb

 

[jc040404]

I just read an older article at Studio Central that mentioned Face Painting. Can we still do this?

http://www.studioscentral.com/column/studios-weekly/getting-kids-involved

I saw lots of kids with their faces painted in different star wars designs friday.


I'm curious about the kids in the parade though. On sunday, I think I heard it announced that they were from the jedi training, but several of them only looked a couple of years old. I don't see how they would ever pass for 4. This article says you sign up at park opening. How does it work this year?

As a new Star Wars fan, I had sooo much fun the two days we went this week!! Thanks for all the posts and tips on here. We're going to try SWW again before it's over to try to catch some more characters. I read that you can stand aside to let others in front if you wanted to wait for a particular character to return. (I think?) This was absolutely NOT the case friday. While waiting in two different lines, CM's were actually making a point of saying it would not be allowed as they walked the lines. Even with the two DHS days, it made meeting all we wanted pretty rough.

 

[wendypooh]

I saw lots of kids with their faces painted in different star wars designs friday.


I'm curious about the kids in the parade though. On sunday, I think I heard it announced that they were from the jedi training, but several of them only looked a couple of years old. I don't see how they would ever pass for 4. This article says you sign up at park opening. How does it work this year?

As a new Star Wars fan, I had sooo much fun the two days we went this week!! Thanks for all the posts and tips on here. We're going to try SWW again before it's over to try to catch some more characters. I read that you can stand aside to let others in front if you wanted to wait for a particular character to return. (I think?) This was absolutely NOT the case friday. While waiting in two different lines, CM's were actually making a point of saying it would not be allowed as they walked the lines. Even with the two DHS days, it made meeting all we wanted pretty rough.

As for the kids in the parade - when we got over to the half wall to wait for the parade - it was about 10 am - a CM came over to the family that was already sitting there - he asked if the kids wanted to be in the parade - they said no - then he asked me if DS wanted to be in the parade - I asked DS and he said no, he wanted to watch the parade. Then another family came and sat on the other side of the first family - he asked them and they said yes, I even have pics of them in the parade! So, I'm not sure if this how they pick kids for the parade all the time, but, this is how it happened on fri. 5/21

I had read here too where you are suppose to sign up for it............ I guess people didn't know that or they were doing something different.

 

[delmar411]

As a new Star Wars fan, I had sooo much fun the two days we went this week!! Thanks for all the posts and tips on here. We're going to try SWW again before it's over to try to catch some more characters. I read that you can stand aside to let others in front if you wanted to wait for a particular character to return. (I think?) This was absolutely NOT the case friday. While waiting in two different lines, CM's were actually making a point of saying it would not be allowed as they walked the lines. Even with the two DHS days, it made meeting all we wanted pretty rough.

We had no trouble doing this on 5/21, 5/22, 5/28 & today 5/30. Lots of people were doing it as well, the CMs were even telling people it was fine. It's how we managed to get all the autographs. We all did the first 3 dates and then today I went for just the one last picture we were missing and 2 families let me go in front of them since they were waiting for a different character. You must of ran into some grouchy CMs. After 3 full park days of standing in lines the handlers knew our family by sight. With 4 kids and a DH who's never met a stranger, we're kind of unforgettable! One handler even went out of her way to take the kids stuff off stage to get the one roaming character's autograph we missed.

 

[bgsnmky]

Wow that seems like a good spot...too!! Decisions Decisions...on where to go...

Thanks...

We grabbed the benches between Jedi training and Indiana Jones....shaded and no one can stand in front of you.

We did sit down around 10:30 because I thought it started at 11:00 instead of 11:40 but it paid off. We had the best seats with shade and bathrooms right across from us, also ice cream and we could hear the Jedi training.

It was the end of the parade so all the characters and celebrities went on the stage and you can get a great group shot.

I sat and saved the bench while the others did stuff. I was so beat I didn't mind at all. It was worth the wait for sure.

BArb

 

[bgsnmky]

Do the characaters (Mickey etc) start at 9:00 like the rest of them...I have a copy of the 1st weekend and I am just trying to see if that is where I need to head first..or if they don't start till later...

(they are my priority)..

 

[jc040404]

We had no trouble doing this on 5/21, 5/22, 5/28 & today 5/30. Lots of people were doing it as well, the CMs were even telling people it was fine. It's how we managed to get all the autographs. We all did the first 3 dates and then today I went for just the one last picture we were missing and 2 families let me go in front of them since they were waiting for a different character. You must of ran into some grouchy CMs. After 3 full park days of standing in lines the handlers knew our family by sight. With 4 kids and a DH who's never met a stranger, we're kind of unforgettable! One handler even went out of her way to take the kids stuff off stage to get the one roaming character's autograph we missed.

No way!! I was so upset to have missed Mickey. The handler read my worried face and kept telling me that we'd definitely be able to see him before he left, but he took off one family ahead of us. Dh wanted to just stand aside and wait, but then the guy goes walking up and down the line to let everyone know that you absolutely could not do this. It would create too much chaos or something. This happened twice on 5/28!! Blah.. I'm glad we'll have a chance to go back, but I feel awful for the others in line that may not be so lucky and missed out! Glad you were able to get all you wanted!

 

[delmar411]

Do the characaters (Mickey etc) start at 9:00 like the rest of them...I have a copy of the 1st weekend and I am just trying to see if that is where I need to head first..or if they don't start till later...

(they are my priority)..

yes they start immediately and the line is long right away so book it over there. They are to the left of the hat on the side of the Chinese theater along the pathway to the ABC Commissary.

 

[DVC Mary]

My 9 yr old DS wants to be in the parade but doesn't want to do it alone. Can his 13 yr old brother go w/ him? Is there an age limit or can he go an escort?

I know they let parents go & walk behind them but I did that a couple years ago & didn't get to enjoy the parade or get good photos.

 

[therannj]

Does anyone know where Boba Fett is located for autographs in the park? Also we are going on June 11 and it is EMH. Will we have time to do Toy Story Mania and Star Tours and then get in line for Boba Fett before 9?

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Does anyone know where Boba Fett is located for autographs in the park? Also we are going on June 11 and it is EMH. Will we have time to do Toy Story Mania and Star Tours and then get in line for Boba Fett before 9?

If you go through the Pixar area and towards the backlot area, he's right over there on the left. I can't help you on the other though. His line wasn't too bad for us at around 5 or so. Maybe a 30 min wait but that was because he had to go and refuel his jet pack

 

[kaysmommie]

My 9 yr old DS wants to be in the parade but doesn't want to do it alone. Can his 13 yr old brother go w/ him? Is there an age limit or can he go an escort?

I know they let parents go & walk behind them but I did that a couple years ago & didn't get to enjoy the parade or get good photos.

I would like to know this too . Thanks in advance.

 

[yulilin3]

My 9 yr old DS wants to be in the parade but doesn't want to do it alone. Can his 13 yr old brother go w/ him? Is there an age limit or can he go an escort?

I know they let parents go & walk behind them but I did that a couple years ago & didn't get to enjoy the parade or get good photos.

Why not give the camera to your 13 yr old. They have a special area on the steps of AIE for the family of the kids that are in the parade, so he can sit there and you go with your son. I'm not sure if they will let the 13 yr old be in charge of the 9 yr old...you can always ask the CM. Also after the kids walk in the parade they exit by Backlot Express and the have a small area reserved so that the kids and parents that walked in the parade can watch it too. You have plenty of time to get the jedi robes off, get your toy and go watch the parade.
Getting ready for weekend 3

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

We will be there for the last SWW. This is our first trip, and my kids (DS8, DS6, DS4, DD4) are Star Wars Crazy! Can I get some feedback on our Touring Plan?

Friday
Arriving around 7:00 [EMH]
Get FP for Star Tours
Concentrate on getting Character Autographs, seeing the SWW shows/parade, and [hopefully] getting the kids picked for Jedi Training
Leaving around 4:30 for a 5:30 ADR

Sunday
Arriving around 7:50 for ADR Hollywood & Vine
As soon as park officially opens, send DH for TSM FP, (or go straight there if we're done eating), then do ToT and RnR {FP if necessary, but hopefully we will be ahead of the crowds and can grab FP for later while arriving guests are concentrating on SWW stuff!}
Spend time on "regular" HS attractions & shows until Trooper Parade, then fill in any missing gaps in our SWW autograph book
Go back to Resort early afternoon for a break, return in time for Hyperspace Hoopla & Fantasmic

Any thoughts?

I really hate to be a buzz kill about your plan but if you want autographs showing up at 7:00am is not early enough at all. By then the lines will be far too long and you won't be able to get a fast pass i say minimum 6am for autograph lines I am getting there at 5am but I am a diehard star wars fan.

Hope this helps

TD

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

should be ashamed! I think this deserves a letter to Disney. Nothing can be done for your little guy, but hopefully it won't happen to anyone else!

no offense folks I am a die hard star wars fan and if i saw darth vader giving a a kid or an adult a high five I would be like "ummm what the heck is that?!?" I can totally understand your kid being upset but that is when we as adults have to explain the deal. when i was a kid I would have expected him to not give me a high five. My nephew is 9 and I asked him if he would be upset if vader did not high five him and he said no he would rather he force choke him instead so maybe it is just your expectations going in. Now if jedi mickey or C3P0 did not high five i would be shocked


I was reading the age of the child on the original post for this and there is no way he could have known this so with that in mind the handler should have said something or stepped in and darth should not have pointed to leave that was un called for he could have just said no. I can see your reasoning with a child so little. Not sure what I would do as a parent but I might have stepped in and said something to my child and then said something to the CM right then.

 

[delmar411]

I really hate to be a buzz kill about your plan but if you want autographs showing up at 7:00am is not early enough at all. By then the lines will be far too long and you won't be able to get a fast pass i say minimum 6am for autograph lines I am getting there at 5am but I am a diehard star wars fan.

Hope this helps

TD

I think they are referring to character autographs not celebrity autographs. There are no fastpasses for characters, just celebrities.

But they are confused on how JTA works since there is no getting picked, you sign up immediately at rope drop at the Drew Carey Sounds Dangerous area at the Info desk or else your child doesn't get to do it.