Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[lovethattink]

I was there last night for the final Hyperspace Hoopla. The show was great, but the bummer part of it happened in the audience. About a dozen Disney cast members pushed and bumped their way up front - past paying guests - in the final half hour before the show. A lot of those guests had been there in place for over two hours (and I was one of them).

When they tried to push past me, I spoke up. I mentioned to them that we had been there for an hour and a half at that point, but one of them just said "Yeah, well we were doing a show." (they all seemed to be performers).

That's terrible!

I know many were lined up for Hoopla before the 6:30 Padawan Mind Challenge.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sadly, there's nothing you can do about it. If I leave to complain, I've lost my position. These people had absolutely no qualms about butting in front of people for their own benefit. They weren't in uniform as cast members, but they clearly weren't hiding it in their conversations, either.

Basically, they were a bunch of selfish jerks. What can you do?

I might have considered taking some pictures of them and visiting Guest Relations on the way out.

 

[wbeem]

I might have considered taking some pictures of them and visiting Guest Relations on the way out.

I thought about taking some pics with my iPhone, but it was a bit of a hassle while holding the big camera I brought for the show.

 

[wbeem]

That's terrible!

I know many were lined up for Hoopla before the 6:30 Padawan Mind Challenge.

Yep. I got there about 5:00pm and was sitting off on the side. Didn't know that people would rush up immediately after the Disney Channel Rocks show. Figured I'd be the only geek there waiting that early, but I was wrong about that. So even though I wanted to be right up front, I didn't push my way past people who got there before I did. I just took my place behind them.

Why couldn't the Disney performers do the same thing? I asked them that, but they just blew me off.

Next time, I'm going to have some baked beans before the show.

 

[wbeem]

One of my shots from the Hyperspace Hoopla.

 

[andysomma1]

I was at Saturday nights Hoopla and could not be more disappointed. I showed up an hour or so early, staked out my spot, and had a great view of the stage. It was pretty hot so I went to the ice cream cart and bought mickey ears and they were delicious. About 5 minutes before the show was scheduled to start an announcement came that there was a disturbance in the force and the show would start as soon as possible, not a problem, I'm a star wars fan this was Star Wars weekend, I'm at Disney so it's no big deal. About 10 after eight the music starts and the show gets under way and that's when it happened. About 20 kids went up on shoulders and completely blocked my view of the stage. Hey I still didn't mind because there is a huge screen on stage so I should still be able to see the show, right? Yeah, not so much. All the screen was showing was the name of the band playing and then some psychedelic designs. I waited about 15 minutes hoping they would put the show on the screen but got disappointed and left. People behind me started leaving as soon as the kids went up on the shoulders. I love Star Wars but I was hot and frustrated and left. Can someone tell me if eventually if I would have stayed would the performances have been put up on the big screen? My biggest complaint is the kids on the soldiers. I understand that they are little ones who need help seeing, but if the parents want their kids to see the show that bad, maybe they could get there early and get a closer spot. I ended up walking down to Fantasmic and watching it. It was my first time to see it and it was AMAZING, so the evening wasn't a total loss.

 

[wbeem]

I was at Saturday nights Hoopla and could not be more disappointed. I showed up an hour or so early, staked out my spot, and had a great view of the stage. It was pretty hot so I went to the ice cream cart and bought mickey ears and they were delicious. About 5 minutes before the show was scheduled to start an announcement came that there was a disturbance in the force and the show would start as soon as possible, not a problem, I'm a star wars fan this was Star Wars weekend, I'm at Disney so it's no big deal. About 10 after eight the music starts and the show gets under way and that's when it happened. About 20 kids went up on shoulders and completely blocked my view of the stage. Hey I still didn't mind because there is a huge screen on stage so I should still be able to see the show, right? Yeah, not so much. All the screen was showing was the name of the band playing and then some psychedelic designs. I waited about 15 minutes hoping they would put the show on the screen but got disappointed and left. People behind me started leaving as soon as the kids went up on the shoulders. I love Star Wars but I was hot and frustrated and left. Can someone tell me if eventually if I would have stayed would the performances have been put up on the big screen? My biggest complaint is the kids on the soldiers. I understand that they are little ones who need help seeing, but if the parents want their kids to see the show that bad, maybe they could get there early and get a closer spot. I ended up walking down to Fantasmic and watching it. It was my first time to see it and it was AMAZING, so the evening wasn't a total loss.

Interesting - we got the same message about a disturbance in the force...delay, etc. Maybe that's part of the show?

To answer your question, no. It was never broadcast on the big screen over the stage. There is another screen on the wall by the American Idol Experience. Someone told me they could watch it there, but I never looked over to see if that was true.

 

[megan511]

One of my shots from the Hyperspace Hoopla.

Wow, that is a great picture!

 

[lovethattink]

One of my shots from the Hyperspace Hoopla.

WOW!! What an incredible photo! Were the rude people pushed up in front of you prior to this pic or after?

I was at Saturday nights Hoopla and could not be more disappointed. I showed up an hour or so early, staked out my spot, and had a great view of the stage. It was pretty hot so I went to the ice cream cart and bought mickey ears and they were delicious. About 5 minutes before the show was scheduled to start an announcement came that there was a disturbance in the force and the show would start as soon as possible, not a problem, I'm a star wars fan this was Star Wars weekend, I'm at Disney so it's no big deal. About 10 after eight the music starts and the show gets under way and that's when it happened. About 20 kids went up on shoulders and completely blocked my view of the stage. Hey I still didn't mind because there is a huge screen on stage so I should still be able to see the show, right? Yeah, not so much. All the screen was showing was the name of the band playing and then some psychedelic designs. I waited about 15 minutes hoping they would put the show on the screen but got disappointed and left. People behind me started leaving as soon as the kids went up on the shoulders. I love Star Wars but I was hot and frustrated and left. Can someone tell me if eventually if I would have stayed would the performances have been put up on the big screen? My biggest complaint is the kids on the soldiers. I understand that they are little ones who need help seeing, but if the parents want their kids to see the show that bad, maybe they could get there early and get a closer spot. I ended up walking down to Fantasmic and watching it. It was my first time to see it and it was AMAZING, so the evening wasn't a total loss.

Kids on shoulders have always been a complaint. Early on in the thread someone had posted that as something to consider when claiming your spot to stand.

Every time we saw Hoopla this year, we saw it from the Idol screen. Two separate nights that we were there, it was cancelled from the screen, but only 1 of those nights was the show completely cancelled. A third night, a cm came up to us and told us there were some technical issues and it might not be broadcasted in it's entirety on the Idol screen. We took our chances and it was!!

 

[wbeem]

WOW!! What an incredible photo! Were the rude people pushed up in front of you prior to this pic or after?

Oh, yes. They arrived just before the show started. One of the women in their group pushed in front of me and her head was under my lens when I took my shots. I may have accidentally bonked her a couple of times with it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Oh, yes. They arrived just before the show started. One of the women in their group pushed in front of me and her head was under my lens when I took my shots. I may have accidentally bonked her a couple of times with it.

Accidentally, of course.

 

[ajh88]

I want to add my thanks to all the posters - especially the "regulars" and the first-weekenders - for scoping everything out for those of us who followed.

We had a tentative plan to head West next summer to visit CarsLand at DL - but on the way home from SWW decided that just maybe California could wait another year and we'll head back to SWW instead. Aiming to hit all 3 days of the 2nd weekend and at least Friday of the 3rd weekend - assuming they run them the same time as this year.

Great photo wbeem - very impressive.

I will add my complaint regarding the (lack of) crowd control at Hyperspace Hoopla. We sat in yulilin3's "secret" spot from 5:30 pm on, waiting for Hoopla. There are only 3 of us and another family staked out a claim (2 parents, 2 kids) with us at about the same time. There is a small triangle of pavement taped off in front of the spot and a few people stood there. Right as the show started, a family of 4 showed up and each parent put one of their kids up on their shoulders, effectively blocking 5 of the 7 people who had been there for 2.5 hours (not to mention the several folks on the ground behind them). I tapped the dad and offered to let his kids stand on the ledge with us so all could see. His response "Well, if they want to" - they didn't want to, so their wishes were more important than the consideration of all those around (so next time you wonder why some children believe the Universe revolves around them, see exhibit A).

I witnessed karma (the Force if you will) in that 35 minute show though...the dad about broke his back with his kid on his back and he had to keep putting her down - eventually they ALL ended up on the ledge, much further back than if he would have accepted my offer in the first place (they actually went behind the audio tent, past the barrier, to get a spot to stand on the ledge). I felt vindicated.

ETA: There was a giant stroller parked in the taped off triangle and nobody messed with it - we decided next year, we will direct people to park their strollers in that small'ish area, effectively keeping anyone from standing there. We will see if I remember to try that strategy or not!

Until 2013, MTFBWY...

 

[wbeem]

Accidentally, of course.

I actually warned her before we started that I'd be moving my camera around and she was right in the way. At no time did I intentionally hit her, but she got bonked. My eye is up in the camera viewfinder and I couldn't see her.

Despite my warning, she pushed her way in front of me and stood in a spot where it was quite likely she'd get bonked. I gave her fair notice and she didn't belong there, anyway. No feelings of guilt about it here.

 

[lovethattink]

Yesterday my son woke up sad that SWW was over. The highlight of SWW for me was watching ds(8) fully immersed into the excitement of SWW. It was a dream come true for him. We had been there every weekend, (only for a couple hours some days and some days we skipped completely because of his health). We had never seen Obi-Wan and Beyond until the last day, last show. It was the perfect way to end our SWW adventures as the message at the end fully hit home and I was touched beyond words.

 

[Bonniec]

I'm sad that it's over too.

I also agree about crowd control at Hoopla. We were also there Saturday. We got there TWO hours early and we STILL were not right at the very front. We had two families in front of us. We completely lucked out though because they were super nice and let my 6 year old go in front so he got to stand at the gate with no one in front. I was so thankful to them. Both times I saw the show this year we had nice families around us.

That being said, it amazes me how rude people can get. I watched so many people sneak up to the front and get in front of people that had been waiting for 2 hours.

Whether you are an adult or a child, there is almost no point watching that show unless you get to the front. Children can't see over the adults and adults can't see over the children on shoulders.

Disney needs to have this show somewhere where there is seating, It's hands-down the best show they put on at any park imo. There are way too many people to have it standing only.

 

[lovethattink]

I'm sad that it's over too.

I also agree about crowd control at Hoopla. We were also there Saturday. We got there TWO hours early and we STILL were not right at the very front. We had two families in front of us. We completely lucked out though because they were super nice and let my 6 year old go in front so he got to stand at the gate with no one in front. I was so thankful to them. Both times I saw the show this year we had nice families around us.

That being said, it amazes me how rude people can get. I watched so many people sneak up to the front and get in front of people that had been waiting for 2 hours.

Whether you are an adult or a child, there is almost no point watching that show unless you get to the front. Children can't see over the adults and adults can't see over the children on shoulders.

Disney needs to have this show somewhere where there is seating, It's hands-down the best show they put on at any park imo. There are way too many people to have it standing only.

Yes, it would be nice to have it in one of the theaters and broadcasted on screens too!!

The same can be said about the handicap viewing area too. Unless you are in front you can't see either. My son's w/c sits very low. There's no way he can see over a skooter or regular w/c.

Ran into the same thing at the Premier theater. His sits too low to see over the regular seats there. They directed w/c's to the back of the theater to park. I asked and they did allow us to park by a row closer to the stage that was marked with a disabled sign on the end chair.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I really am hoping it's the same weekends next year. June heat is unbearable

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Back last night from a rainy trip to WDW! We were at SWW Fri 6/8 and Sat 6/9. Lucky for us we had not planned on staying for the Hoopla on Fri, since that was the night it was cancelled. We did watch from the AI screen on Sat, but it was VERY scary, sitting and waiting for it to start, with the radar on my phone, watching yet another storm cell get closer and closer (thus the reason for the disturbance in the force message). Luckily it fell apart before it arrived and the Hoopla went on. We LOVED it!!!! (but this was our 4th straight year being there to see it, so we appreciated the jokes/references to last year).

Another HUGE thanks to Kenny the Pirate for posting the character times on his blog!! It made all the difference for us!!! We got into the Vader line at 8:10am on Friday and were out within 20 minutes. On Friday we also saw Leia Minnie, Shaak Ti, Bobba Fett, Luke (missed C3-PO and R2D2 by 1 family!!! But C3-PO came over to wish my DS a Happy Birthday on his way out), Jedi Mickey, Jawas, Stormtroopers, Darth Maul, Zam Weasel, Clone Trooper, & Anakin. We arrived at 7:30am and left around 5pm. On Saturday we arrived at 8:30 am and we saw Chewbacca, Captain Rex, Commander Cody, Jango Fett, & Queen A before leaving for a pool break around 3pm (in which it rained) and then headed back for the Hoopla.

It makes me sad to read about people's experiences at the Hat Stage. When the Hoopla was at the Jedi Training stage, we always got there 2 hours early to get a good spot and I always said that this show brings out the worst in people. We are grateful for the broadcast on the AI screen and have watched there the past 2 years without issue. Almost everyone sits, its very civilized, very pleasant and just as much fun.

We were able to purchase several Star Wars Vinylmation figures throughout the course of the trip. While we were unable to get Vader, Yoda or a Stormtrooper, we did get Luke Skywalker, Bobba Fett, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3-PO, R2-D2, Princess Leia, the Obi Wan Chaser, and the Obi Wan Super Chaser!!!!

http://www.tomopop.com/star-wars-vinylmation-set-gets-a-chaser-and-a-super-chaser--16915.phtml

We also took advantage of the 30% off sale to get shirts, mugs etc.

My only disappointment was in the Build A Droid. Most of the fun pieces were long gone by Weekend 4, not to mention the double droid packages were gone and you had to pay full price for each if you wanted to do 2. We hope everything will be re-stocked by the time we return in August.

Thanks again to all the contributors on this thread and hope to see all of you next year!!

 

[wbeem]

Regarding the Disney cast members who pushed their way forward: I sent an e-mail to Guest Relations about it a few days ago. Other than the automated response that assures me the message was received, I haven't received any personal response at all.

It's not that I want anything as compensation. I just wish they would address the issue in the future.

 

[RedM94]

I have a question for the DHS CM's who have been so generous with their time and information during SWW.

I was talking to a friend today who's daughter recently visited a friend who is a cast member at WDW. When her daughter came home from the trip, she said there were some rumors flying around about TOT. She said the first was that they were going to re-theme TOT to allign with a new Disney movie that will be released soon. The second was that there is a suite in the TOT much like the one in Cinderella's Castle.

The second one sounded far fetched considered the nois and vibration that the ride generates.

Anyone hear any of these, or are they just that rumors?

Thanks
Rick