Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[lovethattink]

Did you make your ADRs yet? I wish I knew for sure the time of the parade, last year it was 11am. So I'm hoping it's the same time this year. QS lines were crazy and seating was hard to find some weekends. Hoping to have better luck eating TS.

Did they announce the host of SWW? If so, I missed it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Now I am off to see if there are any threads of SWW pics so I can get an idea of what it all looks like.

Josh at EasyWDW has a recap of last year with lots of pics:

http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/star-wars-weekends/

Did they announce the host of SWW? If so, I missed it.

Taylor and Eckstein again, I believe.

 

[wdwnut61]

This is very exciting DD and I can't wait. This will be our first time attending SWW. Thanks for posting the link

 

[lovethattink]

Taylor and Eckstein again, I believe.

Oh good! They do a great job!

 

[goofyredraider]

During SWW, do they have multiple JTA going on at the same time (the video I saw had Vader battle on the stage, Ventress on the ground)?

 

[marsh0013]

thanks so much for posting the link................which contained the Other Link to the Disneysite area of SWW. I am not sure why I never thought of looking there for information...............except that it was a VERY LONG week !

Everyone's tips are appreciated. Now I am off to see if there are any threads of SWW pics so I can get an idea of what it all looks like.

By the way, I wondered if anyone has run across SW TankTop in adult sizes? DD would like to wear something but regular T-shirts are so hot. I did think about making one (that thought lasted about 1 second) but I realize .....I'm not crafty!!!!

we used zazzle.com they have a lot of star wars images that you can pick to put on whatever kind of top you want, including tank tops. they also have the sport/wicking material, which is what we got (tank for me, regular t-shirt style for boyfriend). i have an r2d2, darth vader, boba fett's ship, and a jawa one. by boyfriend has a "han is my homeboy", boba fett, luke skywalker "hope" (like obama, it's too awesome!), and a millennium falcon. lots of choices. and people always ask us where they can get them when we wear them to disney.

 

[yulilin3]

Did you make your ADRs yet? I wish I knew for sure the time of the parade, last year it was 11am. So I'm hoping it's the same time this year. QS lines were crazy and seating was hard to find some weekends. Hoping to have better luck eating TS.

Did they announce the host of SWW? If so, I missed it.

Last year the SWW parade was at 12:40pm. Started at the entrance and ended at the Hat Stage.

 

[lovethattink]

Last year the SWW parade was at 12:40pm. Started at the entrance and ended at the Hat Stage.

Oh ugh! I must have had an old SWW times guide in my hand when I made my ADRs this year, unless the first day's times were different than the rest's?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I'm glad I'm going on Weekend I thanks to good actors. I could care less about Weekends II and III, but weekend IV looks good. I'm definetly meeting Ray Parks and Dee Bradley Baker (I wanna hear my Perry and Klaus voices!). Quick Question: I'm 100% sure I'm Fastpassing Ray, but for my second Fastpass, should it be Dee, James, or Ashley?

 

[sam_gordon]

During SWW, do they have multiple JTA going on at the same time (the video I saw had Vader battle on the stage, Ventress on the ground)?

That's what they had last year.

 

[kmcdougan]

1) Just a pet peeve, but it is Ray Park, not Parks. We go to the parks to meet Park. Despite what anyone may think of Ep. I, Darth Maul was pretty cool, and Ray did a great job. Let's give him his due as a fantastic action star.

2) From my own experience, try to space out the activities. Trying to do everything in one day wold be too much, even for hard core vets.

3) As far as ADRs go, make them as best you can. We booked 180 days out because we knew from last year that it was going to be packed and tough to manage. No matter what time the parade is - 11, 11:40, or 12:40, there will be big crowds and those of you that do the hour ahead wait will do that no matter what time the parade is. I would suggest doing a later lunch to be clear all around.

4) Pick your number 1 autograph person and go for them on Friday, if possible. Then rank the rest accordingly, and go down the line. Of course, if you didn't make it early enough Friday, go earlier Saturday, but get your #2 or #3, etc..

5) Always have a Plan B. And a Plan C. And a D. Invariably, something will go wrong, be off track, or whatever. Having multiple backups is a huge key.

6) Be cool. There are lots of things that can and will try to get you worked up. Don't let it. Remember, you are there to have fun, and it is still a vacation.

 

[yulilin3]

I found a great trip report from allears: http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2011/05/star_wars_weekends_2011_1.html
this will give you an idea on what to expect.
Now I'll try to explain how the autograph FP's worked Last Year:
They have the lines set up outside the turnstiles on the far right. People do camp there overnight, I've never had and always got the autographs I was looking for. I usually get there around 5:30am for everyone, the year I got Dave Prowse (Darth Vader) I got there at 4:30am and was on standby but still got the autograph.
Everyone in your party that wants an autograph and/or meet the celeb must be in line. They scanned your park ticket, put a wristband on you and give you your fp time to meet the celeb. Then you go into the park.
For people that wanted more than one fp (For example if you wanted to meet Ray Park and Daniel Logan) you got your first fp's then you had to wait in another line for 2 hours and if there were fps or standby left you would get a second wristband and fp.
Now alot of people got angry with this new system, you see before,you could line up get a fp's and then get in a second line right away and grab another fp/standby. People that were in line from the night before could meet 3 celebs in one day. Disney was trying to give opportunity for more people to meet celebs by enforcing only 1 fp/wristband per 2 hours.
Last year we didn't have any issues since we only got autographs from James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein and Matt Lanter for the 4 weekends.
If you want to try and meet multiple celebs in one day your first fp should be the visiting celeb (for example Ray Park) then you can go around and wait 2 hours and grab a fp/standby for Ashley or James since they're there the 4 weekends these will be easier to grab.
This is all according to what happened last year, we don't know if DIsney will continue the wristband thing or go back as to what it was before.
Last year there was alot of drama about this issue. I hope I explained it well so you have an idea on what to expect. If you have a kid that wants to meet a celeb he must have a wristband and fp. Anyone who doesn't have a wristband/fp will not be able to meet the celeb even if you don't want an autograph.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I found a great trip report from allears: http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2011/05/star_wars_weekends_2011_1.html
this will give you an idea on what to expect.
Now I'll try to explain how the autograph FP's worked Last Year:
They have the lines set up outside the turnstiles on the far right. People do camp there overnight, I've never had and always got the autographs I was looking for. I usually get there around 5:30am for everyone, the year I got Dave Prowse (Darth Vader) I got there at 4:30am and was on standby but still got the autograph.
Everyone in your party that wants an autograph and/or meet the celeb must be in line. They scanned your park ticket, put a wristband on you and give you your fp time to meet the celeb. Then you go into the park.
For people that wanted more than one fp (For example if you wanted to meet Ray Park and Daniel Logan) you got your first fp's then you had to wait in another line for 2 hours and if there were fps or standby left you would get a second wristband and fp.
Now alot of people got angry with this new system, you see before,you could line up get a fp's and then get in a second line right away and grab another fp/standby. People that were in line from the night before could meet 3 celebs in one day. Disney was trying to give opportunity for more people to meet celebs by enforcing only 1 fp/wristband per 2 hours.
Last year we didn't have any issues since we only got autographs from James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein and Matt Lanter for the 4 weekends.
If you want to try and meet multiple celebs in one day your first fp should be the visiting celeb (for example Ray Park) then you can go around and wait 2 hours and grab a fp/standby for Ashley or James since they're there the 4 weekends these will be easier to grab.
This is all according to what happened last year, we don't know if DIsney will continue the wristband thing or go back as to what it was before.
Last year there was alot of drama about this issue. I hope I explained it well so you have an idea on what to expect. If you have a kid that wants to meet a celeb he must have a wristband and fp. Anyone who doesn't have a wristband/fp will not be able to meet the celeb even if you don't want an autograph.

Thanks this helped alot! So I would stand in line for Ray and my dad could stand in line for Dee, then see what works out with the hosts. Just a quick question; when do people (excluding campers) usually arrive to the turnstiles, and how popular is Ray?

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks this helped alot! So I would stand in line for Ray and my dad could stand in line for Dee, then see what works out with the hosts. Just a quick question; when do people (excluding campers) usually arrive to the turnstiles, and how popular is Ray?

People usually get there around 5:30am- 6am. If they open the park earlier (like last year) they star giving fp's out around 6:30am. If they don't then they'll start around 8am for a 9am opening.
Ray Park is very popular but the good news is that he's there 2 weekends so alot of the regulars will spread out their fp's during the 2 weekends.
I would be at the park at 5:30am just to be sure.

 

[ocalla]

So do the people who get the FP's head over to the "regular park visitor" turnstiles after they get there passes? Or do they stay in the "special autograph line" for park entry?

I hope that is not as confusing as I think it is???

 

[yulilin3]

So do the people who get the FP's head over to the "regular park visitor" turnstiles after they get there passes? Or do they stay in the "special autograph line" for park entry?

I hope that is not as confusing as I think it is???

Last year:
To the far right of the turnstiles there are gates, people lined up there, when the CM were ready to give out the fp/wristbands they opened the gates, you walk in, they scan your park ticket, give you fp/wristband and you walk into the park by the backstage close to the restrooms where you rent strollers.
Years before:
You lined up at the far right, they gave you the celeb fp and then you lined up at the regular turnstiles.

 

[kmcdougan]

So do the people who get the FP's head over to the "regular park visitor" turnstiles after they get there passes? Or do they stay in the "special autograph line" for park entry?

I hope that is not as confusing as I think it is???

The FP was over to the right of the ticket booths last year. After the FPs were distributed, they funnelled people towards the turnstiles. I stayed to the right side of that group, though you could wander down the line to the other turnstiles.

 

[lovethattink]

I assume you still have to have all members of your party present for each fast pass? Or had that rule changed. It's been years since we got a FP for a celeb M&G. Back then you got the FP at Star Tours for the celeb M&G.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I assume you still have to have all members of your party present for each fast pass? Or had that rule changed. It's been years since we got a FP for a celeb M&G. Back then you got the FP at Star Tours for the celeb M&G.

I hear it's still that way. Each member has to be present.

 

[Stitch123]

We'll be there May 19 - our first SWW! DH hates crowds but is a big Star Wars fan so we'll try it. From what I've read in this thread, the counter service restaurants are insanely crowded so it might make more sense to get an ADR to cut down on wait time. What do you think?