Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[lovethattink]

Thank for the info! Will turn away immediately if line is out the door to Pizza Planet. What are thoughts for Backlot Express? That's an outdoor restaurant, right? Reason we chose PP or ABC is because of air condition after being there all day without a midday break; hoping we can survive till Hoopla, but will just have to go with the flow at that point.

Anyone else go before RD and stay through till Hoopla without a break?? I think I've got my TP down pretty good, but it's a whole nother ballgame when we're actually there.

ec

I always get Backlot Express and Studio Catering mixed up. The one near Darth Vader has alot less seating than the QS near Indiana Jones. The one near Indiana Jones has both indoor and outdoor seating.

I like the chicken curry at ABC, but the curry is very strong. DH thinks the fish sticks taste the same as the ones at UK at Epcot but the portion sure seems smaller at ABC. It was at ABC we got the R2-D2 cup thingy.

Chicken curry

Fish sticks

R2-D2 "mug"

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

Cannot seem to find what time the parade is...can anyone help??

Thanks!!

 

[redshoepaul]

2nd week for me. May 22nd - 29th. Pretty hype about it, and just plan on riding Star Tours 2 times in total before I get bored waiting in the line. Lots more non-Star Wars related things will go down that Saturday.

 

[evcollins]

It hasn't "officially" been published. Waiting to hear if it's 11:30 or 12:40, taken from the times it has been in the past.

Dissers, another opinion, please....
How early do you line up for the parade? I was planning an hour before, but then I'm not so sure I really want to sit there for that long in the heat. Was thinking of catching the 11:30 Beauty show and then head over to find a seat for the parade, assuming it starts at 12:40.

Thoughts???

Thanks!
ec

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

It hasn't "officially" been published. Waiting to hear if it's 11:30 or 12:40, taken from the times it has been in the past.

Dissers, another opinion, please....
How early do you line up for the parade? I was planning an hour before, but then I'm not so sure I really want to sit there for that long in the heat. Was thinking of catching the 11:30 Beauty show and then head over to find a seat for the parade, assuming it starts at 12:40.

Thoughts???

Thanks!
ec

Thanks so much!!!

 

[yulilin3]

Thank for the info! Will turn away immediately if line is out the door to Pizza Planet. What are thoughts for Backlot Express? That's an outdoor restaurant, right? Reason we chose PP or ABC is because of air condition after being there all day without a midday break; hoping we can survive till Hoopla, but will just have to go with the flow at that point.

Anyone else go before RD and stay through till Hoopla without a break?? I think I've got my TP down pretty good, but it's a whole nother ballgame when we're actually there.

ec

Backlot Express is indoor and outdoor, their indoor area is big and it's right next to Star Tours.
We're used to doing the parks from opening to closing but we do take breaks, a great place take a break is in the Animation Bldg or in One Man's Dream

 

[yulilin3]

Cannot seem to find what time the parade is...can anyone help??

Thanks!!

I'm almost 100% sure it'll be at 12:40pm, just by looking at the times for JTA and Disney Channel Rocks. I posted about the times a couple of pages back.

It hasn't "officially" been published. Waiting to hear if it's 11:30 or 12:40, taken from the times it has been in the past.

Dissers, another opinion, please....
How early do you line up for the parade? I was planning an hour before, but then I'm not so sure I really want to sit there for that long in the heat. Was thinking of catching the 11:30 Beauty show and then head over to find a seat for the parade, assuming it starts at 12:40.

Thoughts???

Thanks!
ec

Since the parade route is so short you need to grab a spot at least an hour before, If you're looking down Hollywood Blvd at the Hat the left side should have some shade.

 

[evcollins]

Thank you, thank you!!

Can you tell it's time to get down to the fine details of things?! Referencing back to Page 51 for all that fine info!!

ec

 

[Aerorea]

OMG, I finally made it to the end of the thread! I should get a cookie for that... <insert "Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies" joke here>. Thanks so much for all the extremely helpful info!

This will be our very first SWW and we're so excited! We're long-time geeks though and attend Dragon*Con every year. My brother was in the 501st and I surprised my DH with a stormtrooper at our wedding reception. Yeah, that's us...

Did I mention half our house is decorated in Disney/Star Wars? Seriously. We are after one more Jedi Mickey-related sketch to complete our dining room.

Anyway, we'll be there the first weekend. We'll be there all day on Friday the 18th and at least part of the day on Sunday the 20th. If you see a blonde with a white cane (I'm legally blind) walking around the parks, that's me!

Our main goal of the weekend is to shop and maybe see the shows. We're not after autographs, as we get those at Dragon*Con (where it's air-conditioned). I'd like to meet at least one of the Fab 4. We don't have any kids, so we aren't concerned with JTA or the like. I'd also like to get some decent photos of the parade and the Hoopla. We have an ADR for Sci-Fi Dine-In after the parade. Oh, and the number one goal is to not pass out or get sunburned. Oh the sun, oh the heat, oh the humidity! It's gonna' hurt...

Also, a special "hey neighbor!" to karpkg. I saw your post way, way back and wanted to say hi to a fellow Cherokee'er.

 

[sam_gordon]

Anyone else go before RD and stay through till Hoopla without a break?? I think I've got my TP down pretty good, but it's a whole nother ballgame when we're actually there.

ec

Depends on your definition of "break". DS(then 7) and I were there at 7AM and left at 9:30PM last year on the 3rd Saturday. We sat down a couple times (about 30 minutes before the parade, grab some CS lunch, and about an hour before Hoopla). We rode ST after Hoopla using the FP we collected 12+ hours before. Guess that's not an option for you.

 

[delmar411]

Since the parade route is so short you need to grab a spot at least an hour before, If you're looking down Hollywood Blvd at the Hat the left side should have some shade.

I don't think I agree with this. We watched the parade multiple times last year over multiple weekends and were always able to walk up as it started and grab a spot, sometimes right at the curb. Now it wasn't always the best spot in the world (normally in a hot spot) but the parade really isn't that long.

 

[sam_gordon]

Submitted for your costume enjoyment:

A "labersaber".
http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/lasersaber.html

 

[CentralFloridian99]

How early should I arrive for shows in the Premire Theater?

 

[ajh88]

We will be there the 3rd weekend - attending all 3 days (at least part of every day). Very excited to see Hoopla - somehow we have missed it the last 2 times we've attended SWW.

 

[evcollins]

We will be there the 3rd weekend - attending all 3 days (at least part of every day). Very excited to see Hoopla - somehow we have missed it the last 2 times we've attended SWW.

Lucky! I'm thinking we will have to pass on Hoopla. Not sure my kiddos could handle all day and all night. I've got to remember "we can't do it all, so we can catch it 'next' time"!

Have fun!!


ec

 

[yulilin3]

I don't think I agree with this. We watched the parade multiple times last year over multiple weekends and were always able to walk up as it started and grab a spot, sometimes right at the curb. Now it wasn't always the best spot in the world (normally in a hot spot) but the parade really isn't that long.

I agree with you, that if you don't mind being under the sun for 45min you should be fine getting a spot 30min.before (plus the 15min of parade). But the sun can be brutal and it might not let you enjoy the parade as much as if you were sitting down on the curb with some partial shade...it's a matter of preference

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I'm thinking we will have to pass on Hoopla.

Same here. The show looks ok IMO.

 

[kmcdougan]

It has been a while since I have read through this thread - seems I have lots of back issues to catch up on. As an FYI for spacing of where we all are - I'll be there second weekend, along with my crew.

Does anybody have any intel on the Droid Factory set up and pricing? I know it is supposed to open today, but I expect that lots of DISers will be able to get the info to us almost immediately.

I'm pretty stoked for the weekend - even have my Carbon Freeze Me reservation set already.

 

[kmcdougan]

I told DH about it too and he didn't even pause at the $100 price tag. He wants to do it but I just don't know....but it's not like I can tell a grown man no either! LOL

I didn't pause at the $100 price tag. However, I have been saving for this trip for a year, and have about $200 more in my spending budget than I did last year. And last year, I was stretching to reach my budget (until the wife said we could buy some art).

I have some friends in the 501st, and am currently working on my costume to join. They are all jealous right now, both that I am going, and that I am getting the figure.

As to the size - 8 inches is the same size as the short side of a sheet of paper. It is not as small as you might think (traditional SW action figures are 3.75 inches tall). It will have to be proportionately wide (best guess is 2.5-3 inches). I would also suspect that it is solid and not cheap flimsy stuff (like the old Han Solo that came with the Slave I ship). Finally, they are using a series of cameras to generate a 3d image of your face. That is not just a single picture going into it. IMHO, the expense may be a little high, but I can't see them doing it for less than $50-$75 anywhere else, based on what I have seen.

You will have to make your own call on whether or not it is too high, too cool, or whatever.

 

[kmcdougan]

I'll be there the first Sinday and second Saturday. Just look for the woman rolling her eyes at her husband as he goes on and on about his carbonate figure!

My wife has told me in no uncertain terms to shut up about it (been nonstop since I tried booking it last Friday - I got my time on Monday just after the 2 PM CST opening). Don't feel bad, you won't be the only one.