Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[yulilin3]

I"m mainly interested in these celebs from the past couple years:

JAT
Ashley Eckstein
Jeremy Bulloch
Peter Mayhew
Ray Park
Warwick Davis


I'm pretty sure James, Ashley, and Jeremy are returning for this year. Now if I'm correct, Warwick Davis hasn't been at SWW in a couple years due to filming movies? Does anyone recall on how chatty all these celebs are? I know that Ashley and James are great for chatting. Also, where can I find some Anthony Daniels complaints?

All of them are great from last year. The entire cast of The Clone Wars are fun to meet since they do voices of so many different cartoons and commercial, for example JAT is the current voice of Fred Flinstones in commercials and Johnny Test, Tom Kane (voice of Yoda in CW) is also the voice in the Walmart commercials, Dee Bradley Baker (Clone Troopers in CW) is the sound of Perry the Platypus...they are all great. Warwick Davis is great to meet as well, he answers questions not only from SW but from Harry Potter since he plays Proff. Flitwick and other characters. But remember they can't stay and chat for long since they have alot of people to see. So I would think that each celeb takes up to 5 min. at the most per guest.
Like I said before we have done SWW for 10 years now, our favorites to meet are: Ray Park, Daniel Logan, Matthew Wood, JAT, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker

 

[Rachella76]

Taking my girls on a surprise trip May 17 - 21st...my 7 year old LOVES Star Wars, hoping that she enjoys SWW. Last year we went to WDW for the very first time in June.

Anyone elso going the first SWW weekend?

 

[yulilin3]

Taking my girls on a surprise trip May 17 - 21st...my 7 year old LOVES Star Wars, hoping that she enjoys SWW. Last year we went to WDW for the very first time in June.

Anyone elso going the first SWW weekend?

I'll be there the first Saturday, can't go on Friday cause the kids have school.

 

[jar]

This thread is great! I just decided to take DS8 for a special father/son weekend since he's crazy about SW. He's had February 10 in his mental calendar for nearly a year anticipating 3D Phantom Menace release.

Three questions:

1) Was planning to show up at 8am for RD at 9am. But now see that it may open as early as 7:45am so we'll want to show up by then. Do resort buses run that early if the park is having an unofficial opening? Normally buses run just an hour before the opening time. We're coming from AKL.

2) Is the autograph FP the same as regular FP? In other words, will we have to choose when we arrive whether to get a FP for an autograph or TSM or are they different systems so we can do both right away?

3) If my son gets picked for the parade (I won't tell him about the possibility so he doesn't get disappointed, but he'll surely be in costume -- his challenge will be deciding which to wear), does he march alone or do parents stay with their kids?

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

This thread is great! I just decided to take DS8 for a special father/son weekend since he's crazy about SW. He's had February 10 in his mental calendar for nearly a year anticipating 3D Phantom Menace release.

Three questions:

1) Was planning to show up at 8am for RD at 9am. But now see that it may open as early as 7:45am so we'll want to show up by then. Do resort buses run that early if the park is having an unofficial opening? Normally buses run just an hour before the opening time. We're coming from AKL.

2) Is the autograph FP the same as regular FP? In other words, will we have to choose when we arrive whether to get a FP for an autograph or TSM or are they different systems so we can do both right away?

3) If my son gets picked for the parade (I won't tell him about the possibility so he doesn't get disappointed, but he'll surely be in costume -- his challenge will be deciding which to wear), does he march alone or do parents stay with their kids?

Thanks!

1.- I'm not sure at what time they started running last year since I'm a local, but I think I heard of someone saying that the buses started at 7:30am, hope someone else has better info on this.
2.- The Fp for celebs is completely separate from the park regular fp's, in fact you don't even put your ticket in a machine at all, there are CM's handing out the FP's, one per person, per day. Then you can use your ticket when you enter the park to grab fp's for the rides as usual.
3.- He marches with the entire group of kids that were picked and all the parents march a short distance behind them. You can watch videos on youtube and see how that works.

 

[emokid9963]

Quick question, when do they normally release the list of celebrities that will be attending? I'm curious to see who will be coming this year. Thanks a lot!

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Universal is going to announce the Madi Gras line-up VERY soon. Does that mean Disney should be announcing SWW celebritites soon?

 

[wbeem]

Universal is going to announce the Madi Gras line-up VERY soon. Does that mean Disney should be announcing SWW celebritites soon?

What does one have to do with the other?

 

[CarolynMink]

Joining.
We are flying in on Saturday evening. Sunday, 6/10 is the only chance we will have to enjoy SWW. My DH is very excited. The DD's will have to meet up with us but, my husband won't miss RD. This will be our first time.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

So Celebrities are announced Mid March-Mid April, excluding last year's April 30 list. Any idea if it will be the same announcement sate as last year?

 

[tink70]

Bumping- first time for SWW, and looking forward to it!
Already have ADRs at sci fine diner. For those of you trying it for the first time, try the Oreo cookie milkshake it's awesome.
Thanks for all the tips!
:

 

[yulilin3]

So Celebrities are announced Mid March-Mid April, excluding last year's April 30 list. Any idea if it will be the same announcement sate as last year?

The celeb announcements depends on who they are trying to get, how full that celebs schedule is, etc. This is why we've had announcements as late as last years April 30th. They were trying to get a big name (nobody knew who but it was rumored Carrie Fisher or Hayden Christensen) and they didn't accept so they had to call Daniel Logan last minute.
But I would think that announcements will be made during the month of April.

 

[RedM94]

I am really looking forward to this years events! Last year I booked late and could only get a room at OKW. This year I booked earlier and was able to get a boardwalk view deluxe studio at BWV.

I still have not told my son that he and I are going again this year.

What was enjoyable last year was meeting some of you at the events after spending several weeks talking with you on this thread. If anyone else will be staying at the BWV's and would like to meet up on the boardwalk during the third weekend, let me know.

Enjoy your weekend!!

 

[Aerorea]

We're going to our very first SWW for the first weekend. We'll be arriving Thursday afternoon and leaving Monday morning. We usually go to WDW in November/December, so the heat of May will be a shock. Of course, we're from Atlanta, so not that much of a shock - lol. We're planning on going on Friday and possibly Sunday. We'll probably go to Epcot on Saturday to avoid the crazy crowds.

Based on the time schedule here, we made ADRs for Sci-fi Dine In (another first) after 1pm. I figure that will get us a little air conditioning in the heat of the day.

Is there a viewing area for the parade for the disabled, like they do at MK for MVMCP? I'm legally blind and that area has been a savior to me.

 

[TDC Nala]

So Celebrities are announced Mid March-Mid April, excluding last year's April 30 list. Any idea if it will be the same announcement sate as last year?

There is no way to know if it will be the same announcement date as last year. Announcement dates vary year to year. Totally depends on how long it takes them to line up all the celebrities.

 

[yulilin3]

First look at merchandise, it seems that the theme will be Episode 1 Phantom Menace, get those credit cards ready:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...s-weekends-2012-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[zippermom]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet , but we we were at SWW several years ago there were storm troopers standing on top of the ticket booths at the entrance doing a pre-opening "show". It was fun.

 

[kswm30b]

I'm going to my first SWW this year, I'm so excited!

The most important thing for me is to meet the characters. Are they usually always in the same spot? I'm going the first weekend so I can't read up on where they are before hand. (I plan mnsshp like crazy so I catch as many characters & shows as possible, lol.) any tips in meeting them would be great!

I'll definitely be checking this thread the next few months through May

 

[yulilin3]

I'm going to my first SWW this year, I'm so excited!

The most important thing for me is to meet the characters. Are they usually always in the same spot? I'm going the first weekend so I can't read up on where they are before hand. (I plan mnsshp like crazy so I catch as many characters & shows as possible, lol.) any tips in meeting them would be great!

I'll definitely be checking this thread the next few months through May

In the last couple of years they have been in the same spots.
Around Star Tours area: Queen Amidala-Chewbacca and Ewok
Around Premiere Theater/Mama Melrose Restaurant: Clone Wars characters (Ahsoka-Cody-Rex-Asajj Ventress) -By the San Francisco Mural Jedi Council (Mace Windu- Shaak Tii-Kit Fisto-Anakin) Roaming characters: Jawas
Around Backlot Tour: Dart Vader-Darth Maul-Bobba and Jango Fett. Roaming characters: Aura Sing- Zam Wessel- Tuscan Raider-Gamorrean Guard.
Last year these characters were inside the merchandise tent: R2D2-C3PO-Luke-Leia.
SW Disney CHaracters by ABC Commisary (Jedi Mickey-Stormtrooper Donald-Darth Goofy and Princess Minnie Organa)
As for tips the longest characters meet and greets are Chewbacca and Darth Vader, get them first then you can just walk around to get the rest. Some characters rotate so keep that in mind (like the Fetts-The SW Disney characters-Jedi Council-CLone Wars)

 

[yulilin3]

There's also a great opportunity to get a picture with all the characters together. If you follow the parade after they pass you, all the characters go up on stage and you get a great picture with all the characters and celebrities together. You have to follow the rope at the end of the parade very closely, there will be ALOT of people doing the same.