Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[CentralFloridian99]

I see the TA site lists official opening at 8am during SWW. Is there speculation that it will be even earlier than that, like last year? Would be SO great to ride TSM, Star Tours and the like before the SWW characters are out.

Considering the park opens early every day now, yes. When? I'd say 7:30 or 7:40.

 

[Karpkg]

Don't jump the gun in saying conclusively that DHS will open before 8AM for SWW. Last year it was feared that the combination of George Lucas and Eisner showing up and the grand reopening of Star Tours was going to produce a heavier than usual crowd at the gates. There isn't any single huge celebrity that will be out this year that will bring a larger than normal crowd. I tend to wait till the 1st week map is out as well as the reports from Yulilin3 and others who are actually there. The first weekend tends to set the tone for the rest of the schedule.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Don't jump the gun in saying conclusively that DHS will open before 8AM for SWW. Last year it was feared that the combination of George Lucas and Eisner showing up and the grand reopening of Star Tours was going to produce a heavier than usual crowd at the gates. There isn't any single huge celebrity that will be out this year that will bring a larger than normal crowd. I tend to wait till the 1st week map is out as well as the reports from Yulilin3 and others who are actually there. The first weekend tends to set the tone for the rest of the schedule.

This was my thought as well since they are already opening at 8am and I am assuming that the SWW characters won't start until 9am and later as past years. I am SO glad we don't arrive until weekend 4 so I can read what 1-3 were like.

 

[yulilin3]

Don't jump the gun in saying conclusively that DHS will open before 8AM for SWW. Last year it was feared that the combination of George Lucas and Eisner showing up and the grand reopening of Star Tours was going to produce a heavier than usual crowd at the gates. There isn't any single huge celebrity that will be out this year that will bring a larger than normal crowd. I tend to wait till the 1st week map is out as well as the reports from Yulilin3 and others who are actually there. The first weekend tends to set the tone for the rest of the schedule.

I agree with this train of thought...I don't think that they'll open the park any earlier than 7:45am...like I said before, it's a decision made the same morning depending on crowds outside the park.
Only 4 more days DS15, DD11 and myself will try and get autographs for Jerome Blake and maybe Ashley Eckstein. We'll be lining up for that around 7am, I'll try and report back during the day (if my 3G cooperates) Remember studios central meet on Saturday at ABC Commisary from 1 to 3pm

 

[lcarlton99]

Does anyone know when they will announce the times and put up a map for the weekend. I am trying to plan my trip out

 

[Karpkg]

Does anyone know when they will announce the times and put up a map for the weekend. I am trying to plan my trip out

Any time now. I've usually seen Studios Central post it anywhere from now till the day before the weekend starts. Kind of whoever can grab a hold of the schedule, scan and post it via internet. Then word of mouth spreads and everyone's gunning for the link.

 

[Marc A.]

Here are some pictures from before the gates opened last year. The time stamp on my camera wasn't working right, so these times are estimated:

7:30AM (30 minutes before gate opening):

7:50AM (10 minutes before gate opening):

It doesn't look like a lot of people but JTA tickets were gone by 8:30AM (30 minutes after gates opened).

are you saying ALL of the JTA for the whole day were gone by 8:30 am???

 

[la_la]

FP for all rides were available when the parked opened. DS & I got him signed up for JTA, got FP for ST, rode ST, then got FP for TSM... all before 9AM (which is when we had to meet for his JTA class).

Awesome, thank you for the info!

 

[Marc A.]

My son and I will be in DHS for SWW this friday, 5/18, it will be his first time and my second.
Can't wait. We are not really concerned with the autographs or special classes, just JTA and the parade and some of the photo ops.
We plan on getting there around 7:30 am.

 

[yulilin3]

are you saying ALL of the JTA for the whole day were gone by 8:30 am???

Yes, the entire day of JTA fills up in the first 20 to 30 min. of park opening during SWW.

 

[Karpkg]

are you saying ALL of the JTA for the whole day were gone by 8:30 am???

2 yrs ago the schedule was this. Each SWW time slot holds, I forget, 20-24 kids? We were in the middle of the pack; took 6 minutes from RD to getting in line and we got the 4:15 time slot.

Last year the schedule was this; more time slots. Therefore, it only took 30 minutes before it was filled up.

Now, I never guarantee anything will be the same for this year. Again, there's no once in a lifetime celebrity there, no grand re-opening, maybe they'll keep the same time slots like last year or they'll scale back to 2 yrs ago; who knows.

This year the signup will be at the Indiana Jones attraction. I know some people will be heading for the Sounds Dangerous Stage. Just be sure to have the children with you.

 

[yulilin3]

weekend 1 map is out on the HUB, having problems posting, ALL TIMES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.only difference is Obi Wan and Beyond show is at 4:45pm and Visit tot he Maul at 6pm.
Character meets from 9am to 7:00pm good guy and 9am to 7:25 dark side
JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones Fastpass machines and Padawan Mind Challenge sign ups outside Sounds Dangerous

 

[girli565]

weekend 1 map is out on the HUB, having problems posting, ALL TIMES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.only difference is Obi Wan and Beyond show is at 4:45pm and Visit tot he Maul at 6pm.
Character meets from 9am to 7:00pm good guy and 9am to 7:25 dark side
JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones Fastpass machines and Padawan Mind Challenge sign ups outside Sounds Dangerous

Can you link it?

 

[yulilin3]

Can you link it?

I'm sure it'll surface on studiocentral or wdwmagic.
more info on celeb autographs: All on Echo Lake:
Ray Park: 10:15am and 1:45pm
Jerome Blake: 10:15am...1:30pm...4:30pm
Dee Bradley Baker: 3:00pm...4:30pm...5:45pm
James Arnold Taylor: 9:45am
Ashley Eckstein: 4:30pm and 5:45pm and she'll sign Her Universe merchandise at Darth Mall from 3pm to 4pm

 

[yulilin3]

Can you link it?

sorry, been trying to change it from acrobat but not been succesfull and I'm already late to go pick up my DD at school, I'm sure someone will post it soon, but now you guys have all the info for weekend 1...BTW no mention of wristbands for autograph, that doesn't mean they won;t use it. The cover of the map is Darth Maul Donald.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

weekend 1 map is out on the HUB, having problems posting, ALL TIMES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.only difference is Obi Wan and Beyond show is at 4:45pm and Visit tot he Maul at 6pm.
Character meets from 9am to 7:00pm good guy and 9am to 7:25 dark side
JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones Fastpass machines and Padawan Mind Challenge sign ups outside Sounds Dangerous

Thank you!!!

 

[girli565]

sorry, been trying to change it from acrobat but not been succesfull and I'm already late to go pick up my DD at school, I'm sure someone will post it soon, but now you guys have all the info for weekend 1...BTW no mention of wristbands for autograph, that doesn't mean they won;t use it. The cover of the map is Darth Maul Donald.

Thanks! I'll look out for it.

I wonder about the wristbands. We have a friend who's coming a bit later in the day from Jacksonville and won't be there to get a FP but I told him I'd get his FP for him because I don't care to meet anyone, lol, this is just for the husbands. I guess if there's wristbands I'll try to grease up my hand and slide it off

 

[sam_gordon]

are you saying ALL of the JTA for the whole day were gone by 8:30 am???

Yes. We were one of the first through the gates and scored the first JTA. The only bad thing about that was we were doing JTA when the characters appeared. It ALMOST would have been better to have the later JTA, get some of the "long" autographs (Darth Vader, Chewbacca & Wicket, Jedi Mickey, etc). BUT, we didn't have to worry about JTA interfering with the parade.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

weekend 1 map is out on the HUB, having problems posting, ALL TIMES ARE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.only difference is Obi Wan and Beyond show is at 4:45pm and Visit tot he Maul at 6pm.
Character meets from 9am to 7:00pm good guy and 9am to 7:25 dark side
JTA sign ups at Indiana Jones Fastpass machines and Padawan Mind Challenge sign ups outside Sounds Dangerous

Thanks!

 

[CentralFloridian99]

I'm sure it'll surface on studiocentral or wdwmagic.
more info on celeb autographs: All on Echo Lake:
Ray Park: 10:15am and 1:45pm
Jerome Blake: 10:15am...1:30pm...4:30pm
Dee Bradley Baker: 3:00pm...4:30pm...5:45pm
James Arnold Taylor: 9:45am
Ashley Eckstein: 4:30pm and 5:45pm and she'll sign Her Universe merchandise at Darth Mall from 3pm to 4pm

Suprised Ray only has 2 times. Can't wait!