Star Wars Weekend Tips 2012

[Scouter88]

Was the 6:30 PMC about the original movies or Clone Wars?

It was Episode 1

What time did you get in to the park?

The gates opened at 7:30 and we were probably 10-20 people back at the turnstiles.

 

[Karpkg]

Couple of questions. We are going the last Sunday of sww. What time should my DH be in line to get Jeremy Bulloch's autograph, ideally in the first session? Also, my boys aren't ticketed because they're two. Can they go in the autograph session with him or do they need fast passes as well? We will be with two tow headed boys in a bright red double stroller. Say hi if you see us!

If you want first session your DH is going to have to be there around 3AM and sooner. After 4AM is going to be 2nd session. And this is an approximation. For Wknd 4 I'm going to say the number 1 celebrity will be Jeremy Bulloch(original Boba Fett), followed by Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett), then Michonne(Aurra Sing) and finally Clone Wars Nika.

Anybody going to be there to see the celebrity needs a fast pass. I don't know regarding children under 2 or infants, maybe someone else can ask or you'll need to ask the CMs at the fast pass line.

If it's a child getting the fast pass and the celebrity is indoors due to rain then they'll allow one adult to accompany the child inside.

If it's outdoors at the celebrity tent then there's no worries, the family can be just outside the rope within 1 foot of the celebrity and within eyesight. If it's only the child, the adult can be nearby but cannot be with the child in the queue line or within the roped area.

 

[jar]

Great finale today. B/c of parade rainout yesterday - in which we covered everything else - went back to HS just before 8am. DS was in his vadar costume and got picked again for the parade so around 9, we went to AK for a couple of hours - enough time to ride EE, river rapids and primeval whirl, then back to HS to use our earlier FP for TSM and do the parade -- weather was perfect this time and parade was great.

Then back to the hotel for a swim and onto MK, which had much lighter crowds than I would have expected (i.e., BTMRR posted 40 and was actually 13).

A few hours in MK tomorrow morning and then back home.

Thanks again to everyone who provided such great advance information that made our first SWW far better than either DS or I ever hoped for. Best tip was probably for him to bring his lightsaber for autographs. He can't wait to show that off to his friends.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

If you want first session your DH is going to have to be there around 3AM and sooner. After 4AM is going to be 2nd session. And this is an approximation. For Wknd 4 I'm going to say the number 1 celebrity will be Jeremy Bulloch(original Boba Fett), followed by Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett), then Michonne(Aurra Sing) and finally Clone Wars Nika.

Anybody going to be there to see the celebrity needs a fast pass. I don't know regarding children under 2 or infants, maybe someone else can ask or you'll need to ask the CMs at the fast pass line.

If it's a child getting the fast pass and the celebrity is indoors due to rain then they'll allow one adult to accompany the child inside.

If it's outdoors at the celebrity tent then there's no worries, the family can be just outside the rope within 1 foot of the celebrity and within eyesight. If it's only the child, the adult can be nearby but cannot be with the child in the queue line or within the roped area.

I assume he will be more popular then Ray? I'll be uploading some of the merch I got 2 weeks ago when I can get on my computer.

 

[Karpkg]

I assume he will be more popular then Ray? I'll be uploading some of the merch I got 2 weeks ago when I can get on my computer.

For the more serious Star Wars geeks who want the original trilogy actors, yes he'll be more popular. He has been here previously and there were other actors(Billy Dee Williams, aka Lando Calrissian) who "overshadowed" him, but of the 4 there that weekend, he will get top billing.

OP also wanted to know what time for 1st session. Well, I've been getting there around 5AM and the lines have been past the bag checkpoint. That's roughly 2nd to 3rd session. Locals for the big ones have been known to camp out midnight and beyond; and DHS have not been allowing them to start camping till midnight or so.

Now, if it's just him he can always show up to 1st session and see if someone's willing to trade time slots. I've done that before and was successful.

I've noticed that the celebrity poster on the far right is usually the one who Disney estimates will be the most popular one for the wknd. The line on the far right tends to always be the longest one.

 

[lovethattink]

Locals for the big ones have been known to camp out midnight and beyond; and DHS have not been allowing them to start camping till midnight or so.

The one night when we were leaving the park after hoopla, we passed someone coming from the parking lot with a cot and sleeping bag to get Ray Park's siggie.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

For the more serious Star Wars geeks who want the original trilogy actors, yes he'll be more popular. He has been here previously and there were other actors(Billy Dee Williams, aka Lando Calrissian) who "overshadowed" him, but of the 4 there that weekend, he will get top billing.

OP also wanted to know what time for 1st session. Well, I've been getting there around 5AM and the lines have been past the bag checkpoint. That's roughly 2nd to 3rd session. Locals for the big ones have been known to camp out midnight and beyond; and DHS have not been allowing them to start camping till midnight or so.

Now, if it's just him he can always show up to 1st session and see if someone's willing to trade time slots. I've done that before and was successful.

I've noticed that the celebrity poster on the far right is usually the one who Disney estimates will be the most popular one for the wknd. The line on the far right tends to always be the longest one.

I'd call myself a more serious fan, and a complaint of mine this year was lack of Episode IV-VI actors. When I went there on May 20 here was it right to left:

Ray (first to run out)
James (third to run out)
Dee (fourth to run out)
Ashley (last to run out)
Andy (second to run out)

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Did they get the Mickey ears back in for the droids, they were out of them on Thursday.

no, they are out.
We don't know when they will be coming back in.

 

[CentralFloridian99]

Here are some collectibles of mine I got from the event:

Black & White photos. Ray's was photocopied, but Andy signed it fresh.

On the left is my Ray FP, in the middle is my name in Aurebesh, and on the right is the Duck Maul pin.


I'll upload some more stuff soon, including the 2 pins I ordered from eBay.

 

[chuchujew]

One week from today we will be at SWW! I can not wait.
Thank you all for the updates you have given us that are going the last weekend. It has really helped.

Sounds like we should take a cab from AKV next Friday and not depend on the buses, especially if the park is opening before 7:30? Agree? I don't want autographs but do want to be there when the gates open.

When ppl said the gate open earlier, is it only for the magic hr or anyone can enter. it thought the schedule said open at 9:00? my DS is not interested in autographs neither but definately like to go in earlier for other things especially Star War.

 

[chuchujew]

Remember that in the afternoon Chewie meets WITH an ewok so its twice the fun! The line closes for a bit and reopens at around 3pm. We waited about 25 minutes at 2:30pm and it was well worth it.

Since Vader is there at opening, I would catch him at 7:30am (we waited 5 minutes) and then proceed to Toy Story Mania MULTIPLE times!!!!

is there a particular spot for these character to show? i can imagine myself running crazy around the park w/ my 2 super Star War fans DS ( 5 &9) to get the character.

 

[chuchujew]

Great finale today. B/c of parade rainout yesterday - in which we covered everything else - went back to HS just before 8am. DS was in his vadar costume and got picked again for the parade so around 9, we went to AK for a couple of hours - enough time to ride EE, river rapids and primeval whirl, then back to HS to use our earlier FP for TSM and do the parade -- weather was perfect this time and parade was great.

Good to hear your have a great time. we are excited about our trip, will be there next weekend. a quesiton about the parade, when your DS got pick, did he walk through the whole parade w/ the group or just a section of it.

 

[chuchujew]

We had an awesome day today!
Arrived around 7:15, parked in Stage parking. We were about 10 families back from the turnstiles. DH headed to TSMM for fastpasses and I took kids to sign up for PMC. We were the first 2 to sign up for the 6:30 show. Then we headed to JTA sign ups and got the 11:15 show for that. Next rode Star Tours, then headed to Vader's line next and jumped in--only waited about 15 minutes and were thrilled with that! The kids loved JTA and the parade, although the crowds and heat at the parade were intense!
We finished the day with PMC at 6:30. If any of you were there, my DD was the little blonde with Leia buns that was one of the last 2 standing. All her reading of Star Wars visual dictionaries and encyclopedias paid off!
Thanks to everyone here for all the advice and information. We had such a great time, and all the tips here made that possible!!!

1st time goint to SWW, sorry to ask but what is PMC?

 

[CentralFloridian99]

1st time goint to SWW, sorry to ask but what is PMC?

PMC stands for Padawan Mind Challenge. It's a quiz show for 11 and under. At 2 PM it's Clone Wars, and at 6:10 PM it's Episode I

 

[Karpkg]

The one night when we were leaving the park after hoopla, we passed someone coming from the parking lot with a cot and sleeping bag to get Ray Park's siggie.

It would be up to security to determine if they wanted someone to camp out that early; but for Ray's sig? He's here for 2 wknds, been here for at least past 3 yrs, was Ray going to sign it writing #1 fan/352325313252 for that day or wknd?

 

[Karpkg]

Updated List:

3rd Wknd June 1-3
ajh88 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
audrey2580 6/1
cerberus 6/2
bjakmom 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
DanniDeer 6/1
delmar411 6/1, 6/2
DisneyMom14 6/1, 6/3
d-r 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
emilyandethansmom
goofyredraider 6/2, 6/3
haleofafamily 6/1
Hollywoodhaha(working at Darth Mall or Tatooine Traders, say hi to Holly!)
ireland nicole
jar 6/1, 6/2
jlovesee 6/2, 6/3
jollygreengirl 6/1, 6/2
Karpkg 6/1, 6/2
KJay 6/2
MeggyK(KathleensKid) 6/2, 6/3
la la 6/3
lelei
LeslieLou
lovethattink 6/2, 6/3
MarkinMA 6/1, 6/2
megan511 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
mesaboy 6/3
mmtska 6/1
MrsPook
ocalla 6/1
pandamom 6/1, 6/2
PIRATEGIRL007 6/1, 6/2
Roythe13th 6/1, 6/3
RedM94 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
Scouter88 6/2
thej 6/1, 6/2, 6/3
tigerdragon
Toystoryfan32 6/3
vleeth 6/2
vwaller72 6/2
yankeePrincess
yulilin3 6/2, 6/3

4th Wknd June 8-10
AdamLonghorn 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
ADisneyQueen 6/8
alala
Atchley 6/8, 6/10
BABY EINSTEIN'S MOM 6/10
bizeemom4 6/8, 6/10
buckeev 6/10
CarolynMink 6/10
cerberus 6/8, 6/10
chuchujew
Cinderumbrella 6/8, 6/9
cookieswithangel 6/8
DanniDeer 6/10
disneymomma76 6/8, 6/10
d-r 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
fallen angel727 6/8
GadgetRick 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
Hanover
Hollywoodhaha(working at Darth Mall or Tatooine Traders, say hi to Holly!)
ireland nicole 6/8
jacksonsmom 6/8, 6/10
Kathy Jetson 6/8
kmadams
ladyjubilee 6/10
LeslieLou
liriel 6/10
lovethattink 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
love goofy 6/9
Maavernon 6/8
mmtska 6/8
mousenyc
Music City Mama 6/8
NitaO 6/10
NWT 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
POLY1985 6/10
Poohbug 6/8, 6/10
RalphinSC 6/10
Robin Hood 6/9
susanrose73 6/8
syntigger 6/10
texasteacher35
tigerdragon
tiggermurr 6/10
tink70 6/9
TrixieLouMagoo 6/8
twinboysmom 6/10
undertheseas 6/8
VeganCupcake
vwaller72 6/8
wdwfanatic80 6/9, 6/10
wdwnut61 6/8, 6/9, 6/10
yulilin3 6/9, 6/10
4forWDW 6/8
39CINDERELLA 6/8, 6/9, 6/10

 

[audrey2580]

Hi guys here now. So much fun. Got rained out Friday but still had a blast. Huge tips: it you miss signing kids up for mind challenge our 6pm group was able to take 7 kids from stand by. So don't give up. Also was told if you go to the information desk they are often helpful getting your child into the parade ymmv on that one. It rained so we didn't try. Kids each got an action fig from pmc lots of different ones. Heading to mk today.

 

[Karpkg]

is there a particular spot for these character to show? i can imagine myself running crazy around the park w/ my 2 super Star War fans DS ( 5 &9) to get the character.

The map for wknd 4 is out. Here's the link.

I doctored a map a while back that includes characters. First, here's a list you can find of characters. Check on p. 44 of this thread post 655. Only 2 that won't be showing up this year is MK-R2(sp?) and Mace Windu.

The map is post 934 p. 63 of this thread.

 

[Karpkg]

Good to hear your have a great time. we are excited about our trip, will be there next weekend. a quesiton about the parade, when your DS got pick, did he walk through the whole parade w/ the group or just a section of it.

When a child gets picked to be in the parade the child/children will be asked to meet prior to the parade with one parent at a designated meeting place. They'll be given a jedi robe and instructions. They'll march the length of the entire parade, and at the signal of the jedi master will stop and "strike a pose" several times during the parade. The one parent will be trailing directly behind all the children. Any other family members/parents will be directed to an area where they can watch the parade and have a good viewing area. Now, we did this 3 yrs ago and the parade route was different then but the method is still similar.

One problem I had was one parent decided with stroller to be alongside their child instead of staying behind with the other parents; this blocked my view and those of other parents and the ability to get pics of my child who was in the middle of the other kids. I hope that has changed.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for the information I this thread?

We'll be there next weekend, for the first time!