Star Wars Weekends - what and when?

[alicia1506]

I have a friend who mentioned they had visited on a 'star wars' weekend at DLR -- I have 2 major SW fans travelling with us and wanted to confirm what exactly is a Star Wars weekend, and is there any information on when they occur??

thanks in advance

 

[DangerMouse]

I may be wrong, but I believe Star Wars Weekends are offered exclusively at WDW in early summer.

 

[PinkBudgie]

That's what I thought to until I discovered the unoffical Star Wars Weekend website, which started as a protest against a lack of SW Days at DLR. According to their website, the date is June 26th this year. It looks to me similar to Bat Day but with Star Wars. I never heard of it until I looked it up just now.

 

[skiingfast]

I may be wrong, but I believe Star Wars Weekends are offered exclusively at WDW in early summer.

This is correct. It's an offical event in Disney Hollywood Studios. It takes place on weekends in May into June.

That's what I thought to until I discovered the unoffical Star Wars Weekend website, which started as a protest against a lack of SW Days at DLR. According to their website, the date is June 26th this year. It looks to me similar to Bat Day but with Star Wars. I never heard of it until I looked it up just now.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/special-events/star-wars-weekend/

 

[PinkBudgie]

This is correct. It's an offical event in Disney Hollywood Studios. It takes place on weekend in May into June.




http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/special-events/star-wars-weekend/

Yes, I know about the WDW Star Wars days, but there is a group that holds an unofficial SW day at DLR. Maybe that is what her friends saw. Either that or they were at WDW and forgot what side of country they were on. Could happen- last trip I walked by a woman entering Tomorrowland and shouting to another man that this wasn't Disneyland and where were they anyway?

http://starwarsdisneyland.com/
Is this what your friends saw?

 

[All American]

Star Wars Weekends is one of the funnest things we have ever done at Disney. Unfortunately, as others have mentioned it is held in Florida. On the bright side, you don't have to pay extra to attend. It is included with regular park admission and is all day for select weekends at the beginning of summer. If you search on the Disney World "Theme Park Attractions and Strategies", you'll find quite a few threads and a Superthread or two.

Since you asked I'll explain it a bit. SWW is when Hollywood Studios in DW has tons of Star Wars stuff. There are celebrities you can meet and get autographs from from both the Star Wars films and The Clone Wars cartoons. There is a parade of sorts with all of the characters. The Stormtroopers do a really fun skit-type thing as they "patrol" the entrance of HS before the park's opening. There is also "The Hyperspace Hoopla." It is a dance contest/show with the characters and a great way to end the night. At SWW you can also do meet and greets with various characters--Darth Maul, Jengo Fett, Darth Vader, Luke and Leia, Chewbacca, and Stormtroopers of course.

If you ever have the chance or your SW-fan friends, I'd recommend going. It is really fun. We went for my husband's and daughter's birthday. Both are huge Star Wars fans. Here are a few pictures I took plus a video (not mine) of the Hyperspace Hoopla:
Boba Fett before park opening

Getting Mr. Vader's Autograph

Jengo Fett

Kit Fitso backstage at the Hoopla. This was great because our youngest hated the noise, so we hung out back here. Hardly anyone else was around, and some the characters signed autographs.

Stage for the Hyperspace Hoopla

I would love it if DL had some kind of SWW, but I just can't imagine how the park could handle the crowd. What is nice is that there have been reports of more SW characters in the park which is fantastic, and it seems like the stormtroopers make pretty regular appearances. We saw them in September, and my mother-in-law was with her grandson, and they rode Star Tours with the other guests--very cool.

oh, and here's a link some highlights of this year's Hyperspace Hoopla. It was on the new stage and was a tribute to rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnuwKmzkAU4

 

[alicia1506]

hey all,

thanks for the awesome feedback -- i was talking to my friend about being at DLR and since she is a diehard WDW vet, she just assumed I had got the names mixed up

lol. i guess we'll have to plan another trip to WDW next year for the SWW.

my SO will be so thrilled. we were planning a europe vacation... maybe i can pacify him into doing DLP while we're in France in 2012 and then do WDW in 2013???

not sure our bank account balance could handle 2 x trips o/seas in 2012

 

[PinkBudgie]

hey all,

thanks for the awesome feedback -- i was talking to my friend about being at DLR and since she is a diehard WDW vet, she just assumed I had got the names mixed up

lol. i guess we'll have to plan another trip to WDW next year for the SWW.

my SO will be so thrilled. we were planning a europe vacation... maybe i can pacify him into doing DLP while we're in France in 2012 and then do WDW in 2013???

not sure our bank account balance could handle 2 x trips o/seas in 2012

That's funny! Well, I'm glad she knew where she was anyway.

The podcast team from this site (Dis Unplugged) recently took an Adventures by Disney trip to London/Paris and to DLP. If you click on the podcast link at the top of the page and go back a few weeks you should see the episodes where they talk about their adventures. Some of it just had me in stiches! You should give it a listen if you are going there soon.