TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[RedM94]

I am so glad that I stumbled on this thread before going to weekend number 4 with my son. I really to stay at BWV so that we could walk to the park, but on such short notice the only DVC room I could get was OKW.

DS 10 wants to sign up for the PMC. I know that we will need to be early and that we need to sign up first thing. Can anyone tell me how the actual PMC works? DS is asking will they be on a stage, how do they ask the questions.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[RedM94]

On 2 separate occasions we snagged 2 photopass photographers who were able to do magic shots of my DS and DD fighting Darth Vader. They need a plain backdrop(mainly without people) to impose the Darth Vader image and the knowledge to do a Darth Vader magic shot so those photographers were best found in the Darth Vader area. We used our own light sabers but if you see a photographer carrying his own light saber he probably does that magic shot.

If the photographer can't do one ask him/her to direct you to one that does. It's a great shot especially if your child couldn't or wouldn't be in the JTA or didn't get a photo with the Darth Vader character.

That is awesome!!! We have done the magic shots in the past, I didn't even think that they would have special ones for this weekend.

Thank you for the tip!!!!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hello to all,

I am planning on going for the 4th weekend (June 10th....)

Since HS seems to be opening early for SWW are the boats from Beach Club running that early or should we take a cab at 7:30........ to get there and see the Storm trooper show that is now starting at ? 7:45am?????

Thank you and may the 4th's be with you, as well as the force and all the other Star Wars lingo.

Marlton Mom

Hi Marlton Mom!

We are going the same day. As of now we have a 7:30am at Cape May for DS's birthday, but I will let him decide whether or not he wants to keep it. Our plan is to eat fast, pay the check quick and take a cab from the YC to DHS with a 8:15am +/- arrival. If he decides not to keep the ADR, we will grab a cab around 7:45 am to DHS.

Early opening every day this weekend . Get here by 8 if not earlier.

C did the 6:30 Mind Challenge. Then after we just grabbed a shady spot to wait for Hoopla. (Not quite as good this year imo.)

Thanks!! DS doesn't care about the Mind Challenge and he did JTA 2 years ago. I just want to get in and hit TSM and Star Tours before the characters head out!

Where did you watch the Hoopla? By the stage or AI screen? I still am really torn on what to do on this one...

 

[sam_gordon]

Where did you watch the Hoopla? By the stage or AI screen? I still am really torn on what to do on this one...

We watched at the stage. While I knew the AI screen was an option, if I wanted to watch on a screen, I could simply use YouTube.

We are at BLT, DS and I got to the bus stop about 625 (busses are supposed to start running at 630). Waited about 10 minutes, saw ONE bus on the road in front of the Contemporary, and hopped a cab. Cost $20.

 

[wisconsinmom]

With the park opening early do the characters come out then or not until 9:00? We'll be there next Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Karpkg]

With the park opening early do the characters come out then or not until 9:00? We'll be there next Saturday and Sunday.

The dark side(Vader) comes out at 9A; some of the characters on the light side has been coming out earliest 9:30. I noticed the maps says this weekend both side character encounters comes out at 9A but again, this past Friday Chewbacca still didn't come out till 9:30(when he's on time, that is!)

 

[UnNamed Project]

Went to DHS yesterday and was disappointed by the rudeness of some guests. I had a decent spot in from of Pluto's right behind a trash can for the motorcade, so I figured no one would be in front of me. There was this mother and 2 twin girls - probably about 17 and dressed identically, not cute - very creepy. They were sitting on the curb and had spaces saved for 6 people. The other never showed, but they spent the entire time moving back and forth and getting in everyone's way. They were annual passholders (I could tell from the lanyards) and thought they were entitled to star treatment. On my other side was a family with 2 huge strollers - when they were told they needed to be on the sidewalk - they pushed everyone behind them back to make room for their SUV strollers. Some odd woman who claimed Luke was her husband stopped by and took up a spot 5 minutes before the motorcade in front of everyone else that had been waiting. She seemed a little mentally challenged and had a big purse decorated with toys- she said she sleeps out front so she doesn't miss anything.
I think the merchandise leaders really dropped the ball again. In the past they weren't able to supply enough merchandise and this year was no exception. Passholder shirts and Vinylmation were sold out. I'm sure they'll be on ebay because people have made a bundle buying up these things and then selling them at a premium.
Does anyone else get tired of those damn photopass people getting in the way when you're taking pictures ? I have my own camera I don't need you elbowing me out the way to get a shot that I won't be buying. The CMs at the character locations were rude and lazy- especially the one at Darth Maul.
This will be my last year.

 

[wisconsinmom]

The dark side(Vader) comes out at 9A; some of the characters on the light side has been coming out earliest 9:30. I noticed the maps says this weekend both side character encounters comes out at 9A but again, this past Friday Chewbacca still didn't come out till 9:30(when he's on time, that is!)

Thanks!

 

[d-r]

I am so glad that I stumbled on this thread before going to weekend number 4 with my son. I really to stay at BWV so that we could walk to the park, but on such short notice the only DVC room I could get was OKW.

DS 10 wants to sign up for the PMC. I know that we will need to be early and that we need to sign up first thing. Can anyone tell me how the actual PMC works? DS is asking will they be on a stage, how do they ask the questions.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Be there an hour before park opens. They will put you at a turnstile to go in for jedi training academy. Follow that line, you take a left and then a right to sounds dangerous. The jedi training academy is in the cue under the roof to the left -= for the padawan challenge you want to go to the information desk to the right.

They'll give you a time - I think it is 2:00 and another afternoon show. You'll want to be back there about 20 minutes before the show. Make sure you child is hydrated and bathroomed before because they will be doing it a while.

They'll walk the padawans and younglings down in a line ordered by height. It is at the main hat stage. They'll put the parents in the front row (not really enough room because it is supposed to be one parent per child but most will bring the whole family). The kids go off to the side and they prep them to get them ready.

Basically, the have a blue and a green toy light saber. Ahsoka Tano helps the two hosts. They ask a multiple choice question that is either green or blue light saber to answer, and the kids hold one up. If they get it wrong, they go back to the training area with Ahsoka. When it gets time to be the end, they'll tell the kids that are left they have to use the force (close their eyes so they can't see other kids answers). Then for the last question they'll bring everyone back to the front and ask a really easy question, so that everyone ends on a positive note and everyone gets a surprise gift when they leave.

 

[d-r]

Thanks!

fwiw, the only dark side character I've seen come out at 9 is Darth Vader, the Fetts come out at 9:30 (alternative every 20 minutes) and Darth Maul after 10. The roaming characters come out at random.

Chewie comes out at 9:30, with morning sets alternating with ewoks, and afternoon alternative chewie alone and chewie with an ewok.

 

[wisconsinmom]

fwiw, the only dark side character I've seen come out at 9 is Darth Vader, the Fetts come out at 9:30 (alternative every 20 minutes) and Darth Maul after 10. The roaming characters come out at random.

Chewie comes out at 9:30, with morning sets alternating with ewoks, and afternoon alternative chewie alone and chewie with an ewok.

Thank you for the info! This is our 10th Disney trip, but our first to SWW. This is all new to me!

 

[thecapells]

The dark side(Vader) comes out at 9A; some of the characters on the light side has been coming out earliest 9:30. I noticed the maps says this weekend both side character encounters comes out at 9A but again, this past Friday Chewbacca still didn't come out till 9:30(when he's on time, that is!)

What times do the character lines start?
Specifically for Jedi Mickey and Chewbacca.
I figure we'll run to Star Tours, ride and get a FP.
But then we thought it would be around 8:30 and we could line up for a 9:00 character.
But if they're not out until 9:30, any other suggestions?

 

[thecapells]

So the forecast for Weekend #4 is showing rain.
Do the characters disappear if waterworks start?
And does the parade get canceled?
That would be a shame as we really want as many char pics as possible!
We're going mainly for that as we're not interested in the autographs or meeting the celebs.

 

[Fantasmik]

Thanks!

Also, R2D2 starts at 9a at Jabba's Hut.

 

[RedM94]

Be there an hour before park opens. They will put you at a turnstile to go in for jedi training academy. Follow that line, you take a left and then a right to sounds dangerous. The jedi training academy is in the cue under the roof to the left -= for the padawan challenge you want to go to the information desk to the right.

They'll give you a time - I think it is 2:00 and another afternoon show. You'll want to be back there about 20 minutes before the show. Make sure you child is hydrated and bathroomed before because they will be doing it a while.

They'll walk the padawans and younglings down in a line ordered by height. It is at the main hat stage. They'll put the parents in the front row (not really enough room because it is supposed to be one parent per child but most will bring the whole family). The kids go off to the side and they prep them to get them ready.

Basically, the have a blue and a green toy light saber. Ahsoka Tano helps the two hosts. They ask a multiple choice question that is either green or blue light saber to answer, and the kids hold one up. If they get it wrong, they go back to the training area with Ahsoka. When it gets time to be the end, they'll tell the kids that are left they have to use the force (close their eyes so they can't see other kids answers). Then for the last question they'll bring everyone back to the front and ask a really easy question, so that everyone ends on a positive note and everyone gets a surprise gift when they leave.

Thank you!!!! This is exactly what I was looking for!!!!!

 

[RedM94]

So the forecast for Weekend #4 is showing rain.
Do the characters disappear if waterworks start?
And does the parade get canceled?
That would be a shame as we really want as many char pics as possible!
We're going mainly for that as we're not interested in the autographs or meeting the celebs.

I don't think we will have to worry about rain. I have been watching the extended forcast for several days. Each day keeps improving!! Now there is not mention of rain for Friday or Saturday. Two days ago they were calling for rain on both Saturday and Sunday. I'm guessing that everything is moving slower than forcasted and by tomorrow or Tuesday, Sunday's forcast will be sunny and hot.

JMO

 

[brdlyleon]

Just got back yesterday from being at WDW half of the week. My goal was to go Friday morning around 6:30, get a FP for Matt Lanter, get my lanyard, and try to get standby for Ray Parks. What actually happened:

I did not wake up until 7:20. I was freaking out. I had to wear earplugs since my friend snores VERY loudly and I didn't hear the alarm that day (I heard it every other day though) I got ready and hurried over, making it to the park gate at 8:20 or around there. The park was already opened and I hurried over to the fb lines. It was pretty empty and I found ML line...The CM gives 2 FPs to the lady in front of me and tells me "NO MORE!" NOOOO! I was looking forward to it! The lady in front of me didn't even know who he was which set me off even more... I grew angry very quickly and then just kind of dismissed the situation and figured I'd go over to where they do the autographs. I got a FP for Toy Story, waited about 25 minutes for Darth Vader, got my lanyard, then did Muppets. After leaving Muppets I started walking around and see no other than Matt Lanter walking towards me! I was in shock! I sat down while a girl was taking a picture with him and then me and the girl started talking. We hung out pretty much the rest of the day. I also got Chewbacca with the Ewok and some other random characters. really fun time! In the end, I saw Ray and Matt in person so I was okay with that haha

 

[Stinkerbell317]

So are there 2 Storm Trooper skits? One at 7:45 ish and then another one at 9 am for the rest of the thundering herds??

~MM

Also if you're as amused by stormtrooper antics as much as I am, there is a very funny skit just before the Stars of the Saga presentation.

 

[RedM94]

I noticed several people were posting from their Iphones while standing in line at DHS on Friday. It is very difficult to navigate on my BB. Is there a mobile version of Disboards?

TIA

 

[Karpkg]

I noticed several people were posting from their Iphones while standing in line at DHS on Friday. It is very difficult to navigate on my BB. Is there a mobile version of Disboards?

TIA

I wish! On my Iphone I'd been using the Safari browser while in the parks. Reception is bad and the battery runs out fast. I've started to bring my charger with me and using outlets wherever I see them.