TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[All American]

*Marking my spot on this thread*

We'll be getting our geek on during the last of the Star Wars Weekends. It was a birthday gift for my husband. Looking forward to it!

We were supposed to go in April for Spring Break, but as fate would have it, June works out better for us. Now, I just need to cancel those April plans and subscribe to The "Aloha!" Polynesian thread.

Thanks, also, for all the great advice already!

 

[d-r]

So the first Friday (May 20th) Would most likely be a good day to go if I'm only truly interested in meeting characters and seeing the Hyperspace Hoopla?

don't forget though that the new star tours is opening so who knows how that will impact that first weekend. Well, I don't think it will make it any less crowded, but who knows how much more crowded? If I was a vegas bookie, I'd close the betting on that one.

 

[bouncycat]

Lordy, we're checking in that first sunday. Didn't realize it was Fantasmic day!! Ah well. Does anyone know if there's photopass photographers by ALL the characters? We're interested in the characters, main ones anyways, Mickey Jedi, Minnie Lea, Donald Stormtrooper, etc. Maybe some storm troopers, and darth vader. This is our only DHS day, so ToT, TSM all that stuff is important too! I guess I need to figure out a touring plan!!! I already have dinner ressies at Sci Fi, and we'll probably be in the first main stampede to TSM. Fanstasmic isn't gonna be a must do for us, since we have early ressies for breakfast at MK, so we'll probably be done after dinner!!

 

[yulilin3]

Lordy, we're checking in that first sunday. Didn't realize it was Fantasmic day!! Ah well. Does anyone know if there's photopass photographers by ALL the characters? We're interested in the characters, main ones anyways, Mickey Jedi, Minnie Lea, Donald Stormtrooper, etc. Maybe some storm troopers, and darth vader. This is our only DHS day, so ToT, TSM all that stuff is important too! I guess I need to figure out a touring plan!!! I already have dinner ressies at Sci Fi, and we'll probably be in the first main stampede to TSM. Fanstasmic isn't gonna be a must do for us, since we have early ressies for breakfast at MK, so we'll probably be done after dinner!!

The have photopass photographers for all the characters that have a set spot, like Minnie Leia, Darth Goofy, Stormtrooper Donald, Jedi Mickey, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Bobba and Jango Fett, Ahsoka, Assajj, Master Windu, Amidala, etc... but there aren't any photographers for the roaming characters, like Aurra Sing, Stormtroopers, Jawas, clone troopers,

 

[Karpkg]

Lordy, we're checking in that first sunday. Didn't realize it was Fantasmic day!! Ah well. Does anyone know if there's photopass photographers by ALL the characters? We're interested in the characters, main ones anyways, Mickey Jedi, Minnie Lea, Donald Stormtrooper, etc. Maybe some storm troopers, and darth vader. This is our only DHS day, so ToT, TSM all that stuff is important too! I guess I need to figure out a touring plan!!! I already have dinner ressies at Sci Fi, and we'll probably be in the first main stampede to TSM. Fanstasmic isn't gonna be a must do for us, since we have early ressies for breakfast at MK, so we'll probably be done after dinner!!

Again, info following was only based on last year's experience!

There's photopass photographers for all characters that are stationed. The roaming ones usually don't have one; they tend to show up unexpectedly, roam around for 10-15 min. and then leave.

The popular characters you should plan for are the VIP's- Jedi Mickey, Minnie Leia, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy- which all used one line, they just traded out. Darth Vader is pretty popular too, he had a line all to himself.

Now, the VIP's will have to leave to get ready for the parade, so keep that in mind.

I saw stormtroopers roaming.

The characters were also divided by "The Light Side"- hanging around the JTA, and "The Dark Side"- Backlot(Darth Vader, Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater area).

If you have a spouse/partner in crime it helps for that one to grab fast passes while the other is in line waiting with the kids.

My touring plan last year:
The first morning was a non celebrity day; me and the kids were at RD by Echo Lake stationed for JTA sign up while hubby was at RD closer to TSM side; after he got FP's he then got in line for Darth Vader and we met him there. We did mostly the Dark Side that day. The following day was a celebrity day; I got there early while Hubby and kids slept in. They met me and got in line for the celebrity hosts while I was in line for Billie Dee Williams. Then when we got in we concentrated on the Light Side.

I wouldn't worry about TSM; as long as you get in line for a FP before 10:20-ish you're pretty much guaranteed a FP.

Star Wars ends after Hyperspace Hoopla(7p?) so there's a lull between that and Fantasmic(9P)

The crowd at Hyperspace Hoopla was so dense and the kids so small without hope of them seeing over the adults that we just bypassed it; I feel it can be quite a safety concern. I wish they would move it because it is so popular.

 

[yulilin3]

To get back to the previous posts about the time they start giving out the celeb fp's.
I go every Saturday and Sunday, as of 3 years ago they started giving them out outside the park, before they use to walk us inside before the park opened and have us wait by the fastpass machines at Indiana Jones and at 9am start giving the fp out, this created a problem for people that wanted to sign kids up for JTA or just go get other FP's for other attractions. So they started handing them out outside the park. For the past 3 years it's been anywhere from an hour before to 15 before park opening. Why? because they want guest to be able to line up at turnstiles to get on their way as the park opens...
Maybe the Friday of Billy Dee was different because the amount of people they were trying to handle, I don't know, I wasn't there, but I can assure you that the Saturday they started handing them down at 8:45am.
So like other people have stated, if you want a celeb's fp's get there early, I always arrive at the park at 5am and have always gotten a fp. As soon as you get your fp line up at the turnstiles if you want to get a child into JTA.
Also last year the first weekend they had a separate line outside for people wanting to buy exclusive merchandise, you line up and they start walking you to the merch spot before the park opens. They didn't have this line the rest of the weekends.
Also another question that pops up alot is that if you get a celeb fp can you still get fp's for rides, the answer is yes.
I hope this clarifies the whole situation.

 

[yulilin3]

Again, info following was only based on last year's experience!

There's photopass photographers for all characters that are stationed. The roaming ones usually don't have one; they tend to show up unexpectedly, roam around for 10-15 min. and then leave.

The popular characters you should plan for are the VIP's- Jedi Mickey, Minnie Leia, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy- which all used one line, they just traded out. Darth Vader is pretty popular too, he had a line all to himself.

Now, the VIP's will have to leave to get ready for the parade, so keep that in mind.

I saw stormtroopers roaming.

The characters were also divided by "The Light Side"- hanging around the JTA, and "The Dark Side"- Backlot(Darth Vader, Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater area).

If you have a spouse/partner in crime it helps for that one to grab fast passes while the other is in line waiting with the kids.

My touring plan last year:
The first morning was a non celebrity day; me and the kids were at RD by Echo Lake stationed for JTA sign up while hubby was at RD closer to TSM side; after he got FP's he then got in line for Darth Vader and we met him there. We did mostly the Dark Side that day. The following day was a celebrity day; I got there early while Hubby and kids slept in. They met me and got in line for the celebrity hosts while I was in line for Billie Dee Williams. Then when we got in we concentrated on the Light Side.

I wouldn't worry about TSM; as long as you get in line for a FP before 10:20-ish you're pretty much guaranteed a FP.

Star Wars ends after Hyperspace Hoopla(7p?) so there's a lull between that and Fantasmic(9P)

The crowd at Hyperspace Hoopla was so dense and the kids so small without hope of them seeing over the adults that we just bypassed it; I feel it can be quite a safety concern. I wish they would move it because it is so popular.

I totally agree with you, last year they did a special hard ticket party for the closing of Star Tours, they called it "Last Tour to Endor" and they did the hyperspace hoopla at the hat stage and it was awesome, there's so much room there and the stage is more elevated so everyone could see without being so crowded, all of us that went to the party came out hoping that they move hyperspace to the Hat Stage. crossing fingers

 

[Karpkg]

So the first Friday (May 20th) Would most likely be a good day to go if I'm only truly interested in meeting characters and seeing the Hyperspace Hoopla?

Heck, this is based only on my speculations. Now, I'm looking out my window in Atlanta today and seeing the snow and thinking about all the kids who have to make up snow days further north of us; yeah, I would think the first weekend would be good in terms of meeting characters. Now, when I was researching, I realized a lot of the writers were writing about their experiences of the 1st weekend. Those adults were at the Hyperspace Hoopla. I still think 1st weekend would be good; if it weren't for the kids being in school I'd be doing that.

Now, the new re-opening of Star Tours? I don't know how that will factor. But last year was also the 30th anniversary of Empires Strike Back and I didn't see a huge surge in people; just a focus on the theme.

 

[DisGal520]

Last year 2010 did you need to get FP for the Premier Theater to hear the Celebrity Talk SHow?

We've gone to a few SWW but never the talk show and folks going with us this time want to attend it.

If no FP are given, when did you start to line up for this?

 

[yulilin3]

Last year 2010 did you need to get FP for the Premier Theater to hear the Celebrity Talk SHow?

We've gone to a few SWW but never the talk show and folks going with us this time want to attend it.

If no FP are given, when did you start to line up for this?

You don't need a fp for this, people start lining up anywhere from an hour to 30 minutes before depending on the celebs. Using last years schedule as an example people would watch the parade at 11:40 and then head to the Q&A show that started at 1:15pm. Also there is a pre show that they do with stormtroopers that is hilarious!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C1KJS3aOtQ&feature=related

 

[bouncycat]

Thanks for the info!!! I'll send DH to get the FP's for TSM, and we'll go somewhere and start to see Characters and such. The parade was awesome the one year we went, after the parade and lunch, I'll need to run to check into our room before dinner, so they can always see more Characters and such. We're taking our niece, her husband, and their 2 kids who are 5 and 1 for this trip, the 5yr old is a HUGE SW fan, as is our niece's husband, and my DH and DS. So should be a fun day!!!

 

[mom_to_2]

I think the first post is updated as of today...if anything is missing let me know!!

 

[yulilin3]

We know now who the hosts will be for SWW:
Ashley Eckstein was the first one reported, she's the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the Clone Wars cartoon, she will host the Behind the Force show every weekend.
Now we also know that James Arnold Taylor, voice of Obi Wan Kenobi will be the host for all 4 weekends, he will host the Q&A show as well as have a separate show; here's what he posted on his FB page:
Okay, big announcement! I have just accepted Disney's offer to be the Event Host for all 4 weeks of Star Wars Weekends 2011!! I will be in Florida for 4 weeks from May 20th to June 12th. I am very excited about this opportunity and can't thank the folks at Disney enough. More to follow soon! JAT
So to be clear Ashley will still be hosting all month long as well for the Behind the Force show. I will be the host of the whole event! Plus, Disney is allowing me to perform a half hour version of my one man show as a bonus to the celebration! It will be the world premiere of it and I'm very excited about that.

 

[Tanzanite]

Do you pay extra for this or is it just regular tickets?

 

[sl_underwood]

My husband read somewhere the autographs cost extra? Is this correct. DDR would like the girl who Plays the voice of Ashoka autograph and photo and if the dude who plays anakin in any of the movies his too.

 

[Karpkg]

My husband read somewhere the autographs cost extra? Is this correct. DDR would like the girl who Plays the voice of Ashoka autograph and photo and if the dude who plays anakin in any of the movies his too.

Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano will be the host for all 4 wknds as well as James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi from the series Star Wars the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network.

All autographs are free. The work involved is in the getting there early enough to score a fast pass to be able to meet the celebrity and obtain a picture and one autograph with that celebrity.

Fast passes are easier to obtain for the hosts since they're there every day of the SWW; their lines were shorter than say, Billie Dee Williams(last yr).

 

[Karpkg]

Do you pay extra for this or is it just regular tickets?

It's included with your regular admission ticket.

 

[mom_to_2]

okay...I believe the first post is up-to-date. Does anyone have any information on the new show to be hosted by the guy who does Obi Wan's voice????

TIA! Great info so far!!!!!!!

 

[mommyoftwinz]

so I've never done SWW before and I'm not too familiar with DHS but I'll be going there on the 10th, where do you have to go to see the characters (Mickey, Minnie, etc.) dressed in their Star wars costumes? I'd love to get pictures of that. We'll be heading straight to JTA at rope drop.

 

[yulilin3]

okay...I believe the first post is up-to-date. Does anyone have any information on the new show to be hosted by the guy who does Obi Wan's voice????

TIA! Great info so far!!!!!!!

There are no details but it might be something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4w0ADsi498

so I've never done SWW before and I'm not too familiar with DHS but I'll be going there on the 10th, where do you have to go to see the characters (Mickey, Minnie, etc.) dressed in their Star wars costumes? I'd love to get pictures of that. We'll be heading straight to JTA at rope drop.

For the past couple of years the Disney characters dressed up in Star Wars costumes have been in between the Great Movie Ride exit and the ABC Comissary...as well in years past two characters would come out and then about every 20 to 25 minutes they would switch with the other 2. For example Jedi Mickey and Princess Minnie come out and the they rotate with Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy.
We still don't know how it'll work this year, but since you're going for the last weekend there will be info on how they are doing it this year.