TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[sl_underwood]

so glad to hear. Dd just loves the character, probably for the same reason you do. Dd is also very fiesty and independent, lol. I am glad to hear that the actress is such a nice person. I would hate for dd to meet someone she has always wanted to just to find out they were not nice. As a college age girl, I was sent to deliver goods on the scene of twister and found that many of the stars who I had admired were people I would never want to know. Definitely not fun for an excited fan. We will be there on a Friday but have the option to return saturday if needed for rides, autographs, etc. I am still trying to figure out the best plan of attack for these days. For the fp autographs is this done at a specific time? So if we get the fp first thing the park opens do we immediately go to that persons line or do we go do other things and then go back like we would for a ride?

 

[yulilin3]

so glad to hear. Dd just loves the character, probably for the same reason you do. Dd is also very fiesty and independent, lol. I am glad to hear that the actress is such a nice person. I would hate for dd to meet someone she has always wanted to just to find out they were not nice. As a college age girl, I was sent to deliver goods on the scene of twister and found that many of the stars who I had admired were people I would never want to know. Definitely not fun for an excited fan. We will be there on a Friday but have the option to return saturday if needed for rides, autographs, etc. I am still trying to figure out the best plan of attack for these days. For the fp autographs is this done at a specific time? So if we get the fp first thing the park opens do we immediately go to that persons line or do we go do other things and then go back like we would for a ride?

This is how the autograph FP's works:
you get to the park at 6:30am for Ashley, you make the line for her Fp's (there will be other lines for the other celebs) before park opens they start the FP distribution, you get your FP, on it it will tell you the time to go and meet her (for example last year she met people at 1pm and 5:30pm each session last for one hour) so lets say you get the Fp for 1:25pm then you go to where she's meeting show your FP and they let you in. Since she's a host she has a different schedule than the rest of the visiting celebs, who normally have 3 autograph sessions thru out the day.
I hope I explained it in a way that you can understand it. If you have any other questions let me know. http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/files/Star-Wars-Weekends-2010-Schedule-one.jpg
Here's a link to weekend 1 schedule from last year

 

[sl_underwood]

I think this may be the plan then:
Dh and dd will head to the park for the FP at 6am. DS and I will come by rope drop.
At RD Dh is heading to shop- he is a star wars collector.
The kids and I will head to get FP to TSM, then to character meet and greets before the lines get to long. Kids want to meet ventress, Jedi Mickey and Minnie, and darth Maul, vader, etc. Does this sound doable? Want to get the things they want most out of the way early so they dont miss out. Anything else for them is icing on the cake.

 

[yulilin3]

Sounds good, remember that the Disney characters, Darth Vader and Chewbacca are the longest lines. Also last year the Disney characters rotated so you would get in line and see Donald and Goofy and 20 minutes later they would switch with Mickey and Minnie. They rotated every 20 to 25 minutes. This year we don't know what they'll do.
Last year Darth Vader and Darth Maul were by the Backlot Tour, Ventress (she is very cool to meet) was next to the premiere theater rotating with Ahsoka and Captain Rex.

 

[nettekay]

Does anyone know if they have an ear hat that is star wars?? We get one every trip and DS15 would like a star wars one this time since its our first SWW!!!!
Thanks

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

Does anyone know if they have an ear hat that is star wars?? We get one every trip and DS15 would like a star wars one this time since its our first SWW!!!!
Thanks

There are R2D2 ears out that are adorable. Not sure if any new SW design is out yet this year. HTH!

 

[Buckeye Princess]

We are moving to Tampa just in time to go to some SWW so I'm so excited as it will be our first time. We are mainly interested in characters. Is there a map or something like it out there that shows all of the available characters, where they meet, and the times? At least historically at this point. Also can anyone give a ranking or grouping of characters in terms of wait times?

Ex. Characters XYZ are longest lines, say 1.5 hours, characters ABC are medium with 1hour, Characters CDE are short,

Thanks! I'm hoping this will help me build a plan for us.

 

[yulilin3]

We are moving to Tampa just in time to go to some SWW so I'm so excited as it will be our first time. We are mainly interested in characters. Is there a map or something like it out there that shows all of the available characters, where they meet, and the times? At least historically at this point. Also can anyone give a ranking or grouping of characters in terms of wait times?

Ex. Characters XYZ are longest lines, say 1.5 hours, characters ABC are medium with 1hour, Characters CDE are short,

Thanks! I'm hoping this will help me build a plan for us.

Longest wait characters are Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy, Stormtrooper Donald, Darth Vader and Chewbacca. The lines can get to more than one hour.
All the rest are pretty much 30 minutes or less.(Jedi Council, Ahsoka, Ventress, Captain Rex, Darth Maul, Bobba Fett, Jango Fett, Queen Amidala)
The roaming characters are the fastest because they have no line to make, you just step up to them and get a picture ( Aura Sing, Mandalorian Guard, Sand People, Jawas, Stormtroopers, Clone Troopers)
As to where they are located, last year :
Disney characters in SW costumes by the exit to The Great Movie Ride
Queen Amidala by Sounds Dangerous
Chewbacca and Ewok by the Star Tours attraction
Jedi Council (Anakin, Kitt Fisto, Mace Windu, Shak Tii), Clone Wars charaters by the Premiere Theater
Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Bobba and Jango Fett by Backlot Tour

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

Do you know roughly what time Jedi Mickey & friends start their M&G? That is a top priority for us, so I might just scoot myself to that line first thing. Also, do the kids have to be present at the SW info table to get bands to March in the SW Parade? How exactly does that work? Any info appreciated & thanks for all the great tips! We are planning on going Friday the 27th & Saturday the 28th (or would Sunday the 29th be better?). I know going in w/plans are a must, but even w/my commando ways this is a little overwhelming

Thanks Again,

Blessings,

 

[peaches00]

we will be there 2nd star wars weekend. Touring plans has projected pretty short wait times but if there are going to be star wars people there, wont the times be much longer? Thanks

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Do you know roughly what time Jedi Mickey & friends start their M&G?

If memory serves, it was closer to 10 am. I believe about the only character out at rope drop was Darth Vader. People will start lining up early, however. Also, those 4 characters are in the same location and rotate every 15-20 minutes. Be prepared to wait in the line ALOT to see all 4.

We do SWW over 2 weekend days and try to hit Vader first 1 AM and Chewbacca the other AM since those seem to be the longest lines.

 

[yulilin3]

Do you know roughly what time Jedi Mickey & friends start their M&G? That is a top priority for us, so I might just scoot myself to that line first thing. Also, do the kids have to be present at the SW info table to get bands to March in the SW Parade? How exactly does that work? Any info appreciated & thanks for all the great tips! We are planning on going Friday the 27th & Saturday the 28th (or would Sunday the 29th be better?). I know going in w/plans are a must, but even w/my commando ways this is a little overwhelming

Thanks Again,

Blessings,

They come out around 9:30am but you should get in line after rope drop. The kids get picked randomly for the SW parade but you can always ask at the info desk, but it's always been random for the parade. You can sign them up for JTA and the kids have to be with you for that.

 

[2BNDisney]

1) do you all think they will have a soft opening for the new Star Wars ride earlier in the week to try it out or will Friday be the first day for the public?
2) and my nephews love Star Wars - where would be a good place in the park to find limited merchandise that is not overly crowded or is it only found in one area?

Thanks so much

 

[yulilin3]

1) do you all think they will have a soft opening for the new Star Wars ride earlier in the week to try it out or will Friday be the first day for the public?
2) and my nephews love Star Wars - where would be a good place in the park to find limited merchandise that is not overly crowded or is it only found in one area?

Thanks so much

1) I don't know about this one. DIsney usually does Soft Openings but since this attraction is tied closely together with the event I don'y know if they will do it.
2) The only store with exclusive limited edition merchandise from Star Wars was the store at the exit of backlot tour last year. Also you could find merchandise in Tattooine Traders the gift shop at the exit to Star Tours. Both are very busy during SWW but I think that Tattooine Traders will be the busier because of the amount of people going on Star Tours 2.0.
Try the other store later in the day and it shouldn't be that crowded.

 

[2BNDisney]

1) I don't know about this one. DIsney usually does Soft Openings but since this attraction is tied closely together with the event I don'y know if they will do it.
2) The only store with exclusive limited edition merchandise from Star Wars was the store at the exit of backlot tour last year. Also you could find merchandise in Tattooine Traders the gift shop at the exit to Star Tours. Both are very busy during SWW but I think that Tattooine Traders will be the busier because of the amount of people going on Star Tours 2.0.
Try the other store later in the day and it shouldn't be that crowded.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[thecapells]

I think this question got lost in the shuffle.
Does anyone know when the Stormtrooper begin their "show" at the entrance plaza?

 

[yulilin3]

I think this question got lost in the shuffle.
Does anyone know when the Stormtrooper begin their "show" at the entrance plaza?

Around 8:30am.

 

[thecapells]

Around 8:30am.

Thanks!

 

[Sawhiskey]

I want to get a picture of Darth Vader using the force to choke me and I will pretend I am getting choked. Think he will do this?

 

[nettekay]

Does anyone have a picture of the star wars ear hats???

thanks