TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[delmar411]

My son had a field trip at school today. He heard another older child on the bus discussing Disney Star Wars weekend that he attended last year. My son came home begging us to someday take him to it. Little does he know that we are leaving in 3 weeks 6 days. It nearly killed me to not say something. This is really going to be a long wait.!

Hubby an I were concerned about the crowds that 1st SWW weekend but the way our son is such a huge SW fan - it'll be great and magical no matter what!

What a great surprise for him! He'll have a blast! The crowds will be up there but just go with the flow and I bet he won't even notice.

 

[yulilin3]

Another indication on how crowded weekend 1 will be; Disney has extended park hours for DHS during the first weekend May20-22, 8am to midnight. Plan accordingly and continue to check the calendar.

 

[delmar411]

Another indication on how crowded weekend 1 will be; Disney has extended park hours for DHS during the first weekend May20-22, 8am to midnight. Plan accordingly and continue to check the calendar.

Thank you for posting this! I had the park hours already written down. I checked them all and these have all been extended: (we arrive on 5/21 so that's when my dates start here)

MK -
5/21 8-1
5/22 9-3 (EMH evening)
5/23 9-12
5/23 8-12 (EMH morning)
5/27 9-11
5/28 8-12

AK -
5/21 8-8 (EMH morning)
5/22 8-8

EP -
no changes

HS -
5/21 8-12
5/22 8-12
5-23 9-1 (EMH evening)
5/24 9-10
5/25 8-10 (EMH morning)
5/26 9-10
5/27 9-10
5/28 9-12

no changes past 5/28 so far but it's possible.

 

[Finally08]

Thank you for posting this! I had the park hours already written down. I checked them all and these have all been extended: (we arrive on 5/21 so that's when my dates start here)

MK -
5/21 8-1
5/22 9-3 (EMH evening)
5/23 9-12
5/23 8-12 (EMH morning)
5/27 9-11
5/28 8-12

AK -
5/21 8-8 (EMH morning)
5/22 8-8

EP -
no changes

HS -
5/21 8-12
5/22 8-12
5-23 9-1 (EMH evening)
5/24 9-10
5/25 8-10 (EMH morning)
5/26 9-10
5/27 9-10
5/28 9-12

no changes past 5/28 so far but it's possible.

I'll be there the same time and those park times are frightening!
I think we will be doing some forced mid day naps and then trying to stay late at the parks in hopes of lower crowds than what the usual daytime brings. But really that is just me fooling myself.....

 

[delmar411]

I'll be there the same time and those park times are frightening!
I think we will be doing some forced mid day naps and then trying to stay late at the parks in hopes of lower crowds than what the usual daytime brings. But really that is just me fooling myself.....

We are open to close people and yeah...just between those changes in that 10day period they've added an additional 32hrs of park time. I was already expecting it to be super crowded but I'll have to adjust to super packed. LOL

 

[Finally08]

We are open to close people and yeah...just between those changes in that 10day period they've added an additional 32hrs of park time. I was already expecting it to be super crowded but I'll have to adjust to super packed. LOL

I didn't add up hours but it's like we're getting about 3 more days of park time for free. I should not complain.

 

[yulilin3]

Just wanted to let you guys know that studios central is holding their annual sww planning chats on May 6 and May 15 at 8pm. This is a great opportunity to chat with people that have gone to sww in the past, get information, ask questions, ask for tips and tricks. It's a fun group of people.
http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Has this year's logo leaked out yet?

 

[yulilin3]

Matt Lanter has confirmed via his Twitter account that he will be attending Star Wars Weekends 2011 during June 3-5.

Lanter is the voice of Anakin Skywalker on the Clone Wars cartoon series, he also plays Liam Court on the new 90210 so expect alot of teenage girls in line for his Fp.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Just wanted to let you guys know that studios central is holding their annual sww planning chats on May 6 and May 15 at 8pm. This is a great opportunity to chat with people that have gone to sww in the past, get information, ask questions, ask for tips and tricks. It's a fun group of people.
http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/

Do people need to sign up with studios central to listen to the chat? thanks for the information.

And as for the logo being leaked I dont know? Is it supposed to be a secret? Fill me in please. Thanks

 

[GoofyTraci]

I didn't add up hours but it's like we're getting about 3 more days of park time for free. I should not complain.

we will be there the 3rd and 4th weekend so no extra hours for us. But just happy to attend this year

 

[yulilin3]

Do people need to sign up with studios central to listen to the chat? thanks for the information.

And as for the logo being leaked I dont know? Is it supposed to be a secret? Fill me in please. Thanks

You don't need to sign up, just go to the page where it say chat and type in any user name and you're ready to chat.
No logo yet

 

[anne0866]

Thank you for posting this! I had the park hours already written down. I checked them all and these have all been extended: (we arrive on 5/21 so that's when my dates start here)

MK -
5/21 8-1
5/22 9-3 (EMH evening)
5/23 9-12
5/23 8-12 (EMH morning)
5/27 9-11
5/28 8-12

AK -
5/21 8-8 (EMH morning)
5/22 8-8

EP -
no changes

HS -
5/21 8-12
5/22 8-12
5-23 9-1 (EMH evening)
5/24 9-10
5/25 8-10 (EMH morning)
5/26 9-10
5/27 9-10
5/28 9-12

no changes past 5/28 so far but it's possible.

We're there the 16th to th 24th. The interesting thing to the extended hours is that I have not seen anything reflected in the anticpated crowd levels on on touring plans. At least not yet. WDW must be expecting alot of people that 1st SWW weekend becuase I would think it must cost a lot of money for them to extend the hours as much as they have. Wonder if it has anything to do with the George L rumour?

Oh Gosh - I just realized the 20th is hubby and my 12th anniversary! How cool is that? We'll be celebrating at Star Wars Weekend? Opening say of Star Tours 2!!

 

[shannoook]

I read about the extended hours earlier & I didn't know whether to or not. lol.

I always make a spreadsheet of my trip with park hours, and crowd levels for each according to touringplans - and I had been wondering why they were calling 5/20 a 2 out of 10! I had been anticipating a 10+ anyway - but it looks like it's official..... it'll be packed!!

So question for everyone -

Where are you headed FIRST at rope drop?!?

 

[GoofyTraci]

You don't need to sign up, just go to the page where it say chat and type in any user name and you're ready to chat.
No logo yet

thanks

 

[TriSeb°o°]

New Disney site that let's you create a Star Tours "Passport"... it is really kewl and my boys got a kick out of uploading their photo and superimposing a Jedi robe template.

I'm going to print it out on cover stock (in color) and it includes instructions for them to cut out and glue it together. It has all the ST destinations, an area to put dates and check off the ones they complete.

Plus, they can get it stamped... this will be a nice activity to help between now and the 39 days before they get to ride.. awesome

http://startourspassport.com

 

[TallandGoofy]

Even if you finish your breakfast before 9am you can't go and walk around the park, you have to wait for rope drop. But it is a good idea to be in the park eating breakfast than waiting with the crowd outside. I would think that Star Tours FP will be more popular than TSM Fp during SWW, so if you can grab a FP fr ST and then you can go ride TSM.

Thanks!

 

[GoofyTraci]

New Disney site that let's you create a Star Tours "Passport"... it is really kewl and my boys got a kick out of uploading their photo and superimposing a Jedi robe template.

I'm going to print it out on cover stock (in color) and it includes instructions for them to cut out and glue it together. It has all the ST destinations, an area to put dates and check off the ones they complete.

Plus, they can get it stamped... this will be a nice activity to help between now and the 39 days before they get to ride.. awesome

http://startourspassport.com

thanks for posting this I had no idea and printed one out for my son last night but forgot to come back and say thank you

 

[MusiqChic99]

We will be there on May 29th. It's our arrival day so I won't be there at rope drop...probably more like lunch time.

I know it's going to be really crowded but I figured we would at least head to DHS to see something. Is it worth going if you won't be waiting around for autographs? I've never been during Star Wars weekends and this trip is very spur of the moment. We never go in June so this may not happen again. Do I make through the crowds anyway????

Honestly I'd be happy with a Star Wars tshirt!

 

[mommystieg]

Is it worth going if you won't be waiting around for autographs? I've never been during Star Wars weekends and this trip is very spur of the moment. We never go in June so this may not happen again. Do I make through the crowds anyway????

Honestly I'd be happy with a Star Wars tshirt!

If you are a Star Wars fan then I say "GO!" We make it point to spend at least one day at DHS during SWW. We don't go for the autographs but it is really fun to see the characters wandering the park and there is some exclusive merchandise for sale. Too bad you can't be there at park opening -- there are Stormtroopers on the roof above the entrance turnstiles and you can hear some really fun dialogue.