TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[yulilin3]

Schedule for Wknd 1 opening is hard to judge. It's reminiscent of EMH AM opening, where some previous DISers said there was a pre-show and others who say there wasn't. Park hours show an opening of 8 AM; don't know if they'll do a 7:45 pre-show, and further rumors of 6 AM opening? I wasn't sure to include it or not. The rest of the Wknds show a park opening of 9AM which is more of what past Star Wars openings were. 1st Wknd opening seems to be more up in the air.

 

[yulilin3]

For anyone going this coming Friday May 20th for the reopening: Star Tours and most SWW activities won't start/open until noon. That includes Jedi Training Academy. I would think that characters will be out and about but not sure.
Saturday and Sunday everything will go back to normal with Star Tours opening at 8am, the first JTA will be at 9:15am sign ups for JTA will be in front of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
The Stage at the Hat is set for the reopening ceremony and Hoopla.

One more week!!

 

[DisGal520]

If you want to do all the shows (Behind the Force, Stars of the Saga, Ray Park's show, Parade and Hoopla) characters and merchandise you need more than one day. Plan on getting in line/spot for shows. parade and Hoopla at least 1/2 hour early, factor lines for characters and breaks for lunch you couldn't do it in one day. It's better to space it out and you'll enjoy SWW more.

which of those 3 shows has the stormtroopers doing the pre-show??

 

[yulilin3]

which of those 3 shows has the stormtroopers doing the pre-show??

Stars of the Saga Q&A

 

[Cinderumbrella]

The Stage at the Hat is set for the reopening ceremony and Hoopla.

I know I have said it before, but this almost excites me more than Star Tours reopening! (almost )

Looking forward to the early weekend reviews of just how crowded it gets over there for the Hoopla. We aren't going until the final weekend, but I hope we won't need to get there 2 hours early like the last few years to get a good spot

 

[mommylovesdisneymore]

has this years schedule been released yet?

 

[yulilin3]

has this years schedule been released yet?

No it hasn't. The only thing we know for sure are the actors that are coming and that SWW events and Star Tours won't open until noon on Friday 20th, after the opening ceremony. We should have a schedule by Tuesday.
Hopefully

 

[MightyGitis]

No it hasn't. The only thing we know for sure are the actors that are coming and that SWW events and Star Tours won't open until noon on Friday 20th, after the opening ceremony. We should have a schedule by Tuesday.
Hopefully

Where did the information about the noon ride opening come from? And don't says WDWmagic, I want to know THEIR source.

 

[VeganCupcake]

Woohooo! DH & I just made the decision we are going to go next weekend to surprise DS4! We're staying at Coronado! We are just going to say "I don't know where we're going" when DS asks when we leave next Friday, the ride is only about 2.5 hours from our house so I'm sure he'll nap and we'll wake him up for the Disney Sign!

 

[El Queso Grande]

Great thread - some fantastic advice on here! We're going to be in Orlando and we would like to hit up SWW Sunday, May 26th or Friday, June 3rd. Any thoughts as to which date would be better for crowd size? Looks like there will be crowding issues with both...

Sunday, May 26 = During Memorial Day weekend

Friday, June 3 = The "officially designated" Gay Days SWW day

We're fine with Gay Days, but I read some advice saying that we should avoid crowds in special events like this. (Not sure just how crowded it will be.)

Also, what time would you recommend arriving at the gates if the main goal of going will be the Jedi Training Academy?

Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Where did the information about the noon ride opening come from? And don't says WDWmagic, I want to know THEIR source.

Guest Relations at the Park, they have it on the HUB (Disney's intranet for CM)
It's reliable, don't worry.

 

[yulilin3]

Great thread - some fantastic advice on here! We're going to be in Orlando and we would like to hit up SWW Sunday, May 26th or Friday, June 3rd. Any thoughts as to which date would be better for crowd size? Looks like there will be crowding issues with both...

Sunday, May 26 = During Memorial Day weekend

Friday, June 3 = The "officially designated" Gay Days SWW day

We're fine with Gay Days, but I read some advice saying that we should avoid crowds in special events like this. (Not sure just how crowded it will be.)

Also, what time would you recommend arriving at the gates if the main goal of going will be the Jedi Training Academy?

Thanks!

It'll be crowded both days, Friday tends to be a bit better because locals go during the weekend, but still crowded. As to JTA be at the turnstiles at least 1/2 before park opens and stay to your left, got straight to the sign up table (in front of Indiana Jones)

 

[kschafer]

Just double checking...Darth Maul is only at JTA during SWW right?

My boys are excited to go but we will do 2 other days at DHS during our trip and I figured it would be easier to have them do JTA on a non-SWW day. Younger son however is in love with the idea of fighting Darth Maul.

Will we be fighting the crowds for that chance?

 

[yulilin3]

Just double checking...Darth Maul is only at JTA during SWW right?

My boys are excited to go but we will do 2 other days at DHS during our trip and I figured it would be easier to have them do JTA on a non-SWW day. Younger son however is in love with the idea of fighting Darth Maul.

Will we be fighting the crowds for that chance?

Last year they had Darth Vader and Assaj Ventress (from Clone Wars) battling the kids; Darth Maul was only available for pictures

 

[Disneymomma41304]

Just double checking...Darth Maul is only at JTA during SWW right?

My boys are excited to go but we will do 2 other days at DHS during our trip and I figured it would be easier to have them do JTA on a non-SWW day. Younger son however is in love with the idea of fighting Darth Maul.

Will we be fighting the crowds for that chance?

I would like to know too...is it harder to get picked for JTA during SWW???

 

[Disneymomma41304]

Woohooo! DH & I just made the decision we are going to go next weekend to surprise DS4! We're staying at Coronado! We are just going to say "I don't know where we're going" when DS asks when we leave next Friday, the ride is only about 2.5 hours from our house so I'm sure he'll nap and we'll wake him up for the Disney Sign!

We are 2.5 hours away too...wonder if we are coming from the same place???

 

[VeganCupcake]

We are 2.5 hours away too...wonder if we are coming from the same place???

Almost! We're in Palm Springs(West Palm)!

Can't wait for them to release the official schedule!

 

[figureskater]

I know about this much: [ ] about star wars, but my fiance is a huge fan and we're supposed to be going for a friends birthday. he's been wanting to go for years and i've always avoided it b/c of the crowds. After reading the first post on this thread i'm kind of freaking out. are the crowds THAT bad, or is it more like the holidays when the crowds are really heavy? /bites nails

 

[Disneymomma41304]

Almost! We're in Palm Springs(West Palm)!

Can't wait for them to release the official schedule!

so ALMOST ...we are in Jupiter about 20 minutes from WPB!!!!! Small World

 

[Karpkg]

I know about this much: [ ] about star wars, but my fiance is a huge fan and we're supposed to be going for a friends birthday. he's been wanting to go for years and i've always avoided it b/c of the crowds. After reading the first post on this thread i'm kind of freaking out. are the crowds THAT bad, or is it more like the holidays when the crowds are really heavy? /bites nails

Yes it's crowded but the majority of the crowds are there for the characters, shows and rides with the exception of star tours will be normal. Unlike the holidays where overall waits for all rides are lengthened.