TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[ilmomof2]

They have great milkshakes at Min and Bill's by American Idol Experience, also at Tune In Lounge by 50s Prime Time they have milkshakes and the best peanut butter and jelly shake you have ever tried...trust me. No need to make ADR's at the Tune In lounge, just go in an order. If you're a SW fan you'll love Hoopla (unless you're a SW purist and think that it's an abomination that Darth Vader is dancing)

Thanks for the info. I only made the ADR at Sci-Fi for the atmosphere, not really the food. Just thought stopping in for a snack would be a way to do that. We're not SW purists...I thought my 8 yr old son would enjoy it. He was really into SW Legos, and he enjoyed the Jedi Academy 2 years ago. (though he was too nervous to try to get onstage) This is probably the last year he'll be into SW, so I wanted him to be able to soak it all in, as much as he wants to. He feels like he has to "endure" the princess breakfasts for my daughter; this is "his" thing. ;-)

ps. I saw a clip of Vader dancing on You Tube and thought it was funny!

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks for the info. I only made the ADR at Sci-Fi for the atmosphere, not really the food. Just thought stopping in for a snack would be a way to do that. We're not SW purists...I thought my 8 yr old son would enjoy it. He was really into SW Legos, and he enjoyed the Jedi Academy 2 years ago. (though he was too nervous to try to get onstage) This is probably the last year he'll be into SW, so I wanted him to be able to soak it all in, as much as he wants to. He feels like he has to "endure" the princess breakfasts for my daughter; this is "his" thing. ;-)

ps. I saw a clip of Vader dancing on You Tube and thought it was funny!

Don't count on it....I'm 37 year old mom and I'm still into SW.
Getting out of the heat is an important part of SWW. I mean right now is 78 degrees but this weekend will be:
Friday 93 Saturday 93 Sunday 96
Yep it's SWW weather...

 

[yulilin3]

Times for JTA for the first weekend:
Jedi Training Academy
Presented by Hasbro
20-minute show near Star Tours
(Friday) 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm,
2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm, 4:45pm, 5:15pm,
5:45pm, 6:15pm, 6:45pm, 7:15pm, 7:45pm,
8:15pm
(Saturday, Sunday) 9:15am, 9:45am,
10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am, 11:45am,
12:15pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm,
4:45pm, 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm
Space is limited, and participants must
be present to register. Please see a Cast
Member in front of Indiana Jones™ Epic
Stunt Spectacular! early in the day to
make same-day reservations.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Times for JTA for the first weekend:
Jedi Training Academy
Presented by Hasbro
20-minute show near Star Tours
(Friday) 12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm,
2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm, 4:45pm, 5:15pm,
5:45pm, 6:15pm, 6:45pm, 7:15pm, 7:45pm,
8:15pm
(Saturday, Sunday) 9:15am, 9:45am,
10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am, 11:45am,
12:15pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:15pm,
4:45pm, 5:15pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm
Space is limited, and participants must
be present to register. Please see a Cast
Member in front of Indiana Jones™ Epic
Stunt Spectacular! early in the day to
make same-day reservations.

why is this info for the 1st weekend only? Does it change from weekend to weekend?

 

[yulilin3]

why is this info for the 1st weekend only? Does it change from weekend to weekend?

Friday events are starting at noon, the Saturday and Sunday should stay the same for the rest of the weekends. Disney releases their Times Guides each Sunday for the whole week. This is a special times guide for the weekend of May 20-22. I got the info from the parks time guide for the weekend.

 

[MightyGitis]

I'm joining in...make room...here I go: !!!
I don't get the point of Disney not releasing the schedule ahead of time...I'm still hoping we'll have it by Thursday.

I will join this one too:

As a meticulous Disney planner having to wing my DHS plans for opening day is KILLING me. Not knowing what time the parade and show will be is such a pain. Give us the schedule WDW!!!

 

[Disneymomma41304]

Do you think Friday will be worse crowd wise than Saturday during the 1st week-end????

 

[yulilin3]

Do you think Friday will be worse crowd wise than Saturday during the 1st week-end????

I think it'll be about the same, but Friday is a special day with the reopening ceremony and SWW events not starting until noon, it'll be more hectic and unpredictable. If I could choose I would go Saturday

 

[d-r]

we've been tossing that around too. On the one hand, Friday is still a school and work day. On the other hand, everyone who wants to be there the first day will be there. It is Memorial Day weekend. I think it will be packed each day, not sure if it will really matter enough that you could tell a difference. Saturday is early entry at the studios so it may catch some random resort guests who are just going there for early entry and not even into the hoopla. One good thing is they've added more days with fantasmic during the week. I'd probably go Saturday all things being equal if I was only going one day.

 

[Disneymomma41304]

We will get there late in the day on Friday and making our full day on Saturday PLUS we hope to see the Stormtroopers at rope drop

 

[MightyGitis]

I think it'll be about the same, but Friday is a special day with the reopening ceremony and SWW events not starting until noon, it'll be more hectic and unpredictable. If I could choose I would go Saturday

Which SWW events aren't starting until noon? How do you know that without the schedule??? What about the rope drop pre-show with the troopers on top of the gateway?

*wants the schedule*

 

[quietgirll]

Just wanted to share witheverybody, we are here now and I stopped by MGM guest services today to see if they had sww schedules available yet. Short answer- no, but I hada great convo with a cast member. Apparently, on Friday they are expecting to fill to capacity an hour after opening- he said they are expecting more people than the park has had since it's grand opening. They are expecting waits on star tours of SIX hours!!! Kinda terrified me to be honest... I asked about George Lucas being there Friday, and he said he had heard that rumor as well. I had planned on arriving at 630, now I'm not sure...argh!

 

[yulilin3]

Which SWW events aren't starting until noon? How do you know that without the schedule??? What about the rope drop pre-show with the troopers on top of the gateway?

*wants the schedule*

There is a special guide (more like a notice) that guest services has letting people know about Friday's event. It says that the majority of SWW events won't start until noon,including Star Tours and JTA. The stormtrooper show for Friday is still a mystery, since it's rumored that the park will try an open at 6am. Like the PP said in the talk with the CM at guest services they are expecting very large crowds, so Friday will be really hectic. In the notice that they are giving to guest simply put, it says: Stay Away From DHS on Friday.

 

[MightyGitis]

There is a special guide (more like a notice) that guest services has letting people know about Friday's event. It says that the majority of SWW events won't start until noon,including Star Tours and JTA. The stormtrooper show for Friday is still a mystery, since it's rumored that the park will try an open at 6am. Like the PP said in the talk with the CM at guest services they are expecting very large crowds, so Friday will be really hectic. In the notice that they are giving to guest simply put, it says: Stay Away From DHS on Friday.

The park isn't opening at 6Am. They would have announced it by now and CMs would be scheduled earlier. Disney never changes the hours less than a week in advance.

And I still don't buy that Star Tours won't be open at rope drop that day. In fact I would bet it will be.

 

[yulilin3]

The park isn't opening at 6Am. They would have announced it by now and CMs would be scheduled earlier. Disney never changes the hours less than a week in advance.

And I still don't buy that Star Tours won't be open at rope drop that day. In fact I would bet it will be.

Actually CM are schedule to be there early. A CM coordinator for the FP distribution is schedule to be there at 2:30am and a CM that will work with the ceremony is schedule to be there at 5am. I've known them for 8 years now and they are saying that the park is schedule to open at 8am but they will let people start getting inside as early as 6am so that the lines outside the turnstiles don't get too crazy. As for ST I don't know, they already installed a canopy style roof over streets of america in anticipation of crowds.

 

[yulilin3]

Some extra information from Guest Services (The HUB)
May 20-22, 27-29, 2011
June 3-5, 10-12, 2011

Star Wars™ Weekends returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, May 20-June 12. More than 60 characters and celebrities from the entire saga will be on hand for autographs, pictures, motorcades, Q&A sessions and more. This year’s hosts are James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ashoka from “The Clone Wars.”

And this year, we are celebrating the re-opening of Star Tours - The Adventures Continue. The attraction officially opens on Friday, May 20. Due to opening day festivities, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and the majority of Star Wars Weekends events will open and begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20. The height requirement for the attraction is 40”. Just as the Star Wars films immerse movie-goers in storylines that keep them on the edge of their seats, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will feature multiple stories and scenarios that will hurtle park guests throughout the Star Wars galaxy. And all of the storyline’s twists and turns will be random, affording guests the chance to ride the attraction multiple times with different experiences.

Among the locations that might provide haven from the Empire’s pursuit are the icy planet of Hoth, the lush jungles of Kashyyyk and the underwater Gungan world of Naboo. And along the way guests may encounter Star Wars characters that offer to help (or hinder) their journey, including Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader and Boba Fett.


SCHEDULED CELEBRITY APPEARANCES

MAY 20-22
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
The Clone Wars Special Guest: Dave Filoni (Supervising Director)
Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett in Episode II)
MAY 27-29
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
Bruce Spence (Tion Medon)
The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Dee Bradley Baker (Captain Rex)
JUNE 3-5
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)
The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Matt Lanter (Anakin)
JUNE 10-12
Ray Park (Darth Maul)
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Tom Kane (Yoda)

--
STAR WARS WEEKENDS SHOWS

Jedi Training Academy – Guests 4-12 years of age can sign up to test their skills with a lightsaber against Darth Vader, Asajj Ventress or Darth Maul. Characters will rotate for each show. Not all characters will appear in each show. For Star Wars Weekends, the number of shows is doubled, which means even more Padawans have the opportunity to become a Jedi. Space is limited though, and spots are given on a first-come, first-served basis. For the weekend of May 20 – 22, signups are located in front of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show. For all other weekends, Guests should visit the information table in front of Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey.
Hyperspace Hoopla! – This interactive event closes each day’s activities with Star Wars characters, comedy and music. The event will take place in front of the Sorcerer Hat.
Behind the Force – Explore the excitement of Star Wars: The Clone Wars with a fascinating look behind the scenes led by Ashley Eckstein, the talented voice behind “Ahsoka” and this year’s co-host of the event.
Special celebrity hosted shows such as “Inside the Saga” with Anthony Daniels and “Obi-Wan & Beyond” with James Arnold Taylor will be performed in Premiere Theater.
Legends of the Force Motorcade – Our visiting celebrities, along with the most beloved Star Wars characters, celebrate the entire Star Wars saga with a grand motorcade. Following the motorcade, Star Wars Weekends Hosts Ashley Eckstein and James Arnold Taylor welcome our visiting Star Wars celebrities on the Sorcerer Hat Stage and present a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity. The motorcade is a daily event during Star Wars Weekends.
Note: The motorcade will not be performed Friday, May 20, due to opening day activities.

MERCHANDISE

Star Wars™ Weekends special-edition merchandise will be sold at Jabba’s Hutt located behind Rock ‘n Roller Coaster during the event days. Shop a galaxy of merchandise created specifically for Star Wars Weekends 2011 in our largest special-event store yet. Star Wars merchandise will continue to be sold at Tatooine Traders, located next to the Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction.
Collectible Star Wars Weekends merchandise items are limited to two per guest.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Thanks for the update!!!! You are awesome!

 

[yulilin3]

I find interesting there's no mention of Stars of the Saga Q&A show and Padawan Mind Challenge.
When I looked at the JTA schedule It seemed that Padawan Mind Challenge might be dropped because they did it on the same stage and with so many JTA there is no time for Padawan Mind Challenge, so I thought they might do it at the Hat...now with no mention of it I fear that it might actually be dropped...
Note that there is no SW parade on Friday, I wonder if there would still be 3 autograph sessions for that day.
I really recommend if you want to experience SWW in it's fullest don't go on Friday.

 

[V1RAL]

I really wish I could be there this year, but my girlfriend and I plan on definitely making our next trip exactly 1 year from today. So we'll be catching it next year so I'll have to try and not see any spoilers of Star Tours until then.

 

[DisGal520]

I find interesting there's no mention of Stars of the Saga Q&A show and Padawan Mind Challenge.
When I looked at the JTA schedule It seemed that Padawan Mind Challenge might be dropped because they did it on the same stage and with so many JTA there is no time for Padawan Mind Challenge, so I thought they might do it at the Hat...now with no mention of it I fear that it might actually be dropped...
Note that there is no SW parade on Friday, I wonder if there would still be 3 autograph sessions for that day.
I really recommend if you want to experience SWW in it's fullest don't go on Friday.

oh brother - no SWW parade??? I have planned this Friday's trip for folks who really are expecting a parade. Its the only day they can go.

My name is going to be Mud