My family went to SWW both Friday and Saturday. We don't "do" celeb autographs but i can tell you a lot of other stuff! If you are not "into" Star Wars then don't be afraid of going early in the morning. we had the best time EVER the past 2 mornings with no waits for anything!!!!
On Friday we walked there from the Yacht Club just after 6am and arrived just before they opened the turnstiles about 6:20. The Stormtroopers were on the roof making deals to open the park "if no one told".
Then we were held at the rope until 7am. They let all people going to Star Tours to head that way earlier than that. At 7am they led people waiting for the ceremony forward and all TSM people by Brown Derby. Once we separated the CMs realized that besides my family of 5, there was one man and his son!!!! They were so relaxed and happy. I already knew how stressful the run to TSM is (both my son and myself lost shoes on Wednesday!) but now i realize just how stressful it is for the CMs. They were joking around so much pretending to hold us back! they outnumbered the riders.
They let us enter in the fast pass line due to no people. We rode 2 times and then walked over to TOT. When we walked up the cm got really excited and said "riders number 6,7,8,9 and 10!" We had to baby swap, so i ran up with 2 of my kids and we ran all the way to the library. they started the show for us and then we entered the totally empty boiler room. we walked right onto our very own elevator and it closed right away.
Then my husband went on and there were 2 other groups by that time in his elevator. So crowded! Not!
Then we went to RNR and I went on again with 2 kids and there was no line and we went right on in the first row.
It was now 8am so we went behind Jabba's hut to try and see Luke & Leia. Everone was confused about what was happening. Finally, at 8:40 someone said that characters would show up at 8:55. Two minutes later
C3PO showed up! After we saw him we were told no more characters until after the ceremony.
So we tried to get snacks at the bakery but it was so crazy. There were ropes everywhere and it was really hard with a stroller. So we tried the other bakery near Muppets but we had to walk by TSM because the front was all roped off. It was crazy. We got a snack and then headed back towards the front via TSM.
It took forever but we finally made it to the front and found a spot to watch the opening ceremony behind a treed area. It was just before the stores started where you turn one way for Prime Time and the other for american idol. I am only 5 feet tall so a treed area was a better option than behind the masses. I can only see over kids not adults!
it was really hot but finally the ceremony started and we saw George Lucas! Sort of. It looks way better on our zoomed pictures than what we saw.
We could also see the parade coming up the street across the grassy area. It was the best we could expect without waiting there since 7am!
We ate at Primetime after, and by 11:45 the wait for ST was 160 minutes! i'm not sure if it had started yet or not. We used up our 3 sets of TSM fast passes (so easy to get them) and then my 2 oldest kids saw Jango Fett.
It was too hot and my 3 year old was done, so we left.
We went back this morning in hopes of the park opening at 7am again. We were a bit later and as we wlaked up right at 7 we heard the opening song thing so we just walked right in. We went right to TSM and the cms said that about 10 people beat us there! We walked right on throught the fast pass line, and after the ride stopped the CMs asked if we wanted to go again without getting off! So we did!
Then we headed over to ST and my hubby went on with 2 kids and i waited with a baby swap. Their wait was only 5 minutes. I went on with the 2 kids right after they got off and walked right up to where they tell you where to go. They sent us to the first row of one simulator and we rode right away.
Then we went back to ST to use our fast pass but the wait was only 5 minutes so we went through standby.
Then it was 8:30 and we started to figure out characters. We had been told that all of the "good guys" were not coming out until 9:30 so we started with Darth Vader. The line was already pretty long. At 9 my hubby went to wait in line for Anakin while i stayed with the kids. Darth Vader came out at 9 but went in at 9:19 for about 8 minutes. So i sent the 2 oldest kids to Anakin while i stayed in line.
At about 9:39 i was next in line and my family finally showed up after seeing Anakin! My 3 year old nearly got a solo visit with Darth Vader.
Then my 3 year old had a quick nap while my hubby took the other 2 to see Padme, who was due out at 9:55. When they got back we went on TSM with our fast passes, then we ate lunch.
After eating we went back to Jabba's hut to see Luke & Leia. We waited about 15 minutes but got to see both.
Once again, it was so hot and my 3 year old was done again, so we took the boat to EPCOT. As we left the parade was on but i could not see anything at all!!!!! People had started waiting before we even ate lunch at 11. The parade was 12:45.
My best tips are get there by 7 and "rule the park" until just before the characters come out at 9.
Ask the people with the ear things when the character you want is coming out. People in the yellow shirts do not know. Some have no idea who the characters are! i had to explain who Anakin and Padme were.
Also, use the map to figure out where characters are. The "yellow shirts" do not know other than who is at their location. No one knew where Anakin was, and we kept being told Padme was with Luke and leia. Fortunately we knew better. There are also really good signs pointing in the right directions for each character.
It is really hot and humid, and by the afternoon kids are spent! Adults too! So sweaty. Try and do "sunny" characters early and "shaded" characters later. Jabba's hut is covered and slightly air conditioned but still muggy. Darth Vader is also shaded. Most others are out in the sun.
We will be back again tomorrow before 7 hoping for yet another amazing morning of having most of the park to ourselves. Don't all show up and spoil it for us!
