TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[MelissathePooh]

With the new wristband requirements, has anyone been able to get more than one celebrity autograph per day? I read that after 2 hours if still available, you can try for a second FP. Just wondering if anyone actually was able to take advantage of that, or if it's only theoretical.

We waited around out front the second day to try for a second celebrity fp, but all that was available was stand by's for Filoni, Eckstein and Logan. We had got a set of stand by's for Filoni, but he takes so much time with guests he didn't get anywhere near the standby's. Eckstein also takes a lot of time with guests and rarely gets to standby's.

We brought the kids with us Sunday and split up so we had 2 fps for 2 celebrities. They did allow me to give my wristband and fp to my son on Sat without any problem, BUT they would not let us give our standby tickets and wristbands to a gentleman who wasn't able to get one and we knew there was no chance of getting in and wanted to head out. He was willing to stay to the end, but the CM would not allow us to do it.

I did see another parent that was able to give their pass and wristband to their child without problem. I also saw a group of people turned away from Ashley Eckstein - they had fp's, but no wrist bands. The CM would not budge. No wristband = No celebrity visit.

So far a few have cheated, but mostly its 1 celebrity per day. Working out well for resort guests.

 

[El Queso Grande]

We're going to SWW on Friday, June 3 for the Jedi Training and general SWW fun. (Not there for the autographs.) What time is the park scheduled to open? What time would you recommend arriving at the front of HS in order to see the stormtroopers open the gates?


Also, any tips on where to stand to see the shortened parade would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[d-r]

I know I've asked this before but thought about asking again since we have the first weekend behind us and thought someone who was there can answer. If we arrive around 8:00am on Sunday, June 5th and just want to do the regular things (TSM, VOLM, Beauty & Beast, Muppets, LMA, GMR, etc.) Would we be able to get this done? We aren't interrested in the parade, or any SWW things. Thanks again for the help.

yes. Go to TSM at rope drop of course. The rest won't be harder than other weekend day in the summer.

 

[TravelGrl]

Working out well for resort guests.

How come the consensus is that it's good for resort guests? We will be resort guests and plan on going for all 3 days of the weekend (taking a taxi over). I would like the chance of a second celebrity per day (even stand by), because otherwise we won't have a chance to meet all 5 celebrities of the weekend and I don't know when or if we will have a chance to come again to SWW. I guess with Ashley, we could probably meet her during the Merch signatures which I understand do not require wristbands.
But we will still have to choose one not to meet.

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

Have they released the schedule for weekend 2 yet? Is the parade at 12:40pm or 11:40am? Is the route still cut in half all weekends? I absolutely hate this change. We were so looking forward to the parade, with increased crowding and smaller route I don't know how I'll manage to convince my youngest to wait it out (he has moderate autism). Are the sign ups for JTA the same (in front of Sounds Dangerous, sign up 1st after rope drop, all time slots filled at that point, child must be present to receive wristband).

Any other helpful tips appreciated. I'm starting to stress

TIA

 

[MelissathePooh]

How come the consensus is that it's good for resort guests? We will be resort guests and plan on going for all 3 days of the weekend (taking a taxi over). I would like the chance of a second celebrity per day (even stand by), because otherwise we won't have a chance to meet all 5 celebrities of the weekend and I don't know when or if we will have a chance to come again to SWW. I guess with Ashley, we could probably meet her during the Merch signatures which I understand do not require wristbands.
But we will still have to choose one not to meet.

I should have clarified the "majority" of resort guests. The ones who don't come the night before to camp out and don't get there hours early. The ones who walk up 1 (maybe 2) hours before hand and in years past were totally out of luck for anyone. There are soooo many locals who go every year and like to see every guest every day - they would line up and just cycle through and through and through. I remember one guy last year had 4 fp's for Billy Dee Williams. There was no limit at all and people would just run through the lines over and over.

It does stink for the regulars (local or not) as you are limited, but it gives the regular resort guest a better chance. Most people don't read internet boards and don't know necessarily know they should be there by 5am to even have a shot. Yes people should do some information gathering and put in some effort, but that is challenging to do when you are a captive on property and just don't know how serious some people are.

The truth was that the number of people waiting around or a shot at a second fp was really pretty small - maybe 50 people tops. Some people did cheat by taking their wristband off and cycling through again, but all in all it wasn't enough to really be a powerful voice of complaint vs the resort guests complaints that they never had a reasonable chance to get a fp. In so many previous years there were a lot of people just cycling through taking stacks of passes. Now they are applying regular fp rules - 2 hour wait.

So it does favor the people who aren't as informed or dedicated and kind of stinks for those that are more dedicated, but like I said the number of us waiting for that second pass was pretty small comparatively.

 

[Joanna71985]

there is a w/c area, but it's small, here's a video, you can see it at 00:16 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_3CARdgVZc
I don't think there is one for Hoopla but am not completely sure

There is no wheelchair viewing area for Hoopla (and I would recommend getting there early!).

 

[yulilin3]

what items do they have for dvc? I hadnt heard anything about that?

I'm sorry I didn't really look at the merchandise for AP and DVC, I think they're pins. Only saw the AP t-shirt

We're going to SWW on Friday, June 3 for the Jedi Training and general SWW fun. (Not there for the autographs.) What time is the park scheduled to open? What time would you recommend arriving at the front of HS in order to see the stormtroopers open the gates?


Also, any tips on where to stand to see the shortened parade would be appreciated. Thanks!

Be there at least an hour before park opens in case they decide to open early again, the stormtrooper show starts about 15min, before park opens, then head straight to the sign up table, your child needs to be with you when you sign up. As for the parade, the left side of the street has shade (as you look toward the Hat) get there early.

Have they released the schedule for weekend 2 yet? Is the parade at 12:40pm or 11:40am? Is the route still cut in half all weekends? I absolutely hate this change. We were so looking forward to the parade, with increased crowding and smaller route I don't know how I'll manage to convince my youngest to wait it out (he has moderate autism). Are the sign ups for JTA the same (in front of Sounds Dangerous, sign up 1st after rope drop, all time slots filled at that point, child must be present to receive wristband).

Any other helpful tips appreciated. I'm starting to stress

TIA

I hope they put the parade back to the full route, still no schedule for next week, but I don't think the parade time will be changed, it's a full schedule of events between autograph signing, parade and shows so I don't think they'll change it. Sign ups for JTA are the same at Sounds Dangerous.

 

[CLPClarinet]

I'm really interested to know how Star Tour lines will be on NON-SWW days. I'd like to ride it before SWW so I don't have to worry about riding it during my SWW's day.

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

Any info on character M&G? Any new character M&Gs this year? The DISNEY SW characters are our #1 priority, Chewbacca, Luke, Leia. R2D2, C3PO (are these 4 together?), Queen Amadala, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Darth Maul, & Ahsoka have all been mentioned by name any help prioritizing helpful!!!!

We are at DHS all day Thursday (trying to take care of JTA, ST2, TSM, F! And as much riding as possible) & Friday. Friday we want to see the rope drop Stormtrooper show, meet characters, see 12:40pm parade & Hyperspace Hoopla. We have Saturday AM open in case we need to go back & wrap up any SWW must-dos.

Any scheduling advice appreciated. Or shady parade route spots. I got a heat rash in March (meds I'm taking) so I have to stay shady as much as possible. I know, tall order but I thought I'd ask any ways

 

[StitchSpawn]

They were short today, (non SWW) day.

 

[StitchSpawn]

Any info on character M&G? Any new character M&Gs this year? The DISNEY SW characters are our #1 priority, Chewbacca, Luke, Leia. R2D2, C3PO (are these 4 together?), Queen Amadala, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Darth Maul, & Ahsoka have all been mentioned by name any help prioritizing helpful!!!!

We are at DHS all day Thursday (trying to take care of JTA, ST2, TSM, F! And as much riding as possible) & Friday. Friday we want to see the rope drop Stormtrooper show, meet characters, see 12:40pm parade & Hyperspace Hoopla. We have Saturday AM open in case we need to go back & wrap up any SWW must-dos.

Any scheduling advice appreciated. Or shady parade route spots. I got a heat rash in March (meds I'm taking) so I have to stay shady as much as possible. I know, tall order but I thought I'd ask any ways

Ya, that's a tall order. There's not much shade for the parade route, unless you don't want to see it. You really won't have time to see everything or everyone, the group of four you mentioned are together, but they switch each other out about every 30min. C3PO will only be there in the morning & afternoon, CM won't necessarily confirm this (so not to give anything away uh -.-) But I happen to know FOR SURE he will NOT be available after 2 or 3. When your at Jabba's get in line for one character & then chill in the store until they trade & another character comes out. Then jump back in line. If your hot, there is a fan around the line, the line rope goes in front of it, but guests were so HOT that CM were letting ppl (like me) sit there to cool off. It's not super hot inside, it's just no a/c, just fans. Great place to sit & wait, but you CANNOT let your children play or runaround in that space, one family was asked to move because kid was to close to fan (edge of tent & dangerous) & playing around (dangerous). You have to sit still for this privilege. You can see characters trade from this spot. I also have info about merchandise, but that will be available in video format. Working on it, later.
PS, MK SUCKED today.

 

[yulilin3]

Any info on character M&G? Any new character M&Gs this year? The DISNEY SW characters are our #1 priority, Chewbacca, Luke, Leia. R2D2, C3PO (are these 4 together?), Queen Amadala, Obi-Wan, Anakin, Darth Maul, & Ahsoka have all been mentioned by name any help prioritizing helpful!!!!

We are at DHS all day Thursday (trying to take care of JTA, ST2, TSM, F! And as much riding as possible) & Friday. Friday we want to see the rope drop Stormtrooper show, meet characters, see 12:40pm parade & Hyperspace Hoopla. We have Saturday AM open in case we need to go back & wrap up any SWW must-dos.

Any scheduling advice appreciated. Or shady parade route spots. I got a heat rash in March (meds I'm taking) so I have to stay shady as much as possible. I know, tall order but I thought I'd ask any ways

DIsney SW: next to ABC commisary
Chewbacca: next to Star Tours
Luke, Leia, R2D2 and C3PO: Jabba's Tent
Queen Amidala: next to Sounds Dangerous
Anakin: San Francisco St.
Ahsoka: Next to Premiere Theater
No Obi Wan Kenobi this year and no new characters
As for scheduling get there about an hour before park opens to make sure you see the stormtroopers, Chewbacca's line is longer, followed by Disney SW characters.
For the parade sit on the left side of the street (facing the stage) it remains shadier but it's still really hot, get there early

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

Ya, that's a tall order. There's not much shade for the parade route, unless you don't want to see it. You really won't have time to see everything or everyone, the group of four you mentioned are together, but they switch each other out about every 30min. C3PO will only be there in the morning & afternoon, CM won't necessarily confirm this (so not to give anything away uh -.-) But I happen to know FOR SURE he will NOT be available after 2 or 3. When your at Jabba's get in line for one character & .

Do the droids appear together, Luke & Leia together or all individually?

Should we try for Chewy first or Disney SW characters 1st? Or do one of these longer waits & then come back Saturday for the the other? Tent 2nd? Start waiting for parade 11:00am?

Thank you all so much for helping w/logistics! With all we are dealing with as a family, we could not pull a successful SWW off without your help!!!

TIA (again),

 

[iluvwdw4ever]

So what time is the parade?? And is the parade shorter or is the route shortened??? I am confused!!!

 

[tarrbear]

They were short today, (non SWW) day.

Good to know Were going to the Studios tomorrow, and I hope to get multiple rides, I'd love to do SWW, but the rest if the family isn't into it

 

[StitchSpawn]

Do the droids appear together, Luke & Leia together or all individually?

Should we try for Chewy first or Disney SW characters 1st? Or do one of these longer waits & then come back Saturday for the the other? Tent 2nd? Start waiting for parade 11:00am?

Thank you all so much for helping w/logistics! With all we are dealing with as a family, we could not pull a successful SWW off without your help!!!

TIA (again),

It depends, when I was there, first droids together, then C3PO became "unavailable", but R2D2 came out around 5:30 & hung out with Leia for a bit. Luke & Leia switch out. Characters are generally near Jabba's Hut or around Star Tours. I would do one side one day, and the other side the next.

 

[StitchSpawn]

Longest two lines are (Mickey, Minnie, who switch, & R2MK is generally with Mickey & Darth Goofy with Minnie, but those last two kind of go in out as they please.), & Chewbacca (who is super awesome), if you have the ability, do one one day & the other the next. Mickey & Minnie have NO shade, & it sucks.
And it honestly isn't worth the trouble to see more than two event shows a day, I only saw one, but I WAS IN THE FRONT ROW MIDDLE SEAT, b/c I'm awesome -.- lol, no I just knew when to get in line. Which is between right after the CMs let the ppl seeing the show into the theatre (a show that takes place before the show you want to see) & 45 min into that said show. Ppl start lining up for the *next* show within that time frame. I was first in line.
Ok, y'all have me so excited, I'll post pics I was trying to save for video, no spoilers though! I'll work on it, give me a bit.

 

[Minnie Mommy Mouse]

No Stormtrooper Donald???? We have a soft spot for the duck

Thanks for all the other great info. It helps me get the kiddos to focus & prioritize (at least my oldest bossypants ).

TIA,

 

[woodinvilleguy]

Do I need out passes to sign up for JTA? I was thinking about having my family head to get fast passes for us while I am my son bee line to the jta signups.