TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[delmar411]

We'll be there this weekend. DH wants to get there like around 3am and since he wants more than 1 person's autograph we are all going to have a mini campout w/ the kids. Should be interesting!

If you see us, feel free to come over and chat.

When the kids did JTA, there were a couple kids switched lines to fight Darth so that made too many kids up on top. They just moved the kids w/o a circle down to the bottom. Both my kids were on the bottom and YDS is only 43". He was the smallest on the bottom. It seems they picked the first 15 kids to go up and the remaining 15 kids to go down. Mine have already fought Darth so they were happy to get Ventress.

Our goals for this weekend are:
autographs for DH
character autographs
remember to get AP lanyards
ride ST2 as many times as the kids will tolerate


We're going to try for Phineas and Ferb autographs tomorrow.

Also I'm not sure if anyone was planning to do the make your own lightsaber but if you do it at Once Upon a Toy in DTD they are giving you a star wars poster with it. Only at the Once Upon a Toy though.

And for those wanting the SW vinyls, we've seen them at both Jabba's Hut and the Villains store on the corner of Sunset. At the villains store we saw them during the week. It was just one open case but they may of had more. We've also been trading vinyls all vacation and have gotten:

Obi Wan - regular chaser
Lando
C2PO
Leia
Han Solo

all from blind box trades. So if you do trades that's something to keep an eye out for.

Sorry for the rambling post but hope something in it is helpful! LOL

 

[Karpkg]

Does anyone know if Disney is considering making the parade route longer for the next two weekends since it has been so crowded?

Don't think so because the motorcade drops off the celebrities at the stage then Taylor takes over as host and the attention is now on the stage. Shame, definitely pros and cons with the new stage. Puts star wars front and center whereas the general public used to ignore the left side of dhs And concentrate on their rides and shows.

 

[MelissathePooh]

We'll be there this weekend. DH wants to get there like around 3am and since he wants more than 1 person's autograph we are all going to have a mini campout w/ the kids. Should be interesting!

If you see us, feel free to come over and chat.

When the kids did JTA, there were a couple kids switched lines to fight Darth so that made too many kids up on top. They just moved the kids w/o a circle down to the bottom. Both my kids were on the bottom and YDS is only 43". He was the smallest on the bottom. It seems they picked the first 15 kids to go up and the remaining 15 kids to go down. Mine have already fought Darth so they were happy to get Ventress.

Our goals for this weekend are:
autographs for DH
character autographs
remember to get AP lanyards
ride ST2 as many times as the kids will tolerate


We're going to try for Phineas and Ferb autographs tomorrow.

Also I'm not sure if anyone was planning to do the make your own lightsaber but if you do it at Once Upon a Toy in DTD they are giving you a star wars poster with it. Only at the Once Upon a Toy though.

And for those wanting the SW vinyls, we've seen them at both Jabba's Hut and the Villains store on the corner of Sunset. At the villains store we saw them during the week. It was just one open case but they may of had more. We've also been trading vinyls all vacation and have gotten:

Obi Wan - regular chaser
Lando
C2PO
Leia
Han Solo

all from blind box trades. So if you do trades that's something to keep an eye out for.

Sorry for the rambling post but hope something in it is helpful! LOL

Just a heads up that you are only allowed one celebrity autograph fp at a time - basically per day. They are treating the fp like any other in that you cannot get another one until 2 hours after receiving the first one. There is no getting back into another line for another fp this year. By the time you wait the 2 hours there are stand bys left - if that. They won't give them out until right before they open the park.

A handful of people have tried to slip off the wristband that goes with the fp, but its pretty frowned upon and if the CMs notice/recognize they will refuse you. The CM's have been the same every day so far for the most and pretty in tune to what's going on.

If you don't have a wrist band you won't get in to see the celebrity. If the band looks "messed" with you won't get in. I've seen several folks turned away at the later signings because of those two situations. We were also not allowed to give our pass and bands to someone else when we had Filoni standby passes. The CM would not allow it. Its pretty strict this year.

Only mentioning because the time of arrival only matters for what celebrity you want/signing session. It won't increase the odds of another autograph. We were allowed to forfeit one of our bands to our son on Sat of the first weekend, but not all the CM's will let you do that even. Its kind of a pain.

 

[delmar411]

DH did the same thing last weekend. ODD slipped off her wristband and gave it to him and he was wearing 2 bands when he went for his autographs. We plan on trying for 3 (AFAIK) and have DH, myself and ODD in a different line and let the 3 little kids float between the lines as they wish. If we need to, we'll just bag the wristbands until it's time for him to get autographs. We're pretty skilled at removing wristbands. LOL

We've been here since 5/20 so already done 2 weekends. We're doing all 4 weekends this year since we won't be going home until the 11th.

 

[left210]

You are closer to SW, but neither is far away. Honestly, I would skip the breakfast ADR, and try to take advantage of the early opening when the lines will be the shortest.

So we are going to reschedule our OSO breakfast for lunch. We are going to SWW for our older son but youngest loves OSO so we have to fit it in. We are going to lunch now but do not want it to interfere with other activities so the parade is at 12:40 - is there anything right after the parade? It seems like I read something about a show on stage after? What time should we try for a lunch? Is 1:30 a good time or later?

 

[thecapells]

So I have a 9 year old who doesn't want to wait in line forever but would love to see Hyperspace Hoopla.
Where is the best viewing location to watch the AI screen?
And has it been airing on that for all of the shows thus far?

I've heard the seating area for Min and Bill's might be a good location.
I was thinking maybe see Ray Park's show at 5:30 and then go grab dinner and a seat at Min and Bill's and watch the Hoopla from there.
Will that work?

 

[Joanna71985]

hahaha me tooooo!!! that was pretty much the deciding factor for me going this weekend

Amen to that!

Weekend 3 is coming up, who's coming and what are your plans? Maybe we can do a Dis meet?

For weekend 3, I'll just be there on Sunday (for the most part). My main goal is to meet Matt Lanter

 

[L8ter]

Is the new Star Tours ride suitable for young children?

We have a 1 year old & I'm wondering if we could take her on it. If anyone could tell me what the seating is like that would be great. And if this is a ride that we could do a rider swap on?

Thanks!

 

[Joanna71985]

Is the new Star Tours ride suitable for young children?

We have a 1 year old & I'm wondering if we could take her on it. If anyone could tell me what the seating is like that would be great. And if this is a ride that we could do a rider swap on?

Thanks!

There is a height requirement of 40" for the ride (so my guess is she will be too short).. And there is rider swap for the ride

 

[Cassy.Schmertz]

This is our first time too my boys are so excited the want to see the characters parade and JTA so we will cross our fingers and just go with the flow can't wait

 

[MelissathePooh]

DH did the same thing last weekend. ODD slipped off her wristband and gave it to him and he was wearing 2 bands when he went for his autographs. We plan on trying for 3 (AFAIK) and have DH, myself and ODD in a different line and let the 3 little kids float between the lines as they wish. If we need to, we'll just bag the wristbands until it's time for him to get autographs. We're pretty skilled at removing wristbands. LOL

We've been here since 5/20 so already done 2 weekends. We're doing all 4 weekends this year since we won't be going home until the 11th.

I would probably not be to open about what you're doing as its a pretty sore spot for the people who are following the rules.

 

[bizeemom4]

My sister is going this weekend with her little boys (6 and 4) and I'm joining her the following weekend with my 12 year old son. I know that's a wide range of ages! I was looking forward to seeing the parade but with the shortened route, I'm not sure if it's worth the sacrifice of park time to secure a space for this. How bad have the crowds been for this and if we decide to take turns sitting on a blanket, how early would we need to be there?

 

[yulilin3]

So we are going to reschedule our OSO breakfast for lunch. We are going to SWW for our older son but youngest loves OSO so we have to fit it in. We are going to lunch now but do not want it to interfere with other activities so the parade is at 12:40 - is there anything right after the parade? It seems like I read something about a show on stage after? What time should we try for a lunch? Is 1:30 a good time or later?

The parade route goes to the Hat Stage, them all the characters and visiting celebrities go on stage and James Arnold Taylor welcomes everyone, then they pose for pictures. If you want to get a picture of everyone together in one spot then this is the place to do it. Keep in mind that it's all SW characetrs not Disney SW characters that go on stage. All of this ends by 12:55pm.

 

[yulilin3]

So I have a 9 year old who doesn't want to wait in line forever but would love to see Hyperspace Hoopla.
Where is the best viewing location to watch the AI screen?
And has it been airing on that for all of the shows thus far?

I've heard the seating area for Min and Bill's might be a good location.
I was thinking maybe see Ray Park's show at 5:30 and then go grab dinner and a seat at Min and Bill's and watch the Hoopla from there.
Will that work?

Sounds like a good plan, they have tables and chairs at Min and Bill's if you get there by 6:15pm you should be Ok.

 

[L8ter]

Which days has HS opened early for SWW?

We will be there Fri. June 10th & I'm wondering if they are likely to open early that day as well.

Thanks!

 

[chicagoshannon]

They've opened early every day except last Friday. We'll find out in just a couple of days if they open early this Friday or not.

 

[cajunmommy]

So I have a 9 year old who doesn't want to wait in line forever but would love to see Hyperspace Hoopla.
Where is the best viewing location to watch the AI screen?
And has it been airing on that for all of the shows thus far?

I've heard the seating area for Min and Bill's might be a good location.
I was thinking maybe see Ray Park's show at 5:30 and then go grab dinner and a seat at Min and Bill's and watch the Hoopla from there.
Will that work?

I was able to grab a picnic bench in the Min & Bill's area right as the show started, but soon joined DH & DSons on the ground in front of the screen. My view was partially blocked by those who chose to stand along the edges of the crowd in addition to those walking on the street in front of AI theater.

 

[delmar411]

I would probably not be to open about what you're doing as its a pretty sore spot for the people who are following the rules.

Well I don't know anything about that since I've seen plenty of ppl with multiple wristbands. If we had to I'd just get whatever autograph Dh wants. I don't know anything about the characters so I'd maybe have them take a picture on their own. Same with ODD. We aren't even banding the little kids because that's taking a spot from someone who wants to see the person, unlike other families who are banding everyone just so they can all stay together.

I think it's a reasonable solution but if the transfer is denied then it's no biggie to me.

 

[Stroudsters]

Star Wars Newbie questions:
Can I get my tickets for Sunday when I get there or do I need to grab them today before I go?

Is there a link to the festivities this weekend - June 4th and 5th.

What are the must see/do for one star wars day?

Can I call and sign up my son for the JTA or do I have to do it onsite?

Would you run to Jabba's hut to get merchandise as a top proiriety?

Thanks so much! This thread has been so helpful!

 

[mommyoftwinz]

Which days has HS opened early for SWW?

We will be there Fri. June 10th & I'm wondering if they are likely to open early that day as well.

Thanks!

We'll be there on the 10th as well and I'm hoping to hear that they will open early!