TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

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!

1.- They start selling tickets around 45min, before park opens.
2.- http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/files/sww-060311.pdf schedule for weekend 3
3.- It depends on what you want. Celebrities? Characters? Shows? Ride Star Tours?
4.- You have to be there at rope drop and go straight to sign your child into JTA, he needs to be with you to do this, ages 4-12.
5.- Depends again on your priority. Almost all of Jabbas merchandise is not LE at this point so no need to rush.
 
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?

Head up...just saw the schedule for weekend 3 and Ray Park's show Visit to the Maul is at 4:45pm. Here's the link: http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/files/sww-060311.pdf
 
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.
EDITED TO SAY-
I was told by a cast member that you can "forfeit" your wristband to your children. Meaning that you take it off your arm and give it to the child. Not all cms in the lines are always aware of everything, so if you have trouble with that let them know that A CAST MEMBER said it is OK. We've done it with no problem. You don't have to "be sneaky" and slip them off. I believe that this is the rule that applies to everyone, and was not some idiosyncratic offer that applied to only me. Apparently, though, your mileage may vary.

You can have more than one wristband by going back in line two hours later. It is one fast pass per person with a ticket per two hours. Regular fast pass rules. So after you go through at 6:40 or whatever time, you can come back through at 8:40 and get another (if there any left). I had two the other day because I got a Daniel Logan and came back two hours later and got a Dave Filoni stand by. So you can absolutely legally get more than one.

What you aren't allowed to do is go through one fast pass line, take the armband off then and go back through right then. That doesn't sound like what you are talking about, but it does happen when people slip the arm bands off. Since you don't have to slip off the arm band to let your children use it, people might assume you are talking about trying to get back in line if you talk about slipping them off. That is 100% against the rules and would not be tolerated as a recommendation by the disboards, I'm sure.
 
Looks like Hyperspace Hoopla is at 8pm this weekend. That's different then last weekend isn't it?
 

Looks like Hyperspace Hoopla is at 8pm this weekend. That's different then last weekend isn't it?

Good catch!! I didn't even look at the rest of the schedule.
Maybe it's because they are using the Diamond Vision of American Idol Experience and the finale show last about 45min. they want to give a chance for AIE to be over since they show the finale show on this screen...and then be able to show Hoopla on it.
 
Is the general consensus that it seems better to watch the Hoopla near the AI screen rather than in person on the hat stage?
 
Eric said that you can "forfeit" your wristband to your children. Meaning that you take it off your arm and give it to the child. Not all cms in the lines are always aware of everything, so if you have trouble with that let them know that Eric said it is OK. We've done it with no problem. You don't have to "be sneaky" and slip them off.

You can have more than one wristband by going back in line two hours later. It is one fast pass per person with a ticket per two hours. Regular fast pass rules. So after you go through at 6:40 or whatever time, you can come back through at 8:40 and get another (if there any left). I had two the other day because I got a Daniel Logan and came back two hours later and got a Dave Filoni stand by. So you can absolutely legally get more than one.

What you aren't allowed to do is go through one fast pass line, take the armband off then and go back through right then. That doesn't sound like what you are talking about, but it does happen when people slip the arm bands off. Since you don't have to slip off the arm band to let your children use it, people might assume you are talking about trying to get back in line if you talk about slipping them off. That is 100% against the rules and would not be tolerated as a recommendation by the disboards, I'm sure.

I just would like to chime in about this:
The Cast Members that work this event are very dedicated to what they do, they want the guest to have a good experience and that's their main goal. Naming a specific CM and taking his word for what he said that day and applying it to the rest of the weekends is not Ok. That same CM told me I could forfeit my wristband and give to my daughter but this has to be asked every time you plan on doing this, they recieved tons of complaints from guest about arriving at the park and not being able to get a celeb Fp so that's why they have this new rule about 1fp per guest per day. It makes sense to me. It gives the opportunity to more people being able to meet the SW celebs. It's not perfect and I'm sure they'll improve on it, but being sneaky, not asking is not cool. Using the name of a CM each weekend is not cool. These people put 12hours shift in the heat, in the rain to bring you an awesome event so lets not ruin it. Let's know the rules, play by them and if you need to forfeit your wristband ask first at that moment and not be sneaky about it.
 
Is the general consensus that it seems better to watch the Hoopla near the AI screen rather than in person on the hat stage?

To me seeing it at AIE screen is the same as seeing it on youtube at home. That's just my opinion, but is it easier? I would say Yes, because alot of people think like me and want to see it "live". Still I plan on watching it from AIE screen at least once before SWW is over.
 
1.- They start selling tickets around 45min, before park opens.
2.- http://sww.studioscentral.com/main/files/sww-060311.pdf schedule for weekend 3
3.- It depends on what you want. Celebrities? Characters? Shows? Ride Star Tours?
4.- You have to be there at rope drop and go straight to sign your child into JTA, he needs to be with you to do this, ages 4-12.
5.- Depends again on your priority. Almost all of Jabbas merchandise is not LE at this point so no need to rush.


Yulilin3,

thank you for all your contributions to this thread. You've been a huge help to me and my family and I'm sure countless other people in the DIS community.
 
To me seeing it at AIE screen is the same as seeing it on youtube at home. That's just my opinion, but is it easier? I would say Yes, because alot of people think like me and want to see it "live". Still I plan on watching it from AIE screen at least once before SWW is over.

Thanks! I am just trying to avoid sitting somewhere for 90 minutes in advance like we have the past 2 years. (But I agree that it might "lose" something watching it on a screen)

Yulilin3,

thank you for all your contributions to this thread. You've been a huge help to me and my family and I'm sure countless other people in the DIS community.

I will second this! :worship:
 
Is the general consensus that it seems better to watch the Hoopla near the AI screen rather than in person on the hat stage?

Even if its crowded, you can still get good spots to see Hoopla all the way back to the Wait Times board. As Yulilin said, I would rather watch it live, than watch it on the AI board.
 
Thank you all for your nice words. I really like to plan things, and since I live here in Orlando I don't have to do that anymore when I go to Disney or Universal...so I like to help people with that. Since I've been going for so long to SWW I know what to expect and how to prepare, so I like sharing that info. I hope veryone is having or will have a good SWW, it's really a fun event, actually my favorite in WDW, you just have to be preparade and be flexible....and don't forget that water. :)
 
anyone else who has already been checked their photopass pictures Why is there only 2 borders no date or reference to SWW or Disney I was really disappointed
 
Thank you all for your nice words. I really like to plan things, and since I live here in Orlando I don't have to do that anymore when I go to Disney or Universal...so I like to help people with that. Since I've been going for so long to SWW I know what to expect and how to prepare, so I like sharing that info. I hope veryone is having or will have a good SWW, it's really a fun event, actually my favorite in WDW, you just have to be preparade and be flexible....and don't forget that water. :)


I've been to Disney 50+ times over the last 28yrs, but this was my first SWW. We had such a great time, I can't believe we didn't do it sooner. The advice in this thread really help us to get the most out of our time.
 
I just would like to chime in about this:
The Cast Members that work this event are very dedicated to what they do, they want the guest to have a good experience and that's their main goal. Naming a specific CM and taking his word for what he said that day and applying it to the rest of the weekends is not Ok. That same CM told me I could forfeit my wristband and give to my daughter but this has to be asked every time you plan on doing this, they recieved tons of complaints from guest about arriving at the park and not being able to get a celeb Fp so that's why they have this new rule about 1fp per guest per day. It makes sense to me. It gives the opportunity to more people being able to meet the SW celebs. It's not perfect and I'm sure they'll improve on it, but being sneaky, not asking is not cool. Using the name of a CM each weekend is not cool. These people put 12hours shift in the heat, in the rain to bring you an awesome event so lets not ruin it. Let's know the rules, play by them and if you need to forfeit your wristband ask first at that moment and not be sneaky about it.

I don't think DR or I ever realized it wasn't acceptable to name a specific CM who is heavily responsible for organzing the morning lines. He does have a nametag on afterall. What he told us was that we could forfeit our wristbands to our children and if there were any issues the names of the people we could ask for assistance. That wasn't for us in specific but for anyone who wished to do so for their child. It never occurred to me that discussing a specific CM was taboo.

At any rate - I apologize if I misunderstood delmar's earlier post. There aren't many people breaking the rules, but some are and it is really quite frustrating to those of us who are doing exactly what Eric and the other fantastic CM's are telling us.

Unfortunately we do have to stay together as a family as both of our kids want to meet the various celebrities and they aren't old enough to wait without parental supervision.
 
I just would like to chime in about this:
The Cast Members that work this event are very dedicated to what they do, they want the guest to have a good experience and that's their main goal. Naming a specific CM and taking his word for what he said that day and applying it to the rest of the weekends is not Ok. That same CM told me I could forfeit my wristband and give to my daughter but this has to be asked every time you plan on doing this, they recieved tons of complaints from guest about arriving at the park and not being able to get a celeb Fp so that's why they have this new rule about 1fp per guest per day. It makes sense to me. It gives the opportunity to more people being able to meet the SW celebs. It's not perfect and I'm sure they'll improve on it, but being sneaky, not asking is not cool. Using the name of a CM each weekend is not cool. These people put 12hours shift in the heat, in the rain to bring you an awesome event so lets not ruin it. Let's know the rules, play by them and if you need to forfeit your wristband ask first at that moment and not be sneaky about it.

I have been thinking some time to try to understand what your point is.

I do not believe that his was some individual offer for a one time only situation. I thought that this was the standard rule that applied to everyone. Actually, I continue to believe so, but I edited my original post to remove the name and to clarify that this may not be the case. However, of course, your post still does name this person.

Now, as to what is "cool." What would not be cool would be for a "rule" to apply to one person and not to apply to another person. Frankly, I do not believe that is the case, and I believe that those cast members you are referring to would not be that unprofessional. For that reason, I am quite confident and comfortable in believing that I was told I could do would apply to every single other person who bought a ticket to go to the studios.

In other words, that IS the rule, that's why you and I were told the same thing. It wasn't a personal favor.

My point, if you will review, was that one did not need to be "sneaky" and take off wrist bands if they are giving them to their children. Rather, they can look a cast member in the eye and explain exactly what they are doing.

The "sneaky" comes from people taking off the wrist bands either because they do not think they can or because they are trying to go back through the line again without waiting two hours. There is no point in being "sneaky" in taking off the wrist bands if you are on the up and up, just say what you are doing and do it.

Now I will say this - and it completely negates the whole point. I had a stand by for a celebrity two weeks ago and got tired of waiting. As I was getting ready to leave there was a park guest who was asking about how to get in the line because his son really wanted an autograph. The cast member was explaining about the fast passes, and basically that this guy was shut out because he didn't know in advance to come early in the morning. So as I was going out I said here, you can have my standby. But the cm said, no, the wristbands. So I said "well can I forfeit him my wristband?" and the cm said no, not your child. So that, to me, is exactly opposite of the goal of trying to get more people a fast pass.
 
Is the general consensus that it seems better to watch the Hoopla near the AI screen rather than in person on the hat stage?

When we went to the Lasr Flight to Endor party we were standing quite far away from the stage and could see just fine. We're going to show up about 30 minutes early and see how it goes.
 
ok, between Dh and you all I'm thoroughly confused to the whole wristband/swapping situation. I like to know what I'm getting into so this agitates me some not knowing what the 'real' deal is. I'm sure it will all work out in the end and he'll get whatever autographs he's after, even if he's not the one meeting the person.

The ones that do the voice work I'm sure he wants some sort of recording. He had the guy who does the voice of the commander clone record a very silly and funny spiel telling my boys to go to bed. So I guess I should probably get in line for a face actor not a voice actor...if there are any this weekend?

I'm hoping the Phineas and Ferb M&G will take some of the pressure off the character M&Gs this weekend. I want to get through those on Friday if possible. It's a super cute and very interactive M&G. Too bad it decided to rain buckets on us while waiting today! LOL
 
When the park has been opening earlier than the posted time, are the Stormtroopers still coming out before they open to do their skit? We haven't told our boys we are going to SWW and plan on suprising them then w/the Stormtrooper skit. Unless the older one figures it out by seeing the big SWW sign out front. We have been telling them we are going to miss it and figure I could get away w/telling them they hadn't taken the sign down yet. But we wouldn't be able to fool them when the Stormtroopers some out. I can't wait! They are going to be so excited and DH and I will finally be glad to stop talking in code.
 




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