TIPS: Star Wars Weekends 2011

[pyrxtc]

We're back at the condo taking a break. We went to SWW last night to see Hoopla. We rode Star Tours and also met Queen Amadala.

Today we arrived right at 8am for tail end of the Storm Trooper show. My DH signed my daughter up for Jedi training and Padiwan challenge. We then got fast passes for Toy Story and rode it twice. After that we met Darth Vader and Anakin. It was then time for Jedi training. My daughter was supposed to be in the 10:15 show but after getting her robe she chickened out. I was a bit bummed cause she was looking forward to it. So we had a snack and then met Leia Minnie, Commander Cody, some Jawa's and then ate lunch at Sci Fi.

After lunch we met an Ewok and then did the Padawan challenge. Madeline was the only girl. So if any of you were at the 2:00 show you probably saw her. We then went to Jabba's tent and met Leia.

My DH is gong to take DD back after supper to ride TOT, Star Tours, and Toy Story with our fast passes.

Where did you meet Amadala ? My DH was trying to find her today.

 

[Marlton Mom]

Hello to all,

I am planning on going for the 4th weekend (June 10th....)

Since HS seems to be opening early for SWW are the boats from Beach Club running that early or should we take a cab at 7:30........ to get there and see the Storm trooper show that is now starting at ? 7:45am?????

Thank you and may the 4th's be with you, as well as the force and all the other Star Wars lingo.

Marlton Mom

 

[pyrxtc]

Hello to all,

I am planning on going for the 4th weekend (June 10th....)

Since HS seems to be opening early for SWW are the boats from Beach Club running that early or should we take a cab at 7:30........ to get there and see the Storm trooper show that is now starting at ? 7:45am?????

Thank you and may the 4th's be with you, as well as the force and all the other Star Wars lingo.

Marlton Mom

The storm trooper show still starts at 8:45 but there will already be a lot of people in the park by then. My DH and DS missed it yesterday and today so they could get in and do the rides and sign-ups for JT and PMC.

 

[Karpkg]

Hello to all,

I am planning on going for the 4th weekend (June 10th....)

Since HS seems to be opening early for SWW are the boats from Beach Club running that early or should we take a cab at 7:30........ to get there and see the Storm trooper show that is now starting at ? 7:45am?????

Thank you and may the 4th's be with you, as well as the force and all the other Star Wars lingo.

Marlton Mom

We stayed at Boardwalk Villa for the first 2 days of SWW and we walked it from there taking the path to DHS early in the morning for the celebrity autographs. Took 8-10 minutes from the tennis courts at BWV. And that's with 2 kids ages 6 & 8. Same thing walking back at night when the lines for the buses and boats were ultra long. You may want to consider the path as well; you'll come across a lot of bunnies who'll stop chewing grass and watch you open-mouth as you go by. The boats won't run that early; I checked that last year. I saw buses coming in to drop people off 7:30A from the other resorts.

I don't know the length of the path. But our family has walked the path from Royal Pacific Resort to Islands of Adventure this same week and we all agree the path to DHS is shorter than the Harry Potter morning trek.

Since we've been already in the park by 8AM I don't know anything about the Storm Troopers doing another skit at 8:45. It would make sense for those coming in thinking DHS opens still at 9AM.

 

[mymouse]

Where did you meet Amadala ? My DH was trying to find her today.

Queen Amadala is between the restrooms and Sounds Dangerous.

 

[Karpkg]

Where did you meet Amadala ? My DH was trying to find her today.

She's located to the left of Sounds Dangerous Stage and right across from Star Tours. You'll see the beautiful backdrop of Naboo. I think she comes out late though; 10-ish?

 

[Marlton Mom]

Since we've been already in the park by 8AM I don't know anything about the Storm Troopers doing another skit at 8:45. It would make sense for those coming in thinking DHS opens still at 9AM.

So are there 2 Storm Trooper skits? One at 7:45 ish and then another one at 9 am for the rest of the thundering herds??

~MM

 

[Karpkg]

We,ll see you in just over an hour Karpkg!

I saw you! I was over in line for Anakin Skywalker(Jedi Masters line) waiting for my family to catch up when I saw you go by; yep you were wearing one of Dom's creations on a white t shirt pushing a stroller but I was too far away to be yelling across "Mrs D! Mrs D!" and feeling silly. Couldn't get out of line to go chasing after you. Oh well, hope you had a great time!

Shout out to Mary K.(Delmar); thanks for everything! You rescued my photopass pics from last year's Star Wars Wknd Photopass, and for the surprise Star Wars gifts you gave us when we bumped into you again. If you need anything, hollar at me. Heck, I'll make you t shirt designs if you want anything for next year or any Disney trips.

 

[Karpkg]

The storm trooper show still starts at 8:45 but there will already be a lot of people in the park by then. My DH and DS missed it yesterday and today so they could get in and do the rides and sign-ups for JT and PMC.

So are there 2 Storm Trooper skits? One at 7:45 ish and then another one at 9 am for the rest of the thundering herds??

~MM

I only know of the one that was at 7:45AM since I'm already in the park. To quote myself again, it would make sense to do another one for those who didn't know there was an 8AM opening and still thought DHS opens at 9AM.

 

[Marlton Mom]

I only know of the one that was at 7:45AM since I'm already in the park. To quote myself again, it would make sense to do another one for those who didn't know there was an 8AM opening and still thought DHS opens at 9AM.

So we are seeing a star trooper opening show at 7:45.
Is anyone seeing a second one at 8:45??

Thanks for the info.

Marlton Mom

 

[yulilin3]

Yestrday mini report since I'm going back in 20 minutes:
Got to the park at 6am, got in line with DD for Matt Lanter, Husband in line for James Arnold Taylor and my DS in line for Ashley. Made second seesion for Matt (since they added an a.m. session for him) first session for Ashley and James (only has one session)
Wristbands were handed out at 7:30am, stormtroopers came out at 7:45am , FP handed out at 7:55am park opened at 8am.
Signed DD up for Padawan Mind Challenge, she was the 2nd kid in, we decided for the 6:30 show. then rode ST and headed to Jabba's Hutt for AP lanyards. My DD got a her universe t-shirt.
After we walked back to the entrance and the stormtroopers were still there. I believe they're set is 1hour and a half, they bring new stormtroopers up every 20 to 30 minutes to swap.
Saw Behind th Force, got everyone's autograph, all nice as usual, I do have to agree that Matt Lanter was not as talkative as the rest but still very nice and remember seeing us from when he came 2 years ago (we were seated next to each other for Lights, Motor Action).
I didn't see the Ray Park show but the kids did and they liked it but said it was the same as past years. The line for Ray's show was super long to my surprise so plan accordingly for today and next weekend. Maybe line up 30 minutes before the show.
PMC was fun,. my DD got 4th place, but she made it farther than last year. Left at 7:45pm so no Hoopla for us, the front of the stage was already full for PDM so when we left it was completely packed, but the AIE area was fairly empty, even some tables still up for grabs.
Going today because kids begged me to go again, I pplan on doing nothing...maybe sitting alot at Backlot Express with my crossword book. I am still completely pooped because of the heat...wearing my orange/mustard Darth Vader t-shirt and Jedi Mickey hat, my daughter will be wearing her Padme costume today (blue dress with pearls).

 

[MelissathePooh]

We had a wussy day yesterday After we got our wristbands we came back to SAB for swimming and lunch. We headed back around 12:30 for our 1:30 Ray Park and 1:45 Jeremy Bulloch. MH (who had been uber grumpy) fell asleep on the boat over. She was banded for Ray Park. We were able to forfeit to our son. MH woke up right as I was in with Holden. We asked if she could come down for just a picture and Park's handler refused politely.

Ray Park being the incredible nice guy that he is (apologized like crazy as he was 10 minutes late) asked us is we were planning on seeing his show and that he would make sure that we got in to see it. So we're supposed to do that tonight. Not entirely sure what that means, but I'm supposed to go and find a certain CM before the show. Was really blown away by how nice he was!

Jeremy Bulloch was very nice too - not super engaging, but perfectly pleasant. I still find it odd a little asking other people for autographs, to be honest. DR and Holden had the bands for him, but the CM was gracious and let MH go in for a picture since she had fallen asleep and missed Ray Park. We did not get an extra autrograph - just let her be in the picture.

Some CM's seem to be easing up on the kids coming in with you as long as you DON"T get any extra signings. And some are NOT easing up. It just depends on the CM. They have been allowing us to forfeit our bands within the family without issue. The other stuff that all depends on the CM at a given time on a given day.

OT - we came back at the end of the Motorcade and from where we came in behind everyone - it was PACKED! DR took a couple of pics.

 

[sam_gordon]

Oops, started another thread, but will post here also. My info from yesterday (we weren't worried about stars autographs)...

I think I saw this somewhere in the FAQ post, but with so many tips it would have been easy to miss. Yesterday for sure, and a CM told me this is what they've done the past weekends, the park opened at 8AM! All published hours show 9.

DS and I got there at 7am and were the first at the gates. The line for the autograph bands was past the security check point. Storm trooper opening "show" started about 7:45. NOTE: if you are among the first at the gate, you can't see the show because they are performing above you. My DS and others "backed" up far enough so they could see. I jumped back to get some pictures and then stepped back up in line. People around us were understanding. They opened the gate at 8 and the rush was on.

There was NO Rope (at least for JTA). When they opened the gates, you did everything short of running (and there were CMs reminding you of that) to the Sounds Dangerous area. You get in the que and they hand you a slip of paper with your JTA show time and what time to return. We got in the first show.

We had to be back at 8:55, so we got FP for Star Tours (return time 9:20), and rode it once. Getting the FP was a goof (sort of) on my part. We then couldn't get another FP until 9:20 (when we'd be doing JTA). Should have gotten FP for TSM instead.

We got our JTA slip around 8:10 I'm guessing. By the time we finished ST, we walked around a bit, but didn't have much time to do anything else before needing to be back.

A Hyperspace Hoopla tip (especially if you have young ones). Get to the stage EARLY! We got there about an hour before the show and were maybe a dozen rows back. It was shaded and everybody was sitting down. No problem seeing the stage. About 10 minutes before, everyone up front stood up. That makes EVERYONE stand up. Younglings/Padawans therefore can't see. I put DS (80 pounds?) on my shoulders for the entire show. I'm sorry if I blocked someone else's view, but if I didn't he wouldn't have seen a thing.

FWIW, DD(12) knows almost NOTHING about Star Wars and LOVED Hyperspace Hoopla.

We ended up seeing:

Mace Windu
Shak Ti
Jengo Fett
Clone Trooper
Commander Cody
Jawa
R2D2
Chewbacca & Wicket

We had opportunity to see, but DS didn't want to get in line for one reason or another:
Darth Vader
Aura Sing
Jengo Fett's Assassin from Episode 2
Anakin

 

[turtlebean]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but just want to make sure I understand correctly. We will be there next sunday! The sign up for JTA is at Sounds Dangerous. Is that right? We would like to get them signed up that day, but not a big deal if they don't get it since we'll be going back later in the week.

 

[Stinkerbell317]

Did the park open at 8am again today?

Early opening every day this weekend . Get here by 8 if not earlier.

C did the 6:30 Mind Challenge. Then after we just grabbed a shady spot to wait for Hoopla. (Not quite as good this year imo.)

 

[d-r]

OT - we came back at the end of the Motorcade and from where we came in behind everyone - it was PACKED! DR took a couple of pics.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but just want to make sure I understand correctly. We will be there next sunday! The sign up for JTA is at Sounds Dangerous. Is that right? We would like to get them signed up that day, but not a big deal if they don't get it since we'll be going back later in the week.

Sign ups yesterday were at Sounds Dangerous.

Speaking ONLY about how yesterday's 1st JTA went...
We met back at the Sounds Dangerous area at our assigned time. Child and ONE parent were allowed to go to JTA. Other parents/siblings should find their own spot at JTA stage. If you want your child to be on stage, try to line up closer to the JTA area (as opposed to closer to the hat). It looked like the first 15 kids were put in a group on stage, the other 15 were on the ground. The ones on stage fought Vader, the ones on the ground fought Darth Maul.

Another note: There IS reserved viewing for one parent for each child. If your child is on stage however, there is a chance of your view being blocked while they are being "trained". Have your SO go to the viewing area that runs down the side of the stage for extra picture opportunities. When they are fighting the Sith however, there's no problem.

There are also photopass photographers (I think I counted three). About an hour after your show, you'll need to go to the photo store and pick out your child (you tell them what show your child was in, they'll call up all the pictures taken during that show and you identify your child). They will add the pictures to your photopass card if you like.

 

[delmar411]

Im glad we weren't in that mess! We stayed over by TOT during the parade.

Yesterday we finished out the remaining autographs, except aura sing. We never saw her either day. I was able to see behind the force with a couple of the kids as well. I was the most grumpy of everyone, the sun was getting to me and I burned on friday on my arm and the side of my face yesterday. I needed a time out! LOL

DH is off fishing today but I might bring the kids over later to catch the 2 other shows and maybe see if we cant catch aura sing out and about. Maybe...

 

[sam_gordon]

Just FYI

Aura Sing was roaming around the area to the entrance of the Backstage Tour. (basically the area where Darth Maul and the Fetts are). This was around 5pm yesterday.

 

[Karpkg]

On 2 separate occasions we snagged 2 photopass photographers who were able to do magic shots of my DS and DD fighting Darth Vader. They need a plain backdrop(mainly without people) to impose the Darth Vader image and the knowledge to do a Darth Vader magic shot so those photographers were best found in the Darth Vader area. We used our own light sabers but if you see a photographer carrying his own light saber he probably does that magic shot.

If the photographer can't do one ask him/her to direct you to one that does. It's a great shot especially if your child couldn't or wouldn't be in the JTA or didn't get a photo with the Darth Vader character.

This is from 2 yrs ago and NOT from Star Wars Weekend, but it'll give you an idea. The main thing was the photographer not wanting people in the background so Darth looks good.