Official Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips and Tricks

[LittleRedMaximilian]

Were you the ones with the plans that on the other side said "Many Bothan spies died..."? We were a few behind you in that line.

Yup, that was us. I'll post a shot when we recover. Last day here and we're at Columbia Harbor House for lunch.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[cel_disney]

I'd highly recommend TSMM first, then Chewie. TSMM will open with the park, with a 5-10 min wait. You could be in his line by 8 and still be there way before he arrives.

I agree with this! Ride TSM, get a TSM FP at 7:30 if you want to ride it again and then head to the chewie line...your son can go on star tours while someone waits in line as well - also a short wait in the morning!

You will get to the line around 8am and should be in with him by 9 or so! Although if you want an ewok with him, you need to wait a bit as they don't seem to be comin out with the first set - more like 9:15am or so?

 

[kmcdougan]

PS my boyfriend has already been talking about a 2015 SWW trip, who knows maybe I'll be marching by then

I have faith in you. You'll be marching. And, Force willing, I'll be right there with you!

Ash

 

[cgattis]

I agree with this! Ride TSM, get a TSM FP at 7:30 if you want to ride it again and then head to the chewie line...your son can go on star tours while someone waits in line as well - also a short wait in the morning!

You will get to the line around 8am and should be in with him by 9 or so! Although if you want an ewok with him, you need to wait a bit as they don't seem to be comin out with the first set - more like 9:15am or so?

And ditto right back on the ST ride while waiting. Did that as well; worked great. DD with her Leia buns was the rebel spy

 

[kmcdougan]

weekend 2...done. Here are some videos I took on Saturday.
This first one is the 501st and Rebel Legions marching on Saturday, you can hear my voice a couple of times. I yelled at Ash and he gave me the eye aknowledgment This is a great spot to watch them march if you don;t mind not seeing the rest of the parade. Completely deserted on this side and shady:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs4mf5w1pns

Here are the stormtrooper's show when opening the park:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKd33OuFmXI

Here's the stormtrooper's pre-show of Stars of the Saga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW6bmXPYqik

Here's the final minutes of Stars of the Saga:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvESFwJl4j4

Now for anyone going to get autographs on Friday please report back how bad Tim Rose's line is, this is the only celebrity we're interested in and we would have only Saturday to meet him since Friday is school day and my sister decided to move to her new place Sunday and we have to help her.

That was about all I could do and stay in character! Thanks so much for the video! My fan club is growing!

LOL..

Ash

 

[kmcdougan]

Watched the parade video. That's a great place to stand and watch! I think we'll try to stand around there another day.

That day's parade was very special to me. At the very last minute ds was asked to be in it! The weekend before, he was wheeled in the parade in his medical stroller with the hand held air conditioner positioned to hit him directly. This day, he walked and made it all the way to the hat. As soon as I noticed, the tears just started flowing and flowing. He had some problems down at the hat and a cm escorted him to his medical stroller. Once it was over, he was shaking from the heat and we had to high tale it over to One Man's Dream to a particular air vent that really pumps out the AC and he drank lots of water.

He was so proud that he walked it. He was happy to see Ash back stage, and to meet Ray Park's wife and kids who were in the parade too. That night once it cooled down he put on his clone trooper costume and walked around the park. He felt like a celebrity as so many people stopped and asked for pictures. He did it again last night too, but this time he walked on the dark side and got pictures with Jengo Fett and the roaming characters.

Reading this made me tear up a bit. This is why I joined the 501st - so that through Star Wars, I could affect some positive change and happiness to kids. I am glad I could be a part of his Magical day!

Ash

 

[cel_disney]

And ditto right back on the ST ride while waiting. Did that as well; worked great. DD with her Leia buns was the rebel spy

I remember you now!!! My DH and DS6 were in with her!! I remember them coming out and telling me that she was the spy!! You were not far behind us (2-3 families maybe?)in the Chewie line!!!!

 

[PrincessKida]

It will be interesting to see what will happen next year now that Clone Wars is finished and the new series is not out on regular cable but on Disney's paid subscription- XD. Ventress, Ahsoka Tano, etc. I asked Ashley Eckstein her thoughts and she said she's basically going with the flow and will see what happens. She thinks though with Dave Filoni in the new series maybe the old crew will be in it for the most part, but she's speculating. I for one don't think I'll be paying for more cable just to see/have Disney XD.

I heard from .... good sources ....that most of them should be back to do voices. Ashley and Matt Lanter were the only 2 I didn't really hear confirmation on, although I'd imagine Dave will do whatever to bring them back if they are interested. Matt seems pretty busy with his live action TV/Film career so at the least I hope he does some small guest spots on the show. But I'd expect to see James Arnold Taylor, Dee Bradley Baker, Tom Kane and a few others like Jim Cummings be back to do voices, just not the ones they did on The Clone Wars.

Count me in as someone who'd like to see Ahsoka, Ventress, Aurra Sing, Hondo, Rex, Maul, etc in Star Wars Rebels

 

[bleeps]

I'd highly recommend TSMM first, then Chewie. TSMM will open with the park, with a 5-10 min wait. You could be in his line by 8 and still be there way before he arrives.

Thanks for this and also to those who chimed in to agree -- we now have a plan!

Just want to say that for all the years I've been on the Dis, and all the boards/threads I've participated in, this hands-down has to be the nicest group of people on the boards. Nothing but kindness, willingness to spend valuable park time to gather information to share, willingness to patiently repeat information -- really is the best of what this is all about.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Weekend 3 is done, for me. Helping my sister move today.

As to my impression of this years event compared to previous years. I have given this a lot of thought. But I think they have improved in many ways, and others they still need to work on it.

The Better:
*Stormtroopers at the entrance roof was always fun, but I also heard that moving them from the roof to something more mobil was a safety issue, and as in everything Disney, Safe D begins with Me...I actually was bummed the first day I saw them inside but I have grown to love this new process, they let you thru the turnstiles around 7:30am and the stormtroopers come out about 5 min. after that and do their show...also having the sotrmtroopers come out on stage at several times during the day on stage is fun, since before, after you went thru the turnstiles you really didn;t see them talking, now you can walk by the stage and they're there a couple of times.
*Also love that they new a Good Morning show with Dax Lightspeed and Lily Denala, it's almost the same old jokes (what do we do with the Ewoks if it starts raining?...we take them Endors...) but now they've added funny commercials and a Gamorrean Guard as the weather man, this is done about 90 minutes before the parade and again later in the day...it lasts about 20 min., but gives you something to enjoy while waitingf or the parade if you're close enough to the stage...
*The new system to hold you ut of the line to meet the celeb until it's your fp time is a great idea, you can wait in the shade (if you find some) and don't have to wait standing in line, in the sun, with everyone else.
* The stormtroopers pre show to Stars of the Saga is better than ever...and it has to do with the fact that Disney now owns SW. I won't give out any spoilers.

The same old, same old:
Hyperspace Hoopla: if you've never seen it, it's awesome. But for someone that has been going to SWW for a couple of years now it's the same format...I know it must be hard to come out with new ideas, especially if the old is still very entertaining...not really complaining about it though. Still pretty great.

Needs improvement:
The character lines...first rotating characters, please limit these to only 2 per line, the Disney SW and the Droids and Luke and Leia is pretty ridiculous...you have the space, you can split these 2 groups and have happier guests.
The inconsistency between line rules. Some will let you wait for a certain characters some won't. Have a rule or don't have one but stick with it.

Loved all the shows, Warwick Davis's show was an awesome new surprise and I hope he does it again. Park's show is always entertaining as well as James Arnold Taylor. I also hope they keep James and Ashley as hosts, they are pro's and do an awesome job.

I have to say your assessment was spot on, I agree with everything! Especially the character line rotation, you should have seen me and my boyfriend trying to gauge when to get in line for the droids the day I was wearing my R2D2 dress, it was a nightmare!

 

[cgattis]

I remember you now!!! My DH and DS6 were in with her!! I remember them coming out and telling me that she was the spy!! You were not far behind us (2-3 families maybe?)in the Chewie line!!!!

Cool!! Maybe we'll all get our Chewie pics! . I'm calling PP tomorrow.

WRT suggested improvements, I said it earlier, but....I really would like to see them move the Hoopla to the Indy theater. Also agree with the comment on two characters per rotation vs. three. I'd also love to see some morning roamers. Otherwise, I thought it was pretty awesome. Does anyone know the best route for feedback to Disney--just the normal route, or something specific for this event (like the runDisney events have their own contact info)? Maybe not next year, but we will definitely be back!!!

 

[jane2073]

I think today was hotter and a little more crowded than yesterday (Saturday).

 

[lovethattink]

I think today was hotter and a little more crowded than yesterday (Saturday).

For sure, today was the hottest day of sww so far. The heat index had it feeling over 100 degrees. My son couldn't make it more than 15 minutes outside at a shot. We gave up and have been hanging out at the resort since 1-ish. Heading back for hoopla.

Yesterday and today were crowded. Friday was very nice crowd-wise and much better temp too.

 

[yulilin3]

Today was really hot, I went to get lunch and my car said it was 95...
On an unrelated story, but I think it's funny... as I've said before I was helping my sister move today, I wore an old shirt... this was a conversation between my 6 year old nephew and myself:
Him: Tia Yuly why do you have holes in your shirt?
Me: because I've worn it a lot
Him: is it your favorite shirt?
Me: yes, it's one of my favorites
Him: but it doesn't have anything star wars on it

 

[lovethattink]

Parking went up to $15, and ticket prices also went up today.

 

[Music City Mama]

From one TN DIS'er to another, MTFBWY'all . Have fun!!

Thank you!

Today was really hot, I went to get lunch and my car said it was 95...
On an unrelated story, but I think it's funny... as I've said before I was helping my sister move today, I wore an old shirt... this was a conversation between my 6 year old nephew and myself:
Him: Tia Yuly why do you have holes in your shirt?
Me: because I've worn it a lot
Him: is it your favorite shirt?
Me: yes, it's one of my favorites
Him: but it doesn't have anything star wars on it

So cute! I have a 6 year old and he's constantly cracking me up.

 

[lovethattink]

Light rain. Just in time for Hoopla.

 

[jane2073]

That happened yesterday too.
They had to cut it short.

 

[lovethattink]

Starting now, but not on idol screen as before. Seeing same screen they broadcast on the main stage on the idol one.

 

[kmcdougan]

We are taking it easy today. I almost passed out yesterday. My vision started to go black and my legs became like wet noodles. I plopped on the ground and just sat there and drank a ton of water and used my sons hand held airconditioner. Starting this morning with power aid and lots of water before we get there. Please don't flow on my footsteps. Stay hydrated and cool.

Damn. Glad you got cool and hydrated. PLenty of water is the best thing, with some sports drink to put some electrolytes back. Mostly water, though.

Ash