Star Wars Weekends 2014

[ratherbeinwdw]

Query: I printed out a touring plans calendar and planned a family reunion around SWW 3 weeks ago. Was touring plans just guessing? It appears they got the dates correct.

I was fairly sure it would be these weekends several weeks ago because I looked at the Disney site calendar and they had the Saturday morning EMH's for DHS stopping on the 16th and picking back up in June. They don't have EMH's during Star Wars weekends on Saturdays so I was hoping this was the reason.

 

[janoimagine]

Not sure is this has been posted or not, if so feel free to remove, but the Disney Tourist Blog is reporting that this year, each night of Star Wars Weekends will conclude with a fireworks show. I just changed my may trip to opening weekend.

@WDWFigment ... how did you get the inside dirt on this first?

 

[goodolgm]

If this is indeed the case, this is a HUGE addition and great to see another limited public run of fireworks at the Studios...I know it's a logistical nightmare and closes down the headline attraction of the park, but I always felt the setup lended to a unique, up-close and grand fireworks show location. I hope this is, in fact, true and what a nice change of the removal of entertainment we've been subject to lately.

Not sure is this has been posted or not, if so feel free to remove, but the Disney Tourist Blog is reporting that this year, each night of Star Wars Weekends will conclude with a fireworks show. I just changed my may trip to opening weekend.

@WDWFigment ... how did you get the inside dirt on this first?

 

[WDWFigment]

Not sure is this has been posted or not, if so feel free to remove, but the Disney Tourist Blog is reporting that this year, each night of Star Wars Weekends will conclude with a fireworks show. I just changed my may trip to opening weekend.

@WDWFigment ... how did you get the inside dirt on this first?

It was posted to the WDW PDF calendar a few days ago. (http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S...pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_June.pdf) If you view a cached version, you can see what I mean: http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...ng_Calendar_May.pdf+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Now it looks like it has been removed. Perhaps it was an error, or maybe it was a premature 'announcement'? Either way, I guess it's only a rumor at this point...

 

[janoimagine]

It was posted to the WDW PDF calendar a few days ago. (http://media.disneywebcontent.com/S...pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_June.pdf) If you view a cached version, you can see what I mean: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cachei1QlUFYKkMJ:media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_May.pdf &cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Now it looks like it has been removed. Perhaps it was an error, or maybe it was a premature 'announcement'? Either way, I guess it's only a rumor at this point...

Hopefully they keep it, it would be fantastic to see fireworks at the studios again, last time I saw anything like it was Sorcery in the Sky many moons ago ... I love your shot from Echo Lake ... I am doing a solo trip as the wife can't fly because of the pregnancy so no worrying about late nights or early mornings on this one.

 

[WDWFigment]

Hopefully they keep it, it would be fantastic to see fireworks at the studios again, last time I saw anything like it was Sorcery in the Sky many moons ago ... I love your shot from Echo Lake ... I am doing a solo trip as the wife can't fly because of the pregnancy so no worrying about late nights or early mornings on this one.

I think it would be a wise addition for Star Wars Weekends, especially given the crowds the event draws. The optimist in me hopes that they've temporarily removed it from the calendar so that they can make an official announcement before this spreads further as a rumor, but the pessimist thinks that WDW rarely makes additions like this.

We were on the fence about SWW this year, and this is probably what will push us one way or the other.

 

[janoimagine]

The optimist in me hopes that they've temporarily removed it from the calendar so that they can make an official announcement before this spreads further as a rumor, but the pessimist thinks that WDW rarely makes additions like this.

Waxing optimistically, they did just lose 'Push' from the payroll, so you never know.

 

[Bolt]

Being published on the calendar is huge and typically is law due to guest situations of people planning trips around said events.

 

[JimboJones123]

Please let Billy Dee be there.

He is my celebrity "White Whale."

His is the only autograph I want for my collection.

 

[Master Yoda]

Please let Billy Dee be there.

He is my celebrity "White Whale."

His is the only autograph I want for my collection.

Got it a few years ago when he was at SWW. Decent guy, but not the most engaging. It was kind of a sign and slide experience without much conversation. When you compare him to the other SW personalities like Ray Park, Jeremy Bulloch, Warwick Davis, etc he might as well have been signing robot.

 

[JimboJones123]

[quotefairter Yoda, post: 5934222, member: 15440"]Got it a few years ago when he was at SWW. Decent guy, but not the most engaging. It was kind of a sign and slide experience without much conversation. When you compare him to the other SW personalities like Ray Park, Jeremy Bulloch, Warwick Davis, etc he might as well have been signing robot.[/quote]
To be fair, the demand of Billy Dee is exponentially higher than any of the other guests.

This isn't a personal shot at you, but people tend to have unrealistically high expectations of celebrities. Almost an entitlement attitude. When a celebrity tires of it and becomes a bit more mundane in the public, there is an outcry over what a jerk that person is. Which is totally unfair.

 

[Master Yoda]

To be fair, the demand of Billy Dee is exponentially higher than any of the other guests.

This isn't a personal shot at you, but people tend to have unrealistically high expectations of celebrities. Almost an entitlement attitude. When a celebrity tires of it and becomes a bit more mundane in the public, there is an outcry over what a jerk that person is. Which is totally unfair.

I know quite a few people do and it may have just been an off day, but you have to wonder when a guy barely acknowledges a hello.

 

[Ignohippo]

Please let Billy Dee be there.

He is my celebrity "White Whale."

His is the only autograph I want for my collection.

I wouldn't hold my breath. He may be included in Episode VII, which would most certainly mean his stock will rise and that he may be unavailable this summer.

 

[Ignohippo]

I think it would be a wise addition for Star Wars Weekends, especially given the crowds the event draws. The optimist in me hopes that they've temporarily removed it from the calendar so that they can make an official announcement before this spreads further as a rumor, but the pessimist thinks that WDW rarely makes additions like this.

We were on the fence about SWW this year, and this is probably what will push us one way or the other.

Ugh. This may be exactly what I feared. Just total speculation, but if they were going to get rid of the Hoopla, a fireworks show is exactly what they would replace it with.

Since Kathleen Kennedy took over, it's been my fear that the Hoopla wouldn't receive her approval. A satyrical look a the SW universe (when they're trying to re-establish the brand) doesn't seem to like the type of thing she would approve of.

I hope I'm wrong. The Hoopla is by far the best thing at SWW.

 

[Master Yoda]

Ugh. This may be exactly what I feared. Just total speculation, but if they were going to get rid of the Hoopla, a fireworks show is exactly what they would replace it with.

Since Kathleen Kennedy took over, it's been my fear that the Hoopla wouldn't receive her approval. A satyrical look a the SW universe (when they're trying to re-establish the brand) doesn't seem to like the type of thing she would approve of.

I hope I'm wrong. The Hoopla is by far the best thing at SWW.

The hoopla is fun, but its location makes it a nightmare. I have zero plans to see it again until they move it into the something like the Indy or Fantasmic theater.

 

[Ignohippo]

The hoopla is fun, but its location makes it a nightmare. I have zero plans to see it again until they move it into the something like the Indy or Fantasmic theater.

It's a heck of a lot better than it was at the Jedi Academy stage but yeah, moving it to Indy, Fantasmic, or even Lights Motor Action would be optimal. Indy would seem to be the best option.

Last year, we were sitting at the front while waiting for the show and had a lady literally step over my 8 year old and stand directly in front of him (completely blocking his view). People are disgusting. Anything they could do to alleviate those sorts of things would be very welcomed.

 

[Gabe1]

I'll be steering clear of DHS on those dates

Wonderful! We will be able to make the last weekend!

The last weekend will likely be the worst of the worst crowd wise as Star weekend collides with Gay week so plan accordingly. Gay Days bring lots and lots of guests to a given park on a given day.
Thursday June 5th AK
Friday, June 6th DHS
Saturday, June 7th MK
Sunday, June 8th Epcot

 

[Master Yoda]

It's a heck of a lot better than it was at the Jedi Academy stage but yeah, moving it to Indy, Fantasmic, or even Lights Motor Action would be optimal. Indy would seem to be the best option.

Last year, we were sitting at the front while waiting for the show and had a lady literally step over my 8 year old and stand directly in front of him (completely blocking his view). People are disgusting. Anything they could do to alleviate those sorts of things would be very welcomed.

It is no question better at the stage in front of the hat. Moving it there helped to mitigate the capacity problem, but the sight lines problem is in many cases worse.

 

[Ignohippo]

It is no question better at the stage in front of the hat. Moving it there helped to mitigate the capacity problem, but the sight lines problem is in many cases worse.

Agreed, the sight lines are bad but it's a much, much bigger area and a much higher stage so there's no way it's worse than the Jedi Academy. It's still not a big enough area though.

The biggest problem I have with the new location is the parade. Having the parade stop at the stage, and reducing the route by almost half, is just insanity. It'd work just fine to drop the celebs at the stage but then continue the 501st parade through the old route and out by Jedi Academy.

The way it is now, the parade is impossible to see unless you are on the front row no matter where you are along the route.

 

[Master Yoda]

Agreed, the sight lines are bad but it's a much, much bigger area and a much higher stage so there's no way it's worse than the Jedi Academy. It's still not a big enough area though.

The biggest problem I have with the new location is the parade. Having the parade stop at the stage, and reducing the route by almost half, is just insanity. It'd work just fine to drop the celebs at the stage but then continue the 501st parade through the old route and out by Jedi Academy.

The way it is now, the parade is impossible to see unless you are on the front row no matter where you are along the route.

It is slightly worse due to the slope of the ground. You have an upward grade toward the stage at the hat. There is a level to downward grade at the old stage. Ideally you would want a downward grade (eg stadium seating).