If you are fan of all things Star Wars related then you will be happy to know that Star Wars weekends will be returning to Disney's Hollywood Studios® located at the Walt Disney World® resort in Orlando, Florida every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 15-June 14, 2015. This event will be filled with special shows, parades, special celebrity meet and greets and "Symphony in the Sky" fireworks show each evening at 9:45pm duirng the event.
Due to the popularity of this event you can expect park crowds to be much higher than normal and wait times for special Star Wars events to be long. On the positive side, wait times for non-Star Wars events can be expected to not be much longer than they would normally be any other time. Keep reading because I have several important "tips" to help you navigate this event, as well as information about the new dining events being offered...so let's get started!
First, and most important, plan to arrive at Hollywood Studios® before park opening. There are usually some pretty cool character experiences that take place right before the park officially opens. Last year, it was called "Storm the Park" and featured storm troopers at the entrance. They do a funny skit that changes each year...but worth being there to see it. Next, "autographs"...if you want autographs plan to arrive an hour prior to park opening, which is usually around 8am on Star Wars weekends. The turnstiles typically open earlier than the official open time due to the high crowds.
*Tip: You should try to ride Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster as soon as you get into the park. This way you have done the big three before the Star Wars weekend events even begin.
Disney does offer a FastPass for celebrity autographs during Star Wars weekend events...1 per person/per day. Tip: Choose a FP for the most popular celebrity and do standby line for the less popular ones. You can expect lots of waiting in lines for character photos and meet and greets. Plan to do those later in the afternoon when it's not so hot. The costumes and back drops are pretty cool, so enjoy it! Check the times guide for the Star Wars-Legends of the Force motorcade so you can be sure to stake out a place to view it an hour or so before it begins. This is a pretty short event, but it's fun to see all the different costumes. There are several shows throughout the day that include behind the scenes presentations, humor and some form of demonstration. One last tip, be sure to purchase any souvenir merchandise you may like early on because the lines will get longer as the day goes on and limited edition souvenirs tends to sell out.
New Dining Packages being offered during Star Wars weekends:
1.) "Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine"
This is a dinner at Hollywood and Vine and features Disney characters in Star Wars outfits. The featured characters are Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Ewok Chip-n-Dale, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy. This character meal costs $57.99 per adul and $34.99 per child (ages 3-9). Sales tax is included but gratuity is not and would expected to be paid at the time of service. *As a Fantasmic dining package, it costs $63.99 per adult and $38.99 per child (ages 3yrs-9yrs). With this package option neither sales tax nor gratuity are included. Guests will receive a digital photo download of Ewok Chip-n-Dale . The meal is served from 4:15pm until park close time daily.
2.) "Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast"
The standard Star Wars characters for this meal will be Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Greedo and Jawas. This dining event takes place in the Sci Fi Dine-in Theatre with Star Wars clips being shown during the meal. This Star Wars character dining experience cost $49.99 per adult and $31.99 per chld (ages 3yrs-9yrs). Sales tax is included but gratuities are not, and would be paid at the time of service. Reservations for this experience are recommended and are accepted from 8am to 12pm.
Enjoy and May the Force Be With You!
Due to the popularity of this event you can expect park crowds to be much higher than normal and wait times for special Star Wars events to be long. On the positive side, wait times for non-Star Wars events can be expected to not be much longer than they would normally be any other time. Keep reading because I have several important "tips" to help you navigate this event, as well as information about the new dining events being offered...so let's get started!
First, and most important, plan to arrive at Hollywood Studios® before park opening. There are usually some pretty cool character experiences that take place right before the park officially opens. Last year, it was called "Storm the Park" and featured storm troopers at the entrance. They do a funny skit that changes each year...but worth being there to see it. Next, "autographs"...if you want autographs plan to arrive an hour prior to park opening, which is usually around 8am on Star Wars weekends. The turnstiles typically open earlier than the official open time due to the high crowds.
*Tip: You should try to ride Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster as soon as you get into the park. This way you have done the big three before the Star Wars weekend events even begin.
Disney does offer a FastPass for celebrity autographs during Star Wars weekend events...1 per person/per day. Tip: Choose a FP for the most popular celebrity and do standby line for the less popular ones. You can expect lots of waiting in lines for character photos and meet and greets. Plan to do those later in the afternoon when it's not so hot. The costumes and back drops are pretty cool, so enjoy it! Check the times guide for the Star Wars-Legends of the Force motorcade so you can be sure to stake out a place to view it an hour or so before it begins. This is a pretty short event, but it's fun to see all the different costumes. There are several shows throughout the day that include behind the scenes presentations, humor and some form of demonstration. One last tip, be sure to purchase any souvenir merchandise you may like early on because the lines will get longer as the day goes on and limited edition souvenirs tends to sell out.
New Dining Packages being offered during Star Wars weekends:
1.) "Jedi Mickey's Star Wars Dine"
This is a dinner at Hollywood and Vine and features Disney characters in Star Wars outfits. The featured characters are Jedi Mickey, Princess Leia Minnie, Ewok Chip-n-Dale, Stormtrooper Donald and Darth Goofy. This character meal costs $57.99 per adul and $34.99 per child (ages 3-9). Sales tax is included but gratuity is not and would expected to be paid at the time of service. *As a Fantasmic dining package, it costs $63.99 per adult and $38.99 per child (ages 3yrs-9yrs). With this package option neither sales tax nor gratuity are included. Guests will receive a digital photo download of Ewok Chip-n-Dale . The meal is served from 4:15pm until park close time daily.
2.) "Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast"
The standard Star Wars characters for this meal will be Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Greedo and Jawas. This dining event takes place in the Sci Fi Dine-in Theatre with Star Wars clips being shown during the meal. This Star Wars character dining experience cost $49.99 per adult and $31.99 per chld (ages 3yrs-9yrs). Sales tax is included but gratuities are not, and would be paid at the time of service. Reservations for this experience are recommended and are accepted from 8am to 12pm.
Enjoy and May the Force Be With You!
