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Written by Jennifer L. Cook
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Summers at Walt Disney World are not just for out-of-state visitors on summer vacation. They are made for us local residents. After all, we can brave the heat better than those from any of the other 49 states, and probably most every other country too. We love the extended park hours and maximize use of them like no out-of-stater ever could. We know to bring bottles of water in to the park, buy the squirting fans at Wal-Mart or Target instead of in the parks, and to apply sunscreen before jumping in our cars to get to the park of our choice.
This summer, Walt Disney has spiced up our experience with “Summer Nightastic,” an experience that includes the Main Street Electrical Parade, a special Summer Nightastic fireworks spectacular also at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot’s Sounds of Summer, enhancements to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a Rock and Glow Dance Party at Hollywood Studios, as well as new extended hours for Animal Kingdom. These are all welcome variations for those of us who have seen and experienced so much already at the parks. Almost anything new gives us an excuse to return – sometimes multiple times. Of course, you all know I have to do this for the sake of my column and those who read it. |
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Written by Jennifer Cook
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It is almost time for Star Wars Weekends, the annual event of four back-to-back weekends at Walt Disney World celebrating all things Star Wars. Although I dragged my six and four year old girls through Hollywood Studios during the event last year, I thought that this year they might be old enough to actually appreciate the events, characters, and related attractions – with a little preparation on my part. So, in addition to the tips below, I plan on making some popcorn and watching the movies with my kids this month (despite the fact that I’m never sure which movie I’m supposed to start with) before Star Wars Weekends return to Hollywood Studios this year on May 21. Accordingly, here are my tips for enjoying Walt Disney World’s Star Wars Weekends to their fullest. May the force be with you!
I am sure many of you have more Star Wars Weekends tips, so please email me with your recommendations. As always, if you have feedback, any WDW tips, or questions, any of which you would be willing to have me share, please go to www.disneytipsandsecrets.com, where you can contact me, submit tips, and find previously published tips.
So, here are Tips #146-153:
Tip #146 – Watch and listen carefully to the Stormtroopers “guarding” the entrance to Hollywood Studios.
You may not even notice the Stormtroopers standing guard atop the roof of the entrance to Hollywood Studios as you enter the park on a Star Wars weekend, or you may hear an occasion jab they make at a guest and move on. Instead, I recommend you listen carefully, as some of their speech can be a bit muffled through their masks. What they say and do can be very humorous and should really be viewed as a preshow to this event. It is worth paying attention to at least while you are in the line to get in and even longer if you are moving quickly through the line – as long as you’re not in a hurry to get to limited edition merchandise, autographs or events, as I’ll discuss further below.
Tip #147 – To get autographs and/or photos with the Star Wars celebrities, arrive early and get Fastpasses with all members of your party.
Essentially, there are three types of Star Wars weekend meet-and-greets: actors and behind-the-scenes celebrities (like directors, etc.), Star Wars characters who appear in the parks but who are not the movie actors actually portraying them, and the Disney characters dressed up as Star Wars characters (such as Minnie dressed as Princess Leia). Although the latter are my daughters’ favorites and certainly command a significant wait in line, it is the first of the three types that are the highest in demand. These are the celebrities of the weekends and they attract die-hard Star Wars fans and casual fans alike, so Disney has devised a system out of its existing Fastpass system to create some order and fairness to those who wish to get autographs and/or photos with them. The problem is that if you are not aware of the availability of Fastpasses for these meet-and-greets or you arrive late to the parks, you will be at a significant disadvantage. Disney does reserve some standby passes to see characters, but not nearly enough to cover the demand. So, get to the park as early as possible (some people arrive 2-3 hours early) and get in line specifically for these Fastpasses. And, note that there is a major difference to these Fastpasses: you must bring all members of your party to get the Fastpasses, as you will only be provided Fastpasses for those who are physically in line for Fastpasses. This is unlike the regular Fastpass privilege where one of you can bring everyone’s park passes or tickets to the Fastpass machine and get Fastpasses for all in your party.
Tip #148 – Sign up your kids to march in the parade and Disney will give them a light saber (to keep) and dress them in a Jedi robe for the parade.
The Star Wars parade takes place once a day in Hollywood Studios during Star Wars weekends and can be fun to watch to see your favorite characters and celebrities. But as an added twist, you may want to have your kids join the parade as Jedis. It is simple and requires no costume (at least on your part). Disney provides the robe and light saber (which your child can keep after the parade). All it takes is for you to sign them up early at the Star Wars Weekends information desk, which is usually located near Sounds Dangerous sound stage or Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. So, if this is a priority, go there right at park opening and inquire as to when you can sign them up. It may be then or an hour after park opening or so.
Tip # 149 – If you are interested in limited-edition merchandise, line up early and get to Wicket’s Warehouse or Tattoine Traders immediately after park opening; otherwise consider buying your merchandise at the other shops carrying Star Wars merchandise and doing so during the events/parade when the stores are less crowded.
There are two types of Star Wars merchandise available during Star Wars weekends: the limited-edition merchandise and the other merchandise that is unlikely to sell out in the near future. For those must-have collectibles that might go quickly, there is certainly a demand and you will need to line up before park opening (preferably on the first Friday of Star Wars Weekends), perhaps 90 minutes prior in order to stake out a position where you will be guided by Disney personnel to one of the shops and you should be able to get your pick of the lot. However, if you are interested in a t-shirt, create-your-own light saber, or other more common souvenir, do not worry. These can be purchased all weekend long, and during the week as well for the four weeks, and most likely even after that. So, avoid Tattoine Traders unless you are buying or want to catch a glimpse of the limited-edition items. Know that you can purchase lots of Star Wars items at Wicket’s Warehouse and Golden Age Souvenirs in Hollywood Studios during these weekends, and the best time to visit any of these is during the Star Wars parade and shows. Otherwise, wait until later in the day (such as mealtimes), or better yet, go during the week and purchase the same merchandise without the wait.
Tip #150 – The Star Wars Weekends shows/presentations are popular so get there early and if you submit a question it might get answered during the presentation.
The shows at Star Wars Weekends are very popular. Even though there are two-three per day, they can fill up, so get there early and plan your schedule well. Some shows have been previews of Star Wars movies to come, while other shows have featured some of the celebrities and had Q&A sessions where you could submit a question upon arrival, which might get answered during the show. So, ask about submitting a question when you arrive and give it a try.
Tip #151 – Know your priorities and make a plan, so you best maximize your time at Star Wars Weekends.
Now, you may have noticed that many of the above tips suggested you arrive early and do this or that, depending on whether you want merchandise, to see the events, or to get autographs. So, it should be clear that you need to identify which is most important to you. Once you do that, you can consult the various strategies for the various tracks at www.studioscentral.com. It’s not that you have to do exclusively that one thing, but if you can focus on it your first day or the majority of your time there, you are more likely to achieve your goals in this regard. Then, if you can return another day during Star Wars weekends, you can try to get to your second priority, and so forth. Also, there is a Star Wars touring plan at www.touringplans.com, to assist in your planning. Finally, if you stop by guest relations the day before your Star Wars Weekends visit, you may be able to get a map and schedule for the next day so you can plan out exactly what you want to do and when.
Tip #152 – Enter the kids in Padawan Mind Challenge and attend Hyperspace Hoopla, but decide whether to do Star Tours & Jedi Training Academy now or another day, as the lines for these will be long but may be shorter than normal for other non-Star Wars attractions.
Again, you will need to register early for the Padawan Mind Challenge, which is open to kids 11 years old and under. So, if the kids know their Star Wars trivia, sign them up at 9am at the Star Wars Weekends information desk. Hyperspace Hoopla is the closing party of the day, to celebrate all things Star Wars and can be another way of seeing the celebrities and characters. Jedi Training Academy originated at a Star Wars Weekend, but because it is now available every day of the week all year long, I recommend saving it for another day, when the crowds will be significantly smaller. Yet, if you really want to have the kids participate in their full Star Wars garb or just want to give them the full Star Wars experience during the Star Wars weekends, get there extra early, stand in front, and have the kids act enthusiastic so they will get chosen to be a Jedi in training. Star Tours is also extra-crowded during Star Wars weekends, so if you don’t need to see it as part of the experience, wait until a weekday or a weekend after mid-June to ride it again. On the other hand, the non-Star Wars attractions can actually have shorter lines than usual during Star Wars Weekends, as so many of the visitors are focused on Star Wars events, characters and merchandise. So, take advantage of this and do the attractions you want – as long as you have time to get in all of the Star Wars Weekends activities you want to do too.
Tip #153 – Dress in costume for if you want but keep in mind it is hot.
A lot of guests dress up in Star Wars costumes for this event, but of course most do not. It can be extra fun to do so, but keep in mind that it can be very hot during May and June in Florida, so don’t do it if you’ll be uncomfortable. Some visitors get so creative that you cannot tell if they are the real thing or simply visitors. Even if they are not, you can ask to take a photo of or with them.
I hope you go and enjoy Star Wars Weekends this year. It is meant to be enjoyed by all, including the casual or just curious Star Wars fan. Yes, it can be crowded and overwhelming, but just focusing on what you want to do most and doing a few things will be fun. Remember, Disney World used to seem overwhelming to us at one time too.
Well, that’s all for now. I’m off to do more “research.” Stay tuned…
* Jennifer Cook is a technology lawyer and professional negotiator who lives in Celebration with her husband Jonathan and daughters Juliet and Jacqueline. Be sure to check out her website at www.askanegotiator.com, where you can get free answers to your negotiating questions, and her newest site: www.disneytipsandsecrets.com, where you can read Disney World tips and share your own. She is a WDW annual passholder, visiting the Disney parks frequently, and with each visit makes it her goal to gain additional “secret” knowledge and practical tips to pass on to others. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Written by Jennifer L. Cook
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Deciding which Walt Disney World parks to visit on which days can be easy if you have a strong preference for a certain park or want to be there for a certain event on a given day. But barring those reasons, sometimes it can be helpful to have the inside scoop on which day it would be better to be at a certain park. This can be helpful to know for those of us who live close and can have some flexibility as to which park we go to when, so we can opt for the park with the lowest crowds that day, just to name one example. This can also be especially helpful for those who are visiting from afar and only coming once a year – or even less – and want to maximize their experience by being at the park that has the most to experience on a given day, while having time to do everything else they want to do during their limited vacation time.
I am sure many of you have more tips for which parks to visit on which days, so please email me with your recommendations. As always, if you have feedback, any WDW tips, or questions, any of which you would be willing to have me share, please go to www.disneytipsandsecrets.com, where you can contact me, submit tips, and find previously published tips.
So, here are Tips #131-136:
Tip #131 – Of course, you need to go to the Magic Kingdom (and Epcot too if at all possible) if you have never been to Disney World or have not been in a long time.
It is just my opinion, but Disney World is not Disney World without seeing the Magic Kingdom if you have never seen it or have not visited in a while. So, no matter what the crowd levels or other logistical challenges, if you can visit the Magic Kingdom, definitely do so. There is really no other theme park that I know of that comes close. Epcot is a close second. Not only is it like two theme parks in one (with Future World on one end and World Showcase on the other), but also it is just so unique and offers such a variety of innovative and cultural experiences. I would recommend squeezing in both parks to even the shortest of visits if at all possible. Now, if you live here (like me) or return to Disney World frequently enough to try the alternatives or if you are staying at least three full days, try Hollywood Studios and/or Animal Kingdom too. And after that, there is even more – the water parks, miniature golf, Disney Quest, Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, etc.
Tip #132 – Visit Hollywood Studios on a day Fantasmic is showing (or a day when it is not if you want to avoid crowds).
Now that Fantasmic is not showing every evening at Hollywood Studios, it is wise to check the schedule at www.disneyworld.com to make sure you will be at that park on a day when it is showing. It really is that good that your plan to visit should be scheduled around that day. Besides, with the possible exception of the American Idol Experience, Fantasmic is likely to be the only attraction open that late and it only makes sense to see it. Sometimes there is more than one showing of Fantasmic on a given day, so you have a choice of times, which is great, but make sure it is offered at least once on the day you choose to go to Hollywood Studios – if you want to see it. On the other hand, if you are not interested in going to see Fantasmic, you can avoid the heavier crowds by purposely visiting Hollywood Studios on a day when Fantasmic is not showing. The days it is showing do appear to impact the crowd level at the park pretty significantly.
Tip #133 – Plan your visit to Animal Kingdom on a day when you would like to end your park touring early for a special event or dinner.
Animal Kingdom tends to close earlier than the other three parks, so the day you go there is the best day to plan a dinner you want to do outside the parks (say, at a resort) or special event such as Hoop-de-Doo at Fort Wilderness or the Luau at the Polynesian. You won’t feel that you are cheating yourself of park time as much if you plan this special event on your Animal Kingdom day.
Tip # 134 – Sometimes you have to plan your park visiting schedule around special events in the parks and/or dining reservations you can get in the parks.
If the first day of your visit is the last day of the Food & Wine Festival or if the Osborne Lights are going up on the last day of your visit, planning to be at Epcot or Hollywood Studios for such events makes sense. Check the events calendar at www.disneyworld.com for dates of the special events before planning which parks to visit on which days, and even before planning when to visit Walt Disney World if you have some flexibility as to dates.
In addition, you may find that when you call for dining reservations at a restaurant within one of the parks, you may find you cannot get a reservation for a particular day and need to make a reservation there for a different day, thereby changing the day you will go to that particular park if going to this restaurant is something you really want to do. It is important to make dining reservations early so you can be more likely to get into the restaurants you want on the days you want and know if you need to rearrange your schedule if you can’t.
Tip #135 – Consult touringplans.com for the recommended park(s) for each specific day and also for which park(s) to avoid based on crowd levels.
At www.touringplans.com, there is not only a crowd level indicator for the parks in general for each day of the year, but also for each day the recommended park(s) and park(s) to avoid are listed. Visiting a park on a day that that park is recommended can be extremely more pleasant than when it is listed as one to avoid at touringplans.com, in my experience. So, if you can plan (at least for the most part) to visit the recommended parks in terms of crowd levels, you will not only have a more pleasant experience but also maximize your time by seeing more attractions that day. This is significant advice for those traveling to Walt Disney World, who like to plan it all out in advance. But it is also great for those of us who live nearby and go to the parks on a whim. Many a day we have decided to go to Disney World and then have gone to touringplans.com to see which park would make the most sense to attend in terms of crowd levels. It has been invaluable. On occasion, we haven’t consulted the site and have gone to the “wrong” park, only to have it be more crowded than desirable. Upon returning home, I have checked touringplans.com and confirmed that yes, indeed, it was listed as a park to avoid that day. I have learned my lesson more than once this way.
Tip #136 – Go to the park with morning Extra Magic Hours only if you are staying on property, will actually arrive before regular park opening, and will hit the most popular attractions first.
Extra Magic Hours sound great when you hear about them but they really do make the park that has the morning Extra Magic Hours much more crowded than usual. So, if you are not going to take full advantage of them, save this park for another day. Only visit the park with morning Extra Magic Hours if you are staying on property (otherwise, you can’t get in until regular park opening anyway) and you will actually arrive before regular park opening to take advantage of them. If you are not going to arrive early, they are useless and just mean a more congested park. Similarly, if you are going to arrive before regular park opening but not efficiently tour the park by hitting the most popular attractions first (or at least getting FastPasses for them early), then it does not make sense to go to this park on an Extra Magic Hours day.
I hope you find these tips for when to visit which park useful. A few others I have heard are that the best days to go to the water parks are Saturday and Sunday (which seems counter-intuitive to me), you are best off avoiding Disney Quest on rainy days (it seems everyone wants to go then), and as a rule of thumb the park with morning Extra Magic Hours one day has significantly lower crowds the next.
Well, that’s all for now. I’m off to do more “research.” Stay tuned…
* Jennifer Cook is a technology lawyer and professional negotiator who lives in Celebration with her husband Jonathan and daughters Juliet and Jacqueline. Be sure to check out her website at www.askanegotiator.com, where you can get free answers to your negotiating questions, and her newest site: www.disneytipsandsecrets.com, where you can read Disney World tips and share your own. She is a WDW annual passholder, visiting the Disney parks frequently, and with each visit makes it her goal to gain additional “secret” knowledge and practical tips to pass on to others. Contact her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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