Star Wars Weekends 2014 weekend II was a blast! It was different than years past, but so much fun!
We started off leaving late on Thursday night after work. We love flying Southwest and flying out of Nola!
Zatarains is a great place to eat in the Southwest Terminal and very affordable for airport fair!
We had some trouble once in Orlando. Disney's Magical Express (DME) made us wait almost 2 hours on the bus for all the late arrivals. By the time we got to the hotel, it was 3 am. The Cast Member at the Caribbean Beach was very nice, but she couldn't pull up our reservation: it was "lost". And somehow mysteriously, my magic band that worked at the airport when I signed into DME became deactivated when I showed up at the Caribbean Beach. We were given a room, but were told we would have to wait till 5:45 when the day shift checked in before we could have access to our meals and tickets and magic bands. So... no sleep for me.
Despite the lack of sleep, I was excited to start Star Wars Weekends! And the Stormtroopers were there to greet me and the thousands of other fans Friday morning!
First stop on my list was to verify Padawan Mind Challenge and Jedi Training since I had friends heading for those events.
Padawan Mind Challege sign-up is at the ABC Sound Studio. This year there was a new edition to the Challenge: Family Edition! I asked the Cast Member about the Family Edition, and he said a family is selected randomly from the park guests. No other clues on how they are selected, but the family on Friday was wearing bright orange shirts: so... STAND OUT!
The Jedi Training sign-up is at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Theater; and the line was long as expected.
TIP: Please sign up for these two events as soon as you enter the park! You can't wait to sign up - space is limited. I saw some very sad faces toward the middle of the day, when families decided to sign up and there was no more room.
Next on my list was Chewie! My favorite Star Wars Weekends character, and the wait was only 15 minutes!
Chewie can be found near Tatooine Traders in the shade by the speeder bike. Across from Chewie are the Chipmunks as Ewoks! I missed these guys last year, so was excited to grap a shot with them this year!
These two cheerful characters had hugs and kisses for everybody!
Right around the corner is the Writer's Stop. This hidden coffee shop will not be on the map, but it is my traditional morning stop at Hollywood Studios where I grab breakfast (a snack on the dining plan) and a coffee (iced in the summer).
From there I sit and go over the plans for the day. You can get a sense of the business of the park and where you would like to go next. For me, I headed to the backlot to find more characters!
At 10:30, I headed back to Hollywood Boulevard to find a spot for the Celebrity Motorcade. This parade is packed with Star Wars characters and celebrities and his hosted by Florida's 501st Garrison. The parade didn't start until 11:30, and on a bright, sunny, Florida day, my parasol was a fashion essential!
For, those who had purchased the Feel the Force package, premium viewing was setup by Echo Lake and the Sorcerer's Hat (and a little more shady).
I spent the rest of the afternoon in Darth's Mall. The new location is on Pixar Place and is right in the middle of all the action.
Lots of merchandise! The fan favorites were there:
New Shirt designs....
A Goofy Beach Towel...
Limited Edition Toys...
Legos, Lightsabers and Droids...
D-Tech Me Experience....
And the new Snack Bar!
I stopped for food twice: Pizza Planet and the Hollywood and Vine Star Wars Dinner !
By Far the best Character Dinner ever! - I will have more to come in a blog on the Dinner!
Tip: It's never too late to get in on the Star Wars Weekends Event specials. Guests cancel quite frequently and you can grab your spot!
After dinner, we headed over to The Hat for a close up spot for the show hosted by James Arnold Taylor.
And then the fireworks... we were amazed at the pyrotechnic choreography! Absolutely breathtaking!
Pictures do not do it justice because you need to experience all of the emotion of the Star Wars music along with the explosiveness of the fireworks. This show will take your breath away!
What a wonderful end to a Star Wars Weekends day! But... wait... we had the 24 hour party to go to in the Magic Kingdom!
Our first stop at the Magic Kingdom was the Confectionery where we split a Maleficent Apple!
And Bonus of the Night...We rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train! Very interesting experience because since we had never ridden the coaster, we had no idea what to expect in the dark!
We left the park at 3 am and everyone else at the castle jamming to a DJ...
No rest for the weary... we had to be up by 7 to head out again!
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Star Wars Weekends brings the movies, cartoons, characters and books to life; and provides an opportunity for families to share in the classic stories and lesson of Good vs Evil in a fun, imaginative way!
If you'd like to know more about Star Wars Weekends and how to get your family there, contact me at kesselrunner77@gmail.com
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