Star Wars Weekends

Just returned from 2nd week SSW 2011 with husband and two little ones in tow. My boys are 6 and 3. I have used the info on this site and am replying to help in return others with little kids to have a good time.

We stayed at Disney and it seemed to me that the transportation system (especially monorail) took a hit with the recession. So my first advice is leave even earlier if you use it- it may be a half hour wait for a bus to the park.

It seemed more crowded this year from last- maybe bc of the memorial day weekend. And VERY HOT about 100 degrees a day! So bring a lot of hydration with you to save money! I also brought those frozen PB and J sandwiches to save time and money so we could do more.

Arrived at 8am and we were about fifth from the front of turnstyles. Definately come EARLY or your kids will be shut out of the two events thay should do - Jedi Training Academy and Paddawan Mind Challenge. Both need to be signed up for ASAP.

Let in about 15 minutes early to the next waiting area. Look for a Disney employee near the ropes and ask where the group for Jedi Academy will be staged. You need to immediately follow that person to the Soundstage area to get a ticket for JTA FIRST thing. It is near the JTA stage. YOUR KIDS MUST BE WITH YOU TO GET A TICKET FOR A SPACE!!!!They have doubled the shows this year so about 300 kids will get in per day. It gets super hot so try to do it in the morning so your kid doesnt faint on stage. The age is from 4-12 but i have a 3 1?2 year old and he did it (I fibbed) It was the funniest thing ever and the kids LOVE it! As part of SSW the participants for JTA and Padawan Mind Challenge recieve a diploma and a SW action figure as a gift. This is unique to the SSW so definately do it- its quite cool.

The Padawan Mind Challenge had only 2 shows-2pm and 630pm. After signing up for JTA I went right to the table behind it, also at the Sound stage and signed them both up. I think they had about 20 kids per show. It was held on the Hat stage in the center of the park. Questions were all about the clone wars episodes. I was surprised and embarrassed about how much my 6 and 3 year olds knew. They are each given 2 sabres-green and blue- and are given two choices as answers to each question. They raise the sabre of their choice and are removed to stand with Asoka when they miss. It ends when it gets to 3 players and they all do the final question and get prizes again. So no tears, no heavy competition and very cute. Worth it!

Fast passed Star Tours next and got an 11am time. Fast passed Toy story about an hour later and got a 630pm time. Both rides were fun.

As far as characters, I feel that last year we got photos with many more. The lines this year early were very long-about an hour for a lot of them. One thing I noticed was in afternnon about 5 the lines were about half that.

Also a tip- Darth Vader photo was very much wanted but I couldnt keep the kids in line wasting an hour of time at least. If your kid is in JTA skip Vader and save the time because you will get great photos of them battling him during the show anyway!!

Two last things- The parade seemed a lot shorter this year, was in a different location, and there were no kids in it as padawans as in years before. I went to sign them up to march and the staff said they would be randomly approached and picked while in the park. When the parade came there were no kids in it, so I guess they decided not to do it this year-disappointing.

The parade only travelled down Hollywood Blvd-from the entrance to the hat-and ended at the main stage Hat-new this year. Its good because the stage is much better now, but if you go to where the parade used to be you will miss it. So ask the time and place for sure. It was 1245 on my day.

The Hoopla review was at the main stage as well and a large screen televising it was also up at American Idol where you could sit and watch it if you are too tired. Thats what we did.

Hope this helps someone. I appreciate the help i have gotten here.

MOST IMPORTANT THING IF YOU BRING KIDS IS GET THERE EARLY AND PREPARED> IF YOU DO IT RIGHT IN THE FIRST HOUR< YOUR DAY WILL GO SMOOTHLY WITHOUT DISAPPOINTMENT!