Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips
Star Wars Weekends 2013 are the first time Star Wars is a Disney franchise, so we’re expecting this special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World to be bigger and better than ever this year! Star Wars Weekends are geared towards all things Star Wars (including the animated TV show, Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Celebrities are in attendance, there’s a special parade, shows, and every day ends with some Hyperspace Hoopla! It’s a lot of fun whether you’re a hardcore Star Wars fan or just a fan of fun (we fall into the latter camp).
If you’ve been to Walt Disney World countless times (and it’s probably not a bad assumption that you have if you’re reading this blog), you might be looking for ways to see the place a-new. One way to to find new experiences is to visit during a seasonal festival or weekend event. One such weekend event is Star Wars Weekends, held in May and June at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Star Wars Weekends 2013 dates are May 17, 2013 through June 9, 2013 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each weekend.
If you haven’t visited multiple times and are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, make sure to check out our Disney Tips & Tricks page for a lot of helpful tips to outsmart the masses. Also check out our dining reviews to find the best restaurants and our trip planning posts to figure out what to pack, which tickets to buy, which discounts to look for, and all the other ins and outs of a trip to Walt Disney World, including the “10 Steps to Planning a Walt Disney World trip!”
If you’re more concerned with seeing photos of Star Wars Weekends to get a visual idea of what it’s like, check out our pages containing hundreds of photos from past Star Wars Weekends. If you’ve already made up your mind that you want to visit during Star Wars Weekends but don’t know which one to plan your trip around, consider the first weekend. It’s not significantly busier, and you benefit in having Star Wars Weekends overlap with Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival that first weekend. Two special events in one trip can make for a lot of fun!
Why Visit During Star Wars Weekends?
If you’re thinking, “I have no interest in being in a crowd of Trekkies dressed up as Chewbaccas,” fear not. Sarah and I are not big Star Wars fans, either, but we had an absolute blast during Star Wars Weekends.
Much like the name implies, Star Wars Weekends take place over Friday, Saturday, and Sundays–so no wacky schedules based on the Klingon Astro Calendar or anything like that. Although the Studios can get a little crowded during these events with Star Wars fans (and, I suppose, some Trekkies who end up in the wrong place) the energy these fans bring to the park is palpable. While events like Star Wars Celebration have no allure for me, Star Wars Weekends give me a chance to see those hardcore fans in their finest fan-made attire–and some of these costumes are quite impressive–without having to endure the geek-dom of the other events. No knock at geeky fan events, after all, we attend countless geeky Disney events and count ourselves as geeks. Much like Justin Timberlake brought back sexy, I think that wretched movie, Napoleon Dynamite, actually brought geeky back.
In addition to this guest “experience,” there are a lot of actors who portrayed characters in the Star Wars movies in attendance for autograph signings and for the daily parade. Mind you, unless you’re a huge Star Wars fan, most of these actors’ names won’t ring a bell (I don’t even call them “celebrities” as there isn’t a low enough celebrity “list” to appropriately categorize them). However, if you are a fan of the films, meeting these actors can be pretty cool. Just be warned, if you want anything signed, you will want to arrive to the park hours before it opens to wait in line to be guaranteed a meeting with them.
Star Wars Weekends Tips
Regardless of whether you want these actors to sign anything, you should arrive at Disney’s Hollywood Studios prior to park opening, as one of the coolest experiences of the weekend is “Storming the Park,” which is guarded from on high by the Storm Troopers. The little skit they put on is hilarious, and not to be missed. It may seem like something minor and not worth arriving early to experience, but trust me, you will be thankful you dragged yourself out of bed early. Plus, you will need the time to experience as much as you possibly can in the day.
If you want autographs, arriving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios by 5 am is probably a good idea. If you don’t want autographs, you can sleep a little longer, but we still recommend arriving about an hour before the official park opening, which will usually be 8 am during Star Wars Weekends. This is because the turnstiles often open earlier than the official open time during Star Wars Weekends due to the crowds. In 2012, we got in the park at around 7:30 am, immediately got Toy Story Mania FastPasses, and then rode Toy Story Mania with only about a 5 minute wait. From there, we also quickly did Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster. Finishing the “Big 3″ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before the Star Wars Weekends events even kick off will be huge, as there is a lot of waiting in lines for character photos and to secure show and parade seats that will likely prevent you from doing attractions AND experiencing all of the Star Wars Weekend festivities.
One of my favorite times of year to meet characters is at Star Wars Weekends. No, not because these character meetings are held outdoors during the most unbearable heat of the year, in some of the longest lines of the year, but because of the Disney characters’ costumes! These costumes are really cool, as are some of the backdrops for the meet and greets. Definitely plan on spending some serious time in line for these. I would recommend doing these in late afternoon as the lines aren’t so bad, perhaps right before Hyperspace Hoopla!
In 2012, we made the mistake of lining up first thing in the morning for Jedi Mickey (who rotates with a slew of other Disney characters). The lines ended up being shorter for him later in the day. Instead, we should have lined up for Darth Vader, who consistently had a line over an hour(!) later in the day. These character lines can be brutal, so if you’re not a fan of meeting characters, you’ll save a lot of time during Star Wars Weekends.
Another main attraction of the weekends is the daily Star Wars Motorcade. This motorcade is cool for the costumes that you’ll see, but it’s a bit short (as is the parade route–making it tough to get good spots). We recommend staking out a spot an hour before this motorcade if you want an unobstructed view. If you don’t mind having a few heads in your way, you don’t need to claim a spot quite as early, but still get to the motorcade area at least 20 minutes in advance (even that is cutting it close).
There are various other events throughout the day, typically including a question and answer seminar and a trivia contest (called the Padawan Mind Challenge in past years) for kids. The exact names and details of these events change from year-to-year. One non-event that has become somewhat of an event is the purchase of merchandise. If you plan on buying anything unique to Star Wars Weekends, I highly recommend doing this early. Lines will get long, and limited edition items will sell out.
Each day concludes with Hyperspace Hoopla. Whatever you do, do not miss this. On the first day of our Honeymoon, Sarah and I debated attending this at all, or just heading over to the Polynesian early for dinner at Kona Café. We ultimately decided to just see Hyperspace Hoopla, and it was easily one of the best decisions, and one of the highlights, of the trip. A hilarious, snarky, and well-orchestrated show. I run out of adjectives just trying to describe it. It’s rife with pop culture references, a real hoot overall. I’m actually a bit surprised that Lucasfilm has allowed such an irreverent show (although now they don’t have any say!). If you’re a “solemn” Star Wars fan, you might not enjoy this show, but just about everyone else will have a blast with it.
Even though Hyperspace Hoopla is now on the large stage in front of the Sorcerer Hat, it drew larger crowds than ever before in 2012 (we arrived 45 minutes in advance and had a poor view), so we recommend staking out your spot about an hour in advance for 2013. The viewing area isn’t the best in front of the Sorcerer Hat stage, so even though there’s more area, there are still few “good” spots…especially if you’re short.
After that awesome experience, Hyperspace Hoopla is now the highlight of our Star Wars Weekends visits. Skip whatever else might not interest you, but do not skip Hyperspace Hoopla!
Crowds are typically bad at Star Wars Weekend, with especially long lines for Star Tours: the Adventures Continue, and also for all of the “special” meet & greets. As a general rule I wouldn’t recommend doing Jedi Training Academy or Star Tours during Star Wars Weekends if you can experience them other times during the week. Jedi Training Academy has a better energy during Star Wars Weekends, but it’s just not worth the crowds.
The special presentations also require waiting in line at least 30 minutes in advance of the presentation, with 45 minutes to an hour being the safer bet. We were able to get in two of the presentations in 2012 after getting in line about 30 minutes before they started (the lines usually form in the MuppetVision 3D overflow queue or in areas around there–ask a Cast Member if you’re not sure what the lines you see are for), but our seats were not the greatest.
If you’ve been to Walt Disney World more times than you can count, but have never visited the Studios during Star Wars Weekends, you owe it to yourself to plan a trip down during May or June to experience The Force, Disney-style. Even if you’re not a hardcore Star Wars fan, you’re sure to have a good time!
Your Thoughts
Have you visited during Star Wars Weekends? Do you think it’s worth braving the crowds to experience these special event weekends? Do you want to visit during Star Wars Weekends? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
35 Responses to “Star Wars Weekends 2013 Tips”
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I didn’t know about “Stormin the Park” Sounds like a blast. Thanks for this well-written article. I admit I was more inclined to shy away from Hollywood Studios, but now I think I’d be more willing to try it. Love the pics.
Great article and tips Tom. I am looking forward to attending the first day of Star Wars Weekend this year. I am not a Star Wars fan at all but am sure I will enjoy everything that is going on – especially the opening of Star Tours 2!
Any word on which cast members will be present for the grand re-opening weekend this year?
We went to Star Wars Weekend, May 2009. We surprised our son who was 8 1/2 at the time. We had so much fun! It was very hot and I will never go back to WDW that time of the year but for a one time thing that surprised my avid Star Wars Fan, it was well worth it.
Is it worth it to visit during Star Wars weekends or would we have just as much fun any time at Hollywood Studios? I do have Star Wars fans. Is the only addition to the Star Wars part of the Studios the parades and autographs?
Don’t under-estimate the fun you’ll have during Star Wars Weekends, especially if you have Star Wars fans in your group. Autographs don’t do much for me, but the parade, Hyperspace Hoopla, and various other events are a LOT of fun. There is a palpable energy in the air, and it’s definitely something worth seeing. Crowds can be higher at DHS during these weekends, but non-Star Wars stuff isn’t generally that busy. I’d go for it!
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I wonder if there will be anything new this year, considering the recent LucasFilm acquisition!
We sure hope so!
Can you do Jedi training academy on a day other than during te star wars weekend? Is it offered on other days, weekdays? Thanks for all the info!
Jedi Training Academy is a regular “attraction” that performs multiple times per day, everyday.
This is a great review of Star Wars Weekends! While I’ve been 67 times to WDW, this May will be my first Star Wars weekend! I appreciate the great information and pro/con analysis of the activities!
I’ll be there opening day this year on May 17th. Hope to see you there.
We probably won’t be there for the opening weekend this year, but we’re hoping to make it at least one of the weekends. Enjoy your trip!
Great page! By far the most informative SWW site I have found! Love the photos, as well! I just had a quick question…We are a family of SW geeks, and will be experiencing our first SWW on May 26, 2013. I’m trying to plan our day, and want to make lunch reservations, but don’t want to miss the Legends of the Force parade. What time did the parade take place during previous years?
Last year it was around 12:30. If you have *any* interest in meeting characters, I’d suggest doing counter service lunch instead of table service. If you meet characters, it’s tough to do everything at Star Wars Weekends in one day due to lines.
Thanks Tom!
We went ahead and made 11:00am lunch reservations at the Sci-Fi dine in theater. I think that should give us plenty of time to eat and get a good parade watching spot!
For Ashley R. – The crowd starts lining up for the parade as early as 2 hours before it starts. Best of luck in finding a good parade viewing site. We have been going the last three years and it is tough getting a good view of the parade, especially if you have younger children. MTFBWY!
I’m really glad I stumbled upon your blog. I’m taking my son, 6 years old, down to Disney for his 3rd trip and my…well I have lost count at this point. He’s been SERIOUSLY into Star Wars for about 2 years now and I thought this was the perfect time to take him to Star Wars weekend which happens to also fall on my 31st birthday weekend. I’m super psyched to see his reaction to seeing some of his favorite Star Wars characters as well as some of his favorite Disney characters in Star Wars costumes. He lives and breaths Star Wars…sneakers, tshirts, lightsabers (4), bed tent, sheets, night light, calendar, legos, stuffed animals, vinylmations, playskool heros, clone wars figurines, books, hats, backpacks, sweatshirts…you name it, he has it. I think your blog was really helpful because it is just the information I am looking for. Everything else just tells you about Star Wars Weekends but not what we really want to know such as how long we can expect to wait, when we should get there, etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
how is the crowd level at the other parks during SW weekends? Is it lighter b/c everyone is at HS events or is the crowd level high in general across the board? We are planning a visit May 23-June 1. Trying to get a feel. Thanks for the info!
You’re looking at the beginning of the summer season, so you’re looking at an across-the-board increase. I doubt the cause is Star Wars Weekends, but it’s still an increase as compared to the period before SWW.
My husband and I love Star Wars Weekends! We will be going for our 5th time this May. Unfortunately we have almost always missed “storming the park” we will definitely peel ourselves out of bed early this time!!! Thanks for the additional information!
We are taking our boys to Disney for the first time and will be there for the final weekend of Star Wars Weekends. Would you recommend going both Saturday and Sunday or picking 1 weekend day and then a different day during the week?
I would recommend going Saturday and Sunday because you can split your days in half.Example:1 day you meet some characters and watch some shows and the 2 day you meet more characters by merchandise and ride Star Tours.
What would you say is the best weekend to go for Star Wars days? We were thinking of taking our 5 and 2 yr old down the first weekend. Even though it’s the first weekend how does this compare to the others since schools will most likely still be on session when when we go.
This is a great blog! I am taking my son who will be 9 to Disney for the first time in May and will be there May 22-28. I was second-guessing my decision to go during Memorial Day weekend but now that I know about Star Wars weekend I am thrilled. Let’s put it this way, our Golden Retriever”s name is Princess Leia. These tips are very helpful as there is so much to do that it is hard to know where to begin. I haven’t been to Disney in almost 20 years.
Does anyone have suggestions on the best places to eat at HS and if reservations are necessary? I’ll be looking for a schedule of events but please keep the tips coming. I’ll be sure to add to this after our trip to share our experience.
We always enjoy dinner at Mama Melrose’s Italian Restaurant and yes you do need reservations. Most of the nicer restaurants require reservations. But therer are places to get food without reservations. We enjoy lunch at the Backlot (not sure if name is correct) and watch the Jedi Trtaining academy show which is right next door. Enjoy your ttrip!! MTFBWY!
Any idea if they will bring the Carbon Freeze Me back this year?
To meet Ray Park, you are advising to arrive around 5am?
Haven’t heard whether it will be back yet, but it made so much money last year that I assume it will.
Yeah, I’d arrive EARLY to meet Ray Park.
do you know if the Disney buses run that early?
We went to HS in 2010, not realizing it was a Star Wars weekend. We saw Billy Dee Williams/Lando Calrissian. There was a huge line, but we were able to walk up to the booth he was in and we were only about 4 feet away from where he was signing autographs and I got a great picture. The guy who played Darth Maul was there, as was the director of the Clone Wars movies. My son was 5 then, and is now 8 and a huge Star Wars fan, so hoping they have some good ones there this year!
Darth Maul will be there again this year…he’s one of the “big” actors that typically appears every year. Have fun!!!
HUM didn’t know it was a Star Wars Weekend when I planned this trip (May 6 thru 20, 2013) and not sure if this is a good thing or a bad one. I was told that May usually had smaller crowds but this sounds like the crowds might actually be larger.
Hi, We are heading to Star Wars weekend this year!! yeah!! Does anyone know, is the parade only Star Wars related or are other Disney type characters (Toy Story, Monster’s Inc etc) in the parade also?
To answer your question,the characters in the parade are only star wars characters but they look awesome.You can watch videos of the Parade on YouTube.