The Star Wars Weekends at the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida is one of the huge high points in my year. As a lover of both Star Wars and Disney, I am always more than delighted to get the chance to attend this huge event. 2006 will be my fourth year, and over the course of the last three events I've compiled a list of the most important things to remember for those who are just joining the fun. So, sit back, relax, and find out the ABC's of the Star Wars Weekends.

Autographs: Every weekend during the event, Star Wars fans are joined by at least two of the people that made Star Wars happen. In 2003 and 2004, these celebrities only included actors, but in 2005, Disney brought a new dimension to the autograph experience; true behind-the-scenes people like John Goodson (concept modeler) and others. (A link to this year's guest list appears at the end of this blog.) Spots for autograph sessions are very limited, so as soon as you enter the park, head for the autograph lines.

Here's how it works; you stand in a special line for the celebrity of your choice. Before the majority of the park opens (the 'main street' will already be open), you will be taken to special FastPass ticket booths, where your park entrance ticket will allow you to receive one Autograph FastPass, good for a certain autograph session. At the time stamped on your ticket, you will return to the location specified and meet the celebrity one-on-one for autographs and photos. But remember, EVERY member of your party that wishes a particular autograph MUST physically be in line; no one person can receive more than one FastPass ticket, no matter how many entrance tickets they show.

The majority of special guests will autograph almost anything, (a select few will not autograph collectibles like action figures) from postcards to t-shirts, but black-and-white photos are provide free of charge for those who just can't find the perfect thing to get autographed.

Bring...
...plenty of water, or plenty of money with which to buy the overpriced water for sale around the park. The summer temperatures here in Florida rarely drop below 80 degrees at night, and can soar well above 100 degrees during the day, so it is very important to keep hydrated.

...a camera. With Star Wars characters strolling the streets, cool Star Wars backdrops, and celebrity appearances, you will definitely want to have a camera handy. Kids will love to have their pictures taken with Princess Leia or Darth Maul, and so will adults! Plus, a camera is essential for celebrity encounters, so you can prove to your friends that, "Yes, I really did meet Jake Lloyd!" Keep in mind, though, that some attractions don't allow the use of cameras.

...an umbrella. Florida weather is quite unpredictable; one minute it's sunny and scorching, the next, it's cloudy and thunder is rumbling. One day last year I neglected to bring an umbrella with me and ended up soaked to the skin after a short but heavy downpour. And no matter how good it feels to be wet when you're outside in the sun, it's absolutely miserable once you get inside to air conditioning.

...sunscreen. Even on the cloudiest days, the UV index is extremely high, and unless you are very resistant to sunburn, you will get cooked. I'm sure everyone has gotten a terrible sunburn on the first day of their vacation one time or another, so you'll know what I mean when I say that sunscreen is a very good idea. Make sure to reapply it every four to six hours, even if you don't feel like you need to. It's better to be safe than sunburned.

Come early: The park opens at 9:00 a.m. most days, but by that time the lines can stretch to well out near the bag check station. I find that the best time to arrive at the park is 7:00 to 7:20; usually only about twenty other groups are there at that time, and we are about 8 feet from the turnstiles. Of course, the wait can be very boring, especially if you have small children with you, but you're sure to get pretty near the front of whichever line (autograph or merchandise) you are heading to. Be sure to bring something to occupy your time; a staple to bring for kids is a lightsaber or two for dueling with siblings. Teens and older folk can read the latest copy of the Insider or an EU novel. Star Wars background music is playing the entire time, but the selection repeats every 15 to 30 minutes and can get somewhat tedious. (blasphemy! )

For those staying at Disney Resorts, each park opens one hour early on one day of the week. This year, Disney-MGM's early admission day is Saturday (not Friday as had previously been posted); the park will be open at 8:00 but none of the Star Wars events will start until 9:00. I recommend you arrive at 6:30 for a good spot in line.

Don't bring or buy more than you can handle: In 2004, I made the mistake of bringing handheld Disney merchandise bags to carry my lightsabers and autograph materials around with me. It turned out to be very annoying, as there was no way to carry it except in the hands. In 2005 I got some sense and packed all necessities in a backpack, which I promptly "persuaded" my twin brother to carry for me. Also, I wouldn't buy anything huge unless you're planning on returning to your hotel room right away; some of that stuff is way too enormous to be hauling around a theme park. I've seen plenty of fans who buy giant bags full of merchandise (think about as big as a large rolling suitcase) and have to carry it with them for quite awhile. Other options are sending your package to Parcel Pick-Up (near the entrance; where you can pick it up at the end of the day) or storing it in a locker on theme park property.

Eating: Food is very important. (Like, duh.) There are plenty of choices around the park, from ice cream and pretzel stands to sit-down restaurants. If you're in a hurry, a snack or counter service dining area will be best. Most of the sit-down restaurants take quite awhile and the waits are very long. However, if you wish to eat in a table service restaurant, you can get Priority Seating for the restaurant of your choice at Guest Services when you enter the park. Counter service places are more numerous, and offer a good selection from hamburgers and hot dogs to tabouleh wraps and fish and chips. If you don't have a big appetite, or (like me) tend to get too excited to eat, there are snack carts selling popcorn, pretzels, fruit, and ice cream all over the park. Of course, nearly every place has vegetarian selections as well.

Fans: Of course, the greatest thing about the Star Wars Weekends is the opportunity to meet thousands of your fellow fans from all over the country. I've even seen people from Great Britain come to the weekends! And no matter how much of a fan you are, or whether it's your fourth year or your first, most will welcome you gladly. (See: What is a 'true' Star Wars fan?) It's truly a pleasure to be around so many other people that love the same universe; it's the only place I've ever been where adults can carry toy lightsabers and not be thought of as weird!

Great Music!: This goes without saying. How can you not love hearing Star Wars music booming out of speakers every minute of the day from before the park opening until 7:00 at night? It's paradise! (Well, almost.)

Hyperspace Hoopla: At the Star Wars Weekends, every day (weather permitting) closes with this wacky stage show. Includes singing (Weird Al's Y.O.D.A.), dancing (the audience is encouraged to join in), lots of Star Wars characters, and corny Star Wars jokes (example: Why couldn't Luke use the Force to pin his note to the bulletin board? Because the Force is used for knowledge and defense, never for a tack.)

*rolls eyes*

Information: For any and all kind of event information, an information table is set up by the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Here you can get park maps and times guides, sign up for trivia contests, and find the character appearance times. The staff is nearly always friendly and helpful.

Jedi Mickey: The light side of the Force has a new ally; one with big ears, a long tail, and a permanent smile. Who is it? Jedi Mickey! Kids and adults alike will love to get their picture taken with the newest addition to the Jedi order. The times guide will tell you his appearance times.

Kids: Some of the biggest Star Wars fans are also the smallest, which is why there are several Star Wars Weekends events just for kids. A big favorite is the Jedi Training Academy, where randomly selected kids (mostly under 8 years old, though a few older ones get in) get 'real' Jedi robes and lightsabers and learn how to fight with the lightsabers. The event ends with the students using their skills to defeat the dark side, fighting the evil of Darth Vader and Darth Maul. This event, held approximately 9 times per day, is always packed to capacity, so get there early. Every kid gets a Jedi Training Academy certificate.

The second just for kids event is the Padawan Mind Challenge, which tests kids' Star Wars trivia knowledge. And everybody wins! This event is in high demand, so two times are available. But you still need to sign up quickly; most spots are gone before 9:30 a.m.

Lightsabers: Bring 'em. Wear 'em. Play around with 'em. DON'T hit other people with 'em! Kids love the toy sabers, but many adults prefer to bring the Force FX lightsabers rather than the toy ones. In my opinion, the Force FX sabers are too bulky and long to comfortably carry around since they don't collapse. I usually carry the fully-collapsing non-lighting-up toy saber; it's easier for me to deal with.

Merchandise: One thing about the Star Wars Weekends; there's usually spectacular merchandise. The T-shirts, baseball caps, and mugs are great, and that's not even exclusive merchandise. There are limited edition coins (these are awesome), limited edition pins, and more. Usually, every weekend sees the release of two more exclusive limited edition pins, which in past years have been very remarkable and in high demand. All of the limited edition stuff is in such high demand that last year the park management set up an entire waiting line just for buying merchandise. Fans would stand in line for up to three and a half hours just for a chance to get inside the store and buy something. My advice is to walk through the park entrance turnstiles and head straight for the merchandise line. I did this last year and ended up only waiting for about forty-five minutes.

(A link to previews of some of this year's merchandise appears at the end of this blog.)

Nighttime Events: The Star Wars Weekend event closes at 7:00 p.m. with the Hyperspace Hoopla, but the park stays open. So, what to do? There is a special laser and fireworks show at 9:00 p.m. nightly (weather permitting) called Fantasmic! You want to be at the theater early to reserve the best seats. This is a spectacular show and well worth the time.

Other Attractions: You can't spend your entire weekend doing Star Wars stuff (or can you?), so be sure to check out the many other attractions at the Disney-MGM Studios. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is very popular, as are the Rockin' Roller Coaster, the Great Movie Ride, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and the newest show, Lights, Motors, Action. There are also shows for the kids; Beauty and the Beast, Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour is a lot of fun, but it's a 45 minute ride and if you have an autograph session or some such, you won't want to go on it because, unlike the shows, you can't just walk out.

Parades: The day officially begins with the Legends of the Force Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade. This parade contains costumed characters, the weekend's celebrities, and special guests like members of the 501st Fighting Legion Florida Garrison. The best place to view the parade is by the Star Tours stage, where the celebrity welcoming ceremony takes place directly after the parade. HOWEVER, if you prefer trivia to parades (like me), skip this and go to both Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It! Star Wars Edition shows (more on that later). Also, a non-Star Wars parade takes place late in the afternoon: the Disney Stars and Motorcars Parade. If you love parades, fine, attend, but if you can't stand seeing Roly Poly Olie dancing down the street, I recommend you skip it. KEEP IN MIND, though, that a good portion of the park will be blocked off for this parade; you need to be where you want to be BEFORE the parade starts.

Queen Amidala, along with many other costumed characters from the Star Wars saga, are always present for autographs and photo opportunities. Favorites include Jango Fett, Darth Maul, and Luke Skywalker. You can even trade with the Jawas!

Resorts: Of course, it's cheaper to stay off-property for the Star Wars Weekends, but part of the Disney experience is staying at a fun hotel. There are many resort hotels on Disney property, ranging in price from the very affordable Port Orleans Riverside to the very luxurious Grand Floridian, and everywhere in between. The Pop Century resort is quite popular, as are the Fort Wilderness and Polynesian resorts. Every resort has either a monorail station or a bus stop within walking distance from any room, and if you want to drive to the park of your choice, parking is free.

Star Tours: What visit to the Disney-MGM Studios would be complete without Star Tours? It's a fun ride, even for 200+ time riders. During the Star Wars Weekends, however, the lines can get very long, up to an hour. Your best bet would be to get a FastPass, but during parades and early in the morning the wait time can drop to 10 minutes.

Trivia Contests: This is without a doubt my favorite part of the Star Wars Weekends event, and there are several trivia events to choose from. First is the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Play It! Star Wars Edition. This is a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire style game in which the entire audience plays along and every single question is about Star Wars! It's tons of fun; I always go to both showings every day I'm there. The loading area opens about 25 minutes before the show, and ten randomly selected guests are given special cards that allow them to sit in the 'fastest finger row'. (Again, the entire audience has a chance to get in the Hot Seat, not just those in the FFR.)

Second is the Tatooine Trivia Trials. This is a first-come-first-served game; you MUST register very early as all spots are usually gone by 9:45 am. Fifty contestants battle it out through three grueling rounds of play to see who gets the title of Star Wars Trivia Master! The prizes are awesome, including (in past years) die-cast replicas from Code 3 Collectibles, action figures and Unleashed figures, mugs, t-shirts, games, and more! Be careful, though. My friends and I used to enter every single weekend, but the new rule from last year is that once you win a prize, even if you take 3rd, you cannot participate in the event for the remainder of the Star Wars Weekends. Some really nice Disney Cast Members were trying to get that rule overturned, but I think that such a thing would be unlikely. So, be prepared!

Utinni is a very popular word! Use it around the Jawas; they may find it amusing.

Video Games: For the past two or three years, a video arcade featuring nothing but Star Wars games has been available. Most of the games cost money, like Podracer and Jedi Starfighter, but last year a classic '80's Atari-type Star Wars game/ "simulator" was available for free play.

Wave your Jedi-mind-tricking hand at a Stormtrooper if it seems like he's stalking you. It works every time!

Xylophones are not permitted inside the park.

You need to seek shade often during the day, especially in the afternoons. The temperatures can reach 97 degrees, with the heat index a sweltering 110, and you don't want to fall over from heat stroke, do you?

Zis ees ze end of me blog. I think I've covered pretty much everything you need to know, so go forth and have fun at the Star Wars Weekends!

For more information, check out Star Wars Weekends 2006 - speculation, wish lists, general discussion [TDE] , Star Wars Weekends 2006 Collectibles, and Star Wars Weekends 2006 Guest List.

If I've forgotten something, please tell me and I'll add it right away.

May the Force be with you,
-- i12bajedi