A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
Well actually in 1997 at Disney-MGM Studios theme park in Florida a concept of highlighting Star Wars and promoting the upcoming “Special Edition” release of the films was born, with a hand full of celebrities and a “Behind The Force” show as the big draw “Star Wars Weekends” were born. From those humble beginnings we fast forward to 2014, the year we are invited to “Join The Rebellion” as the focus is set firmly on the upcoming Disney XD cartoon Star Wars Rebels.
As has become standard the overall event has a “host” and returning this year is voice actor extraordinaire James Arnold Taylor who provided the voice of Obi-Won in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, who’s job is pretty much to be the MC for some of the events of the weekends. But beyond the host are other Star Wars celebrities, which included for the first weekend Star Wars Royalty Peter Mayhew who is better known as Chewbacca in Ep 1, 4-6 and upcoming in Ep 7, Ahmed Best who will never be able to live down being Jar-Jar Binks in Ep 1-3, Vanessa Marshall the voice of Hara Syndulla in Star Wars Rebels, and last but far from least is Ashley Eckstein who was not only the voice of Ahsoka Tano for Star Wars: The Clone Wars but also the creator of the fashion line for Star Wars fans Her Universe. While all the celebrities take part in some of the shows during the weekend one of the best parts is the chance to get to meet them and get their autograph, but that comes at a price…mostly the price of sleep! In order to make sure you are able to get a autograph with the celebrity of your choice they pass out FastPass for each of them an hour before the park opens, which I talked to one guest who slept over night to make sure he could get a FastPass for Peter Mayhew.
If seeing the celebrities will cover your Star Wars Stars fix, they offer a few chances to see them in the park throughout the day starting with the “Legends of the Force” Motorcade. This mini parade is the only time you will get to see all the celebrities in one place as they go up Hollywood Blvd and do a welcome show on the event stage. Throughout the day they have enough Star Wars things to see and do to kill a Bantha, from a trillion Jedi Training Academy’s and Padawan Mind Challenges for the younglings to show focusing on the visiting celebrities for everyone to enjoy, if you can’t find something you enjoy you might be a Star Trek fan!
2 of the must do’s would have to be the Behind the Force: Star Wars Rebels which each week will have Ashley Eckstein talking with one of the voice talents of the new Disney XD show and Stars of the Saga which has James Arnold Taylor being a talk show host interviewing the celebrities that actually were in the films. Both shows are very popular and the FastPass + for all weekends booked very quickly, but don’t give up as they do have plenty of space for the stand by line…just make sure you get there early!
Ashley, VanessaMarshall and new characters Ezra, Chopper, and Sabine from Star Wars:Rebels
Jedi Mickey, Ahmed Best, Peter Mahew, and James Arnold Taylor about to sing off from Stars of the Saga.
Of course no Disney Parks Event would be complete without 2 things! First of course the merchandise and the Mix of Disney and Star Wars gives more than enough to shop for at Darth’s Mall this year. From the simple Bantha and Duffy plush to personalized name tags and phone cases, there is enough to figure out “what can you get a wookiee for Christmas, when he already owns a comb” !
Of course the other thing any Disney event is known for is a HUGE finally! This year with the lose of the Hyperspace Hoopla, they replace it with the DJ Lobot Dance Party which goes from 7pm till the Symphony in the Stars Star Wars themed fireworks show happens to end the night. While the dance party might not sound like the most exciting thing, DJ Lobot is one of the most wanted DJ’s by Bounty Hunters across the galaxy!
After DJ Lobot powers down James Arnold Taylor takes the stage for the Finale show which introduces all the star Wars characters and together set off the amazing fireworks show!
