Star Wars Weekends

Star Wars Weekends was a festival held annually at the Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at the Walt Disney World in Florida.
Included with park admission, the event typically occurs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for four to five consecutive weekends in May and June and features appearances by cast and crew members from George Lucas' science-fantasy saga.
Many Disney characters also appear dressed as Star Wars characters, such as Jedi Mickey, Minnie as Leia, Donald as a Stormtrooper, Goofy as Darth Vader, and Chip and Dale as Ewoks and R2-MK (Mickey Mouse stylized astromech droid). The festival began in 1997 and has been held in 2000, 2001, and annually from 2003 until 2015.
==Events==
*Autograph Opportunities - In a space across from the ABC Commissary, the stars of the weekend do autograph sessions for those who get FastPasses on a first come, first serve basis. There is no other way to participate in this event.
*Behind the Force - a live show at the Premier Theater hosted by Ashley Eckstein. Guests are given a behind-the-scenes making of the Clone Wars series.
*Carbon Freeze Me - Interactive attraction located at ABC Sound Studio, where guests are able to have their face scanned and reproduced in a prism of carbonite, which is then available for purchase.
*Darth's Mall - Just as Disney had done for the Frozen Summer Fun event, Darth's Mall is a large shopping center featuring event and franchise merchandise. The facility features three sections:
**X-Wing Collectibles features Star Wars D-Tech Me, exclusive graphic MagicBands, Dooney & Bourke/Star Wars merchandise, exclusive pins, Star Wars Vinylmation, an SMS Audio Listening Station, art, and collectibles, and Passholder Event merchandise.
**Watto's Grotto features Star Wars Weekends merchandise, Build-Your-Own-Droid and Build-Your-Own-Lightsaber stations, personalized Aurebesh nametags, Ashley Eckstein's Her Universe apparel, Official Pix photographs, toys, and Passholder Event merchandise.
**The Prop Shop features Star Wars classic toys, t-shirts, and LEGO Star Wars merchandise.
*Disney Infinity 3.0 Sneak Peek - In 2015, the Weekends were held 3-4 months before the release of the game. Due to its inclusion of Star Wars characters, the sneak peek was implemented in the soundstage formerly housing Sounds Dangerous.
*Jedi Training Academy - Live show at the Rebels stage. Based on the teachings and practices of the fictional Jedi Knights from the Star Wars films, the show depends heavily on audience participation, focusing on children. Each participant is given a lightsaber and Jedi robes and is taught a routine set of swordfighting moves.
*Legends of the Force - A parade features the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion (a pair of worldwide Star Wars costuming groups) parading in Stormtrooper costumes, along with numerous other Star Wars characters. Cosplaying characters of the Mickey Mouse & Friends franchise along with that weekend's special guests ride in cars.
*Obi-Wan & Beyond - Live 30 minute show hosted by James Arnold Taylor. Taylor demonstrates nearly 150 voices that he provides for famous Hollywood stars who aren't available for projects as well as characters for television shows, animated films, and video games.
*Snig and Oopla's Hyperspace Hoopla - Live show also at the stage in front of the Sorcerer's Hat (since Star Wars Celebration V's "Last Tour to Endor" event in August 2010). It is a dance-off show featuring Star Wars characters competing in groups against each other in a dance competition. It originally was held at the Rebels Stage from 2008-2010. During a 2013 show, Palpatine made an unexpected appearance as the show was beginning, hijacked it, and renamed it Emperor Palpatine's Hyperspace Hoopla, in revenge for a stunt pulled by Snig and Oopla the previous year in which they showed secret video of Palpatine mocking Vader behind his back, resulting in the latter throwing him down a bottomless pit, a la Return of the Jedi.
*Star Wars: Rebels - A recap of Season One of the show of the same name that was provided exclusively for the 2015 events starring James Arnold Taylor and a member of the show's voice cast. It is unknown if it will continue for later seasons.
*Stars of the Saga - A talk show with the host of the event (currently James Arnold Taylor) where they interview two guest stars of the weekend. It is preceded by a 15-minute pre-show starring a group of Stormtroopers and features a few special surprises. Two hours later, this show is followed by another show, featuring one of the special guests of that weekend.
*Symphony in the Stars - Presented by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment during the "Last Tour to Endor" event in 2010. A large-scale fireworks show complemented with John Williams' original music, voice and sound clippings from the Star Wars saga. An abridged version of the show was presented on May 19, 2011, during the "Star Tours Galactic Party", in preparation of the opening of the redesigned attraction the following day, and on "May The Fourth Be With You", officially recognized by Lucasfilm and Disney in 2013. The show began annually in 2014.
==Appearances==
Guest 	Role 	Year
Amy Allen 	Aayla Secura 	2004–08, 2015
Kenny Baker 	R2-D2 	2000-01, 2007
Ahmed Best 	Jar Jar Binks 	2014
Don Bies 	R2-D2 Operator 	2005
Jerome Blake 	Mas Amedda, Rune Haako 	2004–05
Steve Blum 	Zeb Orrelios 	2014-15
Dee Bradley Baker 	Captain Rex, Commander Cody, and all other Clone Troopers Star Wars: The Clone Wars 	2010-14
Phil Brown 	Owen Lars 	2001
Michonne Bourriague	Aurra Sing 	2003, 2012
Jeremy Bulloch 	Boba Fett 	2000-01, 2003-04, 2006-15
Silas Carson 	Nute Gunray, Ki-Adi-Mundi 	2012, 2015
Rob Coleman 	Animation Supervisor 	2005
Doug Chiang 	Design Director 	2001
Jim Cummings 	Hondo Ohnaka 	2013
Anthony Daniels 	C-3PO 	2004, 2007, 2011
Warwick Davis 	Wicket W. Warrick the Ewok, Wald 	1997-2001, 2003–10, 2013-15
Troy Denning 	Author of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels 	2008
Ashley Eckstein 	Ahsoka Tano 	2009-15
Dave Filoni 	Clone Wars Director 	2008-12
Carrie Fisher 	Princess Leia Organa 	2000-01
Warren Fu 	Concept Artist 	2005
Nika Futterman 	Asajj Ventress, Clone Wars 	2012
Brian Gernand 	Model Supervisor 	2005
John Goodson 	Concept Model Maker 	2005
Taylor Gray 	Ezra Bridger 	2014-15
Mark Hamill 	Luke Skywalker 	2014
Tom Kane 	Yoda, Star Wars: The Clone Wars 	2010-14
Jay Laga'aia 	Captain Typho 	2006, 2009
Matt Lanter 	Anakin Skywalker, Clone Wars 	2009, 2011, 2014
Jake Lloyd 	Young Anakin Skywalker 	2004–2005, 2008, 2012
Daniel Logan 	Young Boba Fett 	2004–05, 2007–08, 2010-12, 2015
George Lucas 	Creator of Star Wars 	2011; Appeared for the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue opening ceremony
Vanessa Marshall 	Hera Syndulla 	2014-15
Peter Mayhew 	Chewbacca 	2001, 2004-2009, 2010-11, 2013-15
Iain McCaig 	Illustrator and conceptual drawer 	2000
Rick McCallum 	Prequel trilogy producer 	2006
Ian McDiarmid 	Emperor Palpatine 	2015
Temuera Morrison 	Jango Fett 	2003, 2006, 2010
Frank Oz 	Yoda 	2015
Ray Park 	Darth Maul 	2007, 2009–15
Lorne Peterson 	Chief model maker 	2010
Bonnie Piesse 	Young Beru Lars 	2007
David Prowse 	Darth Vader 	2000, 2008-09
Hugh Quarshie 	Captain Panaka 	2000
Mike Quinn 	Nien Nunb 	2001, 2004
John Ratzenberger 	Major Bren Derlin 	2014
Tim Rose 	Admiral Ackbar 	2013
Steve Sansweet 	Author/Fan Relations 	2008
Andy Secombe 	Watto 	2004, 2012
Orli Shoshan 	Shaak Ti 	2006
Tiya Sircar 	Sabine Wren 	2014-15
Catherine Taber 	Padmé Amidala, Clone Wars 	2012, 2014
James Arnold Taylor	Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Clone Wars (host of the event since 2009) 	2009-15
Billy Dee Williams 	Lando Calrissian 	2010, 2013-14
Ryder Windham 	Author of Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide 	2009
Sam Witwer 	Darth Maul, Clone Wars 	2013
Matthew Wood 	General Grievous, Bib Fortuna, Ody Mandrell,Seboca, Magaloof;Prequel Sound Supervising Sound Editor	2005–06, 2009-10
==Jedi Training Academy==
Despite being featured daily throughout the year, this attraction is especially popular during Star Wars Weekends. Sixteen or more children are chosen from the audience as Jedi Younglings to participate in a training session by the Jedi Master. They are provided training lightsabers and Jedi robes. As the master completes the instruction of a simple combination of lightsaber attacks to the children, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and a pair of stormtroopers appear. Each Jedi trainee faces off in turn with either Maul or Vader until the villains retreat back to the stage, outnumbered (there was, however, one viral instance of an 8 year old girl who, rather than fighting Darth Vader, instead opted to join the dark side with him, and was subsequently led to 'the Sith Training Academy' by the understandably flummoxed Jedi Master). The children, now Padawans, are congratulated on their mastering of the Force by Yoda, then return the training lightsabers and robe, and are given a diploma for their participation. A duplicate version of the interactive show also occurs daily, as a standalone event at the Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland.
The Jedi Training Academy show is rumored to be redesigned into a more elaborate and extended show, at the former location of Sounds Dangerous! This rumored version of the Jedi Training Academy will presumably feature an audio-animatronic Yoda interacting through a Dagobah-themed set. In an interview with D23 magazine, regarding the planning stages of future Star Wars attractions, George Lucas said, "I'd love to see more Star Wars rides at Disney parks."
==Gallery==
Star Wars Weekends 2009.jpg
Star Wars Weekends 2011.jpg
Darth Maul Star Wars Weekends.jpg
Star Wars Weenends Pin.jpg
Star-Wars-Weekends-Logo-2013.jpg
Starwarsweekends2010c.jpg
Star Wars Weekends Jedi Mickey and Astromech Droid.jpg
Star-Wars-Weekends-06-533x800.jpg
Star-Wars-Weekends-TV-Spot.jpg
SWW 2014 Poster.jpg
Disney Weekend-Star Wars-YMCA.jpg|A Jawa, Greedo, Chewbacca, and a stormtrooper take on the roles of the famous 1970s disco group The Village People and lead the crowd in the "YMCA" dance.
Chewbacca & Jawa.jpg|Chewbacca and a Jawa compete in the contest with Bee Gees'-styled disco moves during Star Wars Weekends.
Aurra Sing Star Wars Weekends.jpg
SWW2015_MerchandisePoster.jpeg
==External links==
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Category:Star Wars Weekends
Category:Disney's Hollywood Studios
Category:Seasonal attraction overlays
Category:Extinct Attractions