Star Wars Weekends

**Star Wars Weekends** is a festival generally 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 since 2003.

## 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.