May 18, 2015

Star Wars Weekends | #MagicalMickey

Welcome back to another edition of the Magical Mickey linkup: the linkup centering around a love for Disney, sharing that love and connecting with others. I hope you find this linkup as a great place to turn to for Disney content each week and help all the bloggers participating out by helping readers find that great mouse-eared content. I'm co-hosting with Katie from Adventures by Katie, so of course check her blog out.

Previously I've written about several of the special events at Walt Disney World: including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. This weekend started another special event at Walt Disney, a very geeky weekend. I had the opportunity to attend this back in 2012, and look forward to attending again in the future. For this week, I'll be talking about...


Star Wars Weekends

Every year at Disney's Hollywood Studios you can get a chance to use the Force at Star Wars Weekends. The weekends are full of both the Light Side and the Dark Side. There's so much going on in the park. And the best part? It isn't just one weekend, it's every weekend between May 15 and June 14.


You start Star Wars Weekends by being greeted by Stormtroopers at the Gate. Up on top of the entrance into Hollywood Studios you'll find Imperial Stormtrooper on patrol, watching out for "Rebel Scum". They'll banter with each other and guests entering the park, letting you know Star Wars lies within. They're far from the only characters you'll see. You'll find Boba Fett on patrol, looking for his next bounty, Luke ready to use the force, and Darth Vader who won't like it if you fail him. There are countless characters that will make their appearance, but it is more than just characters you can meet. There are even opportunity to meet the stars from the movies as well as TV series. These will vary on weekends and times, but there are always options. You can check the individual weekends for schedules or see many familiar faces in the Legends of the Force: Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade.


Star Wars Weekends are about more than just meeting some characters and some stars. There are of course two very important categories: food and gear. There are many food offerings special to only Star Wars Weekends. They range from little, such as special Darth Vader chocolate mouse cupcakes, to larger experiences, such as Star Wars Dine-In Galactic Breakfast or Jedi Mickey's STAR WARS Dine at Hollywood & Vine.


I did mention gear, didn't I? Yes, I did. Sure, all year round you can get Star Wars merchandise at Tatooine Traders. But that is just a fraction of the gear available out there. Every year, Star Wars Weekends come with special shirts, pins, coins, light sabers... anything you'll need for your little (or big) Jedi. There are so many amazing collectables out there you can't get any other time. They even open a backstage area for Darth's Mall (I love that name). In the past you've been able to get things like your own Star Tours name badges or a 3D printed version of yourself trapped in carbonite. Where else can you find that?

Finally,  this year is featuring a new conclusion to the day's festivities: Symphony in the Stars. It is a new fireworks display, that looks to be "an epic conclusion with a finale celebration". It includes a frenzy of fireworks and Made with Magic effects, sure to a great end to a day of Star Wars.


All in all, the weekend is an amazing time. As I mentioned we took a trip, to go down at the same time as my sister-in-law's marching band, which lucked out to be Star Wars weekend. I really want to go back and take even more time to take it all in. There's so much to do, that I'll probably even write another follow up post or two on some more target activities.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Have you ever attended a Star Wars Weekend?


Onto the Linkup

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10 comments:

  1. I have never visited during this time. LOVE the picture of your little one!

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    1. Thanks. She wasn't even 1 year old in that picture. Still plays with that lightsaber today though.

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  2. I would love to visit for Star Wars weekends one time. I think it would be so neat!

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    1. It was great. I'd love to go back to see more of it and spend even more time with all the Star Wars stuff.

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  3. I am heading down in less than 3 weeks and we will be there for 2 of the star wars weekends. I am so excited as we have reservations at all 3 Star Wars meals. last year the symphony in the stars fireworks was my favorite so I am excited to see it again

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    1. That is so awesome. Double the Star Wars! You'll have to let me know how the meals are. We didn't do any of them last time we went, though the dark side cupcake was fantastic.

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  4. I think it's great how they have a series of weekends. Lots of opportunity for folks to get to participate.
    So much anticipation for the new movie! Someone ran the St Jude Half in a full Chewbacca costume this past December!

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    1. Yeah. I'm excite for it but trying to not read too much or watch too much to go in fresh to the movie.

      That's pretty awesome but had to be so hot.

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  5. My son is beyond crushed that we aren't going to this... I keep thinking "Maybe next year..." The character dining with Boba Fett, who's his personal hero, is worth it by itself. LoL!

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    1. Since it sounds like he's huge on Star Wars, it'd be worth some "next year". It's a really great special event they put on and it only grows every year. I think it will only get even better (somehow) given the new movie and Disney ownership of Star Wars now, not just a partnership for the weekends.

      Of course, couple that with the rumored Star Wars expansion that will be coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios, exciting times ahead for Star Wars fans.

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