Star Wars Weekends

Star Wars Weekends was a festival held annually at the Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park of the Walt Disney World Resort. Included with park admission, the event typically occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for four consecutive weekends in May and June and featured appearances by cast and crew members from Disney's Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. Many original Disney characters also appeared dressed as Star Wars characters, such as Jedi Mickey, Minnie as Leia, Donald as a stormtrooper, Goofy as Darth Vader and R2-MK (Mickey Mouse stylized astromech droid). The festival began in 1997 and had been held in 2000, 2001, and annually from 2003 until 2015. In November 2015, Disney discontinued the event due to construction of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and the larger daily presence Star Wars will have in the park onwards.[1][2]

Star Wars Weekends
StatusDefunct
GenreScience fiction
DatesMay to June
Location(s)Disney's Hollywood Studios
Years active1997, 2000–2001, 2003–2015[1][2]
Founded1997
WebsiteOfficial website

Events
  • Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple — 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 replica and Jedi robes and is taught a routine set of swordfighting moves.
  • Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular — A large-scale fireworks show complemented with John Williams' original music, voice and sound clippings from the Star Wars saga.
  • Star Wars Parade — features the 501st Legion and the Rebel Alliance parading in Stormtrooper costumes, along with numerous other Star Wars characters.
  • 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.[3] It originally was held at the Rebels Stage from 2008-2010. The show has 'retired' in 2014. In one 2013 show, Emperor Palpatine hijacked the show and renamed it "Emperor Palpatine's Hyperspace Hoopla", leading to a massive dance-off.
  • 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 and Star Wars Rebels.
  • Obi-Wan & Beyond — A live 30-minute talk show at the Theater for the Stars hosted by James Arnold Taylor. Taylor demonstrates nearly 150 voices that he provides for famous Hollywood stars who are not available for projects as well as characters for television shows, animated films and video games.
  • 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.[4][5]
Imperial Stormtroopers parade near the Sorcerer's Hat during Star Wars Weekends.
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 and a Jawa compete in the contest with Bee Gees'-styled disco moves during Star Wars Weekends.
Warwick Davis and Anthony Daniels greet the large crowd as pyrotechnics are fired from the Rebel Stage.

Appearances
Guest Role Year
Amy Allen Aayla Secura 2004–08[6] 2015[7][8]
Kenny Baker R2-D2 2000–01,[6] 2007[9]
Ahmed Best Jar Jar Binks 2014
Don Bies R2-D2 Operator 2005[6]
Jerome Blake Mas Amedda, Rune Haako 2004–05[6]
Steven Blum Zeb Orrelios 2014–15
Dee Bradley Baker Captain Rex, Commander Cody and all other clone troopers Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2010–14[6][10]
Phil Brown Owen Lars 2001[11]
Michonne Bourriague Aurra Sing 2003, 2012[12]
Jeremy Bulloch Boba Fett 2000–01,[11] 2003–04,[6] 2006–15[10]
Silas Carson Nute Gunray, Ki-Adi-Mundi 2012, 2015
Rob Coleman Animation Supervisor 2005
Doug Chiang Design Director 2001[11]
Jim Cummings Hondo Ohnaka 2013
Anthony Daniels C-3PO 2003, 2004, 2007,[9] 2011[13]
Warwick Davis Wicket W. Warrick the Ewok, Wald 1997, 2000–01,[11] 2003–10, 2013–15
Troy Denning Author of Star Wars expanded universe novels 2008
Ashley Eckstein Ahsoka Tano 2009–15[13]
Dave Filoni Clone Wars Director 2008–12[10]
Carrie Fisher Princess Leia Organa 2000–01[11]
Warren Fu Concept Artist 2005[6]
Nika Futterman Asajj Ventress, Clone Wars 2012
Brian Gernand Model Supervisor 2005[6]
John Goodson Concept Model Maker 2005[6]
Mark Hamill Luke Skywalker 2014[14]
Tom Kane Yoda, Star Wars: The Clone Wars 2010–13[6][10]
Jay Laga'aia Captain Typho 2006, 2009[6]
Matt Lanter Anakin Skywalker, Clone Wars 2009, 2011,[6] 2014 [10]
Jake Lloyd Young Anakin Skywalker 2000, 2004–2005, 2008, 2012[6]
Daniel Logan Young Boba Fett 2004–05, 2007–08, 2010–12, 2015[6]
George Lucas Creator of Star Wars 2011;[15][16] Appeared for the Star Tours: The Adventures Continue opening ceremony
Vanessa Marshall Hera Syndulla 2014–15
Peter Mayhew Chewbacca 2001[11] 2004–09,[9] 2010[6]–11,[10] 2013–15
Iain McCaig Illustrator and conceptual drawer 2000[6]
Ian McDiarmid Palpatine / Darth Sidious 2015[7]
Rick McCallum Prequel trilogy producer 2006[6]
Temuera Morrison Jango Fett 2003,[12] 2006, 2010[6]
Frank Oz Yoda, theatrical films and Star Wars Rebels 2015[7]
Ray Park Darth Maul 2007, 2009–15,[6][10]
Lorne Peterson Chief model maker 2010[6]
Bonnie Piesse Young Beru Lars 2007[6]
David Prowse Darth Vader 2000, 2008-09[6]
Hugh Quarshie Captain Panaka 2000
Mike Quinn Nien Nunb 2001,[11] 2004[6]
John Ratzenberger Major Derlin 2014
Tim Rose Admiral Ackbar 2013
Steve Sansweet Author/Fan Relations 2008,[6] 2009
Andy Secombe Watto 2004, 2012[6]
Orli Shoshan Shaak Ti 2006[6]
Tiya Sircar Sabine Wren 2014–15
Catherine Taber Padmé Amidala, Clone Wars 2012, 2014
James Arnold Taylor Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Clone Wars 2009–15[6][10]
Billy Dee Williams Lando Calrissian 2003, 2010,[6] 2013–14[17]
Ryder Windham Author of Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide 2009[6]
Sam Witwer Galen Marek, Darth Maul, Clone Wars 2013
Matthew Wood General Grievous, Bib Fortuna, Ody Mandrell,
Seboca, Magaloof;
Prequel Sound Supervising Sound Editor		 2005–06, 2009–10[6]

Attractions

Jedi Training Academy
Main article: Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Jedi Training Academy originally was a part of Star Wars Weekend and only took place during it.[18] However, in October 2006 it began appearing as a stand-alone show at Disneyland. In 2008, the Walt Disney World version began operating year-round.

Character appearances

In addition to traditional Disney characters dressed in their Star Wars costumes, a number of Star Wars characters from the films and television series appear for photo opportunities and autograph signing. Characters have included Clone Wars' Captain Rex, Ahsoka Tano, Queen Amidala, Aurra Sing, Boba Fett, Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca (often has a sack containing a busted C-3PO), Clonetroopers, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Ewoks, Jango Fett, Jawas, Palpatine, Shaak Ti, Greedo, Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Kit Fisto, Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, Boushh and Zam Wesell. Most appearances are in preset locations in front of themed backdrops but some characters freely roam the parks and pose for photos with guests as well.[19]

See also

References
  1. Smith, Thomas. "Disney's Hollywood Studios to Debut New Star Wars Experiences in December". disneyparks.disney.go.com. Disney Parks. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. Pedicini, Sandra; Santana, Marco. "Star Wars Weekends ending at Disney's Hollywood Studios". orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  3. "Be the "First Among the Last" to Experience Star Tours at Celebration V". Star Wars Official Website. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010.
  4. Lussier, Germain. "Star Wars Bits: Disney's Carbon-Freeze Walkthrough, Updates On Live Action TV Series, Boba Fett Movie and More". /Film. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  5. Miller, Steven. "Cast Yourself in Carbonite with the Carbon-Freeze Me Experience During Star Wars Weekends 2012 at Disney's Hollywood Studios". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  6. "Disney's Star Wars Weekends". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  7. Bevil, Dewayne (April 3, 2015). "Disney: Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid to make Star Wars Weekends debuts". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. "Disney's Star Wars Weekends 2015". Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  9. "Star Wars Weekends -- Disney's Hollywood Studios". allears.net.
  10. "Star Wars Fans, Fan Sites, and Blogs - StarWars.com". StarWars.com.
  11. "Star Wars Weekend 2001 Main Page". Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  12. "Star Wars Weekend 2003 Main Page". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  13. Smith, Thomas. "Feel the Force at Star Wars Weekends 2011!". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  14. Buchanan, Gary. "Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker, to Make Historic First Appearance at Star Wars Weekends". The Disney Parks Blog. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. "startours2live.com". startours2live.com. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  16. Archived 2011-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Buchanan, Gary. "Billy Dee Williams, aka Lando Calrissian, Set to Appear at Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Disney's Hollywood Studios". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  18. "Jedi Training Trials of the Temple -- Disney's Hollywood Studios". allears.net. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  19. "Star Wars Weekends Scheduled Guests". Studios Central. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
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