Star Wars Weekends

Disney's Hollywood Studios has announced that it will once again host Star Wars Weekends. The dates for this year's annual event are May 22 through June 14, 2009. The event runs for 4 consecutive weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Entry to this event is included in your theme park admission.

Centered around park's famous Star Tours thrill ride, Star Wars Weekends not only fills Disney's Hollywood Studios with dozens of Star Wars characters, it's packs in more fun filled activities than you can imagine.

You can "Meet-and-Greet" with famous villains and heroes from the entire Star Wars saga. Never let your guard down though, guests never know which Star Wars character they'll find around the corner! Coming face to face with an armed Storm Trooper is not uncommon!

Each weekend, different Star Wars celebrities are special guests and take part in meet-and-greets, interviews and Hollywood-style motorcades. Over 50 Star Wars characters from the entire saga will be featured.

The 2009 Celebrity Schedule (subject to change):

All 4 weekends: Celebrity Host, Jay Laga'aia (Captain Typho).
Clone Wars: Behind the Force: Celebrity Host, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano).

Weekend 1 (May 22 - 24):
Ray Park (Darth Maul, The Phantom Menace)
Warwick Davis (Wicket, Return of the Jedi)
James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Clone Wars)

Weekend 2 (May 29 - 31):
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
Matthew Wood (Supervising Sound Editor)

Weekend 3 (June 5 - 7):
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi)
David Prowse (Darth Vader)
Matt Lanter (voice of Anakin Skywalker in The Clone Wars)

Weekend 4 (June 12 - 14):
Dave Filoni (Director of the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett)

Special Events and Activities (taken from previous years)

Characters
Encounter over 50 Star Wars characters from the entire saga. From Darth Vader and Darth Maul to Anakin and Chewbacca, you'll find some of your favorite heroes and villains from a galaxy far, far away.

Celebrities
Meet and greet your favorite Star War celebrities, enjoy the Legends of the Force celebrity motorcade, and discover the stories behind the movies during the Stars of the Saga – Talk Show and Q & A.

Star Wars characters that may appear: Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker, Aurra Sing, Boba Fett, Cantina Band, Chewbacca, Clone Troopers, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Ewoks, Gamorrean Guard, Jango Fett, Jawas, Jedi Mickey, Kit Fisto, Leia Minnie, Mace Windu, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Queen Amidala, R2-D2, Shaak Ti, Stormtroopers, Stormtrooper Donald, Tusken Raiders, Vader Goofy and Zam Wesell

Jedi Training Academy
Audience participants are chosen to as Padawan, and learn the ways of the Force before coming face to face with Darth Vader.

Behind the Force: Experience The Clone Wars
Preview Star Wars: The Clone Wars through the behind the scenes documentary of the all-new animated movie.

Star Tours
Travel to Endor with Captain Rex.

Padawan Mind Challenge
Kids under 12 test their Star War knowledge before the Jedi Council.

Hyperspace Hoopla
Party with Star War characters at the end of each Star Wars Weekend day.

Wicket’s Warehouse
Shop a galaxy of Star Wars themed and limited-edition merchandise developed just for Star Wars Weekends 2009.

Photo Opportunities
Snap a pic' of your favorite Star War characters and celebrities each weekend during the month-long event.

For the latest Star Wars Weekends updates, guests may also visit StarWars.com or DisneyWorld.com.

For a detailed look at past Star Wars Weekends check out:
Star Wars Weekends 2008
Star Wars Weekends 2007
Star Wars Weekends 2005

You will also find a first hand report from 2006, written by our Event Reporter Jane Jones, here: Star Wars Weekends 2006.

Updated May 15, 2009