Star Wars Weekends at Disney World Has Begun

Here’s another reason to look forward to the weekend: Star Wars Weekends has begun at Disney World in Florida!

The five weekend-long event in the Disney’s Hollywood Studios park will feature special celebrity guests and fun activities for the whole family, as well as Star Wars characters from both the light and the dark side of the Force (and in between) who can be spotted around the park.

Here’s a description of this awesome annual event (via AllEars.Net):

"Bringing Walt Disney World Resort guests as close to the Force as they can get, Star Wars Weekends features more than 60 Star Wars characters roaming the theme park for meet-and-greet opportunities, a Star Wars motorcade, the “Symphony in the Stars” nighttime fireworks spectacular saluting iconic sounds of the films, event-exclusive merchandise at Darth’s Mall, Star Wars-inspired dining offerings and specialty food and beverages, interactive activities, and more every weekend."

Each weekend will see a new group of celebrity guests joining the fun.

May 15th-17th:

Ian McDiarmid (Senator, I mean Chancellor, I mean Emperor, oh heck, DARTH SIDIOUS from the Star Wars film saga)

Amy Allen (Aayla Secura from Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith)

Tiya Sircar (voice of Sabine Wren from Star Wars Rebels)

May 22nd-24th:

Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok from Return of the Jedi)

Silas Carson (Ki Adi Mundi and Nute Gunray from the prequel trilogy)

Vanessa Marshall (voice of Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels)

May 23th-31st:

Warwick Davis

Daniel Logan (Boba Fett from Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars)

Steve Blum (voice of Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels)

June 5th-7th:

Ray Park (Darth Maul from The Phantom Menace)

Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi)

Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels)

June 12th-14th:

Frank Oz (Yoda, of course, from the Star Wars film saga)

Ray Park

Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from the original trilogy and Revenge of the Sith)

Taylor Gray (voice of Ezra Bridger from Star Wars Rebels)

Voice of Obi Wan Kenobi in The Clone Wars and the Star Wars Rebels premiere episode, James Arnold Taylor, will once again be the host of Star Wars Weekends and its main events, which include the Star Wars Weekends show “Star Wars Rebels.” According to the press release, this show will allow guests to “relive the twists and turns of the first season of the Disney XD series with special guests from the show’s voice cast.”

In addition, Ashley Eckstein will be hosting the “Padawan Mind Challenge – Family Edition” event, as well as guesting and promoting the Her Universe fashion line at her booth at Star Wars Weekends. If you’re going to be at Star Wars Weekends, be sure to stop and say hello, and check out the latest in Star Wars fashion for women and girls.

As you can tell, it’s going to be an action- and legends-packed series of weekends! As a fan, I’m hoping for Star Wars Rebels news and clips, as well as interesting stories from the guest celebrities. I’m also hoping that Ian McDiarmid hangs around for Frank Oz’s first Star Wars Weekends appearance; who knows what sparks would fly when two of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy face off for a second time. Maybe Yoda can pull a victory this round!

Stay tuned to Dork Side for more updates from Star Wars Weekends! You can also keep up with the excitement on Twitter by searching for the hashtag #SWW2015.

More from Dork Side of the Force