Tag: Star Wars Weekends

I attended today’s Rebel Rendezvous event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This hard ticketed affair gave guests the opportunity to pre-purchase limited and open edition merchandise. There were also some gifts, meet and greets and artists signings inside the event. Rebel Rendezvous also gave attendees a look inside Darth’s Mall, the Star Wars Weekends merchandise shop, one day before the general public.

Before we take a look at the photos, let’s answer the question everyone was asking me: “Was Rebel Rendezvous worth the $250?” I’d have to say no. It was great being assured all my merchandise without having to brave hours and hours of lines on Friday morning. But the price of the ticket did not seem to cover the entertainment and gifts offered. There was a meet and greet, but it was the same four characters all day… Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy and Stormtrooper Donald. Granted, all 4 at once with no line is a treat, but I would have like more. The artist signing was great, but a presentation would have been welcome. The initial gifts were okay (great messenger bag), but no departing gift was a fail.

In the end, I wanted a “Wow!” unexpected, unadvertised moment for my money… and I didn’t get it.

Now, take a look at all that awaits guests to Star Wars Weekends…

First, Darth’s Mall this year is located inside Sound Stage One (next to Toy Story Midway Mania). The welcome room area that guests will queue up in before entering the shop itself has some merchandise preview cases as well as some Star Wars props.

 

 

Now we venture inside the shop…

Rebel Rendezvous RSP pick-up area

Star Wars Lightsaber Umbrellas and Lamps

Although this was the Rebel Rendezvous, Stormtroopers freely roamed the halls???

Latez Jabba

R2-D2 Bank

Stormtrooper statues lurked over the crowd

 

 

As you walk in, you are greeted by plush. A new X-Wing Micky and Yoda Duffy

Star Wars Weekend logo merchandise

The 2014 calendar is fulled with the SWW ads over the years

X-Wing Pilot Mickey

Chewie Plush

Bantha Plush

New Duffy pre-dressed as Yoda visiting WDW

The 2014 mug is full of detail. Raised lettering, date on handle and Rebel Mickey logo on the inside bottom

I love the X-Wing Mickey and R2-MK logo and this shot glass is great

SWW logo tumblers and frame

Also available is the Jedi costume for Duffy

Shadowtrooper and R2 bank

Beach towel has Darth Goofy fighting Jedi Mickey

This year, the Disney Design Group released a second series of the popular Pixar Cars as Star Wars die cast…

New this year…

Luigo as C-3PO and Pitties as Jawas combo pack

Chick Hicks as Boba Fett

Ramone as Han Solo

Red as Chewbacca

Mater as Vader and Doc as Obi-Wan

Disney Store Talking 14″ poseable figures. Love these! Real movie lines recorded with clear playback

Ashley Eckstein, meets with fans

Trays of Star Wars series 4. And the chaser is…

Wampa!

 

Star Wars headphones for $199.95

Star Wars headphones listening stations

Star Wars car wraps

An anamatronic Admiral Ackbar drinks out of the new Stormtropper stein

This amazing custom Vinylmation sold within an hour of shop opening

 

There is a character meet and greet area

Star Wars name tags are available again this year. This one was exclusive to Rebel Rendezvous event.

Registration for Rebel Rendezvous, a Star Wars themed merchandise event, opened up earlier today. The event will take place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Thursday, May 15th, the day before Star Wars Weekends 2014 begins and the ticket price is $250. Some of the merchandise is included with the ticket, some is exclusive to the event and some is available for pre-purchase before it becomes available at Star Wars Weekends. This should be interesting even to those not going to the event but going to Star Wars Weekends as it shows much of what will be available to all attendees. Here’s a look at what to expect:

 

Disney was nice enough to preview several upcoming items that will be released at Star Wars Weekends in 2014 this week:

Among the items this year will be limited edition pins including a reveal/conceal mystery collection and art cards with pins. There is also a lanyard medal that looks like the medals awarded in A New Hope after the Battle of Yavin.

The Cars as Star Wars characters series will continue with tractors as Sandtroopers and the Disney figures will come out in some new collector sets. Also in the realm of toys will be a lenticular 1000 piece puzzle, a Jabba The Hutt latex character, and Princess Leia & Amidala fashion dolls.

In Vinylmation, Star Wars series #4 will be released featuring characters from the Empire Strikes Back. There will also be a limited edition 9″/3″ combo pack of the Rancor and his keeper.

4 new character statues featuring Han Solo Donald in Carbonite, Emporer Stitch, AT-AT Pluto, and Chip & Dale as Ewoks will also be available.

Star Wars Weekends 2014 will not only offer some of the best merchandise in the galaxy, but also, the first-ever ticketed Star Wars merchandise event:

The Alliance leaders are summoning the most loyal Rebels in the galaxy to gather at the Rebel Rendezvous on Thursday, May 15, 2014 between 10AM and 5PM at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®.

Join the Rebel Alliance at this covert meeting place to gather supplies and other limited edition acquisitions in preparation for the upcoming Star Wars™ Weekends engagement. Look alert!  The Rendezvous Point is located on the Outer Rim near the known whereabouts of Bounty Hunters and an Imperial presence!

Packages for the Rebel Rendezvous are $250 per person and include the following:

– Exclusive access to Darth’s Mall one day before it opens to the public.

– Limited edition recruitment pack (includes a custom messenger bag, cadet hat, tumbler, lanyard, pin & medal set). Items are only available to Rebel Rendezvous attendees on May 15, 2014.

– Preferential opportunity to purchase select 2014 Star Wars™ Weekends merchandise, including, but not limited to:

• Customized Rebel Rendezvous merchandise, including D-Tech on Demand cell phone cases and Aurebesh nametags
• Special bundle pack that includes a unique Disney Gift Card design with Rebel carrying case
• Limited edition merchandise created for Star Wars™ Weekends 2014
• Star Wars™ Weekends 2014 event logo apparel and souvenir items
• New Vinylmation™ releases, including opportunities to acquire full sets

– Ashley Eckstein meet &greet and product signing, featuring the new collection of Her Universe apparel – Rebel activities, including special meet & greet and signing opportunities with characters and Disney artists

…. And more

Registration for this added event will open on March 4th at 1PM ET. A catalog with additional merchandise images will be available at that time.

So, what do you think of the merchandise and this event for Star Wars Weekends 2014?