Star Wars restocked and ready to be signed

WDWNT on May 25, 2011

Disney announced today, that they have restocked the Star Wars Series in the stores in Hollywood Studios.

They also announced a signing event with the artist, Mike Sullivan, for May 27 and May 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Jabba’s Hut. Be sure to drop by then to get your things signed, as well as talk to Mike.

For everyone in California, remember that he’s coming to your coast on June 4th.

Star Wars Weekends #1

WDWNT on May 22, 2011

Hope you are enjoying Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The first of four action-packed weekends just wrapped up and there is a lot to recap. 
First, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue had it’s grand opening on Friday, May 20. I had the chance to preview the attraction earlier in the week. It is already one of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World. It is a really fun time, truly immersing you into the Star Wars universe from queue line right through the ride. Check out my review here.
Disney CEO Bob Iger with Darth Vader and George Lucas (photo courtesy Disney Parks Blog)
Just like any Disney attraction opening, the opening of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue was a grand affair. Check out the highlight video from the Disney Parks Blog:
This is one of my favorite events at Walt Disney World each year. Star Wars characters walk the park to meet and greet guests…
Disney characters also come out for the weekends. Meet Jedi Mickey, R2-MK, Goofy Vader, Storm Trooper Donald, Princess Leia Minnie and more!
There was a lot of buzz about the new R2-D2 Popcorn buckets. $15.50 for delicious Disney popcorn and a great looking souvenir.
Guests can also pick up R2 Mickey Ears for $14.95.
This weekend also marked the re-release of Star Wars Vinylmation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can purchase them for $11.95 per blind box at Tatooine Traders near the ride or Jabba’s Hut next to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. They will be re-released at Disneyland on June 4th. Check out the set here.
Have you been on Star Tours or to Star Wars weekend yet this year?

Disney Announces Line-Up for Star Wars Weekends 2011

WDWNT on April 30, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Star Wars Weekends 2011 will be a Tour de “Force” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, celebrating the grand opening of the new Star Tours attraction as the Walt Disney World Resort theme park welcomes Jedi, Sith, Ewoks, Wookiees, galactic bounty hunters and stormtroopers for the park’s annual celebration of all-things-Star Wars.

The fun takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 20-June 12, 2011.

Once again, Jedi Mickey and Princess Leia Minnie will be joined by some of the brightest stars from the saga. Celebrity Hosts for the event this year are James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Ashley (seen in the photo above with R2-MK and Jedi Mickey) will host “Clone Wars: Behind the Force,” a closer look inside the popular animated TV series. James will present another event-first: he will star in a one-man show that showcases some of the many voices he has performed throughout his career, including those from The Clone Wars.

Opening weekend will kick off the month-long event in grand fashion, as fan favorite Anthony Daniels (seen in the photo above at a filming session for the new “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” attraction), who brought C-3PO to life and is the only actor to appear in every theatrical chapter of the Star Wars saga, will make a golden return to the event. Dave Filoni, the talented artist and supervising director of The Clone Wars, also will be a special celebrity guest for Weekend I.

Star Wars Weekends II, III and IV will feature celebrities from the live-action feature films and voice artists fromThe Clone Wars. Here’s the complete event celebrity lineup (*talent subject to change) scheduled to appear:

Scheduled Celebrity Appearances

MAY 20-22

  • Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
  • The Clone Wars Special Guest: Dave Filoni (Supervising Director)

MAY 27-29

  • Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
  • Bruce Spence (Tion Medon)
  • The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Dee Bradley Baker (Captain Rex)

JUNE 3-5

  • Ray Park (Darth Maul)
  • Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)
  • The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Matt Lanter (Anakin)

JUNE 10-12

  • Ray Park (Darth Maul)
  • Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
  • The Clone Wars Voice Talent Guest: Tom Kane (Yoda)

And while the stars will shine, a galaxy-full of events, live shows, parades and activities also take place throughout the park during the month.

An event highlight for many is meeting the Star Wars characters, and this year is no exception. More than 60 Star Wars characters will be roaming the theme park, posing for pictures and signing autographs.

From the special “welcome” Guests receive at the turnstile areas from the stormtroopers and Star Wars trivia contests to Jedi Training Academy and the spectacular Hyperspace Hoopla, Star Wars Weekends 2011 will have more fun than you can shake a gaffi stick at. And of course, throughout the event Star Wars Weekends Guests will have the chance to take a ride aboard “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” when the attraction launches in 3-D on May 20.

On a side note, WDWNT is in the early planning stages of a fan meet for those interested in becoming one of the very first passengers on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue! For more information on our “First Flight, All-Night” fan meet, you can visit our pages on Facebook and Plancast.

A “Star-Studded” Cast for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

WDWNT on February 11, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

One of our goals for the new Star Tours show was to pack as much Star Wars into the attraction as possible. That meant traveling to different planets, and meeting up with classic characters from the saga.

Of course you already know that R2-D2 and C-3PO are back, reprising their roles in the pre-show, and taking on bigger roles (especially C-3PO) in our Starspeeder adventures. And some time ago, we introduced you to two new droids in our show…Star Tours Pilot Ace (AC-38) and Spokesbot Aly San San.

So who else is joining the cast?

Admiral Ackbar

Well, it wouldn’t be a Star Wars adventure without Darth Vader. The Dark Lord of the Sith will be accompanied by legions of stormtroopers and some new “skytroopers,” designed especially for our show. Boba Fett, everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, also will be after us, as well as an assortment of nasty droids and creatures.

Balancing out the villains are some classic good guys – and even a princess! Master Yoda, Admiral Ackbar (pictured above in a still image from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi) and Princess Leia will appear in the show to help guide our adventures. We may even run into Chewbacca along the way!