Mouse Travel Tips

There are many different events that are held at Walt Disney World.  They have the Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween, Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, and more.  But in mid May to mid June they hold my favorite event, Star Wars Weekend.  Now it may come as a surprise to some of you, but I am a big Star Wars fan.  Yes, I am sure some of you are shocked.  I was a young child when Star Wars: New Hope was released.  My family all went to the theater and saw the movie (back then it was a big deal to go to the movie).  Now it captivated the public back in 1977 and continues to do so now.

You are thinking to yourself, why of course you love Star Wars Weekend being the fan you are, but why should I go if I am not a hardcore fan.  Well the event is for all types of Star Wars fans.  In fact I would say the only people who shouldn’t go are those that didn’t like the series (hard to believe there those that didn’t but they are there).  The events there are at all different levels of fandom.  It is great that they have the celebrities attending where guest have a chance to meet them.  At a normal sci-fi convention (I may have attended one or two, but I have never worn a Star Wars costume), they have the same guests that you could meet at Star Wars Weekend.  However, you would have to pay the convention extra to meet them and to have an autograph or have a picture taken with them you would have to pay the celebrity.

Well maybe you don’t care to meet Jeremy Bulloch (original Boba Fett) or Peter Meyhew (Chewbacca).  There are still the characters that you can meet.  Who doesn’t want to meet the Dark Lord of the Sith – Darth Vader.  You might even be able to give him some advice on a better breathing apparatus?  You can measure yourself up to Chewbacca and see how tall you are or to an Ewok to make yourself feel tall.  There are over 50 characters there.  You might even get a chance to meet the true hero of all of the films – R2-D2.  Mickey and his gang even get into the act by wearing their favorite Star Wars Costume.

As we discussed in episode 14 of Mouse Travel Tips, there many activities that guests can attend during the event.  Several years ago, my family and I went to Disney (including my mother, 2 sisters, 1 brother, my 2 kids, many nieces and nephews, and myself).  There were all types of Star Wars fans there that weekend.  My family all enjoyed the event and felt it was a highlight of the trip.  One moment of panic came when my 2 year old daughter got out of her stroller while her aunt was suppose to be watching her.  It turned out she had gotten out and walked over to Chewbacca to get her picture taken with him.  So even the youngest fan can have a ball there – but please keep an eye on them, as well as having your camera ready for those cute photo opps with your run-away children.