By Jim Carchidi
May 4, 2026
The Walt Disney Company is making changes to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, adding characters, soundtracks, and storylines based on the classic Star Wars films. The same elements are expected by many to be incorporated at the attraction’s East Coast counterpart at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But for nearly 20 years, Walt Disney World was famous for hosting a different multi-generational Star Wars experience.
In observance of May the Fourth, The Orlando Real offers a galactic throwback to Star Wars Weekends.
Weekend warriors
From 1997 to 2015, Disney’s Hollywood Studios presented Star Wars-themed activities on select weekends in May and June. Star Wars Weekends featured a celebrity motorcade, trivia contests, exclusive merchandise, and the Galactic Spectacular fireworks show. Younglings learned to wield a lightsaber in the Jedi Training Academy, and even squared off against Darth Vader or Darth Maul. The sessions were later renamed Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple and featured duels with additional characters.
Guests were encouraged to dress up and characters from every Star Wars film could be found mingling with fans, posing for photos, and signing autographs.
Disney characters also joined in, appearing in Star Wars costumes for meet-and-greets that attracted some of the weekend's longest lines. Perhaps the ultimate Star Wars Weekends experience was the Hyperspace Hoopla, with Star Wars characters performing choreographed dance routines set to pop-culture hits. The Hoopla exemplified the fun, tongue-in-cheek vibe that made the seasonal event so popular.
The force of fandom
Disney enlisted local fan organizations and prop builders, such as the Droid Builders and the 501st Legion, to march in the Star Wars Weekends motorcades. Costumed members could not interact with guests the way Disney's characters could, but the groups became fan favorites by adding their considerable numbers to the procession.
Just as the park characters were not limited to one Star Wars timeline, the motorcade also included costumes from every film. Fan club costume and prop details were so precise that Disney often hired members as contracted prop builders.
Star power
No fan event is complete without some of the actors who bring the stories to life, and Star Wars actors came out in force for Star Wars Weekends panel discussions and meet-and-greets. Many became regular participants over the 18-year run. Guests would queue early in the morning for autograph Fast Passes, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Among the talented cast were Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa) who attended in 2000 and 2001, and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) who attended in 2014.
The man behind C-3PO, Anthony Daniels, attended the inaugural Star Wars Weekends and several additional events. Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) attended in 2015.
The man inside the Darth Vader suit, Dave Prowse, attended in 2000, 2008, and 2009.
Before he was named President and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, Dave Filoni attended Star Wars Weekends from 2008-20012, while directing the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." The voice of Ahsoka Tano, Ashley Eckstein, also attended several weekends from 2009-2015.
End credits
In 2015, the seasonal celebration gave way to what would become a daily immersive experience inside Black Spire Outpost at the Galaxy's Edge park expansion. And while a ride on the Millennium Falcon and a drink at a Star Wars bar are a good trade-up from the celebrity motorcade and dance party, many fans would still like the chance for a photo with Stormtrooper Donald and Jedi Mickey.
Would you?
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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