ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Disney Star Wars Weekends 2015: Dates, Celebrity Guests, Events

Updated on June 27, 2014
Jango Fett greets visitors at Star Wars Weekends.
Jango Fett greets visitors at Star Wars Weekends. | Source

The 2015 Star Wars Weekends dates and celebrity guests have not been released. But with the release of the first installment of the new Star Wars movies, it's sure to be a big one.

The probable dates for Star Wars Weekends 21015 are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays--May 15 through June 14. This is best one last year's schedule of five weekends.

Meanwhile, take a look back at the Star Wars Weekends from this past year.

Note: The full 2014 celebrity guest list is now out! See below!

Star Wars Weekends is a Walt Disney World tradition that started in 1997. The popularity of the weekends has grown exponentially in the last few years.

The event is crowded, the competition for autograph passes is fierce and some of the fan base is hard-core. And truly, there's nowhere else you will want to be.

Star Wars Weekends 2013 was a fun and packed event.

Here is the scoop on how to make the most of your Star Wars Weekend 2014 visit including special shows, celebrity hosts, celebrity guests and dates.

Celebrity Hosts

Traditionally, for the past few years, Star Wars Weekends has had celebrity guest hosts. These hosts attend each weekend, participate in the parade and both host and give special talks about Star Wars related issues.

For the past few years, The Clone Wars celebrities Ashley Eckstein and James Arnold Taylor have hosted the events.

Dates for Star Wars Weekends 2014

Traditionally, Star Wars Weekends run on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of four consecutive weekends. These weekends are the last two weeks in May and the first two weeks in June.

This year Disney added a fifth weekend!

Thee Star Wars Weekends 2014 event will happen on the following dates.

Star Wars Weekends 2015 Dates Probable

Weekend Number
Dates
Weekend One
May 15, 16, 17
Weekend Two
May 22, 23, 24
Weekend Three
May 29, 30, 31
Weekend Four
June 5, 6, 7
Weekend Five
June 12, 13, 14

These dates are based on the way the Star Wars Weekends have been scheduled in the past.

Celebrity Guests

Each weekend there are two to three celebrity guests attending the parade and special talks, demonstrations and shows.

These guests are usually actors from one of the Star Wars Movies.

The guests for 2014 will include:

Confirmed Celebrity Guests for 2014

Weekend
Celebrity
Known For
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
James Arnold Taylor
Obi Wan Kenobi and General Grevious
1,2, 3, 4, 5
Ashley Eckstein
Ahsoka Tano
4
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
1
Ahmed Best
Voice of Jar Jar Binks
1
Peter Mayhew
Chewbacca
1
Vanessa Marshall
Hera Syndulla
2
Warwick Davis
Wicket
2
Jeremy Bulloch
Boba Fett
2
Tiya Sircar
Sabine Wren
3, 4
Ray Park
Darth Maul
3
John Ratzenberger
Major Bren Derlin
3,4
Taylor Gray
Ezra Bridger
4
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
5
Dee Bradley Baker
Captain Rex
5
Cat Taber
Padmé Amidala
5
Tom Kane
Yoda
5
Matt Lanter
Anakin Skywalker
5
Steven Blum
Zeb Orrelios

Weekend 1 May 16-18, Weekend 2 May 23-25, Weekend 3, May 30-June 1, Weekend 4 June 6-8, Weekend 5 June 13-15 (Note Click on each column header to sort information)

New for 2014: VIP Package for Star Wars Weekends

If you've go spare cash jingling around in your pocket, you might want to look into the VIP experience for Star Wars Weekends. A limited number of guest will get red carpet treatment and avoid the lines and the crowds.

The package includes:

  • Reserved Seating for All Shows
  • Special Access to Star Tours, Toy Story and Tower of Terror Ride
  • Continental Breakfast and Table Service Lunch
  • Reserved seating for the parade

These packages will sell out and are available each weekend. Cost is $499 plus tax per person.

Call (407) 934-7973 to book your package.

Each Star Wars Weekend has celebrity guests such as Ray Park.
Each Star Wars Weekend has celebrity guests such as Ray Park. | Source

In addition to seeing the star in the parade, a select number of fans can get autographs from the stars during planned autograph sessions.

But it is not as simple as just walking up and being willing to wait in line.

How To Get Celebrity Autographs at Star Wars Weekends

In order to get celebrity autographs for that weekend's guests, you must get a wrist band available at the front of the Disney Hollywood Studios before the park opens.

There is a limited number of regular wristbands plus some stand-by wrist bands, meaning that you might get an autograph depending on how much time the star has left in his or her autograph session.

But it is not as simple as showing up an hour before the park opens, many fans will camp out overnight in order to secure a place in line. For more popular stars, guests have arrived to get in line at 3 or 4 in the morning and still been too far back to receive a wrist band.

So if getting an autograph is absolutely what you must do at Star Wars Weekends, consider how popular the star is and when you will need to secure a place in line.

**An unconfirmed rumor is that you can get in line as early as 8PM at Hollywood Studios. Look to the right of the entrance gate for the line or ask Guest Services.

Admission to Star Wars Weekends

To attend Star Wars Weekends events you just need a regular park pass.

The rest of the park is open with regular rides and shows in addition to the extra Star Wars activities.

Park admission rates vary based on the number of days you purchase for the pass and the addition of extra options such as park hopper.

Star Wars Merchandise and Exclusive Pins

There are special Star Wars Weekends merchandise and souvenirs available at many locations throughout the park. However, exclusive merchandise is only available at Darth Mall, located within the park.

A limited number of guests are allowed into the merchandise area at a time and some report waiting in line for several hours for a chance to view items they are interested in.

Other merchandise that is less exclusive still often sells out before the end of the weekends. If there is a particular item you are looking for, you will want to plan your shopping accordingly.

Some guests enjoy dressing up as well for Star Wars Weekends.
Some guests enjoy dressing up as well for Star Wars Weekends. | Source

Dressing Up For Star Wars Weekends

You and your children may dress up for the event in your favorite Star Wars character. Disney does reserve the right to ask for masks to be removed or costumes to be altered if they are too much like the character's costumes.

Usually, fans do not tend to have too much trouble dressing up and guests will often ask to take pictures of the better costumes.

However, remember that the event is in Central Florida. Temperatures at the end of May/early June can be in the 80's or even 90's. The humidity is also often higher, making it feel hotter than it actually is.

Some guests wear costumes for part of the day and then take them off. So having a change of clothes with you is a good idea.

Special Events at Star Wars Weekends

Events also usually include celebrity guest talks and presentations.

These events depend on the celebrity and the weekend. Past talks have included James Arnold Taylor talking about his experience voicing characters, Warwick Davis talking about his life experiences and Ashley Eckstein explaining her techniques for voicing characters in The Clone Wars series.

Events for 2014 have not been announced.

Hyperspace Hoopla

**Update: According to several Disney sources, there may not be a Hyperspace Hoopla for 2014. While this would be a big mistake in this author's opinion, we will have to wait and see once the events are announced.

One of the most beloved events at Star Wars Weekends is the Hyperspace Hoopla.

In this stage show near the Chinese theater, characters from the Star Wars movies and series dance, sing and play on stage. The story is changed each year.

The event closes the day and is standing room only. Spots near the stage are sometimes claimed hours before the show is to start. If you have small kids or are short or just want to be near the front, consider staking a claim to your spot early in order to get the best view.

This is a great opportunity to take photos of the characters as well as they perform on stage.

Disney has added a fireworks show for Star Wars Weekends 2014
Disney has added a fireworks show for Star Wars Weekends 2014 | Source

New For 2014: Symphony In The Stars

Instead of the beloved Hyperspace Hoopla, Disney has announced that each night of the Star Wars Weekends will end with "Symphony in the Stars."

This will be a Star Wars themed fireworks show to close the packed day. Since Hollywood Studios rarely has firework shows (usually there is the Fantasmic Show), guests should be in for a real treat.

Ask a cast member for the best, central viewing spots which will likely be around the giant sorcerer's hat on Main Street.

How To Be a Part of the Parade or Padawan Mind Challenge

If you would like to have your child participate in the parade (costume provided) or participate in the Padawan Mind Challenge, a stage show that takes place mid-afternoon, then you must sign up before the event.

The sign-up table is located near the American Idol Experience in what used to be the Drew Carey Sounds Dangerous entrance.

Space is limited and usually fills up quickly once the park opens. If this is an event that someone in your family must do, plan to head to the sign up table as soon as the park gates open (which is usually one half hour before the officially listed time).

Jedi Training Academy and Star Tours

Although both of these attractions also happen during non Star Wars Weekends, they are very popular during the event.

At the Jedi Training Academy, children are trained as Jedi and then battle enemies. The audience watches this short, standing room only show while the kids perform on an elevated stage. Space is limited and it is restricted to children. Show up 30-45 minutes before the scheduled event for your child to participate.

Star Tours is Disney Hollywood Studios Star Wars themed ride. This is a motion simulator ride and there are several adventures to choose from so each experience on the ride may be different.

This ride is also open all year round so if you are limited in time or will be back at the park during a non-Star Wars Weekend, you might skip this and enjoy it later if the line is too long.

Inside the line cue for Star Tours at Hollywood Studios.
Inside the line cue for Star Tours at Hollywood Studios. | Source

Best Hotels for Disney Star Wars Weekends

If you are looking for a place to stay, any of the on-property hotels will offer bus or boat access to Hollywood Studios.

Additionally, Disney's Boardwalk, Disney's Yacht and Beach Club and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin offer access via a walkway. This is especially handy if you need to run back to your room in the middle of the day or want to avoid the transportation lines at the end of the day.

Star Wars Weekends has grown into an extremely popular event. If there are many opportunities that you would like to see or participate in, consider attending multiple days or multiple weekends.

As Disney looks to expand the movie franchise in the next few years and rumors of additional Star Wars attractions at the parks continues, it looks like the Star Wars Weekends will be a recurring event for years to come.

Do you plan to attend Star Wars Weekends?

See results

Storm Troopers Interact with Guests at Star Wars Weekends

How do you feel about Disney's late release every year of their celebrities for Star Wars Weekends?

See results

Disney Sure Was Slow To Release the Celebrity List

Celebrity List is now out. But why did it take so long?

As of April 21, no other celebrity guest names have been revealed and none of the assorted actors who have appeared in the past have confirmations on their personal pages about a visit to Florida in May or June.

Fans have expressed their frustration with Disney's lack of early schedule release indicating it would make a difference in their plans and possibly even the duration of their stay.

How do you feel about Disney's slow-to-release celebrity schedule? Take the poll!

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)