Happy 35th Anniversary, Star Wars, from Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Thirty-five years ago today, film history was made when Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope was released in theaters. Little did we know when we were introduced to a cast of galactic stars with names like Skywalker, Vader, Kenobi, R2-D2 and Chewbacca that they would become some of the most famous characters ever created for the silver screen.

Three and a half decades later, Star Wars is woven into culture like few other film sagas. At Disney Parks, we’re fortunate to be able to celebrate the Star Wars legacy with our Star Tours – The Adventures Continue 3-D attraction and events like Star Wars Weekends.

Just like Disney and Disney●Pixar animated films, Star Wars is built on a great story. To me, that’s one reason the saga stands the test of time. Thousands of films have come and gone since 1977, but just as Walt Disney introduced us to a kingdom-full of magical stories and fairy tales, George Lucas has provided a space station-full of Force-filled fun in a galaxy far, far away.

So if you’re heading out to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekends 2012, be sure to wish our galactic pals a Happy Anniversary. And maybe even enjoy a special Darth Vader “dark side” cupcake to mark the occasion.

Today, our favorite Star Wars Weekends correspondent, John, gives us a video peek at the pageantry of Weekend I and a glimpse of things to come in Weekend II. We’ve also posted a few photo highlights from Weekend I.

May the Force be with you!