We’re less than a week away from opening day for Star Wars Weekends 2013 and that means actors and voice artists from the Star Wars film saga and Star Wars: The Clone Wars are on their way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the annual event.

A trio of talent will appear each weekend, along with celebrity event hosts James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein. Here’s the rundown for May 17-19:

Weekend I (May 17–19)

Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi)
Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Captain Rex – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

You can find the complete list of scheduled celebrities for this year’s Force-filled fan fest in Gary’s original Stars Wars story.

And if you can’t decide which Disney park you should visit first this Mother’s Day weekend, we offered some help on the Disney Parks Blog. Check out the graphic below, which asks a series of questions and gives you a suggestion at the end. Where are you going first?

Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week:

Disney Parks After Dark: Fireworks at Beast’s Castle in New Fantasyland – In this week’s edition of “Disney Parks After Dark,” fireworks light up the night sky above Beast’s Castle in New Fantasyland.

Another Crazy New Burger at ESPN Club on Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World Resort – Pam Brandon shows us some of the crazy new burgers available at ESPN Club on Disney’s BoardWalk.

Magic Kingdom Park Special Event Tickets Now Available – Tickets are now available for some of the exciting events happening at Magic Kingdom Park including, Night of Joy, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties!

runDisney Reveals Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend Bling – This week runDisney revealed the four new medals for the 2014 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue Opens at Tokyo Disneyland – The force is strong at Tokyo Disneyland this week with the opening of the updated Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.

Meet the Steam Engines of the Disneyland Railroad: Fred Gurley – Chugging along the Disneyland Railroad, Erin introduces us to the oldest train on the tracks, Fred Gurley.

Tagged: DLR, Star Wars, WDW, Weekly Recap

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

This week on the Disney Parks Blog, some of my favorite photos came from the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, which just had its 25th anniversary. If you haven’t seen them, don’t miss the gallery below, which was snapped by Disney photographer Gene Duncan.

Not to be outdone, Disneyland Resort photographer Paul Hiffmeyer also showed off some amazing nighttime images of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. Have you visited Radiator Springs yet?

Be sure to check out the gallery below for more images of our week at Disney Parks.

Tagged: DCA, DLR, Gallery, Photography, WDW

Filed: Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Mother’s day is fast approaching, and that means it’s time to show our appreciation. This May 12, honor mom with the royal treatment at one of the many Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort spas, give a magical gift from Disney Floral & Gifts, or more. Whether you’ll be celebrating the special day at Disney Parks or at home, read the posts below for tips, gift ideas, and dining options that mom is sure to love.

Take 5: Celebrate Mother’s Day with Disney Parks

1. Give Mom a Magical Wish for Mother’s Day – This Mother’s Day, get Mom something special with the “A Magical Wish: Fulfill A Dream” gift package available from Disney Floral & Gifts.
2. Relax, Rejuvenate & Unwind at Disney Resort Fitness Centers, Spas & Salons at Walt Disney World Resort – Get a little “me time” this Mother’s Day at Disney resort fitness centers, spas and salons at Walt Disney World Resort.
3. A Magical Mother’s Day Disney Present Back by Popular Demand – The Family Portrait Session and gift certificate with Disney Fine Art Photography & Video is back by popular demand just in time for Mother’s Day!
4. Delicious Ideas for Mother’s Day at the Disneyland Resort – Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day meal to remember at the Disneyland Resort.
5. Happy Haven: Mandara Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa – Send Mom to the Mandara Spa, the happiest spot inside the Happiest Place on Earth.

Tagged: DLR, Take 5, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

Ever since Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree opened last year at Disneyland park, this corner of Frontierland has been the place to go for fun times, from the Halloween Carnival and Santa’s Jingle Jangle Jamboree to a “Limited Time Magic” reunion with some “long lost” Disney friends. Well, this summer the Jamboree is introducing something new in the form of Woody’s All-American Roundup, a flag-wavin’ patriotic celebration of the Old West!

Sheriff Woody is bringing his Talent Roundup to the stage of the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree. You’ll delight at the sight of Jessie’s slingshot tricks and Woody’s skill with a lasso. There will even be plenty of dancin’, strummin’ and singin’, thanks to guitar-playin’ cowboy Buckaroo Bob.

Between Talent Roundup shows, everyone’s favorite Billy Hill and the Hillbillies will take the stage in “Red, White and Bluegrass!” You’ll even have a chance to meet Woody, Jessie and Mickey and Minnie Mouse, dressed in their finest cowboy (and cowgirl) duds!

And that’s not all! Woody’s All-American Roundup will feature Rodeo Games, crafts and activities for the whole family and a selection of merchandise and yummy food.

So mosey on down to Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree for Woody’s All-American Roundup, starting June 14. It’s gonna be loads of rootin’, tootin’ fun!

Tagged: DL, DLR

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

As Thomas Smith first told us last week, we’ve got a special “Limited Time Magic” treat for you “Glow With the Show” fans here at the Disneyland Resort. For a limited time, you can experience “Magical” fireworks spectacular from a special viewing area on Main Street, U.S.A., if you wear your “Glow With the Show” ears. Take a look at the … well, magical time that awaits you in this video!

Remaining special viewing area dates are: May 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19. Keep in mind that viewing space will be on a first-come, first-served basis, due to limited capacity.

Tagged: DL, DLR, Limited Time Magic, Video

Filed: Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort

This week, the “Limited Time Magic” spotlight shines on timepieces from Disney Parks. My parents recently visited me in Florida for about two weeks. Before they left, we visited Downtown Disney Marketplace, as my mother was in search of a new Minnie Mouse watch. That trip helped me find a few timepieces that I thought would make for perfect Mother’s Day gifts this weekend. Here is a look at some of my favorites.

I liked the elegant look of the three watches pictured at the top of this article. These watches were recently introduced for the spring season, one of two seasons that the timepiece development team likes to introduce new items.

Good news for my mother is that Minnie Mouse is a popular character for watches, as seen here with two additional styles.

For spring, the timepiece development team enlisted the help of Disney Design Group artists to create new watches. Artist Tim Whalen created two new designs based on T-shirts from Disney Parks. You may remember seeing the shirt with the girl holding the Mickey Mouse umbrella in Michelle Stepney’s Disney Style Snapshot from early April.

Moms who love Disney Villains may enjoy three new watches created by Disney Design Group artists Mark Seppala and Darren Wilson. Mark, whom you may recall from Disney Ear Hat fame, designed the watches featuring the Queen of Hearts and the Queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” while Darren created the amazing Maleficent watch.

In Florida, look for these watches at Tren-D and the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney Marketplace.

In California, you can find timepieces in the World of Disney store in the Downtown Disney District as well as the Fortuosity Shop inside Disneyland park.

Select watches can also be found on the Disney Parks online store.

Finally, to further the magic on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, Disney Parks will honor all moms with a special flower when she visits any of the theme parks at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts (please note that valid theme park admission is required).

Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and my soon-to-be mother-in-law!

Tagged: DLR, Downtown Disney, Limited Time Magic, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

I know there are a lot of Disney fans out there, not to mention Hipsters, who fell in love with the Hipster Mickey art by Jerrod Maruyama when it first made the scene in June 2012 with the opening of WonderGround Gallery in the Downtown Disney District. Surely, you remember this cool guy? If you don’t, here’s another look:

I don’t think I need to define Hipster to you, do I? I mean seriously, how not-cool would that be? Instead, if you considered yourself a fan of the original Hipster Mickey piece, then wait until you see what’s around the corner.

Launching July 18, 2013, is the first in a series of collectible Hipster Mickey inspired pieces that will release every three months. The first piece titled “Happiest Hipster on Earth” finds Mickey Mouse looking effortlessly cool as he chills in front of old-school retro-inspired Disneyland ticket media and signage. Look for the image to appear on a miniature gallery wrapped canvas, limited edition giclee, deluxe print, t-shirt and more.

So how can you be one of the first people to add this to your Hipster collection? Take part in a special Cocktail Reception on Thursday, July 18, 2013, from 7-10 p.m. The festivities will include light hors d’oeuvres, specialty drinks, in-store shopping experience to be the first to view and purchase merchandise from the “Happiest Hipster on Earth” collection, an artist signing opportunity with Jerrod Maruyama, a commemorative gift and more. In addition, those that attend the event will not only get a sneak peek at the next image in the series, but will also have the chance to purchase a special Hipster Mickey piece.

I bet you’re curious what other icons and attractions Hipster Mickey will appear in front of … so am I.

If you are determined to get this new Hipster Mickey piece before everyone else, tickets for the event will go on sale Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 11 a.m. (Pacific) via ArtofDisneyParks.com. Tickets are extremely limited. So be sure to score a pair as soon as it goes live.

Who’s going with me?

Tagged: Art of Disney, DL, DLR

Filed: Art of Disney, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney District