You heard about it first during the 2015 D23 EXPO, and now we’re excited to share more details. Very soon, guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios will have the opportunity to experience Star Wars in the park in an all-new way – every day! New experiences will open starting Dec. 1, bringing that galaxy far, far away, a little bit closer.
Star Wars Launch Bay will take guests into the Star Wars saga and the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special merchandise and opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will be home to a brand new adventure inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During the opening months, we’ll make sure that everyone who rides Star Tours will experience the new adventure. After that, it will be up to the will of the Force. Here’s a sneak peek of where the Starspeeder 1000 will be taking us.
We also have new information about “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi.” It will feature scenes from the complete Star Wars saga, also giving anyone new to the Star Wars galaxy an opportunity to get acquainted with the films.
Last, but certainly not least, is Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which will open in early December. This reimagined Jedi Training experience will take younglings to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face Darth Vader along with the Seventh Sister – a new villain from the Disney XD series “Star Wars Rebels.”
And work begins next year on the 14-acre Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With construction underway, unfortunately, we won’t be able to offer Star Wars Weekends. While Star Wars Weekends has been a great way to enjoy the saga for a few days every year, now the Force will be with Disney’s Hollywood Studios every day.
With Star Wars Launch Bay, the new Jedi Training experience, “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi” and a new destination in the Star Tours attraction opening in December, you’ll be able to step into the Star Wars saga every time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Comments
We are also booked for SWW’S in May. 12 day trip that I will be canceling. No SWW’S, no us.
What about the parades and things? 🙁 And the special meal offerings? This just seems very… silly to say the least. Adding more Star Wars stuff doesn’t really equal to removing the weekends with the parades and interviews and special shows.
We will be visiting Disney World 12/16-12/21. Our 8 year old son has developed a major fascination with all things Star Wars. Can you give me an idea of how the Jedi Training works? Is it something you sign up for ahead of time or do you wait in line at “show times”? We have reservations for breakfast at Hollywood Studios on the 18th (no idea that was the movie opening day at the time of planning). We would like to be able to fit this experience in for him if at all possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Very sad about the news.. May trip might be out now.. That was major reason we went.. We went for about 10 days the past 3 years, so could see the first two weekends. The events, parades, fireworks, photos just made the whole atmosphere different than any other time in park. New stuff sounds good but definitely won’t be same as all special event stuff. Most of people in park will just be there for normal day, not there for star wars.
I am disappointed that Star Wars Weekend ended. even with the new addition to Hollywood studios star wars weekend helped keep star wars alive when it was almost dead. I thought they would have one in 2016 especially with construction and new movie. Oh well, you just helped me save a thousand or two dollars.
So I see Hollywood Studios only being mentioned. Does this mean Disneyland will not get this at the same time? I would assume both locations would feature this new addition. Perhaps I am wrong?
We purchased the force awakens tickets with the thought thag we had the first chance to see the big reveal. From this article that doesn’t seem to be the case. Am inreading that right????
Severely disappointed about Star Wars weekends in 2016 being cancelled. I already have a trip booked and bought annual passes specifically because of Star Wars Weekends. Will there be character dinning, a parade, special shows, and Star Wars actors in the new Star Wars Land? SO sad –
Will Disney extend Season of the Force to run through Memorial Day weekend? We need a replacement for Star Wars Weekends to fill the void. (Sorry Elsa, you’re no Chewbacca.) 🙂
While it’s disappointing that SWW has been canceled for 2016, it’s important everyone understand why since pretty much half of Studios will be demolished and under construction, so there’s no space to hold the events that normally would occur. I have faith that Disney will bring back SWW bigger and better than before. Afterall, the park turns into Frozenland during the summer with all the special events, so why there’s nothing that wouldn’t keep them from plussing the Star Wars experience when the new land opens.
We agree with all the previous comments on the importance of Star Wars Weekends. I’m a huge Disney nut in general, but the only time we really go out of our way to come to the parks is for Star Wars Weekends. We try to schedule to stay over at least two weekends, so usually there for 10 days. We love all the meet and greets, opportunities for autographs, and LOVED it when there was exclusive merchandise. Please keep and/or bring back Star Wars Weekends! Besides, we will probably all show up around Memorial Day weekend until you reinstate it anyway.
Very disappointed to hear about Star Wars Weekend. We were planning to go in May for this event. Not sure what we are goinng to to now. My son was so looking forward to this weekend. I just wish they had let people know sooner.
I used DVC points to book this trip, and will lose them if we cancel. Will there be any type of special Star Wars related events other than the already existing attractions and fireworks for the people that planned their vacations to attend Star Wars Weekends?
Excited for the new experiences, but hoping that SWW are brought back in some form. The celebrity shows, meet and greets, parades and other experiences just can’t be matched. I sincerely hope that o nice SW land is complete that you guys will have an even better special event with all of the above! With that said, I am also curious about meals. In the original post about new SOTF specialized food was mentioned, but nothing with new announcement. Are there any plans to add on special character dining, or will it just be in the form of snacks like the Darth Vadar cupcakes?
I feel like I am on Alderaan and the Death Star is in range. SWW ending? I do thank Disney for hosting so many weekends that have helped make some good family memories and meeting some great actors. Due to a back surgery years ago, I cannot go on many (if any) rides. This was one event my family cherished. I hope SWW will return to a galaxy near us soon. Until then, May the Force be With You!!!
I was looking forward to SW Weekend in 2016 because I’ll visit WDW by honeymoon. So, I’m disappointed now.
Can I see JEDI MICKEY at SW Launch Bay? How about charactor dining?
I can’t begin to express my disappointment in the decision to cancel Star Wars Weekends. It has been a tradition for years for me and my brother and in my opinion the best event Disney World does. I am so beyond disappointed about this. It was the atmosphere at the event. The people who went, the celebrities, the merchandise, and the shows. Nothing will ever be able to replace it and not even a Star Wars area of the park will make up for it.
We have been going to Star Wars weekend for 12 years very disappointed that it is canceled please bring it back 2017
Will they be making the park’s star wars character dining a more permanent option? This was something I was looking forward to on my 2016 star wars weekends trip and would be sad to hear it’s no longer going to be available!
Star Wars weekends offered amazing experiences like Breakfast at the Sci-Fi Dine In. My daughter got to trade with Jawa’s that morning – it was the highlight of our entire trip! I really hope this experience will not go away – that somehow it can be worked into the Season of the Force weekends.
I am a 501st member and I was so looking forward to walking this year. Will there be other opportunities for the Legion to be involved in any celebrations? We promote SW 24/7 and it is a nice payback for us. A real thrill!!
Hi! This December my family is going to Disney World for the first time in six years, and one of the things we’ve been really looking forward to is riding the updated Star Tours multiple times for the different experiences. Am I understanding correctly that starting in December the attraction will once again only offer one “adventure,” focused on the new movie, for several months?
Bummed about this. Star Wars Weekends are special. The idea that Star Wars will be at Hollywood Studios everyday falls short. If Christmas were every day, it would not be special anymore either. This doesn’t take best advantage of the Star Wars franchise popularity. The parades, the times with celebrities, the unique gift item releases, and the shows for each weekend were all special and unique. And it seems most of the comments here have the same sentiment.
Well, this is very sad news to hear on my birthday. We have been planning a trip for our first SWW since April of this year. We were so looking forward to the special character meals, the celebrity shows, and the parade with the 501st. I have a backup plan in place to do Season of the Force during Spring Break, assuming it will occur then. Any news on how long it will run? When will this be announced? Thank you for all of your updates.
Do you know if there will be any Star Wars Character Meals available?
Hello! Thanks for the info as I know many of us have been waiting to hear about any Star Wars changes at WDW. Would we be able to experience new Star Wars exhibits if we visit during April of 2016?
When will Seasons of the Force end? Will it have Galactic breakfast at Sci-Fi and Rebel Rendevous reservations? It is hard to make plans with so little information! As if cancelling SWW wasn’t enough frustration for one day!
Question if you can answer, with the season of the force are there going to be character dining experience options like with Star Wars weekends?
Very disappointed. We have a trip planned for the beginning of June next year and the whole family was excited to experience our first Star Wars Weekend. Bummer.
The article doesn’t say for certain – do they still plan to bring Star Wars Weekends back for 2017?
This is so disappointing. We specifically plan out trip to hit Star Wars weekends. Will they ever be back? I’m excited about the expansion of Star Wars and Toy story but it certainly is a lot to undertake all at once.
Will the Star Wars launching bay be open the first week in December or will it just be some Star Wars things available? When I called Disney a few weeks ago, they told me the launch bay wasn’t opening until December 17th.
Although these attractions seem exciting it is soooo disappointing that disney is not continuing Star Wars Weekends. The weekends bring a totally different experience for families and friends that can not be replaced with any attraction. The characters and star wars costumes make the experience memorable and its the only time that star/actors/directors come for guests to meet. The special star wars shows are magical. I can’t believe that Disney decided to eliminate Star Wars Weekend. Please, please reconsider this decision. These weekends are the core of disney. Our family has had such special memories and wonderful pics with star wars characters……..we were already planning a May trip as we have for the past several years for Star Wars Weekend and now we are not.
We have been going to SWW for the past 3 years. We already made plans for June 2016. I’m very disappointed in this decision. Please bring SSW back!!!
Just this past weekend planned our may 21-30 trip. just few days from 190 days needed to book everything. It was planned just so could do two weekends of star wars weekends.. I was so looking forward to it with new movie coming out. Figured it would be perfect with studios undergoing so much closure and construction. Thought it would be biggest and best SWW yet!! Very disappointed.. Trip is on hold right now till see what if anything special will be going on late may there.
Very disappointed, we already had our hotel reservations for Star Wars Weekends. I hope everything possible will be done to still make things enjoyable for Star Wars fans like us, since so many have already booked their trips.
I’m curious as to how this effects the opening night event on Dec 17. I was very excited to purchase tickets to this event for 12 people expecting to get a “sneak peak” into launch bay and the new Star Tours scene. Now, I’m wondering if I wasted my money since I could enjoy these attractions anytime that week.
Great. I planned a trip in May just for Star Wars weekends and figured it would be a great time with the release of the new movie in December. Boy was I wrong. Now I picked a time when nothing will be going on there at Disney World.
Will this experience be available in jannuary as well?
Any guesstimate when this land will be completed? we plan to visit March of 2017
I’m really looking forward to experiencing Season of the Force at Disneyland in California. 🙂
Like others, I’m curious how many of the things we loved about SWW will be in the new park area (!!!so excited for that!!!). It sounds like fireworks, Jedi training, and special merchandise will return in some form. Yes! Any word on parades, character dining, and character or actor meet and greets?
My three favorites are/were fireworks, SW parade, and merch. If you’re taking requests, PLEASE bring us some more Star Wars MagicBands with light/sound effects! Yoda, Ewoks, and droids would be especially welcome. Thanks!
Will Star Tours at Disneyland be getting the same scene?
Will there be a star wars parade?
Really sad to hear about the cancellation of the 2016 SWW. Will this event be coming back in the future? or will there be any other character appearances maybe around May 4th? I’ve been an Annual Pass Holder for the past 2 years and this was absolutely mine and my daughters favorite event to attend. She will be heart broken since she was not able to meet Ahsoka Tano last year and was hoping to get a picture with her this year.
I am excited for the new Star Wars experiences, but Star Wars Weekends has always been a favorite of ours. We have loved the motorcade, character dining, stage shows (both the dance parties and the celebrity Q&A sessions), fireworks, Stormtrooper’s Welcome, Darth’s Mall, and of course all the characters! I am also so sad to hear about the phasing out of Disney/Star Wars characters like Jedi Mickey, Leia Minnie, Darth Goofy, and Stormtrooper Donald.
We already have a trip scheduled next May and I’m hoping to see a few more characters make the meet-and-greet list (like Boba Fett, Cantina Band, Storm Troopers, Ewoks, Aurra Sing, and Jawas). I also hope the Launch Bay incorporates some merchandise from Watto’s Grotto like Build-Your-Own-Lightsaber, the personalized Aurebesh name tags, and the amazingly creative cupcakes and popcorn buckets. Some Star Wars dining options like the Rebel Hangar and Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars Dine would be fantastic.
Overall I am excited about the Launch Bay and I have no idea what to expect from Path of the Jedi (I don’t have kids in the right age bracket to enjoy Jedi Training Academy and I haven’t even seen most of the new Star Tours variations, so those new experiences don’t thrill me), but I am hopeful!
When will more information about Season of the Force be available? I’m super anxious to hear all the details!
Really disappointed! Used my DVC points to take my daughter and son-in-law for Star Wars weekends based on the upcoming 2016 post on website. Only to learn they won’t happen. If I cancel because son-in-law doesn’t want to go I lose the points. Thanks!
Another question, will Star Wars Weekends ever return? 2017 or 2018?
I am very disappointed, my parents and I have been planning this trip all year. In the new Star Wars land, will there be meet and greets from all our favorite characters from the Prequels and Originals. And will the new land open in sections, like Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy Land? And will you be offering the Star Wars breakfast at all as Sci-Fi? Or any other events usually held during Star Wars Weekends?
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