Star Wars Weekends

The Force will be with guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Once again, the magic of Disney and the power of the force combine for Star Wars Weekends. The family-friendly fan-fest is scheduled for four consecutive weekends in May and June at Disney's Hollywood Studios (previously Disney-MGM Studios) theme park. The sci-fi fun kicks off May 22, 2009 and continues each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 14, 2009.

Serving as the centerpiece of the celebration will be the park's famous Star Tours thrill ride, along with a galaxy of Star Wars fun featuring trivia games, game shows, meet-and-greet and star conversations with Star Wars legends.

Inspired by the Star Wars saga – Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, and last year's thriller Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith – Star Wars Weekends bring guests face to face with their favorite characters and dozens of heroes, heroines, droids, creatures and villains from the famous films.

A giant "A to Z" gathering of Star Wars characters — from Anakin Skywalker to Zam Wesell — will roam the streets of the theme park during meet-and-greet sessions. Jedi Training academy — on the the interactive entertainment experiences featured in the them park — takes place throughout the day on the event's main stage and allows young guests to learn from a Jedi Master before testing newly acquired skills in a battle with Darth Vader.

And the fun doesn't stop there. Other festival highlights include:

• Stars of the Saga — Visiting Star Wars celebrities take part in daily autograph sessions, talk show-style conversations and Hollywood-style motorcades.
• To Endor... and Back? — Guests can take flight to the moon of Endor in Star Tours, an action-packed flight simulator that salutes the Star Wars series.
• One-of-a-Kind Collectibles — Star Wars fans will find a treasure trove of event-exclusive Star Wars memorabilia -- from limited-edition Disney character figures (clad in famous Star Wars costumes), trading pins and commemorative posters to apparel, medallions, action figures and other commemorative items.
• Legends of the Force — Star Wars characters, celebrities and more are featured in a daily motorcade which travels from the entrance of the theme park to the Star Tours attraction.
• Behind the Force — A behind-the-scenes film presentation shows guests some of the movie magic Lucasfilm Ltd. created to bring the Star Wars saga to the cinema.
• Hyperspace Hoopla — A nightly grand finale featuring Star Wars characters and high-energy music brings each event day to a close.

Throughout Star Wars Weekends guests never know which Star Wars character they'll find around the corner, whether it's the heroic Jedi Luke Skywalker, the sinister Greedo, the furry and lovable Chewbacca or evil Siths Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Jedi Mickey Mouse — dressed in his very own Jedi robe — has even been known to make meet-and-greet appearances during the festival. Meet-and-greets with more than 50 famous villains and heroes from all six Star Wars films bring guests face-to-face with their favorite characters.

Guests are encouraged to join the fun by dressing in their favorite Star Wars-inspired apparel and costumes. Event activities are included in regular admission to the Disney-MGM Studios theme park.

Fans can visit StarWars.com or DisneyWorld.com/StarWarsWeekends for the latest Star Wars Weekends' updates.