A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away I was initially introduced to a cinematic masterpiece that, unknowingly to me, would ultimately leave an impression that would carry over into my adult years.

It was in 1977 that writer, director and producer George Lucas launched the first of six films to ultimately be released in the Star Wars saga. Of course, little did I know as a lightsaber-toting pre-teen that the movie I was captivated by would eventually prove to be Episode IV in the series. Nevertheless, more than 30 years later, it goes without saying that I was thrilled when my own son evolved into a Star Wars fanatic; even more so than I had been at his age, and once we learned that Walt Disney World hosts an annual Star Wars-themed celebration which, coincidentally, just so happened to be occurring during an already-planned family getaway there, we jumped at the opportunity to add the experience to our schedule.

In my humble, unbiased opinion, Walt Disney World is enjoyable any time but there are specially-scheduled events that take place at the parks throughout a given year, like Star Wars Weekends, which can certainly make a given family’s experience even more magical. That certainly proved to be the case with my family’s recent visit.

When we arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park with visions of Yoda and C-3PO dancing through our heads, we were delighted to be greeted by a pair of Star Wars storm troopers who were strategically positioned on the roof of the park’s entrance. Their back-and-forth dialogue directed at would-be patrons was very entertaining.

After visiting a couple of street-side souvenir shops in hopes of finding scarcely-available Star Wars merchandise, we located the first of what would prove to be many character autograph stations we would visit that day. The line of fans waiting for Queen Amidala was short and from there, we proceeded to the area adjacent to the Star Tours ride, where we were able to meet Luke Skywalker. While in line, we picked up a handy tip from other autograph seekers. At least during our visit, “good guy” characters were generally being positioned on one side of the park while “not-so-good-guy” characters could mainly be found on the other side.

After thinking about it, that made perfect sense to me from a “good vs. evil” perspective.

Following our observance of a well-attended character parade, more shopping, a couple of amusement rides and lunch, we proceeded to the “Dark Side” of the park where we were able to take advantage of numerous autograph and photo opportunities with the likes of Darth Vader, Darth Maul and Boba Fett.
Late afternoon, we crossed back over to the other side of the park in order to partake of the outdoor Jedi Training Academy event (next to the Star Tours ride). Knowing that our kids would more-than-likely not be hand-picked to actually participate, we arrived 45 minutes early nevertheless to secure a good spot. During the show, Jedi Masters trained “the chosen ones” (neither of my kids were selected) in a series of easy-to-follow combat moves and provided each with a lightsaber to enhance the experience.

One by one, the 15 to 20 padawans (Jedi apprentices) were given the opportunity to face Dark-Side enthusiast Darth Vader. Fellow bad guy Darth Maul was also there with his double-edged light saber. The brief saber-to-saber encounters generally resulted in a stand-off except in the case of one vertically-challenged young lad whose saber thrust seemed to have struck slightly lower than Lord Vader was expecting.

The overall Star Wars-themed experience was unforgettable and something I would strongly recommend to fans of all ages! Keeping in mind that Star Wars weekends and other specially-themed Disney events may or may not take place in a given year, here are a few additional recommendations that may be helpful during your next visit:

• Don’t Forget the Sunscreen. I know you’ve heard it before but believe me…bright red lightsabers are much more enjoyable than bright red skin.
• Memorize the Map. Be familiar with the layout of Hollywood Studios before you arrive at the park. Otherwise, you’ll waste half your time trying to figure out where you’re at and where you’re going…although I will say that Disney employees are wonderful about helping dazed and confused visitors navigate the area.
• Buy Early. A lot of the merchandise available, especially during Star Wars weekends, is limited to the park itself and often sells out fast. If you’re going to make souvenir purchases, do so during the morning hours and remember, oftentimes you can have merchandise sent to the front of the park to be held until you’re ready to leave or better yet, if you’re staying on Disney property, items can actually be transported directly to your resort by Disney employees. If you’re there during Star Wars weekend and you happen upon a shop known as Wicket’s Warehouse—located near Toy Story Midway Mania—take time to visit. We found a wide selection of merchandise there including hard-to-find collectibles.
• Be Prepared for Unexpected Encounters. Autograph books and cameras should be kept in a spot where they can be quickly and easily accessed. Characters are literally all over the park and can appear, in some cases, without warning.
• Tag Team to Maximize Photo Opportunities. Character photo/autograph stations are sometimes located relatively close to one another. The lines form quickly but also move pretty fast. If you have multiple individuals in your party, position someone in each line simultaneously so the possibility exists to maximize opportunities and minimize wait time.
• Go Through Line Twice. It’s not at all uncommon for a given photo/autograph station to rotate character appearances every 20-30 minutes. After all, those costumes are hot. When you’ve completed one “meet-and-greet,” consider the possibility of getting right back in line. By the time you find yourself once again up-front, another character may be the featured guest.
• Hang Out Near Character Break Areas. If you can locate a Disney character staging area; the place where Mickey goes to relax and have a bite of cheese between scheduled appearances, stick around there. Characters frequently move in and out of these areas and will sometimes pause for a brief photo op en-route to or back from their designated stops. HINT…there’s one located along Mickey Ave.

May the Force be with you!