Disney, Please Bring Back Star Wars Weekends
In a previous life, I was the bane of the existence of many Star Wars fans.
My unintentionally abrasive comments about George Lucas’s storytelling abilities…weren’t well-received.
Disney
I’m not an idiot, though. Even I realize how impactful Star Wars is in pop culture as well as Disney theme parks.
The proof’s readily apparent in the data, which is why I’m dumbfounded by one inexplicable park change.
Photo: Lucasfilm
A decade ago, Disney ended one of its most popular events. The time has come for that to change.
Disney, please bring back Star Wars Weekends! Here’s why I miss them.
What’s in a Name?
Photo: Universal
As MickeyBlog has chronicled, we’ve moved into an experiential generation of tourists.
Here’s a recent article about millennials preferring experiences over things, but this behavior has been ongoing for years.
Universal Orlando
Not coincidentally, Universal Studios’ parent division changed its name a while ago.
The new name for this company is Universal Destinations & Experiences as opposed to the prior name of Universal Parks & Resorts.
Walt Disney Company
That change occurred in March 2023, and I mean it when I say I’d expected this move several years earlier.
That’s partially because of The Walt Disney Company, which tipped off fans about the way the wind was blowing.
Photo: Disney
In 2019, Disney changed the name of its signature division to Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.
Then, in December 2023, Disney simplified its identity even more. Now, we have Disney Experiences.
DCL
Everything from a theme park visit to a Disney Cruise Line vacation to an exotic trip around the world falls into this category.
Modern tourists crave experiences, and Disney aims to give them to us. And that’s why I’m confused.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios already hosted one of the forerunners of this concept.
It was called Star Wars Weekends, and the event started in 1997. Then, after a couple of years off, it came back in force in 2001.
Disney
From 2003 through 2015, Walt Disney World and Star Wars fans knew they could expect a great time here.
Star Wars Weekends provided tons of fun for guests, but just as importantly, it was an experience.
About Star Wars Weekends
Photo: Lucasfilm
Disney hasn’t hosted Star Wars Weekends in ten years, which sadly means that some of you may not even know what it is.
Long ago, before Disney owned Lucasfilm, the two companies were friendly.
Star Tours
Disney persuaded George Lucas to create a Star Wars attraction in the mid-1980s. It didn’t take much convincing.
Lucas had grown up a Disney fan. So, the thought of Star Tours at the park absolutely delighted him.
Disney
Over the years, Disney and Lucas collaborated frequently, including on the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
If we count the current version of Star Tours as the original, Lucas inspired the oldest two attractions at Hollywood Studios.
Thus, another, more specific kind of Lucasfilm joint venture felt obvious and organic to all involved.
Enter Star Wars Weekends, which is exactly what it sounds like.
For a month of consecutive weekends, Hollywood Studios transitioned a section into a Star Wars area.
During this weekend event, guests could watch several live shows, attractions, and experiences.
Photo: Lucasfilm
Some of them were a bit ridiculous. For example, Carbon Freeze Me allowed you to feel like Han Solo for a day.
Disney would scan your face and then sell you a carbonite recreation of it for a small fee.
Hey, it’s Disney. They were gonna monetize some stuff. But a LOT of fun activities were free.
Most memorably, Disney hosted shockingly entertaining shows starring Star Wars characters.
Unless you were there, none of them would make a lick of sense, but here’s a clip:
And here’s another:
These feel like they’re part of a fever dream or some sort of weird AI creation, but they were very real.
Why Disney Cancelled Star Wars Weekends
This event featured all sorts of interactive shows as well as a nighttime fireworks presentation.
Given the timeline, you can probably guess why Disney cancelled Star Wars Weekends, too.
Disney
The company intended to build an entire themed land based on Star Wars after acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012.
So, the idea of a few Star Wars Weekends per year felt a bit superfluous, maybe even distracting.
Disney
Here’s the thing, though. Star Wars Weekends were typically the most crowded times at Hollywood Studios all year.
I’m even including the holidays in that. People loooooved this event.
Disney
At times, I have been Public Enemy #1 among Star Wars fans, yet even *I* loved Star Wars Weekends.
It was a vibe, with everyone there having a great time. The show production teams really let loose.
Disney
Everything felt kinetic and well-intended. This was a grrrreat time to be at the park.
Simply stated, Star Wars Weekends were an experience, every single one of them…and I went to several.
Smuggler’s Run
But Disney wanted to sell the novelty of an entire Star Wars-themed land.
So, this experience threatened a billion-dollar expansion. Well, I don’t believe that, but the thought process factored heavily into Disney’s thinking.
Credit: Disney
Disney said, “This town isn’t big enough for the two of them,” and Star Wars Weekends was never gonna win that showdown.
Park officials invested too much in the creation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. So, we lost something fun.
Please Bring Back Star Wars Weekends
Image Credit: Disney
That decision occurred a decade ago. We haven’t had Star Wars Weekends since the spring of 2015.
At this point, Batuu is more than six years old and well-established. Nothing should threaten it.
To a larger point, the popularity of this themed land has sustained Hollywood Studios since 2019.
Nothing should possibly be a threat to Galaxy’s Edge. But something could augment it.
Credit: Disney
That something is obviously Star Wars Weekends, which could create renewed interest in Batuu.
After something has been open for a few years, theme park fans tend to take it for granted.
I think about this a lot when I ride masterpieces like Soarin’ Around the World and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Both rides dazzled everyone when they debuted. Now, they’re just a couple of great Disney rides.
Disney
Similarly, Galaxy’s Edge wowed us all with its immersive elements, but that was six years ago.
More importantly, that was an entire pandemic ago. Anything before 2020 feels like an eternity.
Photo by Jeff Gritchen
So, Star Wars Land has become a part of the landscape at Hollywood Studios. It could use a revitalization.
I say that even as I acknowledge it’s every bit as popular as ever. We just expect its greatness now.
Photo:Wookiepedia
Something novel could refresh that feeling, and the easiest thing to do is for Disney to bring back Star Wars Weekends.
You can imagine how much better the experience would be AT Batuu! It’ll be so realistic. The vibe would be immaculate. Disney, I understand why you killed Star Wars Weekends, but please bring it back now!
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Feature Photo: Disney
