Wookiees, Jedi and Droids, Oh My! Star Wars Weekends Returns to the Walt Disney World Galaxy in May/June 2012

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Star Wars Weekends returns to the Walt Disney World Resort during May and June 2012, as Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park celebrates the Star Wars film saga and the hit animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The annual special event, included in regular theme park admission, will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 18-June 10, 2012.

The power of the Force and magic of Disney combine as more than 60 Star Wars characters – including Wookiees, droids, Rodians, Ewoks, bounty hunters and Jedi – roam the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greet opportunities with guests.

Star Wars celebrities highlight the event, appearing in themed parades, talk shows, star conversations, behind-the-scenes presentations and autograph sessions. Here are the celebrities attending Star Wars Weekends 2012 (*subject to change):

Weekend I (May 18 – 20)

* Ray Park – (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)

* Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend II (May 25- 27)

* Andy Secombe (Watto – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
* Ray Park (Darth Maul – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
* Tom Kane (voice of Yoda – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend III (June 1 -3)

* Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
* Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi – Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace)
* Catherine Taber (voice of Padm̩ Amidala РStar Wars: The Clone Wars)

Weekend IV (June 8- 10)

* Michonne Bourriague (Aurra Sing – 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)
* Daniel Logan (Boba Fett – Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones)
* Nika Futterman (voice of Asajj Ventress – Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

The centerpiece of the celebration is the spectacular 3-D attraction, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.” The attraction, which opened last year, uses eye-popping 3-D, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology to immerse guests in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction.

Limited-edition and event-exclusive merchandise is offered each year, and the ever-popular “Hyperspace Hoopla” ends each Star Wars Weekends day with a show filled with comedy, dancing and high-energy music.

For more information and future updates, guests may go online to disneyparks.com/blog (keyword search: “Star Wars Weekends”) disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends or starwars.com.