Star Wars Weekends for 2014 started off with a big opening ceremony featuring those lovable Imperial Stormtroopers making fun of all the people being held back by a teeny, tiny, little rope. From there it just got bigger and better. A lot of people were entertained all day with Star Wars Character Meet and Greets, roving characters on Mickey Avenue, lots of behind the scenes shows in the Premier Theater and, new for 2014, Star Wars character meals: Jedi Mickey’s Star Warsâ„¢ Dine at Hollywood and Vine and Star Warsâ„¢ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast (click the links for more information).

The 2014 Official Star Wars Weekends poster was hanging on each side of the Main Stage in front of the Sorcerer Mickey Hat. You could find the poster on calenders, t-shirts, pins, hats, coffee mugs and just about anything else inside Darth’s Mall merchandise shop.

Star Wars Weekends official poster titled “Join the Rebellion” hanging on the Main Stage.
Nikon D700/24-120VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 120mm focal length.

Each Star Wars Weekend day begins with the Legends of the Force Motorcade. Jedi Mickey Mouse leads it off followed by the 501st Legion Florida Garrison and the Rebel Legion. Organizations which promote Star Wars, use of costumes and contributing to their local communities.

Jedi Mickey Mouse, Imperial Stormtroopers and Rebels parade in the Legends of the Force Motorcade.

After the Legions pass, Star Wars celebrities from both the animated series and live action movies go by in convertibles waving to one and all. For the first weekend this year, Ashley Eckstein (Voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Ahmed Best (Voiced and played Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars I-III), Vanessa Marshall (Voice of Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from all the Star Wars movies) came down Hollywood Blvd.

From Top Left: Ashley Eckstein (Clone Wars), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars Rebels) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) ride in the Legends of the Force Motorcade

Star Wars Weekends have grown in the last two years since my last time visiting a Galaxy Far, Far Away. It helps there are now new movies for fans to look forward to. The success of The Clone Wars on the Disney cable networks have helped to foster a whole new generation of Star Wars fans. This fall, Disney XD will be premiering a new animated series called Star Wars Rebels picking up where Revenge of the Sith, the third prequel movie, left off. I can only see Star Wars Weekends becoming even more popular.

The use of the FastPass+ system helped greatly in obtaining excellent seats for the popular Behind the Scene shows at the Premier Theater. Plan ahead and show up about 45 minutes before the show.