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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / star wars weekends 2014 & a special surprise

star wars weekends 2014 & a special surprise

June 18, 2014      24 Comments

On Saturday morning, we woke up at a somewhat reasonable hour (7:00 AM – whoo hop for sleeping in!) and took our time getting ready to leave at 8. We figured Hollywood Studios would have already had their early-morning influx of Star Wars fans, getting wristbands for the celebrity meet-and-greets, scrambling to get to the retail outlet, Darth Mall, and rushing to sign up for the various events (Jedi Training, Padawan Challenge, etc) in the park.

Since we had absolutely zero preparation for the day, we didn’t even know what celebs would be onsite. We had our character dining reservation for breakfast at Sci Fi Dine-In, and a 12:15 Star Tours Fast Pass +. That was the extent of our plan.

We got a pretty sweet parking spot, and were able to skip the tram again. The lines at bag check and the turnstiles were nonexistent, and we pretty much waltzed right into Hollywood Studios. It finally dawned on little man, from the banners and signage, that it was Star Wars Weekends, and he was so excited.

He and I activated our Magic Bands and stepped into the park. There was a cast member (Cindy, from Columbus), standing nearby with a stack of Star Wars specific park maps, and we moved over to her to grab one. I’m not exactly sure what happened to Mr PugRunner, but for some reason we were waiting and Cindy struck up a conversation with us.

Well, mostly with little man.

They chatted about Star Wars, and he was showing a lot of interest in the map. He told her that he had done Jedi training before, but today we were just getting breakfast, etc, etc, etc (he can talk a blue streak). Cindy asked him if he really loved Star Wars and he said “Yes, I’m a big fan of Star Wars.” She asked us to come with her, and led us over to a tent-covered table located in the entrance of the park. She asked the cast member manning the table to hand her something from underneath the counter. I figured it would be something like a sticker or some kind of little Star Wars tchotchke, but instead, she pulled out a folded piece of paper and produced two wristbands.

To little man, she said “Would you like to be in a parade?”

OMG!

You see, every day of Star Wars Weekends, there is a Legends of the Force Celebrity Motorcade. It’s led up by Mickey in a Jedi costume, and features pretty much all the fan favorites from the Star Wars saga, including that weekend’s celebrity guests. Also walking in the parade? A group of children in Jedi robes, brandishing light sabers, selected at random from guests among the park.

There is pretty much no way we could have planned for this or made it happen. Little man was in a Star Wars t-shirt, but certainly not all decked out in ultimate fan wear. It was just plain ol’ luck, and the goodwill of a lovely, lovely cast member (thank you, Cindy!). Of course, little man’s eyes got wide and his jaw dropped, and he responded “YES!”

Cindy asked him to pick a parent to walk with him in the parade (he chose Mr PugRunner) and put the wristbands on them. We were report to a designated area at 10:45, and then I would be taken to a reserved viewing area, and Mr PugRunner and little man would be taken backstage for the main event.

We practically floated our way to breakfast.

As we passed Star Tours, we saw the stand-by line was only 10 minutes, so Mr PugRunner took advantage and accompanied little man for a ride. And then we got on line to check in at the Sci Fi.

The only problem was that our reservation was 9:40 and we had to be at the meeting place at 10:45. I was more than a little nervous about it. I explained our dilemma to the hostess at the check in stand, and she kind of shrugged it off. She said that she would try to have us in by 10:00 (we were checking in about 15 minutes before our reservation, per the instructions one receives when making dining reservations at Disney), and that we should just tell our carhop. Hmm.

So we waited (me, somewhat anxiously), and right at 10:00 our name was called, so we could get in line for our included photo with two favorite villains.

Darth Vader positioned us by “using the force.” It was pretty cute.

We were then led inside and seated in our car with our menus. I was a bit perplexed to see that the restaurant was pretty empty (not sure why the long lines outside…), and started looking around for our server.

Sharon appeared a few minutes later. She took one look at my face and asked me what was wrong. I explained the situation and that we were on a really, really tight schedule, and she didn’t even flinch. She told me that she wasn’t leaving the table until we had placed our order with her. Everything would be fine.

Relief.

True to her word, Sharon was quick and efficient. We never felt rushed, and we were able to (almost) relax in the dark theater, watching clips of Star Wars movies and vintage Star Wars cartoons on the giant movie screen.

Our meal included a little platter of pastries per row of the car (which meant that I had this one all to myself).

little pastry pinwheels, mini chocolate muffins topped with bit of fudge and a white chocolate disk with the image of C3P0, and the most lovely pillows, dusted with a cocoa image of Darth Vader and stuffed with the yummiest bavarian cream.

The second course was a choice of fresh fruit or a parfait with greek yogurt, granola and fruit. I chose the fruit. I think the boys had the parfait. We all got a decorative honeydew garnish, cut in the shape of Yoda.

I am pretty sure we all ordered the same meal – scrambled eggs with sausage, bacon and Disney’s delicious cheesy potato casserole. Sharon checked on us often and asked us if she could bring us more of anything. Since there really isn’t room for a buffet at the restaurant and the “tables” are too small to accommodate a platter (like is served at Akershus), I guess we could order more as we wanted. We were all pretty stuffed, though, so it wasn’t an issue.

While we ate, a few Storm Troopers came by to monitor our doings.

Also in the restaurant were Greedo and some Jawas. However, they were on the opposite side and working slowly through the tables. Sharon came to the rescue one more time. As Mr PugRunner took care of the check, she led us over to the cast member in charge of handling the Jawas, explained our situation and that we had to leave, and they allowed us to slip in for a quick Jawa shot.

And then we hustled over to the appointed meeting spot, arriving just in time. Others gathered and some cast members came over. They instructed us to have the kids use the facilities, reapply sunscreen and get water, and then the non-walking members of the party were directed to a roped-off area to the right of the main stage.

In the meantime, Mr PugRunner and little man actually got to go backstage! They weren’t permitted to use camera or cellphones (boo!), but Mr PugRunner said that they were right near some of the celebrities, and they were hanging with members of the 501st Legion. Not going to lie. I was a little jealous.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the iconic theme music boomed through the crowd (goosebumps!) and the motorcade began making its way down the street.

Three cheers for Jedi Mickey and Leia Minnie!

And right behind the Force-Filled Fab Four?

The little Padawans!

He was a natural, looking around and waving to the crowd.

The kids followed their instructors to the front of the main stage, where they lined up. And pretty much had the best viewing spot in the house for the rest of the parade to follow.

And then the celebrities made their appearance. This year, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano – The Clone Wars), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger – Star Wars Rebels), Ray Park (Darth Maul), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi – The Clone Wars) all smiled and waved to their fans.

But there was an even more special guest: Mark Hamill, the original Luke Skywalker.

Coolest. Day. Ever.

When the last of the paraders climbed on to the stage, the crowd surged forward into the street to get as close as they could. For a minute, there was panic, because there was nothing between the watching kids and the rush of fans. However, cast members linked arms and formed a human barricade keeping some safe distance, and James Arnold Taylor performed a singing number, introducing the characters, the VIPs and detailing some of the fun things that would be going on through the weekend.

And then it was over. The kids were escorted to a holding pen to turn in their costumes and wait for pickup.

Little man was completely overwhelmed, but declared it the best day.

At that point, I was completely hyped up and would have loved to spend the rest of the day taking in all the Star Wars-y sights, but we had to get to South Florida for dinner for my grandmother’s birthday, so we said goodbye to Hollywood Studios and went on our way.

Have you ever marched in a parade?

Are you a Star Wars fan (geek/nerd)? Which celebrity from the franchise would you be most excited about seeing?

 

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Comments

  1. John (Daddy Runs a Lot) says

    June 18, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    I need to head here with my son. When he was about 18 months old, I looked for a movie that I could put on to enjoy that would’t be SUPER inappropriate for him to watch as he fell asleep for a nap. It was Episode IV. He watched the whole thing, and has been a bigger Star Wars fan than I am, ever since. It’s pretty damn cool.

    Anyway, I’m disappointed that I can’t get to the Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend on the west coast in 2015 . . .
    John (Daddy Runs a Lot) recently posted…Where I reflect on life and death and livingMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 18, 2014 at 6:06 pm

      That’s awesome. What a great memory. Little man still hasn’t seen Episode III (way too intense IMO), which is fine, because I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to the saga. However, Episodes IV-VI are, I believe, the first live-action movies he ever watched, and he loves them. I couldn’t be more thrilled.

      I, too, was really disappointed about the inaugural SW half. Had I known it was coming, I wouldn’t have registered for the full marathon in January. It will be on my race bucket list.

      Reply
  2. Gabriella says

    June 18, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    Ahhhhh obsessed with this! Too adorable. So glad your little guy had so much fun! I love Star Wars, though am also very faithful to the Lord of the Rings. However, the more Game of Thrones I watch, the more I think I might be likely to hop on that bandwagon as well (I’m a total nerd :P).
    Gabriella recently posted…“25 small things you can do to make the world a kinder place”My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 18, 2014 at 6:11 pm

      I really can’t get into LOTR. I plan on watching Desolation of Smaug only because there is a quick shot of a pug in one of the scenes, so I feel obligated. But… GoT??? Girl. You need to read the books, then watch the show. Hands down my favorite series. (Nerds unite!)

      Reply
  3. Darlene says

    June 18, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    How cool. I want to be a kid again.
    Darlene recently posted…Passing The BatonMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 18, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      Right? I was pretty jealous that Mr PugRunner got to be a part of the action (especially backstage). It was really, really, really cool.

      Reply
  4. Stacie Seidman says

    June 18, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    My brother would be so jealous!! (And he’s 37…) What an exciting thing for Little Man!
    Stacie Seidman recently posted…Truthful TuesdayMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 18, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      No shame in that! It was the best day!

      Reply
  5. jan says

    June 18, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    Wow, that does look like the best day ever! Minnie as Princess Leiea made me laugh out loud. So cute! Also I love your dress. Cool that you match Darth Vader. 😀
    jan recently posted…Anatomy for RunnersMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 18, 2014 at 10:33 pm

      Completely unplanned, I assure you! We have yet to meet the Fab Four in their Star Wars gear, but this opportunity far outweighed that.

      Reply
  6. Rachel @ Undercover Diva: A Sitcom says

    June 18, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    WOW! So exciting 🙂 So glad you all had a great time!!!!
    Rachel @ Undercover Diva: A Sitcom recently posted…The Great Adventure: Dublin City HighlightsMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 12:30 am

      Not as great a time as you just had, I’ll bet! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says

    June 19, 2014 at 12:27 am

    Oh my goodness, that is a memory he will never forget.
    Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted…Running Downtown CharlestonMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 12:36 am

      Six year olds do have a very short-term memory. They next day, he had ice cream before lunch, and I think the two are tied as Best Things Ever in his brain LOL! It was so great, though.

      Reply
  8. Pam says

    June 19, 2014 at 12:33 am

    What a super fun day for your entire family. I always wonder how Disney picks the guests for special events and so excited for you and your son. What a very special opportunity!
    Pam recently posted…A new marathon in Hampton Roads: One City MarathonMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 12:38 am

      Believe me. Never, in a million years, did I ever think he would get selected for something like that. I have no idea what they look for. I’m sure it didn’t hurt that he is very outgoing (wouldn’t freeze up in front of the crowd), but other than that, I haven’t a clue. I’m just thrilled that whatever they were looking for, they found it in him that day. Special doesn’t even being to describe it.

      Reply
  9. Angie says

    June 19, 2014 at 1:35 am

    What an awesome day!
    Angie recently posted…TimeMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 10:54 am

      It really, really was.

      Reply
  10. Jen says

    June 19, 2014 at 3:19 am

    I’m right in that generation that grew up with the original movies. My brother was a huge fan all through our childhood, so I was kind of forced into it. As an adult, I love that it’s become so much a part of popular culture and that Disney is keeping it alive. I’m not sure l’d really get giddy over meeting any celebrity from any of the movies….well…maybe Liam Neeson…
    Glad you had such a great time! Your son will be telling stories about it for months!
    Jen recently posted…School’s Out For The SummerMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 11:46 am

      Oh, yeah. Liam Neeson would be exciting, too. Good call.

      Reply
  11. Anne @ CandyCrazedrun.wordpress.com says

    June 19, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Oh. My. Gosh!

    That is so, so, so, amazing I am so incredibly impressed by that kind of heart and kindness to give a little one such a cool experience!
    I remember before we moved to St. Augustine form Atlantic Beach, so I must have been like 4, rushing out of the bath at night to watch Star Trek (totally different, I know) with my parents.
    Haha I love that your son has done Jedi Training, how cute

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 19, 2014 at 11:58 am

      I could never get into Star Trek. I did like TNG when it was out (because who doesn’t love Patrick Stewart and Wil Wheaton, amiright?), and I remember watching that pretty religiously, along with Quantum Leap. When I was 4… Tarzan was my show. Ah, memories!

      Reply
  12. Elizabeth says

    June 21, 2014 at 5:36 am

    Totally geeking out right now and kinda jealous of little man! 😉 He looks so incredibly happy in the last picture! People say so many negative things about Disney but it’s stories like these that keep me coming back to their parks.
    Elizabeth recently posted…CogniTea Review and GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      June 21, 2014 at 1:53 pm

      Disney isn’t for everyone, that’s for sure. There are things I really dislike, but based on the cost, the hotel rates and the crowds in the park, it’s doing something right LOL.

      We will be taking a bit of a break from the parks so that we can do other things, but we’ll be back. We always come back.

      Reply

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Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have pugs and a hedgehog, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!
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