Star Wars Weekends

"No, I don't have a landing permit. I'm trying to reach Lando Calrissian!" - Han Solo   The Empire Strikes Back

Myself and several hundred other people were trying to accomplish the same thing that Han Solo originally was 30 years ago. My Sunday morning started at 5:30am in the Billy Dee Williams line, and I was already out past the baggage check area. After getting 3rd session fastpasses for Billy Dee Williams and Jeremy Bulloch, I headed into the park. I decided to claim a spot for the parade extra early this weekend, and got a great spot sitting on the wall next to the American Idol Experience. The parade route was jammed with fans, and everyone enjoyed seeing the characters as well as the celebrities.

After the parade it was really starting to get HOT in the park, so I was glad that the line for the Stars of the Saga show is in the shade next to the Muppet Vision 3D building. The show was great, with Ray Park being interviewed first. He is definitely a high energy guy, and walked on stage wielding dual lightsabers, threw one of them to Jeremy and challenged him to a fight. Jeremy didn't want to go up against Darth Maul in a lightsaber duel, and quickly got the interview going instead. After Ray's interview, it was Billy Dee's turn to join them on stage. He talked about several projects he was working on, including new Robot Chickenepisodes he would be starting in a couple of weeks. Jeremy then asked a couple of questions that members of the audience had written, one of which was "Mr. Williams, what would be your last words?" Billy Dee smiled, and immediately launched into the recital of this creed:

Out of the night that covers me 
black as the pit from pole to pole 
I thank whatever gods may be 
for my unconquerable soul

In the fell clutch of circumstance 
I have not winced nor cried aloud 
Under the bludgeonings of chance 
my head is bloody, but unbowed

It matters not how strait the gate 
how charged with punishments the scroll 
I am the master of my fate 
I am the captain of my soul

"Invictus,"
by William Earnest Henley

After a perfect ending to the Stars of the Saga show, I headed over to the Star Tours area and saw that C3PO was greeting guests under the Ewok village area. I HAD to meet the latest Star Wars sensation on YouTube, and got in line to speak with C3PO. I walked up, introduced myself, and without a moment of hesitation C3PO greeted me back. We talked for a moment about where he had visited in the galaxy, and what part of the galaxy I was from, and then got a photo with both he and R2D2. The voice modulator technology is truly incredible, and adds a whole other level to meeting these characters. I then headed over to Echo Lake, a bit early, to see how the standby crowd was looking for Jeremy Bulloch. It was a good thing I stopped by, because they had moved up Jeremy's signing time by an hour, and he was signing now. I got into line, and had him sign a photo of the Darth Vader-Lando Calrissian-Boba Fett meeting scene from The Empire Strikes Back. I then went over to the "Sounds Dangerous" show building, and got in line for my 3rd session signing time with Billy Dee Williams. By now it was SO HOT out, that both Billy Dee and Ray Park were signing autographs inside the air conditioning. I got my photo signed, and will now need to wait until David Prowse returns to Star Wars Weekends, for the final signature.

I had a great time again this year, and look forward to next year's weekends, AND riding on the new Star Tours 2.0. I have submitted some photos from Weekend 3, to go with this report.

Darth Stang