BB-8 Prop arrived at Star Wars Launch Bay

There was definitely something missing when Star Wars Launch Bay opened.  

A glaring error that has now been been corrected.

BB-8

BB-8 is now on display next to Rey's Speeder in Star Wars Launch Bay.  I'm glad to see this addition to the exhibit, since BB-8 is a beloved character from the film that has now grossed over 2 Billion dollars worldwide.   Heck the BB-8 sipper cups are selling so fast that the fact that BB-8 wasn't in the exhibit when it opened was a huge oversight.

I hope that additions will regularly be made to Star Wars Launch Bay.  It could become a permanent Star Wars exhibit with different items from the franchise being displayed.  New and old props from the Lucasfilm archives could come and go making this exhibit a destination for all Star Wars fans.

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Seasons of the Force: 3 Changes to the Jedi Academy at Disneyland since I last saw it.

 

Trials of the Temple:    The Jedi Academy training has made some changes since the last time I saw it and maybe since the last time you did as well.

Change number 1. If you want your kid to get picked to be part of the show—now you have to pre-register over at Star Wars Launch Bay –instead of just wearing a Star Wars shirt and hoping to get selected.

Change number 2.  The limited seating area on the ground in front of the show is now reserved for parents of the children involved in the show.  (They don’t tell you this until about 5-10 before the show so be warned)

Change Number 3.   The show itself has changed a little.

The new show features a main Jedi and his Padawan leading you in training and preparing you to face a test at the Jedi Temple.  

They start by bringing out the Jedi Trainees.

They gather in front of their Master

Before the Handing out of the Training Lightsabers

Then just like the old show they teach the young Jedi in the proper use of a lightsaber ---Which will come in handy when your kids whack at you with one later in the day.

An addition to the new version of the show is the new Padawan character which was a little on the silly side and I think took away from the original show.   I prefer the bad Jedi puns to the interactions between the Master and his Padawan.

Instead of Stormtroopers running down and interrupting the show before the stage rises…..now the Jedi trainees help to raise the stage by using the force to reveal is a hidden Jedi Temple.   The old effect of the stage just coming up to reveal Vader and Maul was a lot more impressive than this temple that shows up.  Vader and a villain currently on Star Wars Rebels called the Seventh Sister arriving from a door.

  Here is Vader

 

And the Seventh Sister

    At this point the show is pretty much the same as the students take turns battling Vader and The Seventh Sister.   Here is a batch of photos of the Jedi facing their fears.

Nice Duck there young Jedi

I think Vader and the Seventh Sister are outnumbered

Vader doesn't seem worried

Join the Dark Side and together we can rule the galaxy

Who said you can't be a Princess and a Jedi?

The Young Jedi waiting for their turn to battle

How many of these Jedi do I have to fight Vader must be thinking

After all the students the Palawan then faces off against Maul who makes a surprise appearance at the end.     It is still an entertaining show especially if you have a Star Wars fan in the family who can get a once in a lifetime battle with a Star Wars villain.

I'm glad Darth Maul is still a part of the Show

 

It is photo time as the Young Jedi habe completed their training.


I personally just like the original version better –especially since this new version pretty much makes it so Tomorrowland Terrace no longer has night time music (because the stage is no longer there)

To See pictures from the older Version of the show that featured Stormtroopers  go here
http://braddisneylandblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/jedi-academy-fighting-vader.html

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Star Wars Launch Bay: Meeting Chewie

I had one goal on my return trip to Seasons of the Force this past weekend to meet Chewie.   

Parking in the Toy Story parking lot ---was a sign that it was a busy day.  The line for the bus from the lot to the park was long so I decided to walk the couple of long blocks to the park.  The entrance lines weren’t bad –but Disneyland itself was packed  (and preparations for Candlelight were going on).  You couldn’t even walk down Main Street –but were instead ushered back stage all the way to the corn dog cart.  Disneyland must have been near capacity ---crowd control was in full effect. 


I made my way into Tomorrowland (It is so cool just walking around with John Williams in the background) .  I went straight over to Star Wars Launch Bay and entered the building.  
The line for Chewie was only about 25 minutes according to sign. (this picture of the sign was from the other day I went to Launch Bay).

 

While I was  in line I felt like 7 year old all over again.  The same  age I was when I first saw Star Wars In a Drive In theater.     

While waiting in line they had some cool artifacts to keep my attention.  

 Rebellion helmets from the movies. 

Here is Poe's Helmet

"Get out of here Wedge ---You aren't helping anyone back there."

Luke's Helmet

Even Sabine from Rebels

Lightsabers from the Jedi

Obi Wan

Yoda's Saber

You enter what looks like a Rebel Base walking down a few corridors and then you turn a corner and Chewie is right in front of you.

I have been jealous for years of all the kids that get to do the Jedi Academy.    Where was that kind of experience when I was a kid?But now with Star Wars Launch Bay---Adults can get an opportunity to meet a couple of their favorite characters from the films.

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