May The Mouse Be With You...Always.

Hello!  I won’t even go into how long it’s been.  Trust me, I know.

I’m going to try to knock out a couple of more updates before I checkout.  “Whhaaaatt?  You’re checking out already?!”  It’s already been six months, how crazy is that?!  I’ll be home in less than a month! 

So, down to business.  My home location is Island Mercantile at DAK but, occasionally, Disney will pull you from your location and deploy you to where you are needed.

Thanks to Carey, who backed out of volunteering for Star Wars Weekends, I was volunt-told to go.  So I spent Friday through Sunday for five weekends in May and June working at Hollywood Studios.

It was basically the greatest thing ever.

Soundstage 1, which used to be used as a real soundstage, is a giant warehouse located between Toy Story Mania and Studio Backlot Tour.  In modern days, it is where special events are housed.  Currently, it is “Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post” for Frozen Summer Fun but, only weeks ago, was Darth’s Mall!

Imagine working in a giant, super air-conditioned room where all of your co-workers and customers all have the same interests as you not to mention it’s filled to the brim with merchandise for that interest.  That pretty much sums up Darth’s Mall.

There was also a really cool refreshment bar inside called "Ackbar Snackbar."  If you didn't laugh, you officially lose your Star Wars Fan status.

 I can honestly say I was excited to go to work on the weekends. 

But, wait!  There’s more….

Like Aurebesh name badges... (I got two: Jedi Master and Rebel)

And FREE Lego X-Wing Fighters...

And cool food…

And even cooler popcorn buckets and drink steins!

If you can’t tell, I spent a lot of my free time (and money!) at Star Wars Weekends as well. 

I caught the motorcade and did some of the other festivities but what I got really into was the characters.  I literally met everyone (not counting Clone Wars characters) with the exception of Jango Fett.  And I’m usually not a Meet & Greet person.

(Nearly) all of the characters I saw were a blast to meet.

I say nearly because I have never had a character Meet & Greet as bad as Vader’s.  I waited over 30 minutes only to be brushed off, barely got a crapselfie (as seen below) and no PhotoPass picture.  I spent less than 30 seconds with him.  I was fuming, not gonna lie.

But everyone else pretty much made up for it! 

The Skywalker Family was gorgeous and perfect.  Leia complimented my dress and fussed over my Jedi Master status (I wore my name badge).  Padme Amidala was, just, perfect.  I could hardly handle it.  She kept dropping sly comments about her love and respect for the Jedi Order and its members.  I nearly couldn't contain my laughter.  Anakin was flawless and, as my coworker said, "you could cut yourself on that jawbone."  He was quite charming.  But it was Luke who stole my heart.  I am not someone who gets worked up over characters and, I'll admit, I'm not the biggest Luke Skywalker fan.  Despite this, I full-on fangirled.  Don't ask me why, I do not know.  But let's just say I have a new reason to keep an eye out for Peter Pan in the Festival of Fantasy Parade. ;)  He also asked me "Aren't you a little short to be a Jedi Master?"  I may have actually died.

Surprisingly, none of these were my top favorite Meets.  

#3 - Darth Maul.  You know that feeling when you're up and close and personal with a dangerous animal and, while you know that you are there voluntarily and that they aren't actually going to hurt you, you're still scared half to death and ready to bolt?  Yeah, that is exactly how I felt meeting Darth Maul.  I probably spent five minutes with him.  Much longer than any other character. 

#2 - Boba Fett.  Until working the event, I had no idea the obsession people had with Boba Fett.  I've always liked him fine but never quite saw why everyone else adored him so much...until meeting him.  Holy cow, I'd been warned he was a flirt but thought the same thing I'm sure all of you are: "how flirty can someone in mask who can't talk actually be?"  Let me tell you, incredibly so.  I present to you a new power couple and my new ship: 

And...#1 - Chewbacca!  First, I walked up to him and he tackles me in the biggest bear-hug (Wookie-hug?) imaginable.  Then he grabbed my autograph book, signed it, and all but tossed it to the attendant before hugging me again.  I proceeded to ask the greatest question ever: if I could get selfie.  He stole my phone, snapped a couple selfies of himself before raising the phone up at full arm's length (which is seriously about 8 feet in the air), grabs me in yet another hug and took them for me!  He gave it back, pulled me into one last hug before waving me off.  It was amazing.

That's about it, folks!  Star Wars Weekends-wise anyway.  I intend to do a backstage tours post as well as one more generic update post before coming home!  Fingers crossed that they actually happen.  

Love you all and hope to hear from you!

~Abigail~