Star Wars attire filled the park as passionate fans celebrated Star Wars Day (May the 4th) at Disneyland. Some brought costumes in backpacks and changed in the restrooms while others donned their favorite Star Wars t-shirt. There was a bunch of limited edition merchandise and a trivia contest to top the day.
SWM Mickey Jedi

A Little Background…

The first known record of “May the 4th” in pop culture came in 1979, according to author of “Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back”.

“Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was ‘May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,’ further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.”

Once the Internet got a hold of the pun, Star Wars fans adopted May the 4th as Star Wars Day. Lucasfilm had no part in creating the tradition, but has since embraced it along with the fandom that followed.

For Those Who Don’t Appreciate Star Wars Day

Shockingly enough, not everyone is excited about Star Wars Day. An Ad came out that unveils the ugly truth.

The Force For Change

A Star Wars Day video from the set of Episode 8 featuring Daisy Ridley talking about the charity Force For Change and the new campaign.

Star Wars Celebration 2017

Dates were announced for Star Wars Celebration 2017 along with the news that it was coming back to the U.S. and being held in Orlando, FL.

SW Celebration Dates

Season Of The Force

Fans showed up in droves for the Star Wars Attractions at Disneyland Star Wars Day.

SOF HSM 2

Hyperspace Mountain continued to rock from rope drop.
Hyperspace Mountain continued to rock from rope drop.

ST 1

Leia returns to Star Tours
Leia returns to Star Tours

Star Tours quietly reverted to the random first sequence that Jakku has solely occupied since the Season Of The Force started last November. BB8’s exclusive appearance is now shared with Leia, Yoda and Admiral Akbar again.

Rebels

“Path of the Jedi” surrendered the Tomorrowland Theater to a screening of Star Wars Rebels “Shroud Of Darkness”

JTA 1

JTA 2

And the Jedi Training Academy: Trials of the Temple filled its spots quickly today as the younglings took on Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister.

Around the corner, a new photo op of Jakku was a popular spot.

OP 1

OP 2

More Merch Than You Can Shake A Gaderffii Stick At

With longer lines than the rides, fans waited for the chance to pick up exclusive merchandise for Star Wars Day. Starting with the Starcade:

A group of First Order Troops watches over the lines in the Starcade.
A group of First Order Troops watches over the lines in the Starcade.
Right after rope drop, fans were grabbing the new Rogue One t-shirts along with an exclusive action figure and Ewok plush.
Right after rope drop, fans were grabbing the new Rogue One t-shirts along with an exclusive action figure and Ewok plush.
Cast Members brought out additional racks of the shirts to meet demand.
Cast Members brought out additional racks of the shirts to meet demand.
The exclusive R5-M4 action figure was a popular item as well.
The exclusive R5-M4 action figure was a popular item as well.

More exclusive merchandise was offered at Store Command next to Buzz Lightyear.

SWM Lines 1

A tape que outside the store regulated the flow.
A tape que outside the store regulated the flow.
Outside, Cast Members had pictures of the exclusive merchandise to show the crowd.
Outside, Cast Members had pictures of the exclusive merchandise to show the crowd.
The line snaked into the exit of Buzz Lightyear to the back entrance of Store Command.
The line snaked into the exit of Buzz Lightyear to the back entrance of Store Command.
Inside, another tape que weaved up to the register.
Inside, another tape que weaved up to the register.

SWM Lines 6

The exclusives were t-shirts, water bottles, pins and Christmas ornaments. One a theme for the light side, “May The 4th Be With You” and the other for the people who don’t like Star Wars Day, “Revenge Of The 5th”

SWM 1

SWM 2

SWM 3

SWM 4

SWM 5 SWM 6

By mid-day, it was all gone.

Store Command back to normal.
Store Command back to normal.

Pizza Port and Galactic Grill offered exclusive glassware.

SWM 8

SWM 9

STAR WARS TRIVIA CHALLENGE

The big fun came in the evening at the Galactic Grill Stage. First was the Padawan Mind Challenge for the kids. With robes from the Jedi Academy, a line of kids were given light sabers to raise or lower for the answers to Star Wars trivia questions. Each time they got an answer right, they moved up to the next line. When they got to the front, another correct answer earned a spot on the stage. There were several rounds until all the kids were on stage. Each of the kids got a prize for playing.

There were two contests each for the kids and the adults.
There were two contests each for the kids and the adults.
The kids lined up to take the challenge.
The kids lined up to take the challenge.
No one was left behind when it was all done.
None were left behind when it was all done.

When the grownups got their turn, there were a couple hundred eager fans filling the floor of the Galactic Grill Stage. As they waited for show time, a couple Stormtroopers came out and entertained the crowd with a little improv comedy.

SWT 4

SWT 5

SWT 6

The first round of grown up trivia had the entire crowd trying to answer random questions. First to raise their hand with the correct answer moved on. Once there were ten, another round of questions got it down to 2.

Unfortunately there are no photos of the top 10, because yours truly was one of them. Ahem…

Our Trivia hosts.
Our Trivia hosts.
The final two.
The final two.

When it came to the final lightning round, the top two contestants who walked away with prizes were amazing! They instantly knew the answers to some very difficult questions. Greg was the winner and I was humbled in their presence.

The show was amazing way to top of a fun day. Even watching the kids contest was a blast!

Star Wars Land Construction

We can’t leave Star Wars Day without a look at how things are coming along behind the scenes at the Star Wars land construction site.

Coming out of Haunted Mansion, there was no hiding the work going on behind the Hungry Bear Restaurant.
There was no hiding the work going on behind the Hungry Bear Restaurant.

SWL 2

The remaining buildings that were standing last week are now almost gone.
The remaining buildings that were standing last week are now almost gone.
As the dirt moves around the area, is the beginning of a pad for one of the show buildings?
You can see where the dirt is being moved around and leveled.
The remnants of the berm continue to evolve.
The remnants of the berm continues to evolve.

That’s it for this year’s celebration. It was great to see the young and old alike showing their love for Star Wars. Until next time…MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU…ALWAYS!

Sharing is caring!