Overview
- On March 23, reporters observed Darth Vader greeting guests on the former Jedi Training Academy stage next to Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- The character encounter was previously shifted in 2025 from the closed Star Wars Launch Bay to an extended Star Tours queue before this latest move.
- BlogMickey reports the change enables Star Tours to use its outdoor queue for Spring Break crowds, suggesting the setup could be temporary.
- The move repurposes an underused area, turning a pass-through space into a consistent destination for a high-demand character experience.
- Separately, the former Launch Bay is being converted into The Magic of Disney Animation opening this summer, with an Alice in Wonderland indoor playground, a new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse stage show, and animation-focused meet-and-greets, while the Galactic Starcruiser facility remains in office use with no guest plans announced.