Overview
- Darth Vader now meets guests on the long-idle Jedi Training Academy stage beside Star Tours with set encounter times and PhotoPass support.
- The Sith Lord moved from Star Wars Launch Bay when it closed in 2025 to the Star Tours outdoor queue before this latest shift to the nearby stage.
- The change turns a previously vacant platform into a consistent, high-visibility character spot and helps keep the Star Tours queue available during busy periods.
- Launch Bay’s closure is tied to its conversion into The Magic of Disney Animation, slated to start opening this summer, which pushed Star Wars character encounters into new locations.
- It is not clear if this placement is permanent, and larger Star Wars assets such as the closed Galactic Starcruiser remain out of guest use as Disney leans on smaller activations.