Hello, and welcome to Dateline Disney World! This week, we take a look at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Star Wars Weekends as well as the Magic Kingdom. Almost 70 photos, so let’s get started!

If you’d like to support the column and shop on Amazon.com at the same time, just click HERE and a percentage of anything you buy will support us, at no extra cost to you! It’s a great way to help yourself and keep this column going at the same time.

[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-8FBwWXS/0/O/hollywoodstudios-1.png[/img]

Welcome to the Studios!!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150001.jpg[/img]

The big story this week is that Star Wars Weekends starts this weekend, and goes on for the next month or so. There are lots of banners throughout the park, and the times guides also reflect the change.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150002.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150003.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150004.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150005.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150006.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150007.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150008.jpg[/img]

The hideous stage that is used for Hyperspace Hoopla is now up, and will probably be like that until July 4th is over. Along with it comes lighting rigs and tents. Mulch, Sweat, and Shears is being set up there.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150009.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150010.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150011.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150012.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150013.jpg[/img]

The character meet and greets are all up and ready.

More banners and merch scattered throughout the park.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150014.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150015.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150016.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150017.jpg[/img]

Star Tours only had a 10 minute wait this week, but that will probably change along with Star Wars Weekends.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150018.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150019.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150020.jpg[/img]

Miss Piggy wasn’t spinning, making photos easy to take.

More Star Wars stuff up in the park.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150021.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150022.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150023.jpg[/img]

I poked my head over near the AFI film institute and saw the Monsters Inc meet and greet walled up.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150024.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150031.jpg[/img]

Inside the AFI room, there is some interesting stuff.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150025.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150026.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150028.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150029.jpg[/img]

The inaccuracy of this shirt always cracks me up.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150030.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150033.jpg[/img]

More Star Wars things.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150032.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150034.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150035.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150036.jpg[/img]

70 minutes. Could be worse.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150037.jpg[/img]

Getting Fastpass at 3pm? Not a chance.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150038.jpg[/img]

I don’t know how this attraction keeps getting long queues. It simply is not good.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150039.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150040.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150041.jpg[/img]

And a Times Guide with Star Wars Weekends on it.

[img]http://datelinedisneyland.smugmug.com/Other/DDW/i-tgSgFTp/0/O/magickingdom-5.png[/img]

Welcome to the Magic Kingdom!!

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150054.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150055.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150056.jpg[/img]

Roy and Minnie are still unfortunately tucked away by City Hall.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150057.jpg[/img]

There is still lots of refurbishment happening in Liberty Square.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150058.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150059.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150060.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150061.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150062.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150063.jpg[/img]

No outdoor movement on the meet and greet, even though it’s been almost a whole year since Snow White closed. I’m still sad that it’s gone.

The Mine Train is starting to look like something, more done every week.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150064.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150066.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150067.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150068.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150069.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150070.jpg[/img]

Quick break in new Fantasyland for some photos and a LeFou’s Brew.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150071.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150072.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150073.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150065.jpg[/img]

Be Our Guest restaurant had some menu changes, with the Steak Sandwich now replaced at lunch with a roast beef sandwich. Sad, as the steak was my favorite lunchtime entree there.

Back to Mine Train photos.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150074.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150075.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150077.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150078.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150079.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150076.jpg[/img]

Mad Tea Party still down for refurbishment. I also heard there may be a tea cup set up outside for a photo op. They did that at Disneyland during the 50th and it worked great.

Lastly, we’ll close out the week with a nice monorail shot.

[img]http://www.miceshots.com/usr/72/DatelineDisneyWorld05152013-P5150080.jpg[/img]

That does it for this week’s column. Will you be heading out to brave the crowds for Star Wars Weekends? What song will Chewie dance to this year? Let us know in the comments!!

If you’d like to support Dateline Disney World and you shop regularly at Amazon.com , please CLICK HERE before you do. It won’t cost you any extra, and it’ll help out the column!!

If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL=”http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com”]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL=”http://www.ISO5571.com”]ISO5571[/URL]

Sharing is caring!