Darth Vader is Coming to Former Jedi Academy Training Stage At Disney Hollywood Studios

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At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can now find Darth Vader for meet-and-greets at a new location: the stage that used to host the Jedi Training Academy, close to the Star Tours attraction.

Since September 25, 2025, Darth Vader has been meeting guests near the entrance to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, including the outdoor area known as Ewok Village. This happened after Star Wars: Launch Bay, where he previously met guests inside, closed down.

Launch Bay closed as Disney updates the Animation Courtyard area. A new attraction, “The Magic of Disney Animation,” is planned to open in late 2026.

I just heard that Darth Vader has moved! He’s now appearing at the old Jedi Training Academy spot, right next to Star Tours. It seems like Disney’s trying to give everyone a little more room to move around, especially with all the crowds we get during spring break. It’s a smart move, honestly – that area always gets packed!

History of Jedi Training at the Park

For many years, Disney Parks featured an interactive show called the Jedi Training Academy, later updated as Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. This experience allowed children between the ages of four and twelve to learn basic lightsaber moves. Disney cast members led the young Padawans through training before they faced off against Darth Vader or Kylo Ren.

These sessions, lasting around 20 minutes each, happened several times a day on an outdoor stage near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Because they were so popular, people usually had to sign up early to reserve a spot, and each performance had limited space. Guests could watch from designated areas around the stage.

Honestly, it was a bummer when that attraction closed back on March 16th, 2020, and it never came back even after the parks reopened. Then, in 2022, Disney finally took down all the signs for it, which pretty much confirmed it wasn’t coming back at all. It was a sad day for me, as a big fan!

Context

Where you can meet characters at Disney can vary depending on how busy the parks are, the time of year, and other factors. With spring break happening now, Darth Vader might be back at the Star Tours area soon, but Disney hasn’t officially said so. The best way to find the current meet-and-greet schedule and locations is to check the Disney mobile app.

Currently, this update lets people of all ages, from kids to adults, revisit the iconic Jedi Training experience with Darth Vader, bringing a bit of that special magic back to life.

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2026-03-25 23:56