This past weekend, my family and I finally had the chance to see the new evening show at Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular. And, let me tell you, the force is strong with this production. You won’t want to miss it!
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular took over in June for the previous version of Star Wars-themed fireworks, Symphony in the Stars. This version got a major upgrade with the addition of lasers, light projections and other special effects combined with music and iconic characters and scenes from all seven films in the “Star Wars” series.
Here are a few tips for parents and others interested in seeing Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at Hollywood Studios.
** First, know that you don’t have to be a diehard Star Wars fan to enjoy this evening show. My almost-14-year-old son is not enamored with the saga, and he still was amazed by what he saw. He pointed out more than once that there was so much to look at that he wasn’t sure where to look next.
** On the other hand, if you are a big Star Wars fan, like my almost-12-year-old daughter, you most likely will enjoy the fact that all the movies play a part in this show and favorite characters are represented not just on the screens but in unusual ways, as well.
** The single most important tip I can give you for viewing this show is that you really need to be standing in front of the last two screens on the sides of Hollywood Boulevard in order to be able to fully experience the show. And, believe me, it is worth it to be in that “hub” during Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.
** Of course, to find a spot at the front of Hollywood Boulevard means planning to get there early to secure a space — unless you opt for the dessert party, which guarantees its participants a prime viewing area. (More on that to come.) That begs the question of “How early is early enough to secure a decent viewing spot?” Not to dodge the question, but that all depends on the crowds at Hollywood Studios. One way to judge crowd levels is by the standby wait times for attractions. On Saturday, crowds were lighter, and we walked up to a spot on Hollywood Boulevard just past the screens about 30 minutes before the start of the show.
** At the time, the street was taped off with designated waiting and walking areas. That’s a routine crowd-control method at Walt Disney World theme parks. However, much to our surprise, about five to 10 minutes before the show’s start, the tape was removed by cast members and guests were encouraged to move forward and fill in all the spaces. When we all moved forward, my family and I ended up standing in front of the last screens. Perfect!
** If you find that you have arrived on Hollywood Boulevard too late to secure a viewing spot up front, your next best bet is to see if you can skirt the crowds by walking the perimeter and scout any openings by Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner. That’s because the majority of the show takes place with projections on the center-stage and side screens and fireworks appear in the sky above the right screen. So, if you stand at Min and Bill’s you’ll be directly facing the fireworks.
** Want to skip the waiting and positioning on Hollywood Boulevard? Then the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party might be for you. The party takes place inside Star Wars Launch Bay, and 15 minutes before the fireworks show, guests are escorted to a VIP viewing area. The party features a selection of sweets, fruit, alcoholic beverages for those 21 and older and a souvenir stein featuring Chewbacca. The price is $69 for ages 10 and older and $39 for ages 3 to 9; tax and gratuity are included.
** Parents of young children should be aware that some parts of the show are loud, but otherwise Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular is not scary. When my son was little, he was fascinated by all the fireworks shows at Walt Disney World, but he could not tolerate the noise levels, so we always carried earplugs. They seemed to do the trick; he happily enjoyed the shows without the worry of the next loud boom. Headphones might serve the same purpose.
** Check the Times Guide early in the day for the schedule for nighttime entertainment. There will days when times for Fantasmic! and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular overlap and you will have to make a choice about which show you want to see. On some days, it may be possible to see both.
** Finally, if you are trying to decide whether to wait for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular or the stage show, Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away, I’d recommend the former, hands down. The stage show is little more than a glorified pageant of Star Wars characters, while the nighttime show truly is spectacular.
Are there handicapped viewing areas for this show??
KRISTIN: I’m told that there are areas for guests with mobility disabilities but that they can change often, so your best bet is to ask a cast member when you arrive.
Thank you for this review. Exactly what I was looking for as we will be going next week.
Thanks again!
Hi Kristin: Thanks so much for all this valuable info. I was looking at the schedule online and noticed that this show and the dessert party are only listed right now up to October 1, 2016. Is there any insight you can provide as to if the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks will continue past that date? And, are you able to find out if they’ll still continue this dessert party past that date as well? It sounds amazing! Thanks for all the info and pictures.
KRISTIN: Unfortunately, no official announcements have been made about either the new Star Wars fireworks show or the dessert party so I cannot give you a concrete answer. We will, however, bring you such news if/when it happens on AllEars.Net. Thanks for reading!