Star Wars’ Season Of The Force show at Disneyland Paris is fun for all the Empire (Sith Lords included)
You won't have to travel galaxy far, far away to join the fun but you'll have to hurry as this Jedi jubilee only runs until March 26
THE SUSPENSE is unbearable . . . like the three years I spent worrying whether Disney’s Star Wars movies would be any good.
We can hear the tromp-tromp-tromp (or was it Trump-Trump-Trump?) of Stormtroopers marching towards us but can’t see them through the crowd of lightsabers and Mickey Mouse ears.
Then they appear: Captain Phasma, the silver-armoured, cape-wearing badass from The Force Awakens, and ten First Order Stormtroopers carrying blaster rifles and a tangible air of menace.
I’m pretty sure one trooper’s giving me the evils — though he could be staring at jungle queen Scarlett Moffatt, standing next to us.
My ten-year-old son, who despises goody-goody Jedi Knights and has pledged eternal loyalty to the Dark Side, is awe-struck. The Stormtrooper gives him a knowing nod and spares his life.
We are at Disneyland Paris for the launch of Season Of The Force, a Star Wars extravaganza at Walt Disney Studios Park until March 26.
The First Order March and Stormtrooper Patrol are just part of this action-packed event which features classic characters and moments from all eight films.
Straight after the baddies’ parade there’s an open-air stage show, A Galaxy Far, Far Away, with appearances from C-3PO, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren and an impressive turn from Sith show-off Darth Maul indulging in martial arts with his double lightsaber.
At night, the Hollywood Tower of Terror building is the backdrop for a light and sound spectacular, Star Wars: A Galactic Celebration.
We gaze in wonder as shimmering streams of colour fill our field of vision then realise it’s just Olly Murs in an outlandish festival hat.
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Moving away from Olly, we are treated to a blend of projections, fireworks, special effects and 360- degree sound referencing great moments from the saga while characters appear on stage.
We see epic space battles played out on a colossal “screen” that makes an Imax look like your kitchen TV.
Afterwards we chat to Star Wars’ Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in Return Of The Jedi as well as a host of other roles in later films.
I ask him if he still gets goosebumps when he hears the opening blast of the iconic John Williams theme.
“Absolutely,” he says. “It’s wonderful that after all these years I come along to an event like this and see how much Star Wars still means to people. It’s very special.” Although Season Of The Force is most visible in Walt Disney Studios Park, there’s still plenty of Star Wars action over in Disneyland Park too.
For children determined not to give in to the Dark Side, there is the Jedi Academy in Discoveryland.
Kids aged seven to 12 are taught lightsaber combat skills which are then put to the test when their session is gatecrashed by Darth Vader, who challenges the whole class to a fight.
You can imagine how that turns out.
The Star Wars action at Disneyland Paris will be ramped up when the park celebrates its 25th birthday this spring and two attractions reopen after overhauls.
Space Mountain will run again as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, while Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will be a rebooted version of the motion simulator with new characters.
But until then, Season Of The Force is carrying the Star Wars baton for Disneyland Paris. There’s not long to go . . . and it’s not far, far away.
GO: Disneyland Paris
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A two-night, three-day stay at Disneyland Paris for two adults and two children under seven is from £978.12, with full board meal plan, accommodation at Disney’s Newport Bay Club and park tickets as well as return Eurostar from London St Pancras indirect via Lille. Based on March 6 departure.
Book by Feb 28 at or call 08448 008 111.