Darth Vader’s meet spot left the Star Tours queue for the AT-AT stage on Oct. 28, and the Vacation Fun short kept playing past its planned Oct. 28 closure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Darth Vader has packed up his meet spot at Disney’s Hollywood Studios again, according to WDW News Today. A WDWNT reporter found the Sith Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 28, greeting guests by the AT-AT statue instead of inside the Star Tours queue.
That same day, a short film over at Echo Lake was supposed to go dark. It didn’t. Vacation Fun at the Mickey Shorts Theater is still playing, according to WDWMagic and Disney’s own website.
Where is Darth Vader at Hollywood Studios now?
Vader now meets guests at the stage between Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and Backlot Express, right next to the AT-AT statue, WDWNT reports. The “Encounter Darth Vader” sign at the extended queue entrance is gone.
WDWNT says it’s the same area he used in March. It’s the old Jedi Training Academy stage, so the Empire is basically squatting on Jedi property.
Disney has not said whether this move is temporary or permanent.
Why does Darth Vader keep moving at Hollywood Studios?
His old home went away. Vader used to meet guests at Star Wars Launch Bay. WDWNT reported that Launch Bay closed and that The Magic of Disney Animation is taking over the building.
WDWNT and Disney Dining track the moves:
September 2025: Vader moved into the rarely used extended Star Tours queue, in the shade of the Endor set near Tatooine Traders.
March 2026: He moved out to the open area by the AT-AT statue. WDWNT called that move temporary.
Later in 2026: Disney Dining reports he went back to the Star Tours queue.
Oct. 28, 2026: He’s back by the AT-AT statue, and the queue sign is down.
That’s four moves in about 13 months. Disney Dining suggests the missing sign could mean a longer stay, but Disney hasn’t confirmed that.
How do you meet Darth Vader at Hollywood Studios?
Disney’s character page calls it an encounter where you face “interrogation” in the presence of Lord Vader and the Galactic Empire. The page lists the meet in Echo Lake near the entrance to Star Tours.
WDWNT says Vader meets guests daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Exact times vary, so check the My Disney Experience app on the day you go.
The new spot is outdoors, so plan for sun or rain.
Is Vacation Fun closing at Hollywood Studios?
No, at least for now. Vacation Fun: An Original Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie plays at the Mickey Shorts Theater in Echo Lake. On Oct. 2, WDWNT reported the Disney app listed it as set to “temporarily close starting October 28.”
Kenny the Pirate reported Disney planned to reopen it “later this year,” with no date.
Then Oct. 28 came and went with the show still running. WDWMagic, Inside the Magic and Disney Dining all report it stayed open.
Disney’s official Vacation Fun page listed regular daily hours and no closure notice when PNP checked it Thursday.
Why was Vacation Fun supposed to close?
Disney never gave a reason. Several outlets, including WDWNT and Kenny the Pirate, guessed it was tied to Disney Jollywood Nights, the after-hours holiday event. Disney never confirmed that link.
The guess has history behind it. The theater closed in late October 2025 so its exit area could become a Jollywood Nights merchandise shop, and the show returned Dec. 27, 2025.
It went dark twice more this year:
Spring 2026: Closed for a Star Wars merchandise setup tied to May the Fourth.
August to September 2026: Closed while the space handed out a Kermit the Frog magnet to Annual Passholders.
Disney hasn’t said whether the October closure was canceled or just pushed back.
When is Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios?
Disney Jollywood Nights runs from Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, through Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027, according to Kenny the Pirate and Disney Fanatic.
Inside the Magic reports the theater is listed as open past Nov. 7. That could change fast, so check the app.
The park is busy with bigger changes, too. PNP reported Oct. 27 that the first Monstropolis building had been uncovered near Animation Courtyard.
Here’s a look at the Darth Vader meet, filmed Oct. 28, from SmedleyDouwright:
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (Oct. 28), Vader’s new location, removed sign, meet window; (Oct. 2), planned Vacation Fun closure; (March), Vader move history
WDWMagic (Oct. 28), Vacation Fun stayed open past planned closure
Disney Dining (Oct. 29), Vader location timeline, Vacation Fun status
Inside the Magic (Oct. 29), Vacation Fun hours past Nov. 7, closure history
Kenny the Pirate, planned reopening “later this year,” Jollywood Nights dates
Disney Fanatic, Jollywood Nights dates, closure history
Walt Disney World, Vader meet description and location, Vacation Fun hours
SmedleyDouwright (Oct. 28), Darth Vader meet video
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