Is Star Wars going to take over Toontown at Disneyland?

toontownIs Disneyland sacrificing Mickey’s Toontown for the long-awaited Star Wars area? Micechat is claiming that construction will begin there by 2016.

It does seem to make more sense than MiceChat’s previous Tomorrowland rumor – Tomorrowland has not only been a part of the park since inception, it’s getting it’s own movie next year. Toontown only opened in 1993, and the Disney World version was closed in 2011.

Apparently there’ll be some sort of Disneyland announcement later this week that may or may not have anything for us but /Film speculates we won’t hear anything about Star Wars plans until Celebration or the D23 Expo next year, which is in line with what we’ve heard before.

Mark Hamill to make first Star Wars Weekends appearance

weekends-luke-cropMark Hamill will be attending his first Star Wars Weekend this year, Disney Parks announced today. He’ll be at Disney World June 6-8, or Weekend IV.

That seems like it could be right smack in the middle of Episode VII filming, so naturally the speculation has ramped up, confirmation or no confirmation. What does this say about his (presumed) shooting schedule? Could the details waiting to be revealed be waiting on casting announcements? So much buzzing, I’m getting a headache.

One thing is for sure: Lucasfilm and Disney can probably afford the airfare between London and Orlando, or Orlando and anywhere else. (We can say one thing: Hamill recorded a live podcast in Los Angeles on Tuesday.)

Report: Disney keeping Expanded Universe characters out of Star Wars Weekends parade?

Word on the streets (well, the message boards) is that Disney has told the 501st and Rebel Legions that certain Expanded Universe characters are “not being allowed to march” in the Star Wars Weekend Motorcade. The only character we know for sure at this time is Mara Jade, but it’s easy to guess at several others from there. Nanci Tosche Station has thoughts.

One big question: Would this apply to characters from other eras who haven’t crossed over into tv or movies, like the Old Republic, or does it only affect post-Return of the Jedi characters who may in the path of the sequels?

Although this means certain costumers (including quite a few women) will no longer be able to march in the official parade, certain means of quiet protest have been suggested: Attendees can still dress in costumes or don EU character shirts.

UPDATE: TFN’s Eric Geller reached out the Lucasfilm on this, and they told him “that neither Disney nor LFL ordered a prohibition on EU characters in the SW Weekends parade.” Tosche Station maintains they’ve heard otherwise from 501st members, although no one is yet sure how high at Disney the orders may come from.

UPDATE #2: More explanation…

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