Darth Vader’s Disney World Future Uncertain as Star Wars Launch Bay Closes for New Animation Experience? Darth Vader’s popular meet-and-greet at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios faces an uncertain future as Star Wars Launch Bay is set to close on September 25, 2025. The closure makes way for ‘The Walt Disney Studios,’ a new animation-themed experience slated for 2026, leaving fans to wonder about the fate of characters like the cybernetically-enhanced Sith Lord.
Star Wars Launch Bay is the Disney World home to Darth Vader, BB-8, and Chewbacca meet and greet. Opening daily from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM for guests to wander through immersive exhibits of the Star Wars Universe. Large murals lined the walls, movie posters, and props were all throughout Launch Bay.
Disney Experiences recently announced: “The last day to experience Star Wars Launch Bay is September 24. The location will close permanently on September 25 to make way for The Walt Disney Studios.”
In 2026, the current home of Star Wars: Launch Bay will transform into a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences. Topping the building will be Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat (just like the real building in California!), which will cast a spell with pixie dust.
While Disney has not yet made an official announcement regarding the precise new location for Darth Vader character greetings after Launch Bay closes, it is widely anticipated that some of these popular character experiences, including potentially Darth Vader, could be relocated to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge within Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Chewbacca and BB-8 fit into the timeline of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge here at Hollywood Studios, but Darth Vader does not. Is Darth Vader on the move to the area surrounding Star Tours and Tatooine Traders? He used to appear in that area at the Jedi Training Temple during Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. Unfortunately, that show never returned after 2020.
This may be the end of meeting Darth Vader at Walt Disney World. Could he reappear during special events? Of course, but it is highly unlikely we will see him for a few years. Next on the Star Wars docket is The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, which ties into the timeline of Galaxy’s Edge.
Darth Vader’s Disney World Future Uncertain as Star Wars Launch Bay Closes for New Animation Experience
