Beginning September 25, 2025, Disney relocated the Darth Vader meet‑and‑greet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios following the permanent closure of Star Wars: Launch Bay and the Animation Courtyard. Guests can now find him next to Star Tours.
Background and Launch Bay Closure
Star Wars: Launch Bay, which was situated in the Animation Courtyard, hosted character interactions and exhibits connected to the Star Wars franchise. On September 24, 2025, Disney operated the final day of Launch Bay and the adjoining courtyard area. Disney intends to repurpose the site into a new iteration of The Magic of Disney Animation and reimagine the Animation Courtyard into a Walt Disney Studios Lot.
The Star Wars Launch Bay on its final day – Follow The Bradley’s Fun
READ: PHOTOS: Main Street, U.S.A. Train Station Refurbishment Complete at Walt Disney World
With those closures, characters that formerly greeted guests in Launch Bay—including Darth Vader—were reassigned to new locations in the park.
New Location Near Star Tours
As of September 25, Darth Vader now meets guests in an outdoor queue space adjacent to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. The appearance is set in a less‑used extended queue, shaded and styled with elements meant to evoke the Endor forest environment. One report describes it as “in the shade of the Endor set near Tatooine Traders.”
Darth Vader outside Star Tours – YouTube, Global Current
The relocation places Darth Vader closer to a core Star Wars ride rather than in an isolated exhibit space. Disney has not publicly confirmed how long this arrangement will remain in place.
Operation and Scheduling
According to reporting, Darth Vader is scheduled to appear periodically from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in his new location, and the schedule is available via the My Disney Experience app. The move also coincides with changes to the Disney Visa Cardmember program: the exclusive Darth Vader meet‑and‑greet no longer takes place, and Disney Visa cardholders can now meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight from 9:00 a.m. to noon (with valid card presentation).
The BDX Droids in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge – YouTube, Laughing Place
Before the relocation, the Disney Visa Cardmember experience had allowed guests to meet Darth Vader inside Launch Bay by presenting a valid Disney Visa.
Impact and Context
Commentators suggest the relocation is consistent with Disney’s broader move to integrate character encounters more directly with immersive attraction spaces instead of stand‑alone exhibit pavilions. Some observers characterize the new setup as an interim measure until a more permanent meet‑and‑greet location is determined.
A photo of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park via Disney Parks blog
For park visitors, the shift means that encountering Darth Vader can now more naturally align with a Star Wars‑themed attraction (Star Tours). Guests are advised to check the My Disney Experience app for the most up‑to‑date schedule and location details, as character appearances may change.
Will you be meeting Darth Vader soon? Do you have a favorite character memory at the Disney parks? Let us know in the comments!
