Star Wars: The Force Awakens Teaser Trailer

Lucasfilm

Here's the newly released teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It looks amazing, with a bunch of new characters alongside familiar favorites. I especially like the voiceover from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) saying " the Force is strong in my family" and the brief shot of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) saying, "Chewie, we're home."

Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in theaters on December 18.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Told by Emoji

Disney

This Star Wars: The Force Awakens "As Told By Emoji" short is hilarious! I especially like the spoiler alert in the middle and Kylo Ren's temper tantrum about Rey's privacy settings. Too funny.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer

Lucasfilm

Have you seen the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Wow, it looks good!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Tsum Tsum

Well, it looks like the Star Wars Tsum Tsum collections will soon be complete. Disney has released photos of the new Force Awakens Tsum Tsums. The set includes Minis Rey (complete with her tiny bun hairdo), Kylo Ren, Finn in Poe's jacket, BB-8, Finn as a Stormtrooper, Poe Dameron, a First Order Stormtrooper, Rey in her Jakku gear, and Captain Phasma. Medium sized Tsum Tsum of Kylo Ren, BB-8, and Captain Phasma as well as Large BB-8 and Kylo Ren will also be available. The collection arrives in US stores on June 21 (although they are set to appear in Japan on May 4th, Star Wars Day.) I afraid I love all of them and may end up with the entire collection. What can I say, there so cute and fluffy!

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Lucasfilm

Awesome!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives in theaters on December 17.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Bluray

Star Wars: The Force Awakens arrives on Blu-Ray and DVD today. There are several different special editions available from different retailers. I like the looks of the one from Target the best.

The collectible packaging looks cool and it comes with an extra 20 minutes of bonus features. (They aren't on a disc, but you can watch them through your Disney Movies Anywhere account.) Whichever one you choose will be well worth seeing. I had the chance to see the movie in the Disney Springs AMC Theater last December and I thought it was fantastic. It's a wonderful new chapter in one of my favorite stories, and I can't wait to watch it over and over again.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens POPVinyl

The latest Star Wars POPVinyl collection features all of the new characters. There are 11 figures in the collection, as well as several exclusive characters available from various retailers.

Rey is a resilient survivor, a scavenger toughened by a lifetime of dealing 

with the cutthroats of the harsh desert world of Jakku.

An exclusive Rey with goggles is available from Hot Topic.

A trained warrior desperate to escape his past, Finn is plunged into adventure

as his conscience drives him down a heroic, but dangerous, path.

An exclusive Finn in Stormtrooper armor is available from Gamestop.

A dark warrior strong with the Force, Kylo Ren commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber.

An exclusive Kylo Ren with no hood is available at Target.

Arguably the cutest droid in the galaxy, BB-8 is also my favorite of the new collection.

Poe Dameron, the greatest X-Wing pilot in the galaxy, is ready for battle.

An exclusive Poe Dameron without his helmet is available at Wal-Mart.

Faithful First Mate and co-pilot Chewbacca has loyally stood by his captain's

 side through the twisting fortunres of a galaxy in turmoil.

A fastidious and worry prone protocol droid, C-3PO longs for more peaceful times, but his continued service to Princess Leia keeps him in the frontlines of galactic conflict. (I wonder why poor C-3PO is now sporting a red arm?)

An exclusive metallic C-3PO is available from Barnes and Noble.

The final four characters are various types of Stormtroopers. Clad in distinctive metallic armor, Captain Phasma commands the First Order's legion of troopers. The other First Order Troopers include a Stormtrooper, a Snowtrooper, and a Flametrooper. An exclusive First Order Heavy Artillery Stormtrooper is available from Amazon. An exclusive First Order Stormtrooper with riot shield is , available at Walgreens.

Each 3 3/4 inch figure includes a decorative Star Wars base. I love when the figures have bases because it makes it much easier to keep them upright. (While most of the figures with large feet do well, my Buffy figure, Sally, and Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas tend to fall over.)

New Star Wars Nighttime Spectacular Coming to Hollywood Studios

Photo courtesy of Disney

Disney announced yesterday that several new Star Wars experiences will be coming to Hollywood Studios this spring. From a new stage show and procession to an even more elaborate fireworks display, it sounds like Star Wars fans will have a lot to look forward to. Here's what the Disney Parks Blog had to say.

"The Force will officially awaken at the park April 4, with the debut of the brand new Star Wars stage show, "Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away. " The new show will play out iconic moments from the film saga on Center Stage (in front of the Chinese Theater), and will feature appearances from Star Wars characters like Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and Darth Maul. 

Also starting April 4, Captain Phasma will begin leading a platoon of First Order stormtroopers on a march from Star Wars Launch Bay to Center Stage multiple times each day.

And starting this summer, fans won’t want to miss the grand debut of of a new Star Wars fireworks show, "Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular." This new nightly show is the next generation of the current Star Wars-inspired fireworks show. The show will combine fireworks, pyrotechnics, special effects and video projections that will turn the nearby Chinese Theater and other buildings into the twin suns of Tatooine, a field of battle droids, the trench of the Death Star, Starkiller Base and other Star Wars destinations. The show will be punctuated with a tower of fire and spotlight beams, creating massive lightsabers in the sky. This new show will be the most elaborate fireworks display to take place in the history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

And don’t forget about the other recent Star Wars additions that have debuted at the park. The Star Tours  - The Adventures Continue attraction now features new characters and planets from the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film. Star Wars Launch Bay offers families an up-close look at replica props, models, costumes and more from the films, plus the chance to encounter with someone from Rebel Alliance or the Dark Side. And young Padawans can put their bravery to the test at Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple, which now features the character of the Seventh Sister from the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels."

It all sounds fairly epic. I can't wait to see the new fireworks because the current ones are already fantastic. What are you most looking forward to?

How To Watch The Star Wars Saga In Timeline Order

Lucasfilm

Watching all of the various series and movies in the Star Wars Saga has become increasingly complicated over the years. Seasons of a series end up taking place in and around the movies and other series, and even worse, several seem to run concurrently. This is the best order I've discovered for watching it all... so long as you have 170 hours or so to devote to the tales of a galaxy far, far away.

1. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 2 "Justice" ✨️
2. Tales of the Underworld - Episode 4 "The Good Life" ✨️
3. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 3 "Choices" ✨️
4. Tales of the Underworld - Episodes 5-6 ✨️
5. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 1 "Life and Death" ✨️
6. The Phantom Menace 🎞
7. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 4 "The Sith Lord" ✨️
8. Attack of the Clones 🎞
9. Tales of the Empire - Episode 1 "The Path of Fear" ✨️
10. The Clone Wars ⭐️
11. The Clone Wars - Seasons 1-6 ✨️
12. The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episodes 1-10 ✨️
13. The Revenge of the Sith 🎞
14. The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 11 ✨️
15. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 5 "Practice Makes Perfect" ✨️
16. The Clone Wars - Season 7 Episode 12 ✨️
17. Tales of the Empire - Episode 4 "Devoted" ✨️
18. Tales of the Jedi - Episode 6 "Resolve" ✨️
19. Tales of the Empire - Episode 5 "Realization" ✨️
20. Tales of the Underworld - Episodes 1-3 ✨️
21. The Bad Batch - Seasons 1-3 ✨️
22. Maul - Shadow Lord - Season 1 ✨️
23. Solo: A Star Wars Story 🎞
24. Obi-Wan Kenobi 🎬
25. Andor - Season 1 🎬
26. Tales of the Empire - Episode 2 "Path of Anger" ✨️
27. Tales of the Empire - Episode 6 "The Way Out" ✨️
28. Star Wars Rebels - Seasons 1-4 ✨️
29. Andor - Season 2 🎬
30. Rogue One 🎞
31. A New Hope 🎞
32. The Empire Strikes Back 🎞
33. Return of the Jedi 🎞
34. Tales of the Empire - Episode 3 "The Path of Hate" ✨️
35. Skeleton Crew - Season 1 🎬
36. The Mandalorian - Season 1 & 2 🎬
37. The Book of Fett 🎬
38. The Mandalorian - Season 3 🎬
39. Ahsoka - Season 1 & 2 🎬
40. Star Wars Resistance - Season 1 Episodes 1-17 ✨️
41. The Force Awakens 🎞
42. Star Wars Resistance - Season 1 Episodes 18-21 ✨️
43. The Last Jedi 🎞
44. Star Wars Resistance - Season 2 ✨️
45. The Rise of Skywalker 🎞

⭐️ - Animated Movie

✨️ - Animated Series

🎞 - Live-Action Movie

🎬 - Live-Action Series

Star Wars Products Coming to Disney Parks

Disney

Disney has created some fantastic Star Wars inspired products in recent years. This fall, they have even more incredible merchandise.

Disney/Lucasfilm

First up is an Imperial Comlink Bluetooth Communicator. It looks just like the one Luke Skywalker used to call C-3PO from trash compactor in Star Wars: A New Hope. It can be used to take calls and play music when connected a smart phone. It's rechargeable and comes with a belt clip. I love it and can't wait see it in person.

Disney/Lucasfilm

Starting in mid-December, you can find a remote controlled Mouse Droid. The Droid, whichmakes sounds and includes rechargeable batteries, looks like the one Chewbacca roars at On Death Star.

Disney/Lucasfilm

A second set of Ewok plush will be available from Disney Parks online store this fall. The set of six characters includes another Wicket, Tokkat, Latara, Widdle, Shodu, Winds. A basket of Ewoks will also include an additional character, Kaink. These new Ewoks will be available individually at Disney Parks in December.

Disney/Lucasfilm

Finally, the Starspeeder 1000 viewer will be available again. The set, which has been updated with a new destination disk featuring Jakku from The Force Awakens, plays dialogue from the Star Tours - The Adventure Continues ride.

Subway Star Wars Kids Meals

It seems that Subway has new bags for their kids meals. With artwork inspired by the Force Awakens, each bag also contains a glowstick lightsaber with a handle that you decorate with a sticker. They're kinda cool! There are 8 different bags available: a blueprint of the Millennium Falcon, BB-8, two Stormtrooper bags, Kylo Ren, and two with everybody. My favorite is the Millennium Falcon bag, how about you?

The Porgs Are Coming!

Courtesy of Disney/ Lucasfilm

It seems everywhere you look these days, someone is talking about the Porgs of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The cuddly, bird like creatures are quite darling, with tiny fuzzy wings and giant black eyes.

The creators of the Porgs were inspired by the puffins of Skellig Michael, the Irish island used in the final scene of The Force Awakens. Porgs are natives of Ahch-To, the island home of the first Jedi temple and Luke Skywalker. Porgs can fly, make nests, and have babies called "porglets". But don't let their adorable appearance fool you. The Porgs have razor sharp teeth and can bite when provoked.

They're very curious little critters, and seem to have an affinity for Chewbacca. There's a photo of Chewie and a Porg in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. There's even a children's book called "Chewie and the Porgs" due out on December 15.

Finally, you can expect the Porg madness to extend to toys this Christmas. A plush Porg which makes sounds has already been announced. The Chewbacca figure also includes a tiny Porg. It seems the Porgs are set to take over, but they're so cute, you can't really mind.

Star Wars Land Update

Disney had some major announcements yesterday regarding Star Wars and it's presence at Hollywood Studios. It seems that there are many new experiences that will be opening in the coming months, starting December 1. The Star Wars Launch Bay will be a sneak peek behind the scenes of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There will be special exhibits, merchandise, and the chance to meet Chewbacca and Darth Vader.

Star Tours will be adding a new adventure to its line-up. For the first few months, everyone will experience the new adventure. Afterward, it will be part of the random adventures we can see now. Disney shared a quick glimpse of this new adventure. I can't wait to see it in the park!

Another new experience is Star Wars: Path of the Jedi. Featuring scenes from all of the films, this will give new fans a chance to explore the galaxy many of us know and love. Finally, the Jedi Training experience for kids will receive a makeover and a new home. Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple will take younglings to the site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face off against Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister. Bean is going to love it!

Unfortunately, with all these new experiences comes the loss of an old one. While construction is underway on the new 14-acre Star Wars Land, Star Wars Weekends have come to an end. While we'll now be able to experience a galaxy far, far away every day, I will miss this special event. I'm glad we had the chance to see it one last time this year. Which experience are you most looking forward to?

Build-A-Bear Star Wars Offer

Build-A-Bear Workshop recently released new Star Wars clothing to dress up your favorite stuffed critter. This weekend, they added a special deal: get the 16" Star Wars bear and any Star Wars costume for $29.99. Since the Star Wars bear is normally $25 and the costumes are $13.50-$18, this is a pretty good deal. And if you order online and spend at least $40, shipping will be free. Costumes include Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren from the Force Awakens, and Princess Leia, Han Solo, Jedi Knight, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett from the original series. Other Star Wars critters include a Darth Vader Bear, Stormtrooper Bear, Chewbacca, and a small Ewok. Other clothing includes Star Wars t-shirts, R2-D2 hoodie, PJs and slippers. Accessories include a sleeping bag, red, blue or green lightsabers, red or blue lightsabers with lights and sound, Kylo Ren's lightsaber with lights and sound, a Stormtrooper blaster, Chewbacca's Bowcaster, and Han Solo's blaster. And don't forget to add sound for even more fun; Chewbacca, Darth Vader breathing, R2-D2, Imperial March, and the Star Wars Theme. With all of the different things available, how will you mix and match? This offer is only available while supplies last, so head in to Build-A-Bear and join in the fun.

Elf on the Shelf

If your family has an elf on the shelf, you probably know how difficult it can be to come up with new ideas for your elf. I've gathered together hundreds of great ideas on my Elf on the Shelf Pinterest board. I especially like the printable Darth Vader mask and glow stick lightsaber. I think it would be a great way to celebrate the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Photo of the Week

The Han Solo and Princess Leia POPVinyls from Star Wars: The Force Awakens are so cute! I love the way they made them look older.

Star Wars Little Golden Books

I adore Little Golden Books! I love the retro pictures and classic stories. My favorites feature characters from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars and are perfect for introducing young kids to these stories.

The latest Star Wars Little Golden Books will be released in July, and they look adorable! The four books include: I am a Hero, Heroes and Villains Collection, The Big Golden Book of Starships, Speeders and Space Stations, and The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts. 

I am a Hero includes scenes from Rogue One, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Force Awakens. The book features brave heroes from the saga, such as Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Finn, Rey, and Poe.

The Heroes and Villains Little Golden Book Collection features six previously released I am a... stories and the new I am a Hero, all in one hardcover volume. The six other titles are: I am a Jedi, I am a Droid, I am a Pilot, I am a Princess, I am a Sith,  and I am a Stormtrooper. 

The Big Golden Book of Starships, Speeders, and Space Stations is packed with stories about the incredible vehicles of the Star Wars Universe: from A-wings to X-wings and Death Stars to Star Destroyers.

The Big Golden Book of Aliens, Creatures, and Beasts contains stories about amazing Star Wars aliens, from banthas and wampas to Ewoks and Wookies.

Star Wars Day

Today is going to be Star Wars day in our house. We won't be heading to the theater to see The Force Awakens just yet, but we plan to watch at least our favorite three Star Wars movies (that would be four, five, and six) We might rewatch the Mythbusters Star Wars specials that are still on the dvr, and we'll probably have some blue milk and Wookie cookies as a snack. It should be a lot of fun!