Credit: Ashley Eckstein InstagramLast night, Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios theme park hosted a lightsaber meet-up in its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area.
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As amazing as it was for Star Wars fans to be able to safely gather — social distancing and face masks were enforced — Disney (and Ashley Eckstein) had a big surprise up their sleeves.
Ashley voiced Anakin Skywalker’s padawan, Ahsoka Tano, in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series for all seven seasons, which aired between 2008 to 2020. The final season exclusively streamed on Disney+.
The voice actress is a fan favorite within the Star Wars community, so her unexpected appearance at last night’s Disney World lightsaber meet-up was an especially welcome surprise. She took to Instagram to explain how she and Disney pulled it off.
Ashley wrote:
Tonight was a dream! Watch my story to see how we pulled off a surprise, safe, socially distant saber meet-up on Batuu @waltdisneyworld AND we launched Ahsoka Tano’s NEW Clone Wars (and color changing!) Legacy Lightsabers at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities tonight! Plus, I autographed a couple hundred saber cases that you can get now while supplies last! Thank you to all of the amazing cast members and fans who made tonight possible!
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After a video explaining what she and Disney World officials had planned for the evening, Ashley posted this picture of her sneaking up on lightsaber meet-up participants with the caption, “Hi. Do you mind if I join your photo?”
She then shared this image of some Galaxy’s Edge Guests posing in front of the Star Wars themed land’s Millennium Falcon replica.
Ashley also thanked everyone who made the meet-up happen in her Instagram Stories. She wrote, “Thank you @WaltDisneyWorld for allowing this safe and socially distant saber meet-up!”
She also thanked the fans (and shared a super cool photo!), writing, “Thank you to all of incredible @StarWars fans who let me crash their photo tonight!”
Finally, Ashley thanked Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cast Members — many of whom have unfortunately been impacted by Disney’s recent layoffs — for their part in last night’s magical event.
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Fans who were at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last night also took to social media to share photos of Ashley’s appearance.
@SWGEDiscord wrote:
We are that “Lighsaber Discord”! Big thanks to @disney @waltdisneyworld @starwars and @ashleyeckstein for making this Meetup amazing!
@tk7932 also shared thoughts about the evening, posting:
My last day at Disneyworld [sic], and the 1 and only Ahsoka Tano shows up. Talk about a way to end my trip to Disney. Thank you again for signing my Ahsoka plush.
What do you think about Disney World hosting this socially distanced lightsaber meet and greet last night?