With September upon us and the spooky season just around the corner — and already in full swing at many Disney Parks — there’s one more big surprise left in store. Disney is reportedly bringing its first-ever Halloween-themed Astromech droid to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park and Disneyland Resort’s Disneyland Park.
The item can already be found at the Star Wars Trading Post at Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney District.
Twitter fan account, Disney Parks Star Wars, shared details about the new droid, which is an R6 unit, similar in many ways to R2 units like the iconic R2-D2, but without R2 droids’ rounded heads:
#starwars #disneyland new Halloween droid R6-W1CH coming this fall (via @preterniadotcom)
Another post notes:
These can be found in the SW Trading Outpost in Downtown Disney, $12.99
The droid (and its festive witch hat), is a seemingly random addition to Disney Parks Star Wars merchandise. However, like the sequel trilogy’s adorable BB-8 and all other droid units, this small figurine does appear to have a backstory.
R6-W1CH is said to hail from Dathomir, the homeworld of Sith Lord and Crimson Dawn leader Darth Maul — played by Ray Park in live-action Star Wars projects — the rancor, and, of course, a coven of Force witches known as the Nightsisters.
The R6 unit’s coloring even resembles Maul’s with the red background and black detailing. A specific release date for R6-W1CH has not been revealed by Disney at the time of publication.
The Nightsisters were first introduced in Star Wars Legends novel, The Courtship of Princess Leia, which features Han Solo and Princess Leia’s wedding.
Since then, the Nightsisters have become something of a standby in the existing Star Wars canon, specifically in Dave Filoni’s animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, with the nefarious Asajj Ventress, who was seemingly almost resurrected by Kylo Ren, connected to the group.
A remote planet, Dathomir is drenched in blood-red light from its central star. The planet has continents overrun by twisted vegetation, with forests of bent trees burdened by large, cocoon-like fruit. Bordering dense swamplands is the massive stone fortresses of the Nightsisters, a witch clan. The Nightsisters kept to themselves, but had on occasion been known to offer their services to those who piqued their interests. Far from the Nightsisters lived the Nightbrothers — a tattooed clan of Zabrak warriors were subservient to their female counterparts.
More on the Droid Depot
Although R6-W1CH is not a Droid Depot item at this time, visiting this incredible shop is still a bucket list item for many Star Wars fans.
Disney officially describes Black Spire Outpost’s Droid Depot as:
Visit a workshop stocked with parts, chips, manuals and other tech items useful for constructing your very own droid, one of the galaxy’s most indispensable sidekicks.
First, register your choice of the BB-series unit or R-series unit with the clerk, who’ll provide a basket and blueprint for parts. Next, proceed to the following stations and begin your droid-building experience.
Parts Station Select from a colorful variety of components to customize your droid as they roll by on the shop’s conveyor belt:
BB-Series
Dome
Dome Connection Plate
Body Sphere
Motivator
R-Series
Dome
Body
Center Leg
Set of Side-Legs
Build Station Here you’ll follow simple “placemat” instructions or graphic monitor displays to assemble your droid in the proper sequence. Once complete, your droid will be paired with a remote control and activated as you watch it come to life!
Pricing
$99.99 per astromech droid unit, plus tax
Carry box and instructions included
Various personality-affiliation chips and other accessories are available for an additional charge
Age Recommendation: 3+
The experience area is limited to the builder and one Guest—at least one person in the party must be age 14 or older
Only the builder will be allowed to build a droid; the Guest of the builder may not build a droid
Custom astromech droid units are nonrefundable and are not eligible for Annual Passholder or other discounts
Whether heading to the far corners of Wild Space or wandering around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, be sure to bring your personal droid—it’s the ultimate travel companion for all your Outer Rim adventures!
Let the experts at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Disney World’s theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — and everything Batuu has to offer, including Oga’s Cantina, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance!
2
Credit: Disney
