Star Wars - It's a great time to relive our childhood

Growing up in the late 70's and 80's, Star Wars was a huge part of my childhood.

I think it's amazing that now I get to do it all again with my children. Here are some of the ways I like to enjoy Star Wars for a second time around:

#1 The movies
Once a year, usually the week after Christmas, when it's cold and the kids are off of school until the New Year, we watch the movies straight through. We watch 4-6 first, and then 1-3. We now also have The Force Awakens as well as Rogue One to add into the mix. We are also getting new movies to see in the theater:

December 15, 2017 - Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
May 25, 2018 - Star Wars: Han Solo
May 24, 2019 - Star Wars: Episode IX
TBA - Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
TBA - Star Wars: Boba Fett

When a new movie is released, we go on opening night (which ends up being the night before opening night). Part of the fun for us is reading plot and fan theories online, watching and waiting for trailers, and buying our tickets and picking out our seats as soon as they are available.

#2 Art and Memorabilia

My good buddy Zug Art made this incredible female Darth Vader.

Remember collecting all of the Star Wars action figures as a kid? I hope you didn't play with them and they are all scratch free and still in original packaging. Well, now we can add to our collections with new action figures, Legos, posters, stickers, and even cereal boxes! They have a thing called Force Fridays (because Disney), where there are sales and specials and rollouts of everything across the Star Wars universe. They are already selling characters from The Last Jedi which opens in December. Needless to say, my kids all have light sabers, just like I did growing up! We really enjoy putting together the lego sets that we get for Christmas too. I will also admit to buying any cereal with Darth Vader, C-3PO, or R2-D2 on the box, especially if marshmallows are involved.

#3 A Star Wars Land

Disney unveiled the 50-foot-wide model at the D23 expo in California. Image: Disney

As you may know about me, I'm a pretty big Disney nerd. When Disney bought Lucas Films, I was super-pumped, and with good reason. Star Wars Lands are due to open in 2019 at Disneyland in Anaheim, and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World in Orlando. The company said both Star Wars-inspired lands will take guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port, and “one of the last stops before Wild Space.” This is super exciting and I can't wait to check it out.

For now, the model for the land will be available for viewing at Disney's Hollywood Studios inside the former One Man's Dream attraction. The name for the attraction will be changed to Walt Disney Presents and inside part of the model for Galaxy's Edge will be available for viewing. I will be checking it out on my upcoming Thanksgiving trip.

So if it's your first go round, or you are doing it all again with/without kids. We are living in a really fun time to be a Star Wars fan! Let me know what your favorite Star Wars related activities are.