So, at around 4:30 pm on Thursday evening we got in line for the 8:30 PM opening ceremonies. Cheryl's friend called us & was saving a spot farther up front. I left the convention to return our bounty to the hotel & went to pick up dinner for everyone. The line to get into the ceremony was even longer when I got back. (Lines were everywhere, worse than Disneyland.)

We were all waiting for the Official Opening Cerimonies, which was hosted by the Vice-President of Lucas Films, & Mr. Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok). The doors finaly opened just after 8:00 pm. It took almost an hour to get 5,000 people in the huge exhibit hall.

But, it was worth the wait. A jazz band was playing jazzy versions of Star Wars themes. Then shortly after Storm Troopers stormed the stage, Darth Vader entered (voiced by James Earl Jones.)

There were a lot of speeches but, they had a lot of cool presentations. There was a Walk of Star Wars Luminaries, which included stars as Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, & a ton of people that you (well me anyway) would never know outside of their costumes.

Some musical numbers, the One-Man Show, & even an incredble Light saber fight sequence.

Then, there were video greetings from Sam Jackson, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee and Ian McDermott with Hayden Christensen.

But, the coolest things were the previewed an upcoming DVD featuring John Williams music edited with scenes from the enitre 6 movies, tying the all together.

It ended with a Big Bang with Confetti flying everywhere.

...and this was just the end of the first day.