Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

LEGO Darth Maul

Just ten days later after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Central Florida visitors were enjoying a major Star Wars addition to one of the region’s theme parks — but this wasn’t due to miraculously fast work by Disney, and it wasn’t at a Disney park.

On October 30, 2012, The Walt Disney Company announced that it had agreed to buy Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 billion from George Lucas, its founder, chairman, and 100% owner until that point.

On November 9, 2012, Star Wars Miniland opened at LEGOLAND Florida, adjacent to the existing Miniland U.S.A., a delightful collection of LEGO models of American landmarks.

Miniland U.S.A. is still there, but without Star Wars. It was removed January 6, 2020.

Let’s take a Yesterland visit to Star Wars Miniland.

, Curator of Yesterland, April 18, 2025

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Miniland U.S.A. with Star Wars behind New York City landmarks

You’re at “Yester” (between late 2012 and early 2020) LEGOLAND enjoying the park’s many family-friendly attractions. One attraction is particularly appealing to guests of all ages. It’s not a ride or show. It’s Miniland U.S.A., where you wander around looking at models built of LEGO.

The worlds of Star Wars have joined the landmarks of the United States. Young guests are delighted by the miniatures, while their parents and grandparents admire the artistry of what the model builders have done.

Take your time. Try to catch all the details. Read the signs.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Theed hangar and Royal Palace on Naboo from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Anakin Skywalker at the Theed hangar on Naboo from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace

Naboo: “The epic Battle of Naboo pits Gungan forces against the Trade Federation’s battle droids for control of the planet and its capital city, Theed. The Royal Palace, home to Queen Amidala, is constructed of more than 15,000 LEGO® bricks. In the Theed hangar bay, young Anakin Skywalker saves the day by flying his Naboo starfighter to victory while Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn battle the Sith apprentice, Darth Maul.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Acklay in the execution arena on Geonosis from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Battle of Geonosis from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

Geonosis: “In the Geonosis execution arena, Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker battle three ferocious creatures: the massive reek, the terrifying acklay, and the ravenous nexu. The Geonosis arena itself is built to 1:180 scale; if the LEGOLAND® Model Builders had built it to a scale of 1:20 like the other Miniland models, it would be more than 29 feet high! Also depicted is the Battle of Geonosis, where the Separatist Droid Army clashes with the Grand Army of the Republic in the first conflict of the Clone Wars.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Crystal City on Christophsis from Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Battle on Christophsis from Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Christophsis: “The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place chronologically between Episodes II and III and follows the adventures of Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. This scene represents Christophsis, a crystalline planet where Republic clone troopers battle the Separatist army. Anakin single-handedly attacks an Octuptarra droid, while Obi-Wan prepares to repel the advancing droid army. The Crystal City building is the largest Star Wars Miniland LEGO® model and is made of more than 70,000 bricks.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Kashyyyk from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Mustafar from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

Kashyyyk & Mustafar: “Two planets are shown here: The Battle of Kashyyyk depicts the Droid Army’s amphibious assault on the home planet of Chewbacca and the Wookiees. The scene features two AT-APs (All Terrain Attack Pods) plus the massive Clone Turbo Tank, which is constructed from 10,180 LEGO® bricks and took 168 hours to build. On the opposite side is the volcanic planet of Mustafar, where the fateful duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker takes place.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Millennium Falcon on Tatooine from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Cantina on Tatooine from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Tatooine: “This desert planet is the childhood home of Luke Skywalker. This model of spaceport city Mos Eisley includes the Cantina where Luke and Obi-Wan first meet up with Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, and his copilot Chewbacca. As the band plays on, Greedo corners Han Solo just before the group narrowly escapes the planet with C-3PO and R2-D2. It took LEGOLAND® Model Builders 143 hours to design and build the Millennium Falcon, using 19,200 bricks.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Hoth from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Hoth from Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Hoth: “The Rebels establish a secret base on this frozen planet, which is home to wampas and tauntauns. But the Empire’s probe droids discover their location, and send massive AT-ATs (All Terrain Armored Transport) and nimble AT-STS (All Terrain Scout Transport) to attack Echo Base. Inside the base, Rebel snowspeeders and Luke Skywalker’s X-wing fighter can be seen. Outside, Luke’s snowspeeder has crashed, but the young Jedi uses his lightsaber to single-handedly bring down the giant AT-AT.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Shield generator and landing platform on Endor from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

Endor Speeder Bikes from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi

Endor: “The forest moon of Endor is home to the Ewoks. These small but resourceful creatures join forces with the Rebel Alliance to destroy the shield generator and prevent completion of the second Death Star. The Imperial shuttle can be seen on the landing platform, where Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has just arrived. Next to the landing platform is the massive shield generator, which stands 8 feet tall.”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

LEGO Star Wars Store at LEGOLAND Florida

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

LEGO Star Wars building kits

Now that you’ve seen all these Star Wars LEGO models, perhaps you want to build some yourself.

LEGOLAND Florida opened October 15, 2011. At the time, there were four other LEGOLAND parks — one each in Denmark, England, Germany, and the United States (Carlsbad, California) — all built from scratch. The Florida park was a conversion of Cypress Gardens and reused significant parts of the defunct park.

Miniland U.S.A. was an opening day attraction at LEGOLAND Florida. Landmarks from New York City, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, California, and Florida were represented by intricate LEGO models. Star Wars Miniland was added less than 13 months after the park opened.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

San Francisco at Miniland U.S.A.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2012

South Beach at Miniland U.S.A.

The model builders of Star Wars Miniland clearly did their best to represent the Star Wars universe in the tradition of Miniland U.S.A., shrinking and editing these worlds to render them in plastic building blocks. Somehow, the results did not live up to the high standards set by the models of real landmarks.

There were also Stars Wars Minilands at LEGOLAND California and three European LEGOLAND parks.

In 2017, a new scene was added to Star Wars Miniland featuring Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), the first Star Wars movie from Disney. The scene included a 16-foot-long Star Destroyer Finalizer made of LEGO.

About eight years after the Star Wars Minilands opened, LEGOLAND announced they would be removed permanently from the U.S. parks on January 6, 2020. European parks would also lose theirs around the same time.

There was never an official reason announced. Licensing agreements normally have a fixed term, after which the parties can negotiate a renewal — or walk away.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2025

Star Wars characters at LEGO Store Disney Springs

Disney has long had a good relationship with LEGO. There are big LEGO Stores at Downtown Disney in California and Disney Springs in Florida. LEGO sells building sets featuring Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel IP.

Marvel Entertainments, the owner of LEGOLAND parks and numerous other theme parks and attractions, is a competitor for the tourist dollar. It’s been speculated that Disney wanted to shift guests’ focus to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney parks.

Exiting from LEGOLAND does not mean exiting from LEGO.

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Updated April 18, 2025