Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro gave a demonstration of a realistic-looking Star Wars lightsaber at South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, on Friday, March 10.

Footage by Rohit Thawani captured the moment D’Amaro powered up the saber and brandished it about to a chorus of cheers and audible excitement.

“I still cannot believe that this exists, but it does,” the Disney executive told the crowd. “Like I said, I have the coolest job in the world. I’m holding a real lightsaber right now!” Credit: Rohit Thawani via Storyful

Video transcript

JOSH D'AMARO: --dream of things like this.

[LOUD MUSICAL NOTE]

[CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

Now, I still cannot believe that this thing exists, but it does. Like I said, I have the coolest job [LAUGHS] in the world. I'm holding a real lightsaber right now.

[CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

Now, this one is part of our Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World.

- Yeah.

JOSH D'AMARO: We're lucky enough to have someone here who can tell us just how the heck they did this. I want you all to say hello to Leslie Evans. Leslie?

[APPLAUSE]

LESLIE EVANS: [INAUDIBLE] Hi, Josh.

JOSH D'AMARO: You got a good reaction.

LESLIE EVANS: I know.

JOSH D'AMARO: Right?

LESLIE EVANS: It's pretty great. I am gonna ask you-- maybe we--

JOSH D'AMARO: OK.

LESLIE EVANS: --can turn it off for just a sec.

[LASER SOUND]

JOSH D'AMARO: --dream of things like this.

[LOUD MUSICAL NOTE]

[CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

Now, I still cannot believe that this thing exists, but it does. Like I said, I have the coolest [LAUGHS] job in the world. I'm holding a real lightsaber right now.

[CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

Now, this one is part of our Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World.

- Yeah.

JOSH D'AMARO: And we're lucky enough to have someone here who can tell us just how the heck they did this. I want you all to say hello to Leslie Evans. Leslie?

[CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

LESLIE EVANS: [INAUDIBLE] Hi, Josh.

JOSH D'AMARO: You got a good reaction.

LESLIE EVANS: I know.

JOSH D'AMARO: Right?

LESLIE EVANS: It's pretty great. I am gonna ask you-- maybe we--

JOSH D'AMARO: OK.

LESLIE EVANS: --can turn it off for just a sec.

[LASER SOUND]