With the purchase of the Star Wars franchise by the Walt Disney Company, fans of A Galaxy Far, Far Away and “The Most Magical Place on Earth” have wondered what sort of additions Walt Disney would make to their parks to reflect the acquisition of one of the most beloved franchises in history. Those questions were answered in August of 2015 when the chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, announced the construction of a Star Wars themed addition to Disneyland and Walt Disney World respectively.
At the time, the name had not yet been announced but Bob Iger described the addition by saying it would be,
“occupied by many inhabitants; humanoids, aliens, and droids… the attractions, the entertainment, everything we create will be part of our storytelling. Nothing will be out of character or stray from the mythology.”
Two years later, in July of 2015, Bob Chapek, the chairman of Walt Disney Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products, announced the official name as Galaxy’s Edge. The announcement of Galaxy’s Edge has excited both Star Wars and Disney fans alike.
But what are the details of this broad expansion to Disneyland and Disney World? How will it be unlike any attraction before? The following article will highlight what fans can expect from Galaxy’s Edge and how it will stay true to the lore while providing unforgettable experiences for visitors.
Designing Galaxy’s Edge
As construction continues for Galaxy’s Edge, new details have surfaced about the design of the addition and how it will fit into the canon of the Star Wars galaxy. In collaboration with Lucasfilm Story Group, Walt Disney Imagineering decided to set the additions to Disneyland and Disney World’s Hollywood Studios on a new planet located within the Outer Rim of the Unknown Regions.
Within this remote region of galactic space there lies a planet named Batuu which had not appeared in other media until Timothy Zahn’s 2018 novel Thrawn: Alliances. According to the canon, Batuu was once a thriving trading post before the advent of hyperspace. However, its prominence began to fade following the establishment of new and more efficient hyperspace routes.
At the time in which visitors will be exploring Batuu as part of Galaxy’s Edge, it has become a remote outpost for those looking to disappear and not be found. The Supervising Imagineer Scott Trowbridge described the inhabitants of Batuu as,
“…smugglers, the bounty hunters, the rogue adventurers looking to crew up, the people who don’t want to be found – basically all the interesting people.”
What To Expect: Disney World Location
Galaxy’s Edge will be unlike any other modern amusement park attraction in the world and will be a major expansion to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Currently, it is known that there will be three major attractions to Galaxy’s Edge. These include: Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, a Star Wars-themed hotel, and a cantina that serves drinks and food.
The entire experience is designed to be completely interactive and immersive while being unique to each visitor. An example of this is the customizable missions that will accompany Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.
Depending on the visitor’s experiences and performance during the mission it will affect their interactions at the cantina. Perform poorly and you may encounter a bounty hunter looking for you at the cantina.
The opening date for Galaxy’s Edge is set for late fall 2019.
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