ANAHEIM, Calif.—The Millennium Falcon is blasting off from Disneyland on May 31 with the opening of the California theme park’s massive Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion.
Disney Parks announced on March 7 that Galaxy’s Edge will open for visitors to Florida’s Disney World Resort on Aug. 29.
Galaxy’s Edge is a new 14-acre land at the Disney theme parks, featuring rides and experiences that thrust visitors into the world of the recent “Star Wars” trilogy and the fight between the Resistance and the evil First Order. The marquee attraction is a massive replica of the Millennium Falcon where guests can roam the ship’s halls and engage in a dogfight with TIE Fighters.
Guests will also be able to build their own personal droids, light sabers and feast on “Star Wars”-appropriate food and drink.
Here are some of the land’s key features:
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Selfie opportunities will be abundant inside and out of the “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” The spaceship is the exact replica of the ship from the films, measuring more than 100 feet long.
Inside the cockpit, a team of six people operate the spacecraft during an interactive experience that, just like the movies, that will get a little bumpy. An encounter with First Order fighters put guests in the role of pilots, gunners or flight engineers to ensure their mission is completed.
While others wait their turn, they will walk the halls of the Falcon or hangout in the area where R2-D2 played a round of the holographic chess-like game called Dejarik against Chewbacca in the original film.
Rise of the Resistance
This is where it gets real. On a full-size starship, guests play as new Resistance recruits and go on a journey. A hologram image of Rey will appear with a message before guests board their ship and take off from Batuu and head into the orbit.
But the starship runs into some trouble: It’s intercepted by a nearby Star Destroyer. This sets up a climactic battle against military members of the First Order, who will probably give you a piece of their mind.
“They’ll bark at you,” Larena said. “They might say ’Move along, move along. You’re going into detention.”
Resistance guests will be thrown into a detention cell where they could run up against Kylo Ren.
“You have to figure your way out of the ship,” Larena said. “There’s always a way out.”
Savi’s Workshop
Even though Skywalker, Vader and Yoda won’t show up in “Galaxy’s Edge,” their lightsabers will. Guests will be able to purchase their popular weapon or hand-build their own. Bring plenty of credits: the price for the hilt is around $109 and the blade costs $49 depending on the type.
Park officials say they understand guests want to enjoy their new lightsabers, but they ask that they remain stowed when on attractions and around crowds for the safety of others.
Droid Depot
Who doesn’t want their own personal R2 unit?
Guests—for an undisclosed cost—can either purchase a pre-built droid or build one in the colors of their choosing by picking pieces off a conveyor belt.
They’re not just pretty to look at. Park official says the droids will be controllable by guests.
Taste of Star Wars
There’s no such thing as chicken in “Galaxy’s Edge.” That’s Tip Yip, and the cornbread that you might eat with it is blue, gravy is green and cauliflower is orange.
Much of the food is plant based with dairy-free mash potatoes and vegan meatballs.
Oga’s Cantina
While talkative DJ R-3X spins music, bartenders pour beverages.
The cantina will be the first location to serve alcohol to the general public in Disneyland’s 60-plus year history. It’s the place to come and unwind, but officials say it’s also known to have some of the most disreputable characters in the galaxy.
And yes, droids are allowed.
Play Disney Parks Mobile App
Galaxy’s Edge is the first land within a Disney park designed to integrate with the app. It can help translate Star Wars languages and scan crates to discover contents within them. The app can also be used to interact with droids, media screens, door panels and drinking fountains.
By Jonathan Landrum Jr.
