If you know me, you know I am a Disney fanatic. We are Disney Vacation Club members and last year we spent more than 30 days in the parks. So to say we are excited for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an understatement. We have been counting down the days and the year is finally here. Today I attended the Bringing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Life at Disney Parks panel at Star Wars Celebration (thank you Disney!), and now I am even more hyped.
Panelists who attended are Chris Beatty, Doug Chiang, Asa Kalama, Margaret Kerrison, Matt Martin, Scott Trowbridge – and the panel was hosted by none other than Josh Gad!
Stepping in to the World of Galaxy’s Edge
Galaxy’s Edge is where you find smugglers and rogue traders. It is also a place for us, the fans, to start our own Star Wars story. Black Spire Outpost has a long and rich history in Star Wars lore, and Disney Parks is telling that story. They worked closely with the publishing teams to make sure that they got it all right. There are so many Easter Eggs, the team doesn’t even remember them all. biggest project Disney has ever done – and the most Epic and immersive.
New footage of #StarWars #GalaxysEdge – wow! #starwarscelebration #StarWarsCelebration2019 pic.twitter.com/fSKIfakVbj
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) April 13, 2019
As you explore Galaxy’s Edge, you will notice authenticity. Each of the areas you can see the products are made by the people of that planet, for the people of the planet. You can sample the food and drink – including some roasted Bronto – space meat. Honestly, I am putting that on my list of must dos!
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
This is the part of Galaxy’s Edge I am most excited for. I mean, fly the Millennium Falcon – become part of the flight crew? Yea, I am in! The story begins right outside, where we see her parked in all her glory. Jim Cumming does the voice of Hondo Ohnaka, who is sending you off on a mission to smuggle some cargo.
The best part about this ride? You actually control the Millennium Falcon. You load in to the iconic cockpit and it is unlike anything Disney guests have been able to do. Pilots truly have to direct the ship around obstacles. Gunners have to use the blasters to defend the ship. The engineers need to make real time repairs so you can continue on your journey. Your experience is truly up to you and your flight crew and you determine the fate of your ship. Even when the ride is over, the story continues. Guests will walk down the hallway to exit and if they banged in to everything along the way, the hallways will be battered and broken. Have a flawless trip and the hallway will be flawless as you exit.
All of this footage was shot INSIDE the attraction, #StarWars Rise of the Resistance…. #GalaxysEdge #StarWarsCelebration #StarWarsCelebration2019 pic.twitter.com/bByYrvArTG
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) April 13, 2019
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
During this ride, you will join the resistance and of course, end up as a prisoner of the first order. This is the biggest, most epic, attraction anyone has ever done. We learned that you might (will) come face to face with Kylo Ren, Rey, and even BB-8! Take on the dark side and if you succeed, you will be welcomed with cheers and open arms to the Resistance.
Disney Play Expansion
My daughters love the Disney Play app when we are at Walt Disney World, and knowing that there is a whole Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has me thrilled! There are four ways to experience the Disney Parks with Disney Play: Hack, Scan, Translate, and Tune. With hack, you can interact with droids. Scan allows you to scan cargo crates the look inside them. Translate allows you to translate all of the texts you find in Black Spire Outpost. But my favorite part? With tune you can eavesdrop on different stories and conversations that the storytellers have created.
There is even an interactive game that you can play through Galaxy’s Edge called Outpost Control. All around you, you will find surveillance devices installed. Visitors will decide who to help – the light or the dark side – and take over the devices for that side. As with anything, the choices you make will effect the way the story unveils around you.
Other Galaxy’s Edge Details
There were so many other things that we learned about the details of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and man, I am so much more excited to see it in person now, which I did not think was possible
- Savi’s Workshop you can customize them yourself making them truly one of a kind. These are brand new and not the ones you could purchase in the past.
- Galaxy’s Edge will feature Coca-Cola products in Aurebesh. They added visual clues so you know what you are consuming, but not too much that it takes you out of the Star Wars experience. These are amazing and I am so excited!
- Rex, who you might recall from Star Tours, is reappearing! His back story? He crashes on Batu, then is rescued, repaired, and made in to a DJ for Oga’s Cantina. I cannot wait to see him again, as I LOVED him as a pilot in Star Tours.
- Yoda is back! And yes, he is voiced by Frank Oz.
- John Williams has composed some amazing new music for Galaxy’s Edge. And I am SO EXCITED about it.
Galaxy’s Edge will open in Disneyland on May 31st, 2019
and Walt Disney World on August 29th, 2019.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.
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