Season of the Force is in full… um… force at Disneyland Park, so I thought I should see what’s new and exciting at this year’s event that celebrates the Star Wars universe. Disneyland typically holds the event in the weeks leading up to May the Fourth, the unofficial Star Wars Day.
As it has during the last few years, Season of the Force splits its focus between Tomorrowland and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I was back and forth between the two lands, but I will try to keep things more organized for you here.
Over in Tomorrowland, you’ll find the regular music loop replaced by John Williams’ familiar movie score. With Galaxy’s Edge now open, gone are the Stormtroopers that used to march through the land at random times during Season of the Force.
What does remain is Hyperspace Mountain, a very successful seasonal overlay of my favorite attraction, Space Mountain. The roller coaster has you zooming through the stars and blasting Tie Fighters. Hyperspace includes additional projection and lighting effects, plus Williams’ classic music. If you’re traveling alone or the wait time is a deterrent, the attraction offers a single rider line that you’ll find near the exit.
If you are a popcorn bucket collector, there are two very cool offerings at the cart in Tomorrowland: the Death Star Bucket and the Tauntaun Bucket. Both are available while supplies last.
While there is some new Star Wars merchandise that was released around the same time as Season of the Force, I didn’t find any merchandise themed to the event itself. The only possible exception is this Hyperspace Mountain t-shirt. I’m definitely having buyer’s remorse for not picking it up.
Finally, there are some event-specific food offerings at Galactic Grill, including the Galactic Gyro Burger [$16.49], Loaded Outpost Fries [$13.49], and Pistachio-Cherry Parfait [$7.29]. However, there is no indication on the menu board what the limited-time items are, so I had to ask a cast member. I typically enjoy pistachio, so I grabbed the overly sweet parfait. I would not recommend it.
Over in Galaxy’s Edge, before I did anything Season of the Force related, I had to join the Resistance. I hadn’t experienced Rise of the Resistance in a while and definitely not since repairs were made to some of the effects, so despite a posted 80-minute wait, I got in line. Of course, it was totally worth the wait. While I love the attraction, some of the enjoyment also comes from hearing and seeing the reactions of first timers that are experiencing some of the attraction’s surprises for the first time.
I didn’t taste them, but there are some special menu items at both Ronto Roasters and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. The Fried Falumpaset Cheese Skewer with mustard-cheese dipping sauce [$8.49] and the Fried Chicken Baos [$14.99] sound out of this world. I always have to leave something for the next trip, though.
Closing out the night in Galaxy’s Edge are TWO nighttime spectaculars. First, Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga is a projection show that is only around during Season of the Force. The immersive experience, which tells the story of the Skywalkers through words and images, is presented multiple times each night.
Between the showings of Shadows of Memory, Fire of the Rising Moons, which appears in conjunction with the Disneyland fireworks show, is also presented on select nights (typically weekends).
Finally, I made my way over to the Grand California Hotel & Spa to catch the latest creation put together by the pastry team at the Disneyland Resort. The rotating Death Star took over 240 hours to create and is definitely worth a look.
If you’re even a moderate fan of Star Wars, you’ll likely find something to enjoy during Season of the Force, which continues at Disneyland Park through May 11th.
