Overnight (at least on the east coast), Disney lifted a huge media embargo on new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge images and additional information. There are a large number of new pictures to sift through, but I shall do my best to make sense of them.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set to open in June at Disneyland Park and later this year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
As we know, the Resistance has set up a temporary base on the outskirts of the Black Spire Outpost, in an effort to defeat the first order. Throughout the land, guests may catch some familiar faces, including Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, BB-8, and Chewbacca.
In Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests will take control of the ship, serving as pilot, flight engineer, or gunner.
According to Robin Reardon, portfolio executive producer for Walt Disney Imagineering:
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a level of guest participation in a ride that we haven’t done. When you step into that cockpit as the only flight crew of the only Millennium Falcon for the day that’s going on that mission, that’s a pretty amazing leap in terms of storytelling from the very beginning. And the payoff and participatory nature of the experience are, so far, unparalleled.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will take guests inside a full-size starship and aboard a Star Destroyer. Guests will going the Resistance for a climactic battle against the First Order, meeting Kylo Ren in the process.
The attraction is said to be the most advanced and immersive attraction ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering, who worked with Lucasfilm and directors/producers J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson to make sure they got everything right.
John Larena, executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering said of the attraction:
It’s more than just a ride. It’s a cinematic immersive experience.
Reardon added that it’s “one of of the most complex things we have ever done, complete with “experiential, jaw dropping, ‘how-did-they-do-that?’ moments”
On working with Lucasfilm, Larena commented:
We have had wonderful cooperation with Lucasfilm, coordinating shoots with [the actors’] shoots. Turns out, they’re fans, as well. We’re thrilled to get them on a ride, and they’re thrilled to be on a ride. Fitting this within the framework of the movies is very important. To see it all around is amazing for them.
Inside Oga’s Cantina, the blaster-bolt scorches on the walls tell a story.
We already know much about the backstory of the Cantina, but now we know the names of some of the specialty drinks that will be served there, many served in unique containers.
Alcoholic beverages include Bespin Fizz [below second from left], Bloody Rancor, Dagobah Slug Slinger, Fuzzy Tauntaun [below right], Jedi Mind Trick, Jet Juice, The Outer Rim [below left], Spriran Caf, T-16 Skyhopper, and Yub Nub [below second from right].
Non-alcoholic drinks include Black Spire Brew, Blue Bantha, Carbon Freeze [below left], Cliff Dweller [below right], Hyperdrive Punch It!, Jabba Juice, Moogan Tea, Tarine Tea, and Cantina Mix [below center].
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is where Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs will be serving up his grub for weary travelers. Tuggs’ menu is inspired by the time he spent working for Max Kanata on Takodana.
Non-alcoholic drinks include Phattro and Moof Juice.
The selection of entrees feature:
- Braised Shaak Roast, featuring beef pot roast with cavatelli pasta, kale, and mushrooms [below left]
- Fried Endorian Tip-Yip, a decadent chicken dish with roasted vegetable mash and herb gravy [above right]
- Felucian Garden Spread, a plant-based kefta “meatball” dish with herb hummus and tomato-cucumber relish with pita bread [below left]
- Ithorian Garden Loaf, a plant-based “meatloaf” dish served with roasted vegetable mash, seasonal vegetables, and mushroom sauce [above right]
- Smoked Kaadu Ribs, featuring smoked country sticky pork ribs with blueberry corn muffin and cabbage slaw [below left]
- Oven-roasted Burra Fish, featuring Dijon-crusted sustainable fish with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a creamy green curry ranch dressing [above right]
- Oven-roasted Tip Yip, featuring roasted chicken with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a creamy green curry ranch dressing [below left]
- Yobshrimp Noodle Salad, a marinated noodle salad with chilled shrimp [above right]
For dessert, try the raspberry creme puff with passion fruit mousse or chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse and coffee custard.
Younger travelers can dine on Fried Chicken with Macaroni & Cheese or Chilled Shrimp with vegetables and rice noodle salad.
Over at Ronto Roasters, a podracing engine serves as a barbecue pit for mouth-watering meats served in wraps or sandwiches. A former smelter droid is at the controls of the spit, and not all that happy to be there.
Menu items include Meiloorun Juice, Turkey Jerkey, and a Ronto Wrap, which is filled with grilled sausage and roasted pork. Drinks include the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset.
To create the blue milk and green milk sold at the Milk Stand, Imagineers visited Lucasfilm to get an idea of how to make it. There they were told, “You get to write the story.”
The culinary team decided to make blue milk plant-based, so that more guests will be able to enjoy it.
Another vendor, Kat Saka’s Kettle, will be offering Outpost Mix, a sweet-savory-spicy popcorn snack.
Droid Depot will let guests grab parts off of a conveyor belt to build their own customized droid, either an R-series or BB-series unit. The droids will be able to interact with some elements in the land and respond to guests’ behaviors.
Chips and accessories can be added to customize the droids even more.
The store will also offer pre-built droids, including a talkative C-3PO and a Rex that serves as a Bluetooth speaker.
Savi’s Workshop will give guests the chance to build their own lightsaber. Following a guided tour, guests can select from four options: Peace Justice (modeled after Jedi from the Republic era); Power Control (a nod to the Sith); Elemental Nature (harnessing air, earth, fire, and water); and Defense (shrouded in mystery).
Guests looking for something a little mysterious and rare should head to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. There, guests will find items from different eras in the Star Wars story. Look for Jedi and Sith artifacts, holocrons, and lightsabers. An animatronic Dok will be at his desk barking orders to his assistants and checking his inventory.
At the Creature Stall, you’ll find all sorts of usual beasts, from porgs and tauntauns to rathtars and wampas.
The Toydarian Toymaker sells artisan-style plush characters, wood and tin toys, and instruments.
Resistance Supply will offer badges, hats, pins, and other items to help guests blend in with the resistance.
Alternatively, guests can pledge their loyalty to the First Order by picking up hats, model ships, and pins at First Order Cargo.
Black Spire Outfitters will feature clothing to help guests “create their own galactic style.”
All of the merchandise in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been created especially for the new land. Don’t look for standard Star Wars-logo products.
Finally, the Play Disney Parks app will bring Batuu to life, offering interactive adventures and experiences. Look for ways to engage in the new land by translating galactic languages, discovering what’s inside crates and containers, or accomplishing tasks.
The app may even interact with antenna arrays, door panels, drinking fountains, droids, media screens, and ships.
As of now, no official opening date has been announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on either coast, but look for that news soon!
Source: Disney/D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
Tom is the former host/producer of the Disneyland Edition podcast and is currently the co-host of the Connecting With Walt podcast, plus is also providing Disneyland content from the parks. He enjoys traveling with friends and spending time with family, including his son and grandson. In his spare time he volunteers with Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts, and helped found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
