Star Wars Land Announced for Disney World & Disneyland!
Stars Wars Land was just announced for Walt Disney World and Disneyland at the D23 Expo! At the end of an otherwise dull Star Wars segment of the Live Action film panel, Disney CEO Bob Iger came on stage to announce the lands for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, and Disneyland (park) in Anaheim.
Few details were given, except that the plans are incredibly ambitious, and set to be Disney’s largest single-themed land expansions ever at 14-acres each (which likely means that they are clones of one another) and will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port, and will feature recognizable characters.
At Disneyland, the expansion will take the place of Big Thunder Ranch plus some backstage areas; it sounds like Toontown is safe. No word has been given as to where in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that Star Wars Land will be added.
The new land is said to transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, which is a remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space. In this land/on this new planet, guests will be immersed in an experience where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life.
Each of the lands will have two signature attractions, one with the ability to take the controls the Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and will include an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.
Realizing this expansion will take years to complete, Disney has a short term solution, too. Both Star Wars Launch Bay and Season of the Force will begin within the year. Launch Bay is set to (ahem) launch later this year, and will feature specific exhibits, meet & greets, and behind the scenes experiences all based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It will be located in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Toworrowland’s Innoventions at Disneyland, where it will be called Super Hero HQ and also feature Marvel stuff.
Season of the Force, is a new seasonal event beginning early 2016. It will occur in Tomorrowland at Disneyland, where there will be special entertainment at Tomorrowland Terrace and elsewhere, along with Hyperspace Mountain, a re-imagining of Space Mountain, in which guests will join an X-wing Starfighter battle. At Walt Disney World in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it will be a weekend event featuring a fireworks spectacular set to the iconic score of the Star Wars movies. No word on whether this replaces Star Wars Weekends, but I’m guessing not–instead, it’ll just be riding on the Episode 7 hype train.
Additionally, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will have a location and characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens added to it at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. Likewise, Jedi Training Academy will have new characters and a new villain to battle from the popular Disney XD series, “Star Wars Rebels.” These additions should be in place before Episode 7 opens.
Reaction
It turns out some of my speculation and predictions in the $3.5 Billion Walt Disney World Expansion? posts were correct…and also incorrect.
I’m pretty ecstatic about Star Wars Land, and I’m not even a huge Star Wars fan. What has me most excited is that this is a new planet. This is because my main hope as stated in that post was this:
I can’t really say there’s something specific I’d like to see represented in this land. What I am hoping is that a single, distinct environment from one of the films, rather than a “greatest hits” of different Star Wars locales. One of the reasons I think Cars Land is so successful is because you feel like you’re actually stepping into that film.
As readers and I went on to discuss in the comments to that post, this would be a real challenge. I think reader Chris really hit the nail on the head with this:
Harry Potter is much better suited to places I want to go and be in. In Star Wars they always want out of where they are… Tatooine, Hoth, Dagobah system. Not even the Death Star to me is somewhere I want to hang out. The exception is the Millenium Falcon, but obviously not being a land, that can only accommodate so many people.
Chris was absolutely right, and this definitely seemed like it presented a challenge that might mean Star Wars Land is a simple, unidentifiable “greatest hits” repository of attractions. Thankfully, the Imagineers are more creative than all of us armchair enthusiasts, and they zigged when we zagged, opting to create an entirely new planet that, frankly, looks like it features some pretty awesome characteristics and is a place I’d want to hang out, based upon the concept art.
As only a casual Star Wars fan, things like canon and continuity in the new land do not matter to me, so I’m going to like the new land as long as it looks awesome. However, you better believe canon, etc. matters to serious fans, and I’m sure the Imagineers are working hard with Lucasfilm to ensure the new planet fits properly within the Star Wars Universe.
This planet will have to evoke the feeling of being in a Star Wars locale to serious fans, which I think will be a more daunting task for the Imagineers. (Of course, there’s also always the possibility that by “new” planet, they mean one from Star Wars: The Force Awakens that has yet to be seen by fans…)
Now that I’ve heard the announcement, creating a new planet seems like such an obvious solution, but it’s definitely not something I had considered before.
As for the attractions themselves, the descriptions provided were so vague that there’s really not much for me to say. Obviously, piloting a Milennium Falcon is going to be a real crowd-pleaser. An attraction like that does seem like an obvious choice, and it’s a choice I’m glad they made. Beyond that, I am hopeful that at least one of these attractions is family friendly–but also pushes the envelope in terms of creative design.
I really hope these are “wow” attractions that breed a whole new generation of Disney fans. Based upon the rumblings I’ve heard from those who would know, that’s exactly what both of these attractions will be. I couldn’t care less about the exact substance of the attractions–I’ll trust the capable hands of the Imagineers when given a healthy budget– all I want is to be blown away, repeatedly uttering “whoa” like I did on my first rides on Radiator Springs Racers or Mystic Manor. I know people are excited about Toy Story Land, but I’m hoping for attractions in Star Wars Land that raise the bar so high that people will be wondering why they even bothered riding some dog-coaster. 😉
As for the seasonal stuff, I’m impressed just by the fact that Disney has recognized they need something ready quickly to satiate the pent up and coming demand for Star Wars. I strongly suspect these additions are at least being partially funded by the studio’s healthy promotional budget for Episode 7 (just like the studio pays for those 3D preview films in Epcot & Disneyland), but at least the parks are finally putting that money to more imaginative uses.
I don’t expect any of the Launch Bay or Season of the Force stuff to be particularly impressive, but anyone who is expecting any of this to be E-Ticket quality has unrealistic expectations. I think it will all be well done “diversion” level of entertainment that will particularly be enjoyable for families, which is about the most that should be expected. I’m pretty impressed that they are doing this at all, and at the end of the day, anything is better than Innoventions, so at least there’s that! 😉
About the only thing that bugs me about this is that I don’t think Disneyland–Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom–is the appropriate place for a single-property land. I have no issues with the tone or substance of Star Wars being “un-Disney” as some people are complaining, but it is a bit disconcerting that the park Walt specifically built with broad themes conducive to the guest having an individual experience based on their dreams and imagination. An entire land based on a single property (be it Star Wars or Snow White) seems contrary to that.
This is something with which I’m still wrestling and I think I’ll get over it as the times have changed and there’s still ample opportunity to “choose your own adventure” and have an imaginative experience in Star Wars Land, but right now it doesn’t sit well. It may surprise some of you to learn, especially those who know I am an avid Disneyland goat enthusiast, that it doesn’t bother me that Disneyland is losing Big Thunder Ranch. I love Big Thunder Ranch, and spend a ton of time there. It’s one of those charming, distinctly “Disneyland” things that makes the park special. That said, it takes up a lot of space, and Disneyland doesn’t exactly have the blessing of size. Repurposing that area to better utilize the space makes sense, sadly. I’ll miss my goats, but perhaps I can adopt a few. 😉
I have no such concerns for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where IP has always reigned supreme. “Studio” is basically a cop-out in terms of theme, anyway. As long as they do a good job and each land is internally consistent, I’m satisfied.
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YOUR THOUGHTS…
Do you think this is a good addition? Are you excited for a big-budget Star Wars Land? Excited to pilot the Millennium Falcon? If you could choose, what would be your dream Star Wars Land be? If you have other ideas, questions, or thoughts, please share in the comments!
I am trying to plan a big Walt Disney World trip for my family. My partner and son are big Star Wars fans. Any idea of a date/year that the total SW land may be completed?
Hi
I fundamentally accept that there is a Cantina. Some of my most venerated SW scenes are those in the various saloons, with the untouchable band and the music playing outside of anybody’s capacity to see.
Regards
Shreya
It might be cool on the chance that they made them somewhat distinctive and complimentary of one another and give visitors motivation to visit both Star Wars Lands.
Hi,
I basically assume that there is a Cantina. Some of my most adored SW scenes are those in the diverse cantinas, with the untouchable band and the music playing outside of anyone’s ability to see.
Regards,
Sneha Meena
I may include, every “area” has had numerous enormous rides. With DCA and Cars Land, possibly Disney chose they will just have 1 major ride? I know they said a couple, so perhaps 2? How about we recall that, it isn’t a ride, yet an “Area.” That must have a ton of stuff in it.
I just trust that there is a Cantina. Some of my most cherished SW scenes are those in the diverse cantinas, with the outcast band and the music playing beyond anyone’s ability to see.
Regards
Stu Chang
I simply trust that there is a Cantina. Some of my most loved SW scenes are those in the different saloons, with the outsider band and the music playing out of sight
I basically assume that there is a Cantina. Some of my most cherished SW scenes are those in the distinctive cantinas, with the pariah band and the music playing outside of anyone’s ability to see.
I’m greatly stimulated for Star Wars and Toy Story Lands. Wouldn’t it be conventional however if the Star Wars Lands in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios weren’t exact of each other? It would be chill on the chance that they made them to some degree unmistakable and complimentary of each other and give guests inspiration to visit both Star Wars Lands. Since we don’t have the foggiest thought regarding a lot of the official course of action yet, I can even now have trust about this.
I simply trust that there is a Cantina. Some of my most loved SW scenes are those in the different saloons, with the outsider band and the music playing out of sight.
I’m extremely energized for Star Wars and Toy Story Lands. Wouldn’t it be decent however in the event that the Star Wars Lands in Disneyland and Hollywood Studios weren’t precise of one another? It would be cool on the off chance that they made them somewhat distinctive and complimentary of one another and give visitors motivation to visit both Star Wars Lands. Since we don’t have the foggiest idea about a great deal of the official arrangement yet, I can even now have trust about this.
Excited for my kids.. They will really love it… Thanks for sharing such a nice News.. !!
@Tom Bricker
Finally after a long long time!!! i am a big fan of star wars .Can wait to see whats happens next, how Disney World redesign the place to make it more fun.
regards
Tina
I might add, each “land” has had multiple big rides. With DCA and Cars Land, maybe Disney decided they will only have 1 big ride? I know they mentioned a couple, so maybe 2? Let’s remember, it isn’t a ride, but a “Land.” That’s got to have a lot of stuff in it.
I too, feel somewhat disappointed in the location, in Disneyland. At first, I thought the Star Wars expansion was actually going to be a new Disneyland Theme Park (but that would be too much maybe), learning it will be another “land” in Disneyland. Disney has been quietly acquiring land all around it’s Anaheim parks, in anticipation of building a 3rd Theme Park in Anaheim. So, that’s why I thought they had what they needed. Regarding this new land, It’s disconnected from Tomorrowland, and doesn’t seem to fit in well, but I’m sure part of the reason for it was due to the success of Cars Land, in DCA. If I were Disney, I would have put this in another Theme Park entirely, maybe calling it, “Movie Magic Park,” or whatever, but Disney may not own enough land yet, and they wanted to capitalize on the Star Wars acquisition.
Thinking about this, Cars Land isn’t really out of place in DCA. There’s a car culture here in California, and the nature of the interstate bypass has occurred here. After the Interstate system was authorized in 1956 and building began, there were many small towns that got bypassed along the way. I know towns that used to on Route 66 that got bypassed. The scenery from Cars, and subsequently in Cars Land, reminds me of Utah. I wouldn’t doubt, Interstate I-15, was the mythical highway route that bypassed, Radiator Springs. That being said, how does Star Wars Land meld with the others in Disneyland??
I just hope that there is a Cantina. Some of my favorite SW scenes are those in the various cantinas, with the alien band and the music playing in the background.
@admin
At long last!!! Can hardly wait to peruse your next redesign with ideally more points of interest… Thanks for keeping those of us stuck in the Midwest educat
regards
rakhi
Strangely, I very much understand the location of the Star Wars Land in DL. When we visited about a year ago, the ranch seemed very disconnected from the rest of the park. That in part was due to the quiet nature of the area, but in part because its about the only thing around that corner. I think this can work well for transitioning from Walt’s original park, to the new SWL. Mountains of Big Thunder and morph to mountains of SWL. Hopefully all the greenery will be there and help with the transition. Not sure how well the transition will be between Toontown and SWL; but I’m holding out hope that they keep Toontown and provide a back exit from Toontown toward SWL. That would get rid of the dead end – and could be a challenging transition – but challenging transitions can sometimes be the best designed.
And I hope Tom keeps his visits regular over the upcoming years and shares some great pictures!
From an operational perspective, the location makes perfect sense. That’s a dead part of the park, and it will help with capacity and guest flow for all of the reasons you mention. I totally get that, and agree.
What I question is whether a land based on a single film franchise belongs in Disneyland as opposed to generalized themes like “fantasy”, the “American West”, etc. I know that ship sort of sailed with Toontown, but that definitely feels different (to me at least).
Even though the rumors have been around for quite awhile, I was still SO excited to hear the official news! I CANNOT WAIT! I guess I’ll be a passholder for life, now!
How about some Princess Leia cinnamon rolls? …just an idea from my nine year old who loves the big rolls from Gaston’s Tavern. Cant wait to get back to WDW