Big news, Star Wars fans (big enough to require capital letters): the official opening dates for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, have been announced! According to the Disney Parks Blog, the California version of the park will begin welcoming guests on May 31, 2019, while the Florida version will open its doors (or maybe jump to light speed? In which case, that's a better one Metaphor? ) August 29, 2019. I kid you not, we have been waiting for this moment for almost four years . (The expansion was first announced on August 15, 2015.) Our time has come. It's now. Chewie was told to get the falcon ready for takeoff.
Galaxy's Edge will take guests to Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu - a spaceport that Disney describes as "a haven for some of the galaxy's most colorful and infamous characters." Designed to be as immersive as possible, you'll be able to experience amazing storytelling on every level - from the cast members you'll meet to the extra interactive moments available while you're on Batuu using the Play Disney Parks app." However, It’s worth noting that May 31st and August 29th are just the first phase of this land: on these dates, visitors will be able to buy space-age goodies, eat and drink some particularly hilarious-looking food and drinks, and ride A major attraction - Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
By the way, you'll notice that both versions of the Star Wars themed land are opening early. Initially, Disneyland and Disney World were expected to open in summer 2019 and late fall 2019, respectively. They always say it’s better to promise less and deliver more, right? I'd say Disney succeeded this time.
Of course, the smuggler's escape is a highlight of the first stage. It puts guests directly into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, playing pilot, gunner and flight engineer on a smuggling mission not for Han Solo, but for the character who plays a major role in the animated Star Wars animated show. Space pirate Hondo Ohnaka. The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. The journey is a team effort, with each of the six passengers on each trip working together to create an immersive, choose-your-own adventure story. In some ways, its format sounds similar to Disney World's Epcot's Mission: Space, but we won't know for sure until it finally opens. But the experience is more than just riding; Queues and pre-shows are also immersive, giving you the freedom to explore the Millennium Falcon live and in person.
Below is the Hondo animatronic, which looks to be one of the most advanced Disney Imagineering has ever created:
However, the food at Galaxy's Edge also looks really interesting. Restaurant options include fast-casual restaurant Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, run by chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs, at least according to lore of the land, and specializing in dishes like oven-roasted braai and smoked kadu ribs; Ronto Roasters, Black Spire Outpost Market, a sandwich stall famous for Meiloorun Juice, Sausage and Pork Ronto Wrap; Oga's Cantina, where you can get strong cocktails and colorful drinks such as Outer Rim, Bespin Fizz, Yub Nub and Fuzzy Tauntaun (which I assume is basically a fuzzy bellybutton, but better because TAUNTAUN); a milk stand that specializes in divine blue and green milk; and a kettle corn stand called Kat Saka's Kettle.
When Phase 2 opens later - we don't know when yet - another, even more impressive ride will arrive at Galaxy's Edge. It's called Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and is apparently "the most ambitious, immersive, state-of-the-art attraction ever" and will "put guests between the First Order and the Resistance ’s climactic battle,” thereby truly “blurring fantasy and reality,” according to the Disney Parks Blog.
oops. Yes.
If you're planning on heading to Galaxy's Edge soon after either resort opens in Phase 1, there are some details you need to know:
At Disneyland in Anaheim, California, guests with valid theme park tickets between May 31 and June 23, 2019 will need to make an additional reservation to visit Galaxy's Edge. Disney hasn't released information on how to do this yet, but keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog coming soon; plus, reservations are free, so there's no additional cost to visit Galaxy's Edge. Additionally, if you stay at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels (Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian Hotel, or Paradise Pier Hotel), you will receive designated reservations during your stay.
However, starting August 29, no additional reservations are required to visit Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando; all you need is a valid park ticket to Hollywood Studios. But be warned, the crowd can be bananas. Remember how difficult it was to get into Toy Story Land when it opened last year? I bet things are even worse on Galaxy's Edge. However, if you stay at one of the Disney World hotels, Galaxy's Edge will be included in Extra Magic Hours, so plan accordingly.
Disney is sure to announce more details as May and August get closer, so keep an eye out. Something tells me, if you want to visit Galaxy's Edge in its first year, you're going to need to really plan for it .
Wish...ah, you know what's going on, right?
