Recently at the D23 EXPO 2015, The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger announced that Star Wars-themed lands will be coming to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., as well as Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., allowing Star Wars fans to step into the famous stories from a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars Land coming to Hollywood Studios
This is Disney’s way of creating a destination drive to Hollywood Studios much like the way Universal Orlando has done with the Harry Potter lands. Duncan Dickson, associate professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said, “People don’t travel to Orlando specifically for the Hollywood-themed park, but they will soon.”
The Star Wars land will consist of two areas, each be 14 acres — Disney’s largest single themed land expansions ever. Each will include an attraction that will put visitors into a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Another attraction will place guests behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon. These authentic lands will have two signature attractions, including the ability to take the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle.
Even before Disney bought the Lucas film and took control of the “Star Wars” franchise in 2012, the two had a long relationship through Hollywood Studios. Star Wars Weekends are a big draw because children can attend a Jedi Training Academy there, while engaging in light saber battles with Darth Vader. In 2011, Disney refurbished Star Tours, one of Hollywood Studios’ original rides, which takes visitors through different Star Wars movie scenes.
As construction gets started, Hollywood Studios will in the short term bring in new, smaller Star Wars attractions and events. Later in 2015 Star Tours will include a new adventure featuring locations and characters from the upcoming film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” All of this is to coincide with the seventh installment in the Star Wars series, which is set to open in theaters in December.
Star Wars Launch Bay, an interactive experience that will preview the new movie, will open later this year in the Animation Courtyard. It will include opportunities to visit with Star Wars characters, special merchandise and food. A new seasonal event called Season of the Force beginning in early 2016 will feature a new fireworks show set to the score of the Star Wars movies on weekend nights.