Anticipation is building towards the opening of Disney's
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the new 14-acre
Star Wars-themed land that'll be featured in Hollywood Studios located at both Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California) and Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando, Florida).
Over the past few months, we've learned a ton about how
Galaxy's Edge will transport guests to the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy's edge that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. It is
at Black Spire Outpost where fans will enjoy experience two new attractions, a
cantina-style restaurant, shops, and character encounters - all inspired by the iconic
Star Wars franchise.
At this weekend's D23's Destination D event, Disney Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek shared even more details, revealing the official names of the two attractions featured in
Galaxy's Edge.
The first is called
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This is the attraction we've heard most about; it'll put guests
"behind the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy in one of three unique flight crew roles." These roles, based on previous details, include pilot, gunner, and something along the lines of an engineer.
The attraction will give guests the opportunity to fly the Millennium Falcon, piloting the ship, shooting blasters or preparing for hyperspace – all while completing a critical mission. But how you perform on the mission holds even bigger stakes: perform with skill and you may earn extragalactic credits, while bringing the ship back banged up could put you on the list of a bounty hunter. End up on Harkos’s list and you may face a problem if you show up at the local cantina!
The second attraction is called
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. It'll put guests
"in the middle of an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order." The promotional video released for this was apparently shot in the actual attraction itself.
Perhaps the most exciting announcement, however, was that legendary composer John Williams will return to create new and original music exclusively for
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Disney released a behind-the-scenes video featuring the Oscar-winning composer and the London Symphony Orchestra recording the new music for the land at Abbey Road Studios.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open in summer 2019 at Disneyland Resort and late fall 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort. Get ready for big crowds and expensive prices.