Stars from the Star Wars franchise helped to launch Disneyland’s new $1billion attraction, Galaxy’s Edge, in style on Wednesday night.
Harrison Ford paid an emotional tribute to longtime friend and Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, who died aged 77 last month, during the opening ceremony.
Ford, beloved for his portrayal of Han Solo, was accompanied on stage by other familiar faces, including his co-stars from the original trilogy Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams, as well as Star Wars creator George Lucas.
The sci-fi quartet, along with Disney CEO Robert Iger, helped cut the ribbon on the 14-acre attraction, declaring the not so far, far away immersive experience officially open for business.
‘Peter, this one’s for you,’ Ford declared, before banging on hull of a to-scale model of the Millennium Falcon to prompt a stunning firework display to echo out across the skies above.
(Left to right) Star Wars creator George Lucas, Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill, Disney CEO Robert Iger and Harrison Ford helped cut the ribbon on the 14-acre attraction on Wednesday night
Harrison Ford paid an emotional tribute to longtime friend and Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, who died aged 77 last month, during the opening ceremony
‘Peter, this one’s for you,’ Ford declared, before banging on the Millennium Falcon’s hull to prompt a stunning firework display
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge may be situated on the same plot as Disneyland, but stepping into the new attraction feels like an entirely different world altogether.
Disney offered media a glimpse into Galaxy’s Edge on Wednesday with an exclusive tour that included a Star Wars-themed food tasting, a stroll through the Black Spire Outpost marketplace and four-minute ride on the Millennium Falcon.
On Friday the immersive experience will be unveiled to guests with a pre-reservation, finally allowing them to experience the largest single-themed land ever created in a Disney park.
Disney officials said it took more the five years to finish the attraction at the California theme park, with costs estimated at more than $1 billion.
‘I’m very excited about being this close to inviting guests and our biggest fans to join us at the edge of the galaxy,’ said Scott Trowbridge, portfolio creative executive and studio leader at Walt Disney Imagineering. He spoke in front of the First Order TIE echelon spaceship.
‘We had the fans in mind the whole time,’ he said. ‘We’ve been able to kind of open it up to them and invite them to kind of join us on this remote outpost planet.’
Disney offered media a glimpse into Galaxy’s Edge on Wednesday with an exclusive tour that included a Star Wars-themed food tasting, a stroll through the Black Spire Outpost marketplace and four-minute ride on the Millennium Falcon
The firsthand glimpse took place just two days before the grand opening of Galaxy’s Edge at the California theme park
On Friday the immersive experience will finally be unveiled to guests with a pre-reservation, finally allowing them to experience the largest single-themed land ever created in a Disney park
Disney officials said it took more the five years to finish the attraction, with costs estimated as being in excess of $1 billion
‘I’m very excited about being this close to inviting guests and our biggest fans to join us at the edge of the galaxy,’ said Scott Trowbridge, portfolio creative executive and studio leader at Walt Disney Imagineering
Galaxy’s Edge is an adventure through the grungy planet Batuu, a remote world from the newest Star Wars trilogy, and the war between the Resistance and the evil First Order.
The sprawling land is divided into three areas, with one themed on the Resistance, another on the First Order and a third location called the Village.
Guests can build their own droids for around $99.99 and even fully custom make their own lightsabers for $199.99. They can also interact with aliens and take a swig of the same kind of blue milk that Luke Skywalker drank in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope – which is a dairy-free frozen blend with dashes of citrus.
Additionally, adventure-seekers will be given the chance to commandeer the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, a to-scale replica of the ship from the films, measuring more than 100 feet long.
Six people can operate the spacecraft at any one time, with a number of buttons and controls making for an engrossing interactive experience called ‘Smugglers Run’.
Some familiar faces including Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and fan-favorite Chewbacca will also feature as part of the adventure in Batti, as visitors explore the expansive world.
Galaxy’s Edge is an adventure through the grungy planet Batuu, a remote world from the newest Star Wars trilogy, and the war between the Resistance and the evil First Order.
The sprawling 14-acre land is divided into three different areas, with one themed on the Resistance, another on the First Order and a third location called the Village.
Guests can build their own droids in the attraction’s ‘Droid Depot’ for around $99.00 plus tax
Park-goers can even custom make their own lightsabers for $199.99 in Savi’s Workshop
Some familiar faces including Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and fan-favorite Chewbacca will feature as part of the adventure in Batuu, along with the iconic Stormtroopers, as visitors explore the expansive world
Josh D’Amaro, the president of Disneyland Resort, posted a photograph to Instagram on Wednesday of the workers of the attraction with the caption: ‘So proud to introduce you to the inhabitants of Batuu! I want to thank this amazing team for their incredible dedication and passion. Yesterday’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge cast rally was unforgettable. This photo is one for the ages!’
The picture was then re-posted by John Boyega, the actor who plays Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its sequel, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
He promised that the ‘amazing cast’ is ‘ready to give the fans all around the world the most immersive Star Wars experience!’
And then revealed that he was not only personally involved in developing the attraction, but will be there in person for the opening.
He added on his Instagram post: ‘Don’t you worry I’ll be there to help guide you through one of the most insane rides! It was a pleasure to work with the team on this. Enjoy and may the force be with you.’
Additionally, adventure-seekers will be given the chance to commandeer the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, a to-scale replica of the ship from the films, measuring more than 100 feet long
Six people can operate the spacecraft at any one time, with a number of buttons and controls making for an engrossing interactive experience called ‘Smugglers Run’.
‘Don’t you worry I’ll be there to help guide you through one of the most insane rides! It was a pleasure to work with the team on this. Enjoy and may the force be with you,’ said current Star Wars actor, John Boyega, who plays Finn in the latest trilogy
The California resort is expecting massive crowds when it opens and has revealed detailed plans on how it will accommodate guests.
For the first three weeks, guests must have a reservation to enter and will be limited to four hours inside the immersive new land, the largest single-themed land inside a Disney park.
A special wristband will identify a visitor’s time window, and once it expires, Disney said it will shut off access to key attractions and merchandise locations.
Park employees dressed as Star Wars characters will ultimately ask visitors to make their way toward one of the three exits so a new group can enter.
Kris Theiler, vice president of Disneyland park, said: ‘There might be some First Order officers out there helping us or maybe some Stormtroopers asking people to move along.
‘We’ll employ the First Order maybe later in the reservation period if we need to.’
The California resort is expecting massive crowds when it opens and has revealed detailed plans on how it will accommodate guests
John D. State, culinary director for Disneyland Resort, discusses the new food options at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
For the first three weeks, guests must have a reservation to enter and will be limited to four hours inside the immersive new land, the largest single-themed land inside a Disney park
A view of The Market Place where guests will be able to try and buy a series of outer-galaxy foods
The park has plenty of other, more subtle ways to manage crowd flow. Theiler said walkways were widened from three to about six feet in different areas, and stroller parking is available.
Around 7,500 new parking spaces along with new parking lot entrances and toll booths were added. A new pedestrian bridge was also built to help avoid jams.
Disneyland was the second most popular theme park in the world last year with 18.6 million visitors.
It is second only to Disney World in Florida, where a version of Galaxy’s Edge is scheduled to open Aug. 29.