With The Disney Blog on the road this weekend, we sent one of the biggest Star Wars fans we know to enjoy the Galactic Nights event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here is their report, along with some additional details provided on the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land coming in 2019.
“We had a great time at Hollywood Studios Galactic Nights. Upon arriving, we were greeted with Cast members passing out booklets and pins for the evening’s event. There were 3 main areas where the activities were being held. The main area was center stage where a DJ was playing music in front of the Chinese theatre. The next area was at the end of Sunset Blvd where Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. Finally, the area of Star Tours.
“At all the locations, there were Star Wars characters and location sets where you could be photographed. As part of the experience, there was a scavenger hunt to collect stickers at each of the location sets, 8 in total. There were small parades of Stormtrooper marches and interactive with the audience.
“We loved the changes made to Star Tours. Instead of Vader, Kylo Ren, makes an appearance looking for the rebel spy. The scenes were changed to include locations from The Last Jedi. It was awesome! At the end of the evening, guests were given a poster and new trading cards as explained at the event.
“In my opinion, the best part was the discussion panel with the reveal of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge status and expected experiences. I recorded the event for you and it all looks very exciting. 2019 can’t come soon enough where it will be finally open to the public.”
The special discussion included some of the biggest names working on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including Scott Trowbridge, portfolio creative executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, along with Imagineers Robin Reardon and Chris Beatty, as well as Doug Chiang, Lucasfilm’s VP and executive creative director.
Among the cool reveals is that Galaxy’s Edge will have it’s own fleet of full-size X-wing starfighters. They’re constructed so that if you touch them they’ll feel real and ready for action.
“We talked a lot about authenticity — how we are building a real place in the Star Wars universe and how we are working hard to get the details right,” Trowbridge said in a statement. “One of my favorite examples is the Millennium Falcon. We’ve all seen her on screen, but until you climb through that hatch, walk through her hallways, sit inside the cockpit, power her up and actually FLY her yourself, it’s not quite the same. Here is a photo of the inside of the ship as we are getting her ready and I can’t wait for you to see her yourself!”
Disney sent its imagineers to exotic destinations to research the markets of Istanbul and Marrakesh to get a feel for what the merchant stores and stalls should look and feel like in Bantuu.
One such store will be run by a Toydarian (first spotted in Star Wars: The Phantome Menace on Tatooine). A Toydarian will have sell toys, of course. There will be toys straight out of the Star Wars galaxy (as opposed to Hasbro or Mattel). If Disney really does go for authentic “in-story” detail here, that would be great.
We have to wait until 2019 when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to walk into this world ourselves. Will you be there with us?