Star Wars Land

A Star Wars-themed land, currently and unofficially referred to as Star Wars Land, is an upcoming themed area being developed at Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida.^[1] The new land was first announced by Disney CEO Bob Iger at the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015. The land at each park will each encompass 14 acres.^[2] Walt Disney Imagineering executive Scott Trowbridge is supervising the development of the new land at both parks.^[3][4] Disney CEO Bob Iger announced on March 3, 2016, at the Disney shareholders meeting, that construction on both versions of the land would begin in April 2016.^[5] Construction began at both locations on April 14, 2016.^[6]

Design

Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, stated that the land "will introduce you to a Star Wars planet you’ve never seen before — a gateway planet located on the outer rim, full of places and characters familiar and not so familiar."^[2]

The land will immerse the guest into the Star Wars universe. According to Iger, it will be "occupied by many inhabitants; humanoids, aliens and droids … the attractions, the entertainment, everything we create will be part of our storytelling. Nothing will be out of character or stray from the mythology."^[7] In an interview for the winter 2015 issue of the official Disney fan club publication Disney twenty-three, Trowbridge stated: "[O]ur intent is to make it feel as if you just walked into one of the movies... Bringing Star Wars to life in the physical world gives us the opportunity to play with a whole bunch of things we've never done before... to really engage all of the senses. What does that street feel like? What does that animal smell like? What does blue milk taste like?"^[4]

Concept art depicts a full-size Millennium Falcon situated among alien buildings built into tall cliffs.^[8] The Star Wars-themed land will have two new attractions: one will allow riders to control the Millennium Falcon, and the other will place guests into the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.^[8][9] There will also be a version of the cantina.^[10]

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced on March 3, 2016, at the Disney Shareholders meeting, that construction on both versions of the land would begin in April 2016.^[5]

Parks

Disneyland

At Disneyland, Star Wars Land is being built to the north of Frontierland, where Big Thunder Ranch and backstage areas were located.^[10] As a result of the expansion, Disney purchased nearby properties in order to replace the office and warehouse space that was on the land.^[11]

On January 11, 2016, the Disneyland Resort closed several attractions in the Frontierland and Critter Country sections of the park. Big Thunder Ranch closed permanently, including the multi-function event space, barbecue restaurant, and petting zoo. Other attractions closed temporarily, including the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America. While the Rivers of America remain closed, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, Tom Sawyer Island, Fantasmic!, and the Disneyland Railroad will all be unavailable to park guests until summer 2017.^[12][13]

The construction of Star Wars Land will result in a re-configured route for the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America. A first look at how these changes would impact the park were revealed in January 2016, when concept art was released depicting the northern bank of the river after construction is completed.^[14]

Disney's Hollywood Studios

At Disney's Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Land is replacing the majority of the park's Streets of America, including the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure which closed on April 2, 2016, as well as the surrounding backlot facades, restaurants, and shops. Together, with the previously closed Studio Backlot Tour and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attractions, Star Wars Land will be part of a major expansion of the park that will include Toy Story Land.^{[2][15][16][17][18]}

The remaining operating portions of Streets of America (containing Muppet*Vision 3D) were left undisturbed and renamed as Muppets Courtyard.^[19]

See also

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, themed lands found at several Universal Parks & Resorts
• Pandora – The World of Avatar, a themed land currently being constructed at Disney's Animal Kingdom

References