Back in April, Disney released a sneak peek at concept art for a new, “Star Wars”-inspired land, slated to open in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, and Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort.
Over the weekend, as part of the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled a detailed model of the land, officially titled Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which will include two new attractions. Running since 2009, the D23 Expo offers exclusive experiences for Disney fanatics, including sneak peaks of upcoming films, celebrity appearances, and previews of upcoming attractions at its parks.
“Both ‘Star Wars’-inspired lands will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port, and one of the last stops before Wild Space, where ‘Star Wars’ characters and their stories come to life,” Disney said in a blog post about the expansion.
A must-see for fans of the epic franchise, each land will cover 14 acres in its respective park, making it the largest single-themed expansion at either of the parks. There will be two signature attractions as part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, one that lets guests take control of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and one that puts guests in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.
“This is the most ambitious land we’ve built to date,” Chapek said at the unveiling. Such an expansive attraction comes with a hefty price tag. The lands reportedly cost about $1 billion each. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the latest in a string of new park lands and attractions, which include the “Avatar”-themed land Pandora: The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, a “Guardians of the Galaxy” revamp of the Tower of Terror ride at Disneyland and another new land in the works at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Toy Story Land, slated to open summer 2018.
Just in time for the opening of new lands in 2019, “Star Wars: Episode IX” is also expected to be released in summer 2019 (Episode VIII, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” hits theaters Dec. 15, 2017).
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