That's it, Bob Iger just announced officially Star Wars lands for WDW DHS and Disneyland and it'll be the biggest land ever built!
"Bob Iger announced to an audience of more than 7,500 fans that Star Wars-themed lands will be coming to Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif., and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., allowing Star Wars fans to step into the stories from a galaxy far, far away.
Ambitious plans to bring Star Wars to life in the two parks include creating Disney’s largest single-themed land expansions ever at 14-acres each, transporting 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.
“I am thrilled to announce the next chapter in the long and exciting history between Disney Parks and Star Wars,” said Iger. “We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever. These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”
These authentic lands will have two signature attractions, including the ability to take the controls of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle."
Here is the short Star Wars Land teaser shown during the Parks and Resorts D23 Presentation...
...And here are some additional artworks shown during the Parks and Resorts presentation at D23! They show different scenes inside the land or even rides ( the one with the Storm Troopers ) as well as a great live music "Cantina" bar & restaurant!
D&M take: It looks impressive, though i was not expecting this kind of architecture. No opening date was announced for the Star Wars Lands opening but from what i've read it seems that they're planning to break the ground in 2017 which, considering the huge construction works needed, should mean a Star Wars land opening not earlier than 2019!
Edited 16 / 8 : Some thoughts about the new Star Wars land: At first i was impressed because of the scope of the project ( looks huge, etc… ) and the more i think about it the less certain i am about what i feel about it. First, i understand why they choose to create a new planet, but at the same time it will be more difficult to enjoy the place than if it had been a planet we already knew as i think what Star Wars fans would like is to be « teleported » on a planet they loved in the previous movies to have the feeling and pleasure « to be there ». So, the fans won’t have this feeling here, except if this new planet is introduced in the upcoming movies of the new trilogy. The only place so far which is a reminiscence of a loved place in the previous trilogies is the cafe looking like the famous Tatooine cantina.
I also have a problem with the mountains which have a kind of Avatar / Pandora look / feeling with the vegetation going down these pillars of rock. Because of the verticality of the set, it will create a special mood for the guest walking down there but it certainly don’t look like a place which gives you a « cosmic » feeling that a Star Wars land should give. And nothing futuristic in it. But the chosen decor should work well for the transition when you’ll come from the woods in the back of DL Frontierland where they will built it.
That said, Universal didn’t did this mistake, they reproduced faithfully the places that fans loved in the Harry Potter movies, but it's true they didn't had the choice of environment. I can understand that, with Star Wars, they had so many planets that instead to choose one and eventually make fans who would have liked another planet than the one chosen angry they decided to create a new one, but i’m not sure it’s not a mistake. They have enough materials in the Star Wars movie that they should have built a full theme park with different lands / planets, but there, in addition to the cost and needed place - a problem that could have been resolved - probably entered the corporate paranoid question: what if Star Wars is not anymore popular in 15 - 20 years? Which of course doesn't have any sense considering how hugely popular SW is since 35 years and this with two trilogies / six films released only...
Now the only thing to do is to wait till they build it and see the result. But i sincerely hope this new planet will be introduced in a future movie, one way or another so fans will have the feeling to be « at home » …
And what are your thoughts about this new Star Wars land?
Let's end with the video of the full star Wars Land presentation during D23 Parks and Resorts event, filmed in HD by Inside the Magic!
Artwork: copyright Disney
4 comments:
This is definitely great news! Now I want to know where this is going to fit in Disneyland. Thanks for the high-res images. They're fantastic!
Are you sure this planet isn't from the new movies?
Are you sure this planet isn't from the new movies?
The planet is likely to be from the new movies. It would be consistent with the decision of Iger to postpone the 1rst SW project as he wanted it to be more about the new trilogy. Like the new DLP stage of Jedi Academy is presented as inspired by the new movies. And the announcement of new movie segments for Star Tour. (Gosh!!! That would be the 1rst time when Disney announce possible evolution & upgrade for a ride and it is actually done shortly after).
IMHO Alain is right here; especially for Disneyland as it all about nostalgia. A smart move would have to built a planet from the original trilogy in DL and another from the new one in WDW. Just different sets with the same rides (as rides development is much more expensive than walls & sets decoration).
The one thing that strikes me as odd is to announce it so early. No date were given but I expect at least 3 years of building and maybe more because the rumored area are working backstages need to be replace & dismantle. And here you say not before 2019 ! Why build expectation so much in advance ?...
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