Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Media Event Mini Show Shows Kylo Ren and Rey in an Epic Lighsaber Battle !

A cool mini-show happened on Dec 4 on the roofs of Black Spire Outpost during the media event for the Grand Opening of  Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Holyywood Studios. Resistance soldiers, a Stormtrooper, and a First Order soldier fought during a few minutes before Kylo Ren and Rey face off during an epic lightsaber battle with Chewbacca joining at the end. The show also had pyrotechnic effects.

This is the kind of mini shows that is missing at Galaxy's Edge and it would be welcome if Disney could have it playing every day, but i wouldn't bet on that and i have the feeling that this small show was cut for budget reasons, although the infrastructure to have it happen is built.

Check the video below posted by ThrillGeek.

New Footage Released for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Rise of the Resistance Ride !

Galaxy's Edge is opening soon at WDW Disney's Hollywood Studios and some exciting new footage of the awaited Rise of the Resistance was shown at D23 Expo, check the video and screen captures below!
























Pictures: copyright Disney

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge : The Limits of Synergy

Star Wars Only has posted this video below in which they’ve got a point, and a big one: Disney doesn't understand Star Wars fans? The answer is: yes, for a big part, but what really screwed the opening of Galaxy’s Edge is to don’t have wait that Rise of the Resistance would be ready to open the land. The expected double-bingo with two openings instead of one didn’t worked as planned as we saw.

So, you’ll tell me: « well, when ROTR will finally open everything will go fine... » Well, yes and no. Yes, because the ride will be incredibly immersive, but no because they did another big mistake which is to have create a land storyline on the new Star Wars trilogy and not on the first ones. Did they forget that it’s the generation who are now the fathers and mothers of the children coming to DL, who are the ones paying for park tickets and hotels, etc? And for them Star Wars will always be Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi Wan, Yoda, AND Darth Vader. And you won’t find any of them in Galaxy’s Edge attractions , though Han Solo Millenium Falcon is indeed there with the Smuggler’s Run ride. Basically it’s like creating Peter Pan Neverland without finding Peter Pan in it. Or a Harry Potter land without Harry Potter, Hermione, Hagrid, and all the others good or bad guys of the saga. Would you even think doing such a mistake? Of course not.

So, what happened, how could they screwed something which was normally impossible to screw like creating a Star Wars land? If we except the greedy mistake of the supposed two openings instead than one at the right time with everything ready, the thing in my opinion which is responsible of this mess is Disney’s endless thirst for « synergy ». I bet you that if you won’t find any characters of the first trilogies, it’s because they were sure that they’ve been replaced in guests minds by the characters of the new trilogy, and that, in the name of the all powerful synergy, should be enough to bring in everyone at Galaxy’s Edge.

Well, no, it doesn’t work like that, everything has limits including synergy and Disney is learning it the hard way. That’s the problem with synergy: it’s made and work fine for people who don’t have insights. In two words, it’s an easy tool for people lazy to think a bit more deeply. And of course if you get it wrong when you spend one billion dollars on new lands, such a mistake becomes catastrophic at the end...




Picture: copyright Disney

Everything You're Dying to Know About Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Rise of the Resistance Attraction

Brady McDonald, who was writing formerly for the Los Angeles Times and more recently for the O.C Register now also write articles for Mice Chat, which is a good idea as Brady always has reliable infos from WDI.

Don't miss his new article on Mice Chat HERE as you'll learn almost everything about the ride storyline that guests will experience when the highly immersive Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Rise of the Resistance E-Ticket attraction - which will combine four ride experiences into one! - will finally open later this year at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios. The only thing missing in the article is the opening date but we'll probably learn about it at D23. Also, no need to say there is a BIG Spoilers Alert, so read at your own risk!

Picture: copyright Disney

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Oga's Cantina DJ R3X Videos + Droid Depot DJ R3X Droid Unboxing

Star Tours Captain Rex has found a new life at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Oga's Cantina as DJ R3X and the Audio-Animatronic is now amazed the guests while they party and enjoy their drink in the Cantina.

Let's have a look at some vidoes of it and the first video below was released by Disney D23.

Next is a short video filmed by The DIS during which DJ R3X plays the famous original Cantina theme. 

Did you know that you can actually buy at Galaxy's Edge a remote controlled DJ R3X with bluetooh speakers? Here is a video showing the unpacking and demo of the animated DJ R3X which looks to be between 15" and 18" high and cost $150 at the Droid Depot shop. The toy look fun but it's just a pity that his head don't move in rythm with the music played as does the Audio-Animatronic. Well, may be it was not feasible technically for this price...

Video: copyright D23, The DIS, Creation Caravan

All Aboard for the ULTIMATE Video of the Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run Ride !

Disney and more team with Theme Park HD for a series of great videos of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge! Here is the first video and it's truly the "ultimate" video of the Millenium Falcon Smuggler's Run ride as it is a 360° video allowing you not only to see the ride movie but everything that is happening in the Falcon cockpit with the six passengers, each one having a different role as you know ( pilots in the front, gunners in the center, engineers in the back ).



Here is how to watch it, especially if you have not watched the others videos showing also the full ride posted here yesterday. First, the 360° videos don't work on Safari, so if you have a Mac watch it either on Chrome or Firefox. Two, watch the video in full screen mode and if you've never watched the ride, watch it a first time by looking only at the ride movie in the front, then watch it a second time by turning the image with your mouse to see what each passenger is doing all along the ride. And now, fasten seatbelts and here we go!




Video: copyright Theme Park HD

New Aerial Helicopter Footage Shows Amazing Close Up Shots of Disneyland's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge !

Some recent helicopter footage posted on Youtube by Disney Dave shows amazing close-up shots of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and especially of the Millenium Falcon and others Star Wars fighters all over the land, as well as how the construction of Star Wars land is coming on over at Disneyland California. And it was not even filmed at sunrise or sunset when no workers work yet in the land but apparrenty at mid-day with Star Wars Galaxy's Edge workers all around!

For those of you wondering how he has filmed such close up shots considering that it is forbidden for helicopters to fly over Disneyland, the answer is simple: the helicopter was not over the park and was at a reasonably high altitude, i would say apparently at more or less 500 meters from the ground. The filmmaker just had one of these cameras with incredible super-zooms - like the Nikon P1000 with which you can film the Moon from your balcony. Check it out in the video below!

ALL New Pictures and Renderings for Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Rides, Shops, Restaurants, Cast-Members Costumes, Merchandise and more!

Tons of new infos, pictures and renderings have been released today about Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opening this June at Disneyland Resort. I've posted on the Disney and more Facebook page links to a series of articles and below you have ALL new renderings and pictures released today. Check out the pics below then jump to the D&M facebook page HERE and check EACH article links as each one has even more details about the awaited land!



Let's start by the new pictures released for the awaited Rise of the Resistance ride, one of the most advanced and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.
As new Resistance recruits, guests will join a climactic battle against the First Order, including a run-in with Kylo Ren. Their journey will take them inside a full-size starship and aboard a nearby Star Destroyer.Your adventure will take you inside the corridors of a rebel base in ancient sacred caves ( shades of the base on Yavin 4 ) and onto a troop transport ship where you will be captured by a Star Destroyer and then thrown in a prison cell block, where you belong, rebel scum.
Many of the surprises of Rise of the Resistance are still under wraps, but cameos include Rey, Poe, Finn, Kylo Ren and BB-8, a John Williams score, those classic blue Rebel light panel battle maps, a full-size AT-AT transport walker and a massive Star Destroyer hangar bay with a window looking out into space. It will be one of the longest rides in the park and require Disney's cast members to join in the action.

Disney Imagineers worked with Lucasfilm Ltd., as well as with directors and producers J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson, to maximize the experience. “It’s more than just a ride,” says John Larena, executive creative director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s a cinematic immersive experience” one of the most advanced and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.
EW has published a great article with all details you want to know - and even don't want to know! - so the best is to jump HERE and ne pics released are below.






New pics also were released for the Millenium Falcon : Smuggler's Run ride in which guests will climb into the cockpit of “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” to take control of the ship, acting in one of three roles: pilot, flight engineer, or gunner.
“Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a level of guest participation in a ride that we haven’t done,” says Robin Reardon, portfolio executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering. “When you step into that cockpit as the only flight crew of the only Millennium Falcon for the day that’s going on that mission, that’s a pretty amazing leap in terms of storytelling from the very beginning. And the payoff and participatory nature of the experience are, so far, unparalleled.”










Guest will also meet an impressive A1000 Audio-Animatronic figure of Hondo Ohnaka, a Weequay pirate introduced in Clone Wars, now the proprietor of Ohnaka Transport Solutions who has been loaned the Millennium Falcon by Chewie for some “deliveries”. The animatronic figure will be around 7 feet tall and uses the latest in electric motors instead of hydraulics. Hondo’s figure includes around 50 functions (movement points) total and is the second most complicated animatronic in Disney parks. The most complicated Audio-Animatronic ever build by WDI is Pandora's Na’vi Shaman which has 40 functions in its face alone, not to mention the rest of the body. Hondo  will not be far behind, with fluid movements, smooth facial contortions and believable interactions between himself and his R5 droid. Check pictures and the video below and the Popular Mechanics article HERE and the Techcrunch article HERE!












New artworks were also released for Galaxy's Edge shops! The Droid Depot will invite guests to construct their own astromech droids. Patrons will pick pieces and parts off a conveyor belt to build one of two core models (R-series or BB-series) and they can customize their droids with various parts and colors. These droids will be capable of interacting with elements in the land, responding to guests’ adventures. Additional programming chips and accessories can be added to further customize these new friends. In addition, the Droid Depot will offer pre-built droids, droid-inspired products and more. Mubo is the proprietor of Droid Depot.



Savi’s Workshop will be a mystical experience where guests will feel the Force as they build elegant weapons from a more civilized age. Guests will have the opportunity to customize and craft their very own lightsabers. The finished hilt costs around $109.00 and the blade starts at $49.99. Only fourteen builders at a time will be able to craft lightsabers.


At Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities guests will find a selection of rare and mysterious items for sale representing different eras of the Star Wars galaxy, including holocrons, ancient Jedi and Sith artifacts, lightsabers and more. As they explore the nooks and crannies of the shop, guests will also see Dok at his desk as the large Ithorian checks his inventory, takes incoming calls and barks the occasional order at his assistants.


Inside the Black Spire Outpost market, Ronto Roasters will draw attention from passersby with its large podracing engine firing up a barbecue pit for mouth-watering Ronto sandwiches. When hungry customers queue up to order, they will encounter a former smelter droid, carefully turning the spit of meats. Guests will also be able to choose from a variety of exotic non-alcoholic drinks like the Sour Sarlacc or Tatooine Sunset. Bakkar is the proprietor of Ronto Roasters. His droid is 8D-J8.



At Oga’s Cantina, even the blaster-bolt scorches on the walls tell a story. Here, guests will gather to share their tales from around the galaxy as they enjoy exotic beverages served in unique vessels. Listen to spirited musical entertainment provided by DJ R-3X, otherwise known as Rex, the former Starspeeder 3000 pilot droid from the original Star Tours. Rex re-invents himself as the cantina’s DJ, and he’s as quirky and talkative as ever. A collection of original cantina songs has been created by composers and songwriters from around the globe.


Talking about food here are some pictures of the "out of this world" food and drinks that will be served in Galaxy's Edge restaurants.











Galaxy's Edge cast-members costumes were also presented to Disneyland CM and here is a selection of them in the pics below.








Last but not least, pictures of a selection of exclusive Galaxy's Edge merchandise items wre also released, check the pictures below.




















Again, make sure to check the articles links on the D&M Facebook page HERE for much more details about Galaxy's Edge!

All pictures: copyright Disney