Disney has officially announced opening dates for BOTH of the NEW Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands at both Disneyland Parks in Anaheim, California and at Disney's Hollywood Studios; Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be opening May 31, 2019 at Disneyland in Anaheim, Claifornia and on August 29, 2019 at Walt Disney World® Resort at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. It is important to note that this new section will be opening in two phases, which means that on opening day Guests will be able to take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, sample amazing galactic food and beverages, explore an intriguing collection of merchandise ships and more.
Phase two, which will be opening later this year, will be Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which Disney is calling "the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined that will put guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance and will blur the lines between fantasy and reality."
Disney made to decision to open these areas early because of the high level of anticipation by guests and the allow fans of the Star Wars stories to start experiencing their own story sooner as they enter the world of Batu.
Here are some very important details to note: Those planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Park between May 31 - June 23, 2019 will need valid theme park admission tickets and will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the land. Information about how to make a reservation will be available at al later date. Guests staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels during these dates will receive a designated reservation to access Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest); valid theme park admission is required.
In anticipation of galactic excitement during the first few opening months, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be open during normal park hours, but it will not be open during Extra Magic Hours nor during Magic Morning at Disneyland Park.
A reservation will not be offered nor required to experience Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at the Walt Disney World® Resort. Valid theme park admission for Disney's Hollywood Studios is required to visit this new section of the park after it opens on August 29, 2019. Capacity is limited. Additionally, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be open during Extra Magic Hours. During Extra Magic Hours guest staying at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels can spend extra time at Disney's Hollywood Studios enjoying select attractions. More details on this will be available at a later date.
FastPass & MaxPass Service: There will NOT be any FastPasses nor MaxPass (Disneyland Park) initially offered for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run when it opens. Disney plans to observe how the operation of this new attraction goes upon opening and will re-evaluate the need to make this new attraction a FastPass option to help ensure a great guest experience. Before you panic, Frozen Ever After used to not offer FastPass service before 11AM when World Showcase officially opened, and the line moved more continuously and faster not having to stop the standby line to allow those with a FastPass in the front of the line to board first. So, time will tell how this will work, but I'm keeping my chin up and finger crossed for this being a good decision for now.
You need to keep in mind that this new section of the park will be capacity controlled, so even though you have a valid theme park admission ticket you are not guaranteed access into Star Wars: Galaxy'd Edge section if it's too full when you are there.
Let's Talk About this NEW Land in Detail!
We all know the queue will be long to accommodate the expected high crowd level, but Disney always does an amazing job at keeping guests entertained along the way while they wait, and this one will be no different. You will find some fun interactive elements as you wait that you will be able to access with your Play Disney Parks app.
How you do on your mission will follow you throughout the rest of your time on Batuu. For example, if you do poorly and wreck you might find the bartender at Oga's Cantina calls you out for your lack of piloting skills.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
There has been no official announcement from Disney yet, but it's been reported that this ride will have a minimum height requirement of 40", which makes sense after you hear some of the details of what to expect.
Like the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, this attraction will also have an expansive queue designed to hold the large crowds, and if you look down, you'll see something that might look familiar: the tracks from the real R2-D2. And, the Play Disney app will also allow you to dive even deeper into the prologue of the story before they board the attraction.
You start off being captured with Poe promising to return for help. After that, the next part of the attraction has you boarding vehicles that utilize a trackless system that takes you through a hanger containing a couple iconic (and maybe scary) AT-ATs before eventually bringing you to Kylo Ren.
Dining
Oga's Cantina
You can expect to find unique musical entertainment (provided by RX-24, the former StarSpeeder 3000 droid pilot from Star Tours) and amazing concoctions "created with exotic ingredients using "other worldly" methods" awaiting visitors to this notorious local watering hole.
Disney's Description: "Run by an intriguing alien proprietor, Oga Garra, the cantina adheres to a strict code of conduct that tries to keep its unruly patrons in check. But with a history of being a smugglers' safe haven and a popular stopping point for those seeking to avoid the authorities, you can bet that the cantina has a story or two to tell."
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
This multi-purpose transportation shuttle dock will provide guests with food and drink options, all with a Star Wars story to go with them.
While Disney hasn't said, the wise the selection of items here makes this sound like a standard "quick service" type restaurant but with a heavily themed menu.
Braised Shaak Roast - featuring beef pot roast with caatelli pasta, kale and mushrooms
Friend Endorian Tip-Yip - a decadent chicken dish with roasted vegetable mash and herb gravy
Felucian Garden Spread - a plant-based kefta "meatball" dish with herb hummus and tomato-cucumber relish with pita bread
Ithorian Garden Loaf - a plant-based "meatloaf" dish served with roasted vegetable mash, seasonal vegetables and mushroom sauce
Smoked Kaadu Ribs - featuring smoked country sticky pork ribs with blueberry corn muffin and cabbage slaw
Oven-Roasted Burra Fish - featuring Dijon-crusted sustainable fish with mixed greens, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds with a creamy green curry ranch dressing
Oven-Roasted Tip Yip - featuring roasted check with mixed greens, roasted vegetables and quinoa
Yobshrimp Noodle Salad - a marinated noodle salad with chilled shrimp
- Raspberry creme puff with passion fruit mousse
- Chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse and coffee custard
- Fried chicken with macaroni and cheese
- Chilled shrimp with vegetables and rice noodle salad (with sweet orange dressing)
Ronto Roasters
Serving primarily sandwiches and a few drinks, the menu isn't as long as the one a Docking Bay 7. Your choices here will include, Turkey Jerky and the Ronto Wrap, which is a wrap filled with grilled sausage and roasted pork.
You know if this is a true Star Wars themed location there must be blue milk.
The milk stand will offer two local favorites: Blue Milk (a la "A New Hope") and Green Milk (like the stuff Luke drinks in "The Last Jedi").
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will feature several unique ships with a wide variety of items to choose from. Be aware, Disney has already said, "Everything was created specifically for Galaxy's Edge.," so you will not find it anywhere else around the parks or stores.
Droid Depot
This will be the go-to place for those of you wanting to create your own droid to take home with you. Both the R-series and BB-series will be available.
If you don't feel like making one yourself, pre-built droids will also be available.
There will be four options to choose from: "Peace Justice (modeled after Jedi from the Republic era); Power Control (a nod to the Sith); Elemental Nature (harnessing air, earth, fire and water); and Defense (shrouded in mystery)."
Among the many stalls located at the marketplace, you will find Toydarian Toymaker's stall with various items to purchase.
Stay tuned for more details coming in the near future!
Cindy