Join Joe Darthmaz on a 4K walkthrough of Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. This video will put you right in the middle of the immersive world of Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu. Stroll through the exteriors of the land and happen upon the Millennium Falcon, First Order and Resistance ships, and much more.
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Star Wars Galaxy's Edge was originally supposed to be a very interactive experience in which guests "lived their own Star Wars adventure." There was supposed to be interaction with characters, as well as a "reputation system" where you had an opportunity to have some of your interactions in the land follow you during your visit.
For example, your performance on Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run was intended to be part of the reputation you built in as much as if you really banged up the old hunk of junk, you might catch some shade from cast members or characters in the land afterword.
However, many of the interactions and the reputation system were scrapped due to cost-cutting and have now all been neatly placed behind a $5,000 - $6,000 paywall at the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. One of the few interactive elements, although it is mostly one-sided is the character experience at Kylo Ren's ship.
Kylo Ren and his duo of Stormtroopers appear periodically in front of his docked starship to harass and recruit gathered guests at Galaxy's Edge. A Kylo Ren character interacts with guests via a series of pre-recorded comments and hand gestures. It is definitely a unique photo and video opportunity and should not be missed during your time at Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios.
Here, Joe Darthmaz brings you a sampling of the Supreme Leader's interaction with the milling masses at Galaxy's Edge in our latest video release.
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Joe Darthmaz brings you a full ride-through of the Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run attraction at Galaxy's Edge from Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando. Portions of the exterior and interior queue are featured as well.
Much has been said and written about the quality of this attraction since it debuted at Galaxy's Edge in Disney Parks on both coasts. Some of the more negative comments were along the lines of...
"It is just a simulator ride..."
"It's a modern Star Tours..."
"We waited for years, for this?!'
A case can be made for all of the above comments. However, as a lifelong Star Wars fan, who struggles to not get dragged down by today's constant search for what is wrong with everything and everyone, every minute of every day, I really enjoyed it immensely. And that was after waiting almost ninety minutes.
Walking into that section of Galaxy's Edge and being faced with (what I can only imagine is) a life-sized Millennium Falcon was almost enough for me. Getting to experience a recreation of the interior of the ship, only made me happier. The fact that the ride was enjoyable sealed the deal.
Would I have preferred that the entire land be set in the time of the original trilogy? Yes. However, the addition of Hondo, one the best characters to come out of the Clone Wars animated series, was a phenomenal move. Hondo is your guide and "employer" on your Smuggler's Run journey. Having just the right blend of charm, humor, and sliminess, Honda fills the role very nicely.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy a journey aboard the most loveable piece of junk in the galaxy, courtesy of Joe Darthmaz. Afterward, you can decide if you agree with some of the attraction's detractors or those like me, who are thrilled to have an attraction like this to enjoy.
If you like this video, please consider giving it a “thumbs up.” This really helps others find the channel and our content. Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite memories or with suggestions for future videos.
Please also visit our channel, Joe Darthmaz and SUBSCRIBE, for more Disney World and Disney-related content. Click the bell icon to turn on notifications and select "all" to be notified each time we post a video. You can check us out on Twitter @JoeDarthmaz.
We are trying to build a community of like-minded people, so tell your friends (or enemies) about us if they share our love of Disney. Thanks so much for your support!
Former Magic of Disney Animation Building to Hours Star Wars Launch Bay - courtesy darthmaz314.com
As reported in a July 31st post on darthmaz314, The Magic of Disney Animation attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed forever on July 12th, 2015. During a recent trip to Walt Disney World, a Hollywood Studios cast member confirmed to darthmaz314 that the building which housed this attraction is being renovated to house the Star Wars Launch Bay, a new experience announced at the D23 Expo in August. The Star Wars Launch Bay will be an interactive experience that takes guests inside the upcoming Force Awakens film, as well as the other six films of the Star Wars canon. Special exhibits, sneak peeks behind the scenes, character meet and greets, and unique food and merchandise offerings will all be featured in the Star Wars Launch Bay experience.
Star Wars Launch Bay Concept Art - courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
The exterior of the former Magic of Disney Animation building has been painted a familiar “Imperial” grey in preparation for its transformation into the new Star Wars Launch Bay. Disney has announced that this attraction will open in December of 2015, just in time for the December 18th opening of the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is now just over two months away.
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Star Wars Land Concept Art - courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
Nearly three years after the announcement of Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, it was confirmed at this weekend's D23 convention that both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be embarking on expansions to introduce a greater Star Wars presence in their parks. In short, Star Wars Land is coming to both coasts. The expansion will the largest in Walt Disney World's history, with Disney announcing that the new land will span fourteen acres. Very little has been announced in terms of specifics, but what has been shared is definitely cause for excitement. While there has been much speculation as to which of Star Wars many worlds would make a suitable setting for a new themed land, Disney threw a curveball at fans by deciding to abandon them all and create a new world in which to immerse guests for this Star Wars experience. What has been shared thus far is that the world will be part of the "outer rim" territories, on the boundaries of "wild space," all of which means we can expect it to feature a spaceport, much like Mos Eisley on Tatooine. Plans for a cantina are also in the works. In the concept art that has been released (a mere few drawings,) the planet's architecture and topography look as though it is a melding of familiar elements from Padme Amidala's native Naboo, the Republic capital of Coruscant, and Kashyyyk, home of the Wookies. Disney executive Scott Trowbridge, who has been assigned exclusively to "Star Wars" projects, indicated Saturday at D23 that the new land will be totally immersive and allow guests to experience the characters, setting, and stories of Star Wars like never before. The announcement of immersive themingis not a surprise, since this strategy has been immensively successful at Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter and and is a main reason that the attraction is a phenomenal experience that truly transports guests to the magical world of the popular book and film series.
Star Wars Land Concept Art - courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
From what Disney has revealed thus far, there will be an attraction that allows guests to pilot the Millenium Falcon in a customizable experience that places them squarely in the midst of a battle between the First Order (the new antagonists of The Force Awakens) and the Resistance (the new twist on the Rebellion of the original trilogy.) The concept art depicts the Falcon actually docked in the land itself. If they in fact build a scale version of the classic Correllian freighter, the land will definitely have its park icon and it is almost impossible to imagine how many photos of that thing will be taken in the coming years.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley - courtesy darthmaz314.com
Taking a cue from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Diagon Ally, it appears that Star Wars Land will feature tall building structures and what look like some type of naturally occurring organic towers, which are possible supposed to be treelike or made of rock. This tall backdrop, which will most likely also house additional attractions and merchandise locations, will prohibit guests' visibility beyond the land itself, which will foster a feeling of true immersion in the theming. Again, very little has been announced in terms of specifics and even less about time frame for a debut of this much anticipated land. It will most likely take years to create this land, especially considering the attention to detail and painstaking process that Disney applies to all of its park construction projects. However, the overwhelming response to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal and the fact that it has fueled Disney's rival in Orlando to capture a frightening (yet still modest in comparison) percentage of the theme park market share in the last few years, will undoubtedly force the Mouse to compress his construction schedule.
Star Wars Land Concept Art - courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
Disney also has plans for some more immediate Star Wars experiences to whet the appetite of the rabid fan, which will debut in the near future. More about these in future posts. For now, rest in the knowledge that the premier entertainment company on Earth owns the Star Wars property and has confirmed that they are building their largest in-park expansion ever, which will debut in the midst of a pack of new Star Wars films. Finally, it is really happening.
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After years of speculation, endless postulations and prognostications, all fueled by boundless anticipation, the hopes and dreams of Disney and Star Wars fans across America were finally realized on Saturday, when at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, it was made official…Star Wars Land is coming to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Much more will follow on the details of this new massive expansion here at darthmaz314. For now, enjoy the first concept art to be released at D23. From what has been confirmed so far, this expansion will be worth the wait. Now you can all go change your underpants.
Star Wars Land Concept Art 1 - photo courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
Star Wars Land Concept Art 2 - photo courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
Star Wars Land Concept Art 3 - photo courtesy Disney/Lucasfilm
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Disney Meets the Force - courtesy the Walt Disney Co.
Day one of the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California wrapped up last night with no announcements regarding Disney Parks, but there were many highlights including the 2015 Disney Legends induction ceremony. The Disney Legends Award is basically the highest honor that the Disney Company can bestow upon those who have worked with and/or been associated with their brand. It usually is bestowed upon those truly special artists and/or employees that have made their mark under or alongside the Disney brand for a significant period of time. Among this year's list of honorees were composer Danny Elfman, soap opera queen Susan Lucci, movie icon Johnny Depp, and Star Wars creator and film legend, George Lucas. Lucas, of course sold his money printing machine Lucasfilm to the Disney Company three years ago in 2012 for over $4 billion. Lucas, who was historically known for being shy and reserved, seems to never be at a loss for words in his later years. In his heartfelt Disney Legends acceptance speech, Lucas made two comments that were of note to darthmaz314, one of which seems to be garnering a decent amount of press, the other all but confirms that big Star Wars news is on the horizon for Disney Parks this weekend.
Firstly, Lucas revealed that the much maligned (and even hated by many) prequel character Jar Jar Binks, was in fact inspired by the classic Disney character Goofy. Upon reflection, you can see the parallels between the two characters both physically and in their interaction with others. darthmaz314 has stated previously that although Jar
Meesa and Goofy is Related?
Jar was a creative gamble in many respects, the main issue with him was that the character "just didn't work." He crossed the line from being comically irritating to downright unlikable for many Star Wars fans. Lucas' comment about Goofy inspiring the Jar Jar character, coming now that Star Wars fever is again raging through the world and many have doused their incendiary loathing of Binks, is more trivia worthy and comical and will probably not amount to much, except a new wave of Disney hate crimes being perpetrated on Goofy characters in the parks, as frustrated Star Wars fans seek to vent their vitriol on the tall and lanky member of Disney's Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto.)
Lucas's other comment focused on the fact that after years of prodding and persuading to have more Star Wars presence in the Disney Parks, he was only able to get that done by agreeing to sell his company Lucasfilm to Bob Iger. If that is not unofficial confirmation of Star Wars Land, I don't know what is. darthmaz314 always welcomes your comments and asks you to share this and all our posts with your friends (or enemies) if you like what you see. Also, please visit, follow, and like our facebook page...
Will This Weekend Be the Stars Wars Land Official Announcement??? - courtesy darthmaz314.com
Since Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012, there has been a steady stream of speculation about the possibility of a Star Wars Land being built at Walt Disney World. With a slew of new Star Wars films on tap for the next several years, a stronger presence of Star Wars at Disney Parks seemed to be an inevitability. Half of Hollywood Studios has been closed in the last year, seeming to clear a huge piece of real estate for…wait for it…Star Wars Land, and yet no announcements from Disney. A cavalcade of Comic-Cons, Star Wars Celebrations, and D23s have passed and there have been announcements about everything except J.J. Abrams' R2-D2 underpants and guess what?…Star Wars Land. This weekend, all of that may finally change.
The D23 Expo, the official Disney fan club’s bi-annual convention, comes barreling into Anaheim this weekend and amidst the many presentations, panels, and publicity, there may finally be some official announcements regarding a stronger presence of Disney’s most valuable acquisition in their theme parks. Recent rumors are all but guaranteeing the announcement of a Star Wars Land for the Disneyland Park. Will we at long last also have confirmation of a Star Wars Land coming to Orlando? Could there be announcements of a Pixar Place expansion and/or a Cars Land like the one in California? The wait may finally be over, but one thing is certain, the next few years are absolutely guaranteed to be some of the most exciting and anticipated for lovers of Disney World.
While there may not be a fifth gate (new theme park) in the plans for Disney World, there is certainly more development and expansion in the works than any other time in recent history. The fact is that when Universal Orlando put on the big boy pants back in 2010 with the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they began to truly compete with Disney for the Orlando theme park dollar. Five years later, there is now a Wizarding World presence in both Universal Orlando parks and with parent company Comcast backing up a freight train and dumping money into their theme parks, Universal has become a must do in Central Florida. Their market share has been steadily growing and they are continuing to revamp and expand, at a much faster and more efficient rate than Disney. Bad news for Disney fans, right? Wrong.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle - courtesy darthmaz314.com
Disney Chairman Bob Iger all but told the world that the New Fantasyland expansion would be the end of new capital construction projects at Walt Disney World for a while. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter forced him to tell the world something different. The result is a wave of announced and rumored developments that will have new experiences crashing like waves upon the Disney faithful for the foreseeable future. The transformation of Downtown Disney to Disney Springs, the currently under construction Avatar Land at Animal Kingdom, a rumored re-imagineering of Epcot under new vice president Tom Fitzgerald, and of course, the much speculated upon additions of Star Wars Land and Cars Land, could all translate into phenomenal change and development at Walt Disney World in the years to come. The bottom line is Universal's strides forward and the resulting increased competition will be a win/win for the for the fans of both Disney and Universal. Bring on D23. And let's hear some announcements this weekend.
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So with the Back Lot Tour now closed, the inevitable question arises..."What will be replacing it?"With so many sizzling hot properties just waiting to be infused into their theme parks, Disney could not be in a better position to develop new attractions. Many also believe (yours truly not among them) that Hollywood Studios is dying on the (Hollywood and...) vine and quickly falling to the bottom of the Disney "must do" list of parks. Star Wars Land and Cars Land have both been rumored for some time now, including in the darthmaz314 posts linked below.
Both of these rumored park expansions have the potential to infuse new life (and millions of dollars) into Disney Hollywood Studios. But where would these expansions be built? A quick look at the Disney Hollywood Studios park map may hint at where we may see them surface in the near future.
One would think that if Star Wars Land were to become a reality, it would need to materialize around the existing Star Tours: The Adventure Continues attraction. The fact that the Backlot Tour is at the opposite end of the park most likely means that the Force is not strong with the notion of a Star Wars expansion on the Backlot Tour footprint. Both MuppetVision 3D and Lights, Motors, Action! fall in between Star Tours and the Backlot location and both have also been rumored to be on their way out. Then again, very little at the Studios has not been rumored to be on its way out. Removing both Muppets and Lights, Motors... would clear a huge footprint on which Star Wars Land could be developed.
What Will Be Done on the Site of the Former Studio Backlot Tour?
However, this plan would also require the elimination of the Streets of America section, leaving nowhere to insert the hugely popular Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Christmastime. This would also seem to require the removal or retooling of both the Pizza Planet and Mama Melrose dining locations. All possible in a place where anything is possible, but not very likely. If the Osborne Lights were removed, it is hard to imagine it not being relocated to another section of the park, given its huge popularity and ability to drum up attendance at the Studios, a park which some feel needs an overhaul. Is there really another area of the park where Osborne Lights can be overlayed each year? With the development and implementation of the display over time and its long run in that location, it almost feels as if the Osborne lights were meant to be in that area of the park; an area which outside of the two months a year when Osborne in in residence, is one of the Studios lowlights.
Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios - courtesy darthmaz314
So where does this leave Star Wars Land? It leaves it in the current location of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, another attraction which just happens to be adjacent to Star Tours, has a large footprint on which to build, and has also rumored to be on the chopping block. Expanding in the area of Indiana Jones still allows the option of removing MuppetVision 3D and keeping the Streets of America, whose tall facades already provide an existing barrier to separate the two areas which would feature vastly different themes.
The Far Side of "Streets of America" Near the Lights, Motors, Action Arena - courtesy darthmaz314
What then happens with the enourmous footprint of the Studio Backlot Tour? Some have speculated that an expansion of Pixar Place in inevitable in that spot, particularly since it lies adjacent to the the Backlot Tour area (see map above). Could that expansion include the development of Cars Land? This would seem to be a no brainer, particularly considering how the west coast Cars Land re-invigorated Disney's California Adventure park. For Disney fans, it is now all a waiting game. Waiting to see what attraction, if any, closes next. Waiting to see if Disney develops anything Star Wars or Cars related. And most importantly, waiting for any new attractions to be developed, built, tested, and opened to the public. With the current rate at which Disney builds attractions, by the time they open a new Star Wars attraction, I will be too old to ride it. Here's hoping for the best!
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darthmaz314 speculated in a past post entitled "Where Will Disney Build the Future Star Wars Land?" that Star Wars Land was
an inevitability at one of the Disney Orlando parks, namely Hollywood Studios.
It was speculated by many that Disney would make an announcement regarding the
development of Star Wars Land or perhaps an Orlando Cars Land at the 2013 D23 Expo,
which was held August 9-11 in Anaheim. Disney had officially denied that any such announcements would take place and in support of this claim, went
as far as to remove the Disney Parks presentation from the slate of events at
the 2013 D23 Expo. Still, speculation ran rampant that perhaps Disney was
merely lowering expectations during the weeks leading up to D23, only to blow
everyone away with huge development announcements regarding the Disney Parks.
Well, in an age when no one’s word means anything, Disney held true to their
word. There were no groundbreaking park expansion announcements at D23.
But if you are in the entertainment business, one of the most crucial
elements of success is generating interest and anticipation for your product.
So what is better than making an announcement? Teasing your fan base. At the 2013 D23 convention,
that is exactly what Disney did.
While there was no official announcement about a “land” dedicated
solely to Star Wars, the Disney Park Pavilion at D23 hosted the “Journey Into
Imagineering” immersive experience, where guests could enter a recreation of
the Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale, California for a peek
into all things Imagineering. In addition to being able to view some elements
(maps, models, design drawings) used in the planning of legendary Disney Park
attractions, the Journey Into Imagineering experience provided D23 guests with
a not so subtle confirmation of their suspicions…Disney has future Star Wars
attractions in their plans.
In true Disney fashion, the Imagineering team created a story around
the teaser for the future Star Wars attractions. The story goes that the large
collection of wooden crates on display at the D23 Expo were originally
delivered to Disney Imagineering headquarters from a galaxy far, far away to be
opened at a future date.
The crates contained various cryptic markings and messages,
leaving no question that Star Wars projects are in the works, although not
ready for official unveiling. Featured prominently on several crates were the
words “Project Orange Harvest: Speculation Beyond Imagination.”Orange Harvest being a not so veiled
reference to the code name Blue Harvest, which was used to keep the filming of
Return of the Jedi a secret back in the early 1980s.
The writing on the various crates certainly leaves the door open for
“speculation beyond imagination” by the Star Wars and Disney faithful. These
hints may have a direct correlation to concepts being considered for attraction
design or may just be references to various elements of the Star Wars universe
placed there to get a chuckle out of the crowd. Here are some of the references
from the crates which were on display.
RANCOR FOOD: CASE OF 12 CANS/13.2 OZ
SERIES 401 HYPERDRIVE MOTIVATOR (another Millennium Falcon reference)
CLASS VT-1300 – LIGHT FREIGHTER (another Millennium Falcon reference)
CONTENTS: 1 PROTOCOL DROID (C-3PO)
RADON-ULZER G20C RACING ENGINE (a podracer reference?)
There was also an open crate with
what appeared to be rolled-up design plans protruding from the top on which
blueprints of a speeder-bike and the word “SCOOTER” could be read. Could this hint at a speeder bike thrill ride in the works?
At this point, it is all speculation. However, you don't need the imagination of Lucas or Disney to figure out that now that the Mouse owns one of the most lucrative brands in the history of entertainment, they will use every opportunity to cash in on the Star Wars investment. Star Wars attractions are coming to the Disney Parks. The when, where, and what have yet to be revealed. But if you are a Star Wars and Disney fan and you are looking forward to more Star Wars attractions, in the words of the Emperor, "It is unavoidable. It is your destiny."
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Recently, rumors have been ripping through the internet about possible new “lands” being added to Walt Disney World theme parks. The latest and hottest rumors, as reported by many sites (most notably www.themeparkinsider.com) speculate that a Star Wars Land and a Florida version of the immensely popular Anaheim Cars Land, are planned for Disney’s Hollywood Studios park within five years. Although Disney refuses to fuel the fire of these rumors, one thing is clear. If you are a fan of Disney World and Star Wars, you probably have a lot to look forward to in the next few years.
When Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm was announced on at the end of October 2012, it was logical to assume that the Mouse would want more Disney in his house in the future. After all, there has been a Star Wars presence in Disney World since 1989 when Star Tours opened in the then-named Disney-MGM Studios, and even further back in California with the opening of this same attraction at Disneyland in 1987. In fact, Star Tours was the first Disney park attraction not to be inspired by a Disney film. Considering all this, it is almost hard to imagine that a Disney park has not expanded its Star Wars presence in the quarter century since the Force was first felt in Anaheim.
With the Force and the Mouse becoming one, Disney would be foolish not to capitalize on expanding the Star Wars presence in their parks. After all, Disney Chairman Bob Iger’s business plan is to build the company’s future by acquiring companies like Pixar and Marvel, who are ripe with franchise-worthy characters that will drive the various entities of their brand (movies, television, theme parks, merchandising) in the future. So while Disney’s official statement was that “they have nothing to announce”, their silence may be only temporary. It is likely that if there are official plans to build Star Wars and/or Cars lands in Orlando, Disney will make their official announcements at the D23 Expo (Disney’s Official Fan Club convention) which will be held August 9-11 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Consider also that with Disney’s plans to not only
release Episodes VII through IX, but also spinoff films focusing on individual characters from the Star Wars universe, the promotional and merchandising opportunities are as plentiful as stormtroopers in the Imperial Army. Starting in 2015, for better or worse, we will be able to experience an almost endless wave of Star Wars films coming at us at light speed. Could there be a better time to expand on the Star Wars presence in the Disney Parks? It is hard to imagine this not happening, particularly since Disney has not been able to parlay their purchase of Marvel into theme park expansion due to exclusivity deals with Universal in Orlando.
