BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 As confirmed today at the D23 Expo, here's the official announcement from the Disney Parks Blog... Star Wars Enhancements, New Experiences Coming Soon to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resortsposted on August 15th, 2015 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort From a new Star Tours adventure to Star Wars Launch Bay and Season of the Force, guests at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will soon be able to step into the Star Wars galaxy like never before! Star Wars Launch Bay will take guests into the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, including opportunities to visit with new and favorite Star Wars characters, special merchandise and food offerings. Star Wars Launch Bay will be located in the Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park. Also at Disneyland park, Star Wars Launch Bay will share the space with the reimagined Super Hero HQ, featuring opportunities to meet and take photos with Super Heroes like Captain America and Thor, as well as experience the returning Iron Man Tech Presented by Stark Industries. Both experiences will be available for guests later this year. Season of the Force, a new seasonal event beginning early 2016, brings new experiences to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. In Tomorrowland at Disneyland park, guests will explore the Star Wars galaxy with special entertainment throughout the land, themed food locations and more. Guests also will also climb aboard Hyperspace Mountain, a reimagining of the classic Space Mountain attraction, in which guests will join an X-wing Starfighter battle. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will close out weekend nights with a new fireworks spectacular set to the iconic score of the Star Wars movies. Later this year, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue will include a new adventure featuring locations and characters from the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, giving guests a new adventure in the Star Wars galaxy. Finally, Jedi Training Academy – a favorite of younger fans – will be reimagined with a new experience that includes new characters and a new villain to battle from the popular Disney XD series, “Star Wars Rebels.” http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/08/star-wars-enhancements-new-experiences-coming-soon-to-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resorts/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 More from the Disney Parks Blog... Star Wars-Themed Lands Coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resortsposted on August 15th, 2015 by Erin Glover, Social Media Director, Disneyland Resort Today at the D23 EXPO 2015, The Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO 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. Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more news coming out of D23 EXPO 2015 this afternoon from the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts presentation. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/08/star-wars-themed-lands-coming-to-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-resorts/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 From Disney Food Blog... News! Star Wars Lands — and Star Wars Cantinas — Announced for Disneyland and Disney World! August 15, 2015 By AJ Sooo… official news announcing the new Skipper Canteen Jungle Cruise restaurant coming to Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland wasn’t enough for ya? Star Wars Lands — PLUS CANTINAS! — Coming to Disney World and Disneyland!Well, then, let’s see if THIS does the trick… A REAL, TRUE STAR WARS CANTINA will be coming to both Disney World AND Disneyland as part of the Star Wars-themed Lands announced for BOTH coasts at the D23 Expo! We’ve been dreaming about this for years! Here is a glimpse of the concept art for the Star Wars Cantina! AND, of course — most pertinent to our readers — everyone there will have to EAT, right? We made the case for a Star Wars Cantina years ago, and it’s finally happening! BRING ON THE BAND!!! The best part? All restaurants, shops, and other establishments in the Star Wars Lands will be owned and run by residents, so the theme will run deep, my friends! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/08/15/news-star-wars-lands-and-star-wars-cantinas-announced-for-disneyland-and-disney-world/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Star Wars park expansion presentation at D23 Expo 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qQWdwX_dDo&feature=youtu.be Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fowlandfishmommy 10 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Any guesses to when this (and Toy Story Land) will be finished? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 I'll guess 2020 BradyBzLyn...Mo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LONE-STAR 370 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 They should have started building it years ago so they could have announced it opening soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Any guesses to when this (and Toy Story Land) will be finished? That's the one important tidbit that did NOT come out of D23. And Shannon might not be far off. Question is, will they work on both Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land simultaneously? Given how much of Hollywood Studios is closed already, they might as well. I have to think that the $3+ billion Disney just approved for HS covers both projects so... get on it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted August 16, 2015 Report Share Posted August 16, 2015 Somewhere in the flurry of stories today I read that construction would begin in 2017, so 2020 is an ambitious guess. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Just ran across this, but not sure what the original source is... Update: It was later revealed that Star Wars Land at Disneyland will be taking over Big Thunder Ranch and nearby backstage areas to comprise that 14 acres. It will begin construction by the end of 2017. Toontown will not be replaced or affected by Star Wars Land. http://www.insidethemagic.net/2015/08/d23-expo-2015-star-wars-land-announced-for-walt-disney-world-and-disneyland-ever-14-acres-of-new-attractions/ So.... is there a date kicking around out there for WDW too? Still poking around, but has anyone seen anything from a credible source? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Will Space Mountain at the MK get the makeover? The article says Tomorrowland at Disneyland will see changes and HS at WDW. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Will begin by the end of 2017?!? That's 2 years from now! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 Travisma, no, the seasonal overlay for HyperSpace Mountain is DL only. It sounds like they are going to have something like Star Wars Weekends at DL and this is part of it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted August 17, 2015 Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 And WDW gets left out again... One of the few things my daughter was really excited about Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted August 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2015 More analysis and speculation, this time from Kenny The Pirate. He seems to agree with the thinking that Toy Story Land is the "short term" project, while Star Wars Land is the biggie... Small details we may have missed about the Star Wars Land announcement for Hollywood Studios and Disneylandkennythepirate Within the announcement of the new Star Wars Land coming to Hollywood Studios and Disneyland, were some great Easter Eggs. Here’s a few: We were told that we’ll be visiting a “gateway planet located on the outer rim full of characters both familiar and not-so-familiar.” Won’t it be fun to actually be immersed into the Star Wars environment, instead of just riding a ride? I believe we have a certain boy wizard down the street to thank for this type of detail! Theme park wars are great because all the parks are forced to constantly improve themselves. The Season of the Force discussion, which didn’t provide many details outside of it being inspired by Star Wars Weekends and having a new fireworks show, (Couldn’t we get an upgrade to Rock n Roller Coaster?) did provide this little glimmer of something that most people missed. See that glowing image on the far right? It’s where the Magic of Disney Animation was located. Well, that is the new location for the Star Wars Launch Bay! There’s no other place to put the thing and open it by “later this year.” It also appears there is a show in the ABC Theater. Jedi Training Academy (Live?) looks to be in the same outdoor location. The launch bay is said to include fun play areas, the latest Star Wars games, props, artwork and characters. One image flashed on the screen briefly also showed this. The left side shows an overlay of an eating area and the right side is a Chewbacca meet and greet. I’d love to see Chewie and other Star Wars characters in the parks all the time! Another little gem of the future (probably VERY future) Star Wars Land will be the Mos Eisley Cantina. How fun would it be to have a snack or dinner and listen to live performances. This seems to take a nod from Diagon Alley as well with the constant entertainment that goes on the stage there. Almost looks like Cyclops People are asking me to guess when Star Wars Land will be completed. I’m going to throw out the year 2021 as my guess in preparation for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. This land will be huge, it will be immersive and it will involve a lot of the famous (overly used?) Disney rock work that takes forever to build. I’d guess that Toy Story Land opens within 3 years though. It will be fun and detailed, but won’t have all that concrete rock work, and it will offer an open air coaster and a ride they already use with a new theme. Star Wars Launch Bay should open by Christmas, if projections are accurate, and Seasons of the Force seems like a January-February type deal to boost attendance during slow seasons. http://www.kennythepirate.com/2015/08/16/small-details-we-may-have-missed-about-the-star-wars-land-announcement-for-hollywood-studios-and-disneyland/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023 Posted September 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Speaking at the Bank of America-Merrill Lynch 2015 Media Communications and Entertainment Conference in Beverly Hills yesterday, Staggs indicated that both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World versions of Star Wars Land will begin construction in 2016, but did not offer any other details or an expected opening date. http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/star-wars-land/news/11sep2015-walt-disney-worlds-star-wars-land-to-break-ground-in-2016.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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