Star Wars attractions debut at Disney's Hollywood Studios
by Tom Anstey | 01 Dec 2015
Hollywood Studios at Disney World Florida has debuted its new Star Wars attraction – the largest land expansion in company history – opening just ahead of the movie premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits cinemas on 18 December.
At the hub of the 56,655sq m (609,840sq ft) experience will be Star Wars Launch Bay. Located in Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard, the multi-sensory space offers an experience right from the queue line, which displays special concept art.
Once inside, guests can interact with signature Star Wars characters such as Darth Vader and Chewbacca, while exploring several galleries showcasing memorabilia and large-scale replicas of Star Wars props. A completely explorable recreation of the famous cantina scene from the first Star Wars film is also included, while Star Wars video games are available to play in a special gaming zone. Finally, a retail area offers exclusive merchandise available only at the park.
The Star Wars experiences include reimagined elements of Disney’s former popular attractions based around the brand, most notably Star Tours, which first opened at Disneyland California in 1987. The updated version of the ride, ‘Star Tours – The Adventures Continue’, offers an experience based on characters and adventures from the new addition to the franchise. Incorporating a 3D experience with a motion simulator ride, the Star Tours sequel will take riders to multiple locations from the Star Wars universe, where they will interact with characters from the saga.
Disney’s popular Jedi Training Academy has also been reimagined, incorporating new characters from the DisneyXD show Star Wars Rebels. Aimed at children, visitors will be ‘taught the secrets to becoming a Jedi’, facing off against the universe’s villains to discover if they have the ability to ‘become a Jedi’.
As part of the experience, Disney will have Stormtroopers patrolling various areas of the park, interacting with guests as they ‘search for the resistance’.
For those not familiar with the franchise, Star Wars: Path of the Jedi will show an abridged version of all seven Star Wars films, introducing iconic characters from the first six films and new ones from the upcoming movie release.
From 5 January 2016, the park will offering a fireworks display set to music from from the Star Wars saga. Known as ‘Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular’, the show will signal the end of each day at the park.
To top off the experience, guests will have a variety of Star Wars-themed food on offer throughout the park, as well as a special dessert party, which will take place during the fireworks show and include themed desserts, drinks and a souvenir Chewbacca tankard for guests.
The new addition to Hollywood Studios is just the start for Disney and Star Wars, with the operator currently planning to send Star Wars Launch Bay to its new resort in Shanghai and Star Tours to its Tokyo park, as well as a new Star Wars Land at Disneyland California.
Disney has created its own sequel to Star Tours, with the new version incorporating scenes from the new movie Credit: Disney
Visitors will be able to meet signature Star Wars characters, such as Chewbacca Credit: Disney
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Hollywood Studios at Disney World Florida has debuted its new Star Wars attraction – the largest land expansion in company history – opening just ahead of the movie premiere for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which hits cinemas on 18 December. At the hub of the 56,655sq m (609,840sq ft) experience will be Star Wars Launch Bay. Located in Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard, the multi-sensory space offers an experience right
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