A Journey to “Galaxy’s Edge” and Back
With my typical articles tending to cover topics like awards shows, classic television, pop music, and LGBT culture, it may come as a surprise to some readers that I am a Star Wars junkie. I may not be as devoted as the most die-hard fans, but I’m light years beyond a mere enthusiast.
I was born one year after the original trilogy concluded (with the release of Episode VI in 1983). Between having two older brothers and being raised during the heyday of home video, the original trilogy was a staple of my childhood. As an adult, I eagerly consumed every revival of the franchise over the past two decades, George Lucas’s divisive re-release of the original trilogy (1997), George Lucas’s even more divisive prequel trilogy (1999–2005), and eventually with the Disney takeover that brought us the more positively received, Lucas-free recent batch of films (2015-present).
I am also a shameless Disney junkie, an annual pass holder at Disneyland and a lover of most of what the Mouse House and its related studios (primarily Pixar and Marvel) have churned out. Thus, I was beyond delighted when I discovered that Disney would be opening Star Wars-themed areas of Disneyland (in Anaheim, CA) and Disney World (in Orlando, FL) in 2019.
The buzz was deafening among Star Wars fanatics and Disney lovers (and, of course, the millions like me who reside in both camps). Until fairly close to the unveiling, details about the new sections were sparse and buzz was universally positive — a strategy that is unsurprising given the tactics that have been taken with the release of the recent films.
But with the opening of Galaxy’s Edge (aka Star Wars land) at Disneyland on May 31, 2019, the secrets were revealed. Well, most of them anyway.
And 16 days after it opened, I got to experience it firsthand.
What is Galaxy’s Edge?
For the first 24 days it is open, Galaxy’s Edge is only accessible through a free reservation system cleverly designed to limit crowds. Reservations, the entirety of which were snatched up almost instantly, were made available to anyone staying in the Disneyland Resort hotels during the reservation-only time frame, as well as to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. (My mother-in-law miraculously managed to get passes for the whole family the morning they went on sale.)
The whole experience is a rather involved one with fairly strict regulations. On the day of the reservation, the entire group must present with photo IDs at the Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland (an area that for the last couple of years has housed Star Wars props, merchandise, and meet-and-greets.) There, each reservation-holder is given a wristband that allows them entry for a 4-hour-time slot.
Guests then navigate themselves across a sizable portion of the park to the unmarked and heavily guarded entrance. Interestingly, no part of Galaxy’s Edge is visible until you have entered. [Side note: Galaxy’s Edge was constructed in a space that formerly housed the Big Thunder Ranch, a western-themed area with a petting zoo, barbecue, and — apparently — lots of storage. There was not a particularly loud chorus of folks bemoaning the closure of these second-rate attractions, but many were annoyed by the lengthy (albeit temporary) closure of iconic attractions like the Disneyland Railroad and Tom Sawyer Island.]
The decision to close Galaxy’s Edge off from public view is a quite successful one, as it greatly contributes to the area’s feeling of being a fully immersive experience that is independent from the rest of the park. (When asked about where they could find merchandise not sold in Galaxy’s Edge a couple was told by cast members that they were unaware of “off-planet” shopping options.) Upon entering, you are instantly transported to the planet Batuu. The planet has existed by name in Star Wars canon but has never appeared in visual media.
The choice to create a new planet, rather than re-create one familiar from the movies (e.g., Hoth, Tattooine) is both brilliant and risky. Although it allows the imagineers (as Disney engineers are cheekily referred to) tremendous flexibility in their creations, it theoretically prevents the space from gaining the instant goodwill that would stem from the inevitable flood of nostalgia. Thankfully, the imagineers (under supervisor Scott Trowbridge) didn’t stray too far from the familiar. Bustling with hangar bays, cantinas, and shops, Batuu feels right at home in the Star Wars universe. It most certainly feels like a place you are bound to run into characters like Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Maz Kanata.
The whole area is a visual marvel. With its 135 foot spires set against the rocky landscape, the land feels grand yet secluded. The architecture and overall aesthetic were reportedly taken from concept art from the original trilogy and the creative team’s careful studying of exotic locales like Morocco, Istanbul, and Jerusalem. The influence of all of these factors on Batuu’s ambiance is readily apparent. Further adding to the experience are original compositions by legendary composer John Williams (who has scored all 9 Star Wars episodes) that is seamlessly incorporated as ambient music throughout the land.
Although it is not always apparent from a stroll around the area, there is a storyline tying everything together. The storyline takes place between the events of Episodes VIII (2017’s The Last Jedi) and IX (2019’s forthcoming The Rise of Skywalker). The First Order and Resistance’s showdown is nigh and there is a growing sense of disease underscored by roving storm troopers (who also escort park-goers out of Galaxy’s Edge if they stay beyond their reservation time.)
But What’s Actually in Galaxy’s Edge?
It may be frustrating and a bit disappointing to some fans that there is only one full-blown attraction currently open at Galaxy’s Edge. Nevertheless, that attraction is a spectacular one. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is a motion simulation ride designed to be housed in the iconic ship. After winding your way through the elaborately designed hangar that serves as the ride’s queue, you are given a brief introduction to the ride by minor Star Wars character Hando Ohnaka, and enter the familiar interior of the Millennium Falcon. Then groups of six are assigned crew roles (e.g., pilot, gunner) and brought to a cockpit where they undergo an interactive smuggling mission that features flawless effects. It’s a top-notch ride that will undoubtedly become one of the park’s most popular attractions.
Around the ride there is a large number of shops and dining areas that are set up in a bazaar-style format that underscores the area’s goal of appealing to adults. Most of the items for sale were high in price and low in cuteness. Think customizable light sabers and droids sold in highly atmospheric shops. The food stalls were fairly typical Disneyland fare, but cleverly rebranded. Unfortunately, we did not get to go into Oga’s Cantina, the bustling Mos Eiseley-esque bar that features lively music and is the only place open to the public in Disneyland that serves alcohol. I was eager to check it out since I had read rave reviews, but by 9am when we arrived they told us that all seatings for the entire 8am-12pm had already been filled.
Beyond the bazaar, the land shifts a bit into a more Resistance and Jedi-focused land of spacecraft and mysticism. Clearly this will be the home of the area’s other flagship attraction, The Rise of the Resistance, which will open later this year. Fairly little is known about it at present, but my hope is that it will be of the same quality of Smuggler’s Run, while also incorporating more familiar elements and characters than are present in those attractions that are currently open.
[Note: For true enthusiasts, the Galaxy’s Edge experience is greatly enhanced by the interactive games provided on the Disney Parks’ Play app for iPhone and Android, which you should definitely download prior to arrival as Wifi connection was spotty when I was there.]
What Remains Unknown about Galaxy’s Edge?
Galaxy’s Edge still has many secrets to reveal. In addition to the most hotly anticipated one (what The Rise of the Resistance will entail), it is also unknown if more will open along with that attraction, how identical the areas will be in Disneyland and Disney World, and what the experience of visiting it will be like once the crowd-controlling reservation-only period has ended.
Also still to be revealed is how I truly feel about it. I was most definitely impressed by its aesthetic and its flagship ride, but after years (decades, really) of buildup I found myself slightly underwhelmed. Surprisingly, I found myself yearning for Star Tours — the original Star Wars-themed ride that still exists in Tomorrowland and incorporates many more familiar (and dare I say, fun) elements. Maybe I’m just a sucker for nostalgia.
But regardless of my personal reservations, the place is a technical and artistic marvel that will undoubtedly enchant millions and is well worth the visit.
