Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a Star Wars themed land that’s located at Disneyland Resort in California AND Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Top Things To Know About Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World
Knowing that this is a huge topic of conversation and constantly changing, my goal for covering these two new lands is to give you an overview of what we know so far. Please take all of these items as preliminary, as I’ve always been focused on sharing how things can make your vacation more magical.
ANNOUNCEMENT
At the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015, Disney Company CEO Bob Iger announced that a Star Wars land was going to be arriving to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. From there, we started to see things fly into hyperdrive!
Construction started on both locations April 14th, 2016
OPENING DATES
- Disneyland opened their land on May 31st, 2019
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios land opened on August 29th, 2019
Please note that there were multiple phases of opening, which meant that the entire land wasn’t opened at the same time. Stay tuned to the official DisneyWorld.com website for 100% official updates.
- Hollywood Studios opened Rise of the Resistance on December 5th, 2019
- Disneyland opened Rise of the Resistance on January 17th, 2020
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ATTRACTIONS
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has two attractions:
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which is a simulator ride where guests pilot the Millennium Falcon
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, a dark-ride that puts guests directly in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance.
RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS
- Oga’s Cantina
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Ronto Roasters
- Kat Saka’s Kettle
- Savi’s Workshop – a shop where guests can create and purchase their own custom lightsaber.
- Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities – a store where guests can purchase Jedi or Sith artifacts.
- Mubo’s Droid Depot – a shop where guests can create and purchase their own custom droid.
- Bina’s Creature Stall
- Toydarian Toyshop
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As you may know, I’m part of the Jim Hill Media Network with the Universal Joint Podcast. There are two other podcasts on the network that focus on Star Wars and the Disney Parks, so I would definitely check out recent episodes of:
- The Disney Dish with Len Testa
- Looking @ Lucasfilm with Jim Hill and Dan Z
You can get episodes of the podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher and anywhere that you get your podcasts! If you wanted to support the network, you can also visit us at https://disneydish.bandcamp.com/
DISNEYLAND PARK
At Disneyland Park, Galaxy’s Edge is being built to the north of Frontierland, where Big Thunder Ranch and backstage areas were located. As a result of the expansion, Disney purchased nearby properties to relocate the office and warehouse space that was on the land.
On January 11, 2016, several attractions in Frontierland and Critter Country were closed. Big Thunder Ranch closed permanently, including the multifunction event space, barbecue restaurant and petting zoo. Other attractions closed temporarily, including the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America. Tom Sawyer Island reopened on June 16, 2017, and Fantasmic! reopened on July 17, 2017. The Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes reopened on July 29.
The construction of Galaxy’s Edge resulted in a reconfigured route for the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America. A first look at how these changes would impact the park were revealed in January 2016, when concept art was released depicting the northern bank of the river after construction was completed.
The land opened on May 31, 2019.
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Galaxy’s Edge is replacing the majority of the park’s Streets of America, including the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure which closed on April 2, 2016, as well as the surrounding backlot facades, restaurants, and shops.
Together with the previously closed Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow attraction, Galaxy’s Edge will be part of a major expansion of the park that includes Toy Story Land.The remaining operating portions of Streets of America (containing Muppet*Vision 3D) were refurbished as Grand Avenue and Grand Park, a Los Angeles-themed street. The land will be accompanied by the Star Wars Hotel.
The land opened on August 29, 2019.
Disney’s Official Description:
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened on May 31, 2019, at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and opened Aug. 29, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. At 14 acres each, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be Disney’s largest single-themed land expansions ever, transporting guests to live their own Star Wars adventures in Black Spire Outpost, a village on the remote planet of Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes. Guests can become part of the story as they sample galactic food and beverages, explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. (Disney Parks)