Star Wars Celebration: What we learned at the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge panel

Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm partnered for a panel at Star Wars Celebration to give new details about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

While we know some about what lies beyond the construction walls at Walt Disney World and Disneyland for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge we learned so much more today at a panel dedicated to the new land. From dining and attractions, to merchandise and new ways to interact with the space around you, guests are in for an experience unlike anything else at a Disney Park.

Batuu, the planet that Black Spire Outpost is located on, has been around since the beginning of Star Wars. Black Spire Outpost is a trading port on the edge of wild space, and has a rich history of how the Resistance got there. Darth Vader was known to visit Oga’s Cantina. Dok Ondar, who owns Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities is the head of the black market, and was mentioned in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

One of the main words Walt Disney Imagineering is using to describe Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is authentic. Guests will be able to participate in Star Wars, not just be a spectator in it. Everything in the street market around Black Spire Outpost was meant to feel and look like it was made by the people who live there for the people who live here. Black Spire Outpost isn’t about a single person in the Star Wars universe, but about you, the guest. The land is meant to be timeless and launch thousands of new Star Wars stories into existence.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most complex and biggest attractions in not only Disney history but in theme park history. Guests are going to be transported and held captive on a Star Destroyer. After encountering Star Wars friends and foes, and exiting the attraction you will be celebrated in the land as a hero of the Resistance.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will allow guests to become the flight crew of the famous ship with a customized mission. The experience will begin outside with the Millennium Falcon parked in a space port. Once you complete your mission the exit hallway will be different depending on how you do with the Millennium Falcon. If you do well it will look pristine, and if you don’t there will be broken elements and comms chatter about your crew.

One of the big authenticity draws of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is that Walt Disney Imagineering brought in original voice actors for different characters. Hondo Onaka, who guests will encounter on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, will be voiced by Jim Cummings. The original voice actor for Neil Nunb was tracked down by Walt Disney Imagineers in Kenya to record new lines for Galaxy’s Edge. Yoda will also make an appearance on Batuu and will be voiced by Frank Oz. Music also plays a critical role in Galaxy’s Edge, so Disney brought in composer John Williams to create the score for the new land.

For those of us who are wondering how former Star Tours pilot Rex got to Black Spire Outpost, Walt Disney Imagineering created an incredible backstory! The pilot, who is now the DJ at Oga’s Cantina, flunked his way out of Star Tours and into the rebellion. He crash landed on Batuu, and was rescued by the local droid smith to be repaired. Rex is voiced by original voice actor Paul Reubens.

Walt Disney Imagineering knew there needed to be something familiar inside Galaxy’s Edge, and because of Disney’s partnership with the Coca-Cola Company, they were able to put all Coke products in theme. All of the labels for bottled drinks are in Aurebesh, and the bottles look similar to a thermal detonator.

Guests are going to be able to actively take a role in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in new ways using technology. They can become a member of the First Order, Resistance, or a space outlaw through the Play Disney Parks app. Soon there will be a Star Wars Data Pad guests can use as an in-story tool. There are four key functions that will allow guests to interact with the land.

• The Hacking Tool: allows guests to interact with droids, light panels, and ships
• The Scanner Tool: allows guests to scan props and cargo crates to look to see what’s inside
• The Translation Device: allows any language used in the land to be translated into English
• The Tuning Tool: allows guests to tune into different satellite signals to eavesdrop on the stories behind Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

There’s also going to be an in-story interactive game called Outpost Control. During your time on Batuu you can decide if you want to be part of the Resistance or First Oder. Then go around the land completing tasks. The game will come to an end when either the Resistance or First Order gets more points.

With all of these new announcements we cannot wait to explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The new land opens at Disneyland May 31, and at Walt Disney World August 29.