On Wednesday night, Star Wars icons and Hollywood celebrities came out to Anaheim to celebrate the opening of Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland.
Disney officially opened its new Star Wars park at Disneyland on Wednesday night. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been one of the most highly anticipated theme park expansions ever, and the crowd for Disney’s big night featured many familiar faces.
At the opening ceremony, which Star Wars featured on its Instagram story, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger kicked off the evening by introducing George Lucas to speak to the crowd.
Lucas praised Disney’s design, calling the area “Star Tours on steroids” before introducing Billy Dee Williams, the actor who played Lando Calrissian in the original Star Wars films. He talked a bit about his character’s deep history with the Millenium Falcon, one of the main icons in the area and home to the park’s newest attraction.
Bob Iger and George Lucas Tour Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park Ahead of Opening
Bob Iger, Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO (left), and George Lucas, Star Wars creator, pose inside Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, May 29, 2019. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens May 31, 2019, at Disneyland Resort in California and Aug. 29, 2019, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Mark Hamill, the actor who became famous for bringing Luke Skywalker to life, came out next. He also talked about the opening of Star Tours, and how he never thought anything would top that moment.
When Iger asked the Falcon to fire up her engines and it didn’t work, he asked if anyone in the crowd knew how to fix the Falcon. Hamill said not to worry, this is the ship that made the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. That’s when Harrison Ford joined the rest of the men on the stage. Iger asked him if he could help them out with the ship.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, lights up with galactic fanfare, May 29, 2019, as Star Wars creator George Lucas and actors Billy Dee Williams and Mark Hamill, Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and actor Harrison Ford celebrate the opening Disney’s largest single-themed land expansion ever. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens May 31, 2019, at Disneyland Resort in California and Aug. 29, 2019, at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. ()Matt Petit/Disneyland Resort
As Ford turned to look at the Falcon, he looked back over at the crowd and said “Peter, this one’s for you.” (A nod to the late Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew, who died just last month.) He proceeded to bang on the ship, causing the engine to start and fireworks to go off above Black Spire Outpost.
Among the fans in the crowd freaking out over this awesome event was Brie Larson, known for her portrayal of Captain Marvel in the MCU. Ryan Parker, a senior staff writer for The Hollywood Reporter, posted a video on Twitter of Larson fangirling over the new land and filming the ceremony on her phone.
Of all the awesome things to see, Brie Larson nerding out was among my favorite. #GalaxysEdge pic.twitter.com/8afxhMYGCa
— Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) May 30, 2019
Galaxy’s Edge is now officially open in Disneyland, although you will still need reservations to get in until at least the end of June. At Walt Disney World in Florida, the land is scheduled to open at the end of August.
Will you be traveling to either resort for a trip to a galaxy far, far away? Let us know in the comments!