Credit: Inside the MagicAs May the Fourth and other Star Wars celebrations march their way down the Disney calendar, the galaxy far, far away has invaded Disneyland with all sorts of new experiences. However, Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge has been left as dry as a Tatooine summer, but why?
Disney and Lucasfilm have been hyping up this year’s Star Wars events for a while now, such as Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) leading a platoon and legion of fans into the Empire State Building, but things have genuinely gone galactic as Disneyland officially kicks off their Star Wars Nite at Disneyland.
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The official announcement reads,
“For select nights in April and May, Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite will grant Guests of all ages special after-hours access to Disneyland Park with the purchase of a separate event admission ticket. Enjoy Star Wars Character sightings, event-themed menu selections, and exciting entertainment—including a lightsaber instructional and the Fans of the Force Costume Cavalcade, a celebration that invites Guests dressed in Star Wars costumes to join in a march down Main Street, U.S.A.! Plus, discover special Star Wars-themed photo opportunities, merchandise and more!”
Naturally, this is undeniably one of the biggest fan events for George Lucas and his beloved sci-fi series, and Disney has pulled out all the stops. Not only has Disneyland undergone a galactic makeover for the event, but (as seen in @itsdwats‘ video below) several special guests also made an appearance.
Exclusive Characters Invade Star Wars Nite
@itsdwats #starwars #starwarsnite #disneyafterdark #disneyland #disneycharacters #disneyparks
♬ Cantina Bar Theme (From “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope”) – Geek Music
Like any major fan event, Disney spared no expense (at least in Disneyland). Not only were guests treated to a wide variety of shows and specialty menu items themed around the galaxy far, far away, the Disneyland After Dark event had one of the biggest character events since Oogie Boogie Bash.
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Per the Star Wars official website,
“Take on the Trade Federation in a meeting with Queen Amidala from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace or study the philosophy of the Force with Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s former Padawan from Ahsoka. Galactic encounters abound throughout the park where you can cross paths with Ewoks in Critter Country, BB-8 rolling through Frontierland, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine in Tomorrowland, and a host of other denizens in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge including Hera Syndulla, Chopper, the Mandalorian and Grogu, and more!”
Speaking as an individual who is one with the Force, that sounds like the ultimate immersive experience for anyone even remotely interested in the Star Wars franchise. Even Mickey and Minnie got in on the action with their droid-inspired attire. But why wasn’t a celebration of this level seen at Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World?
“I Find Your Lack of Characters Disturbing…”
Hollywood Studios might have gotten some new droid friends to play with, but those little rust buckets pale in comparison to a line-up featuring Palpatine, Anakin, and the Ewoks. What might have some fans going for their lightsabers is the fact that this is a Disneyland exclusive.
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As of now, Star Wars Nite is a Disneyland function only, but why not bring the event into Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World as well? For an entire land dedicated to immersing its visitors in a universe full of Jedi Knights, Sith Lords, and platoons of Stormtroopers, it feels like the East Coast is getting the short end of the stick.
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Both Disneyland and Disney World’s versions of Galaxy’s Edge are the same size, offer similar attractions and layouts, but they don’t receive the same treatment. Maybe it’s because Disneyland will always be Walt’s original park, or maybe it’s because Walt Disney World is still recovering after the failed Galactic Starcruiser hotel, but fans are undoubtedly going to catch on. Hopefully, the Republic will send reinforcements to Orlando before Season of the Force is over.
Do you think Disney World deserves the same Star Wars experience? Tell Inside the Magic about it in the comments below!