Tis the season for all things Star Wars. May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, is fast approaching and the weeks surrounding the adopted holiday have fans setting their annual hyperspace coordinates for Disney parks.
This year, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and the expanding Disneyland Paris all unveiled a big update to Star Tours and brand-new foods and merchandise, but Disneyland landed the high ground, debuting darling droids, a new nighttime show and even more as part of the resorts limited-time Season of the Force celebration.
Even if youre not headed to the theme parks in time for the seasonal offerings, this is still the update youre looking for because first up, were talking two big debuts that are here to stay.
From Disney+ to Disney Ride
On April 5, Star Tours The Adventures Continue, the classic 3D flight simulator ride that first debuted at Disneyland Park and Disneys Hollywood Studios in the late 80s, introduced some of the franchises newest faces to the ride at Disneys Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Park, and Disneyland Paris, adding characters and scenes from recent Disney+ series Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian.
Now, passengers aboard the Starspeeder 1000, piloted by C-3PO and navigated by R2-D2, could encounter urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, or Din Djarin and Grogu. For a limited time, guests can expect to receive one of the three new transmissions, along with a journey to a new destination, the planet Seatos, where the Starspeeder will join Ahsokas T-6 Jedi Shuttle in a space battle amongst the majestic Purrgil, giant space whales previously seen in "Star Wars Rebels" and Ahsoka.
Star Tours. (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)
The ride features four randomized scenes that can span multiple eras in the Star Wars saga, making it the greatest hits attraction of the Star Wars universe, according to Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. Following the limited-time emphasis on the new scenes, Star Tours will eventually resume what Fitzgerald referred to as random play mode. With the addition of the new scenes, passengers will have more than 250 possible combinations of experiences.
Disneyland Debuts Season of the Force, Plus New Characters and Stories in Galaxys Edge
Along with Star Tours, Disneyland also launched Season of the Force, running April 5 through June 2. This years seasonal celebration introduced lots of limited-time offerings from a galaxy far, far away, plus a permanent nighttime show in Star Wars: Galaxys Edge that deepens the lands backstory.
Fire of the Rising Moons sends eyes to the skies in Star Wars: Galaxys Edge, combining the visuals of Disneyland Parks main fireworks show with lighting and music from iconic Star Wars film scores by John Williams, and music from other Star Wars attractions.
Disney Live Entertainment Executive Creative Director Michael Serna confirmed that Fire of the Rising Moons will continue beyond Season of the Force. And, Serna said, not only is the show here to stay, but it will change when Disneylands main show does. Youll want to come back because youll hear different things and [Fire of the Rising Moons] will actually have a whole different profile.
Fire of the Rising Moons doesnt just add Star Wars entertainment, it expands the lore and potential for more storytelling within Star Wars: Galaxys Edge, thanks to two new (but unseen) characters, a deceased historian named Tohan Lege, aka the Lore-Weaver, and his droid, Bard a modified R1 unit, according to Disney. Bard has retained Tohans stories and memories and is able to replay Tohans transmissions to an audience.
We really wanted to create some new lore here about why at the end of the day we would gather, Serna said.
According to the shows official description, villagers and visitors alike come together to celebrate their freedom and to honor the heroes and legends who came before them.
In his opening narration, played by Bard, the Lore-Weaver says, Black Spire Outpost has a long and colorful history of heroes and legends, Jedi and Sith, royalty and resistance. Those who would rule, and those who refuse to bow.
Tohan calls on his listeners to raise their lights and voices and honor the spirit of Black Spire, the Fire of the Rising Moons a perfect segue into melodies that span different stories and eras across the Star Wars universe.
More Season of the Force Debuts
April 5 at Disneyland Park also saw the debut of roaming BDX droids, a new type of expressive, free-roaming robotic character developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. The "explorer droids," appearing daily in Star Wars: Galaxys Edge during Season of the Force, are designed to integrate and interact with guests in the immersive Star Wars-themed environment. Accompanied by a droid trainer, they draw an immediate crowd as they show off their unique personalities, emoting through sounds and movements like bouncing, head tilting and even dancing.
Other April 5 debuts included new roaming character Sabine Wren, appearing for a limited time in Black Spire Outpost; a free Seek-and-Find scavenger hunt spanning Galaxys Edge and Tomorrowland; and souvenir food and drink items, including two cocktails and souvenir glasses from Walt Disney Worlds shuttered Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and an incredible Jabba the Hutt popcorn bucket.
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Countdown to May the 4th
May the 4th will bring a second wave of celebratory Star Wars releases to the parks, from specialty treats to souvenir merchandise, some of which will also release online at the Disney Store if you cant make it to the parks in time.
Among the highlights, Ogas Cantina will offer a new Grinning Loth-Cat souvenir mug and drink, Guava Coconut Milk with Basil Crystals. The mug, like previous souvenir vessels sold in Ogas, appears carved in wood presumably by Lunacca, the proprietor of nearby Black Spire Outpost marketplace booth, The Wooden Wookiee.
At Disneys Hollywood Studios, along with returning favorite menu items like red and blue lightsaber churros, Floridas Star Wars: Galaxys Edge will enjoy the rare debut of two new limited-edition menu items, available May 4 through May 31 Polystarch Puffbread from Milk Stand, and, from Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, a Mossberry Biscuit, as seen on the Disney Junior show Young Jedi Adventures.
Also in May, both Disneyland and Disneys Hollywood Studios will debut a new souvenir popcorn bucket, the Salvaged Stormtrooper Helmet.
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Even More Star Wars Offerings at Disneyland
Despite so many new offerings, we cant forget one of the best returning experiences. Hyperspace Mountain, the Star Wars-themed overlay to Space Mountain, is back at Disneyland through June 2 and its a cant-miss.
Finally, also back in a big way is Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite, a ticketed after-hours event held on select nites in Disneyland Park from April 16 to May 9 that features special entertainment, rare character appearances, special-edition menu items, and more. More nights were offered than in previous years and tickets are still available for a handful of nights but the clock is ticking so dont delay.?
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