Disney’s cosmic Star Wars gamble 

Disneyland’s new billion dollar Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction is its most immersive to date. A crew of over 4,000 people worked for more than five years to create the movie saga tie-in


Disney’s Imagineers identify three main attractions: two rides, and planet Batuu itself


Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: Disney’s most ambitious and advanced ride. Visitors board transport ship which takes off and is captured by First Order Star Destroyer. Build cost: $77.9m (opens later in 2019)

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run: Simulator ride that puts six people in cockpit – two pilots, two gunners and two engineers. Cost: $55.7m

Black Spire Outpost, planet Batuu

Resistance encampment

X-wing*
X-wing*
A-wing*

Millennium Falcon* Cost: $4.4m

5.7 hectares
20m 65ft
Image taken Feb 2019

TIE echelon*

First Order-controlled sector

Five restaurants, five shops: Exclusive products have “crafted” vibe and minimal packaging. On sale only in Batuu

Living world: Actors play Batuu natives, Resistance fighters and First Order villains – and will interact with park guests

Play Disney Parks app: Becomes Star Wars Datapad in Batuu. Guests can interact with droids or
take on tasks


Disneyland, Anaheim
Construction zone
Parking/hotels
500m 1,640ft


U.S.
Anaheim California
Pacific Ocean
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida. Second Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens Aug 29


Transformation: How parts of Frontierland and backstage areas were removed to make way for Star Wars

Feb 2016: Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland’s northwest quadrant
Big Thunder Ranch
Rivers of America
100m 320ft

Oct 2016: Big Thunder Ranch demolished, Rivers of America dammed

Dec 2017: Rivers of America (original 1955 attraction) reduced in size
New layout for Rivers of America

Jun 2018: Galaxy’s Edge attraction starts to take shape
Star Wars


*Full-size replica spacecraft


Sources: Disney, Blooloop, TechCrunch, EW, CNN 
Pictures: Disney, NearMap, Google Earth Pro
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