The great joy of visiting the old Disney/MGM park in the early ’90s was the small corner that featured Star Tours. At the time it was the only Star Wars action we could get as Episode One was still a decade away, and Return of the Jedi was but a spot in our rearview mirrors. At the D23 Expo today, Disney’s Bob Iger announced that Star Wars was expanding at its theme parks in Orlando and Anaheim.
The new park in Anaheim will be 14-acres in size, which is pretty large considering the cramped space Disney already is working with.
“We are creating a jaw-dropping new world that represents our largest single themed land expansion ever,” he said. “These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”
What will be the main attraction for most? Visiting a cantina where fans can interact with droids and beast from the Star Wars Universe.
Coming soon to a Disney Park not so far, far away: #StarWarsLand. pic.twitter.com/hkdYooAqLU
— Disney (@Disney) August 15, 2015
The concept art looks great, but like I mentioned before, 14 acres is not a lot, and space in Anaheim is at a premium. Disney World in Orlando has much more space to work with as Walt bought up nearly half of Florida back in the day under dummy corporations until people started catching on. Who knows how many hundreds of acres of woods (see what I did there) are still left to build upon. For now the old Disney/MGM Hollywood Studios park is going to be converted, which means the recently revamped Star Tours will continue to live on for generations to come.
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I’m kinda hoping that in the cantina or other eateries there will be an in-universe Star Wars inspired menu with such items as Blue Milk products (shouldn’t be too hard to make blue milk or a blue colored cheese) and Bantha or Nerf Burgers or even Corellian Brandy rather than stuff merely named after Star Wars items or characters like a “Darth Pizza” or “Jawa Fries” or “Death Star Steak”. I don’t mind if they use both methods, I just really want to see something that gives the feel of eating something that may actually exist in the Star Wars universe.
Also, if you ever hear about a cute blonde woman in a wheelchair getting kicked out of this place for hitting on waitresses/actresses dressed like Twi’leks, you’ll know who it was.