Page 50 - Star Wars Insider #182

GALAXY’S EDGE

Fly the Falcon “If someone comes to 05
“Our opening day offering will include two big
anchor experiences,” Trowbridge details. “One Batuu when they are
will put you in the middle of a battle between the seven, we want them
First Order and the Resistance, while the other is
the lifelong dream of any Star Wars fan: to pilot still to be coming
the Millennium Falcon! back when they are

“When we first started talking about bringing
the Star Wars experience to life, one of the things sixty-seven! We’re
that we heard the most from fans was that they designing something
wanted to go on the Millennium Falcon. But,
instead of just giving people a ride, we wanted that we hope has
to put people in the cockpit and really give them that same enduring
the controls of one of the fastest ships in the
galaxy. You and your friends or family get to quality and design 07
sit in that cockpit, take the controls, and go off
on a fun mission where you are controlling the that the movies have.”
outcome. All we ask is that you bring her back in
one piece, because the last thing anyone wants is
to make the Wookiee angry!” to life in fantastic stories is something that the
This level of interaction with characters and Walt Disney Company has always done, and
story will not be limited to the land’s tentpole something that George Lucas and others working
attractions, either, with the promise of multi-day on the Star Wars galaxy have also done. It’s no
immersive experiences, and an in-universe hotel surprise that fans want these characters as parts
in Florida, where guests become galactic citizens of their lives. An important part of our guests’
onboard a starship. “What we’re doing,” says experience will be hanging out with some of
Trowbridge, “is evolving the opportunities to go their favorites.”
deeper into story and have a more meaningful
interaction in this universe than has ever been Distinctly Star Wars
possible before.” More tantalizing details about Galaxy’s Edge will
08
Indeed, even if visitors don’t want to fl y the be revealed in the coming months, as the teams
Falcon (presuming such people exist), they can in California, Florida, and around the world work
have a rich and fulfilling experience simply by to complete this unique part of the Star Wars

watching life go by on Batuu. “This is a vibrant galaxy. For now, Trowbridge is keen to assure fans
trading port that welcomes aliens and droids that whatever new adventures lay in wait, they
from all over the galaxy, so it’s a great place to will all be “iconic and distinctly Star Wars.” Many
engage in your own adventure or sit back and months of story development, concept art, and
watch the galaxy roll by, no questions asked. design sketches preceded the vast construction
You can throw yourself into the action, or you project that is now underway, and the various
can relax with a glass of blue milk. We’re going teams bringing them to life have never lost sight
to invite you to explore Star Wars with all your of that intricately mapped-out vision.
senses, which is something we pay very close “A unique aspect of Star Wars design, I think,
attention to at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. It’s is the idea that it is both brand-new and fresh,
not just about the iconic sights and sounds, but yet also feels like it has many layers of history,”
also: what does it feel like; what does it smell like; says Trowbridge. “The brilliant movie designs
what does it taste like? And I can assure you that of Doug Chiang and [original Star Wars concept
blue milk tastes delicious!” artist] Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston are still
With all this talk of icons and visitors from exciting, yet also feel like they’ve been around for
across the galaxy, is it possible that we might see thousands of years in some cases.
some familiar Star Wars faces on Batuu? “The thing that I stay focused on is that Star
“As a trading port at a really pivotal time in Wars has been a part of people’s lives for 40-plus
the galaxy, you never know who you might run years. For many people, myself included, they
into,” Trowbridge teases. “Batuu is well known have been dreaming about what it would be like
to some of your favorite characters, and it’s a to be a part of that world, to be able to step into
place where some of them have a history. We’ll it. Now that we’re giving people the invitation
learn more about some of that before we open in to do just that, I am very mindful about what 40
2019, but these are people that audiences identify years of dreaming about this means. We pay very
with, fall in love with, want to be friends with, or close attentions to the fans—we are fans, and
want to be angry with. Bringing such individuals we’re doing this for the fans. We want to make

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