ORLANDO, Florida (Achieve3000, September 26, 2019). Disney parks may be "the happiest" and "most magical" places on Earth, but they have some lands that are out of this world—in a galaxy far, far away! And unlike other parks where cast members are on the same team, at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, you've gotta choose your alliances.
Before Star Wars fans' dreams came true in 2019, with land openings at Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, 4,000 people sweated the small stuff for five years to create these twin attractions. It was the biggest single-theme expansion in Disney history, and not even the tiniest feature was overlooked. After all, Star Wars lovers are Jedi masters when it comes to the details! That's partly why the setting isn't from any of the movies, because fans know they aren't part of those stories. But on the planet of Batuu—a hot spot for traders, smugglers, and intergalactic explorers—a whole new narrative unfolds under its three suns.
Batuu wasn't planned with just Star Wars aficionados in mind, though. By creating a new planet, Disney put longtime fans and newbies on the same page, so everyone can be a part of the story—even if they don't speak Wookiee!
To bring Batuu to life, Disney had to build a new world from the ground up. From the land to the rocks and the trees, designers used all their best tricks to create a 14-acre (5.67-hectare) landscape with a visible history, weathered by age and the elements—you know, like any other real place! They based it on real places, too. The forest where the Resistance hides out was inspired by Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona as well as locations in Morocco and Turkey, where crews took thousands of pictures for inspiration. Buildings got the same detailed dedication. Some were built to look like leftovers from ancient cultures, while others stand new and stark against the antique relics, marking the emergence of the First Order and the Resistance.
With the scene set, Disney cranked it up another notch. Once you're in Batuu, you're in Batuu. The food, the merchandise, the workers—it's all part of the story—so guests feel like they're really exploring an alien planet. And that means no Mickey ears or logos on the merch. In fact, the markets only have stuff Batuu merchants would be hawking, like droid parts, lightsabers, and Jedi robes.
And you never know who you might meet.
A visit to Batuu is like being dropped into a live-action role-play game where everyone has unique backgrounds, motives, and allegiances. It took three years to design the costumes and accessories for the cast members—the people working the rides, stores, and restaurants—and, in a Disney first, they are each tasked with assembling their own look and developing their own back stories as well. They aren't Earthlings working a cool gig, they're Batuu through and through. In fact, if asked, they've never even heard of Earth!
The interaction is a big part of the fun. Visitors may be questioned by a stormtrooper, a Resistance spy might ask them to deliver a message, or they can sign up for a job to help a cause or work as a double agent!
And of course there are the rides, including the Millennium Falcon, a full-size replica of the iconic Star Wars spaceship, aka "the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy," and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which has four types of ride technologies and uses 5 million lines of code!
For visitors who want more interplanetary playtime, Disney created the Galactic Starcruiser in Florida, a two-night, choose-your-own-adventure cruise through outer space, including lightsaber training and secret meetings.
You think you're ready for some stellar interstellar fun? You know what they say: May the force be with you!
What is this Article mainly about?
Since Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is Disney's biggest single-theme expansion in the entire history of Disney, 4,000 people worked for five years to prepare every detail of the attraction before opening its doors at Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Disney attempts to individualize each visitor's experience at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge with interactions in which cast members may ask visitors to deliver a message, and visitors can sign up to help a cause or work as a double agent.
In 2019, Disney opened Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a new land at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and at Disneyland in California where the appearance, workers, food, and products are designed to make visitors feel like they're exploring the alien planet of Batuu.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has a full-size replica of The Millennium Falcon and a ride called Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance that uses four types of ride technologies requiring 5 million lines of code to make the experience seem real to visitors.
19 answers
What is this Article mainly about?
Since Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is Disney's biggest single-theme expansion in the entire history of Disney, 4,000 people worked for five years to prepare every detail of the attraction before opening its doors at Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Disney attempts to individualize each visitor's experience at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge with interactions in which cast members may ask visitors to deliver a message, and visitors can sign up to help a cause or work as a double agent.
In 2019, Disney opened Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a new land at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and at Disneyland in California where the appearance, workers, food, and products are designed to make visitors feel like they're exploring the alien planet of Batuu.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has a full-size replica of The Millennium Falcon and a ride called Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance that uses four types of ride technologies requiring 5 million lines of code to make the experience seem real to visitors.
Disney has traditionally dictated the appearance of employees operating the rides, working in retail, and serving visitors in restaurants according to the theme of each unique land.
Since rides are a primary source of entertainment and attraction for younger visitors, kids will have the most fun visiting Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
Visitors to Batuu are tasked with choosing which of the opposing teams of cast members they will align themselves with during their visit to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
To keep the experience in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in line with the First Order and the Resistance, structures with a contemporary design are intermingled with those that mimic relics.
That's partly why the setting isn't from any of the movies, because fans know they aren't part of those stories. But on the planet of Batuu—a hot spot for traders, smugglers, and intergalactic explorers—a whole new narrative unfolds under its three suns. Batuu wasn't planned with just Star Wars aficionados in mind, though. By creating a new planet, Disney put longtime fans and newbies on the same page, so everyone can be a part of the story—even if they don't speak Wookiee!
The author's purpose for writing this passage was to __________.
inform that visitors to Galaxy's Edge should not expect to understand the Wookiee language used in everything that is written or spoken in the land
describe the types of visitors that tend to be drawn to Galaxy's Edge to participate in the fresh narrative that is played out on Batuu
explain that every aspect of Galaxy's Edge was developed to be true to Star Wars since some visitors are Jedi masters about the details of the movies
emphasize that Galaxy's Edge was designed to ensure enjoyment for all visitors experiencing life on the planet of Batuu, regardless of their familiarity with Star Wars
pitiful
massive
desolate
hardy
the next Star Wars movie will include traders, smugglers, and explorers from the planet of Batuu in its plot
Disney is shifting its focus from themed rides to authentic role-play interactions at all of its other parks in California and Florida
more people have been participating in the choose-your-own adventure cruise Galactic Starcruiser instead of visiting Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Disney believes that Galaxy's Edge's popularity will draw enough visitors to their parks in California and Florida to justify their time and effort in developing the lands
advancements in ride technology since Disney opened its first park until now
strategies Disney uses to provide theme park visitors with unique and realistic experiences
features of Star Wars movies that make them appealing across age groups
how weathering creates a visual history in places like the Petrified Forest National Park
And of course there are the rides, including the Millennium Falcon, a full-size replica of the iconic Star Wars spaceship, aka "the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy,"
Which is the closest synonym for the word replica?
revelation
reduction
reproduction
requisition
And of course there are the rides, including the Millennium Falcon, a full-size replica of the iconic Star Wars spaceship, aka "the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy," and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which has four types of ride technologies and uses 5 million lines of code!
The forest where the Resistance hides out was inspired by Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona as well as locations in Morocco and Turkey, where crews took thousands of pictures for inspiration. Buildings got the same detailed dedication. Some were built to look like leftovers from ancient cultures, while others stand new and stark against the antique relics, marking the emergence of the First Order and the Resistance.
Before Star Wars fans' dreams came true in 2019, with land openings at Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, 4,000 people sweated the small stuff for five years to create these twin attractions. It was the biggest single-theme expansion in Disney history, and not even the tiniest feature was overlooked. After all, Star Wars lovers are Jedi masters when it comes to the details!
A visit to Batuu is like being dropped into a live-action role-play game where everyone has unique backgrounds, motives, and allegiances. It took three years to design the costumes and accessories for the cast members—the people working the rides, stores, and restaurants—and, in a Disney first, they are each tasked with assembling their own look and developing their own back stories as well.