Earlier this year, construction began on the massive 14-acre ‘Star Wars’ expansion at Disneyland. The addition of a galaxy far, far away to the Happiest Place On Earth saw the closure of Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland and the temporary closure of classic attractions such as the Disneyland Railroad, ‘Fantasmic!’, Tom Sawyer Island, and any sort of boat that operates on the Rivers of America. And though park guests could go to the Star Wars Launch Bay to see what was going on behind those walls in the northwest corner of the park, we now have a new glimpse at what the finished product will look like.
According to /Film, a new piece of art appeared on the fence along Big Thunder Trail in Frontierland this week. When construction is completed, this area will act as one of the entry points to the Star Wars Experience. But until then, Disney Parks has posted a new look at the new area. Unlike the previous images released with the initial announcement or the ‘Disney 60’ special, this concept features a more overhead view that gives us a better look at the layout of the attractions and what they will look like. You can check out the latest concept art below, followed by a brief description of the land:
Nestled between towering spires of rock, this thriving port contains a seemingly familiar architecture of markets, landing zones and buildings. Look closely and you may find hints of some of the thrilling experiences that are coming – like the Millennium Falcon peeking out of one of the cargo bays, marking the location where guests will get the opportunity to pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.
There are so many cool details to notice about this picture. First, you can see that they incorporated the new route for the Rivers of America and the Disneyland Railroad this time around. It also looks as if there’s going to be a new tunnel or cavern for the steam engine to pass through. Maybe the Imagineers will incorporate some new dioramas in there to add to the train’s rich mythology.
This sneak peek also gives us an idea of how large and intricate the rides and the surrounding marketplace will be. One of the rides can be found in that dark area to the left, which looks to be the attraction where guest will find themselves in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order. The other big attraction can be found at the instantly recognizable Millennium Falcon, which will house a ride where you can pilot the legendary vessel. Seeing roughly how big it will actually be here, I wonder if the queue will take us through the ship’s cabins to see things like the holo-chess board or the gunner bays.
There’s still plenty of construction to be done here, but it’s hard not to get excited for Star Wars Land to finally be complete. So while we patiently wait for this new world to come to life, what part of this area are you most excited for? Do you think that it will be more immersive than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments.
Despite being a “professional writer”, Ben likes run-on sentences far too much. For more of his attempts at being funny and the occasional insightful thought, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
