North Africa calls – but to which of its legendary destinations’ siren songs should you answer?
27.07.2023 - 18:06 / smartertravel.com / Star
Whenever Disney unveils something new, it’s a big deal. Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s new Star Wars-themed land, officially opened on Friday after more than three years of construction, and it’s literally the biggest thing that’s ever happened at the parks. At more than 14 acres, it’s their largest expansion yet.
And it feels that way, too: expansive—with wide walkways to comfortably accommodate lots of visitors—and intensely immersive. Any sense of being at Disneyland melts away, other than the feeling that you’ve arrived in an entirely different land. It’s the never-before-seen planet of Batuu (pronounced buh-too, kind of like a sneeze) that exists on, you guessed it, the galaxy’s edge.
This is a rugged outpost that serves as a byway for scoundrels, smugglers, and pirates on both sides of the Force. The hired hands that assist you here aren’t “cast members,” they’re “inhabitants.” Instead of “Hi,” they greet you with “Bright suns,” and instead of “dollars,” it’s “credits.” Everything is set in the current Star Wars trilogy, though there are abundant references all the way back to the original films.
The world that emerged from George Lucas’s imagination is meticulously brought to life here, with countless story-driven details that make this an authentic place with a long history—everything feels battle-worn and rough around the edges, but also on the cusp of grand adventure, featuring you as a key character. Other characters abound too, either trying to recruit little ones for the First Order (an intimidating Kylo Ren and his ilk), or obligingly posing for pictures (a tall, campy Chewbacca).
Galaxy’s Edge: What’s Open at LaunchMost of what Galaxy’s Edge will have to offer is open now, including its first thrill ride, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, whose designers visited Lucasfilm sets in England to ensure that they were constructing the ship faithfully. Waiting in line, you meet the charismatic pirate Hondo Ohnaka, portrayed by a highly realistic animatronic, and watch as Chewbacca loans him the famous starship.
You board as crew, in pre-assigned groups of six, and get assigned a role as either a pilot, a gunner, or an engineer. (If you don’t like the role you got, you can politely request another and be accommodated.) Then, it’s just about the most intense video game you’ve ever played, as the “ship” responds to your commands, smashing into meteors, enemies, and space debris if you don’t do your job well. There’s lots of screaming, yelling, and clapping involved. (Height requirement is 38 inches.)
Step off to find yourself in an intergalactic shopping wonderland. The Market is a bazaar-like collection of merchants—Disney’s Imagineers traveled to Morocco and Turkey for inspiration, and it shows.
North Africa calls – but to which of its legendary destinations’ siren songs should you answer?
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