Beginning this week, Disneyland really starts feeling the Force.
In anticipation of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opening December 18, there’s a massive Star Wars takeover happening all over Tomorrowland at the park in Anaheim. Elements include chances to meet Star Wars characters, taste Star Wars-inspired treats, and experience attractions with an all-new Star Wars twist. My Star Wars-obsessed nine-year-old daughter and I, a Star Wars-obsessed adult, got the opportunity to preview this amazing “Season of the Force.” Here’s a look at what we discovered. Danger: Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
Take Off at the Star Wars Launch Bay
The Star Wars Launch Bay is an all-encompassing celebration of Star Wars. It features characters to interact with, oddities to ogle and, of course, things that will tempt you to whip out your credit cards. Plus, you may get a sneak peek at some elements of the upcoming movie.
Will You Choose the Dark Side or the Light Side?
When you enter the Launch Bay, you’re asked a simple yet weighty question: Do you want to go to the light side or the dark? Depending on the path you choose, you are confronted with an immersive character interaction featuring either the best pilot in the galaxy, Chewbacca, or that moody villain/dad that everyone loves to hate, Darth Vader.
The towering characters greet visitors either with a hug (with a very cuddly Chewbacca) in a replica of a rebel base, or are asked bold and forceful questions (by an intimidating Darth Vader. The areas where the characters meet their adoring public are accurately accentuated to reflect their part of the Star Wars world.
Star Wars Stuff Is the Best Stuff
Sprinkled throughout the Launch Bay are replicas of iconic Star Wars props. You can get a good look at Rey’s rust-hued speeder bike as well as sneak a peek at Rey’s blaster. You’ll also be able to compare various flight helmets and study the wide array of weaponry used in the saga, from Han Solo’s heavy blaster pistol to Kyro Ren’s lightsaber. You'll also find various scale models of Star Wars aircrafts such as the TIE interceptor to an X-wing starfighter.
Bring a Little (or Big) Star Wars Something Home
Of course, there’s an excuse to open your wallet at the Star Wars Launch Bay thanks to the expansive high-end store with items as small as a customized phone case and as extravagant as a replica of a life-sized First Order stormtrooper ($9,000) or an adorable statue of Yoda ($3,000). You can also snag a hip Star Wars print, a light saber umbrella (which actually lights up) or an official Launch Bay T-shirt for considerably less.
Space Mountain Becomes Hyperspace Mountain
Is it a coincidence that Space Mountain in Disneyland and Star Wars both opened in the same week of May in 1977? We wonder… especially now that the popular attraction has morphed into Hyperspace Mountain. The ride is now a beautifully orchestrated mash-up of the pitch-dark coaster paired with the sights and sounds of Star Wars. The movie music perfectly meshes with the imagery of an X-wing battle.
Get Awakened on Star Tours
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, has added new clips from Star Wars: The Force Awakens to this 3D high-octane, motion-simulated space flight. The experience now includes an alert from Poe, scavengers digging through debris of a crashed ship and an epically adorable appearance from BB-8, who seems to pop out of the screen right in front of your eyes.
Cram for the Test: Path of the Jedi
If you need to brush up on your Star Wars or just like to relive key moments from the saga, head to the Path of the Jedi presentation at the old Captain Eo theater. The carefully curated 10-minute film, narrated by Obi-Wan Kenobi, summarizes the storylines in an easy to digest way. This is an ideal opportunity to quickly catch up on your Star Wars lore before heading into the theater for The Force Awakens (and of course there are a couple of epics moments from the new film as well).
Star Wars Eats: May the Force Be in You
Not only can you see and feel all that Star Wars magic, you can eat it too. Available at the Tomorrowland Terrace are Star Wars foodie-themed delights like a Darth Breakfast Tamale, a Jawa Turkey Sand-wich, a Chopper Salad or the First Order Specialty Burger made from beef and chorizo, topped with fried cherry peppers and spicy-lime aioli and served on a dark bun. At the space-themed Pizza Port, you can bite into a slice of the Dark Side Chicken Curry pizza, feast on the Forest of Endor (a pasta with smoked cremini mushroom, kale, broccolini, Cannelloni beans, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts) or dip into a Fields of Naboo (a salad of romaine, frisee, mangos, strawberries green papaya and feta).
The Dark Side Looks Delicious: Star Wars Desserts
It’s not just savory odes to Star Wars available, they also have sweets such as the layered Darth by Chocolate, the Pastry Menace and a BB-8 Droid Crisped Rice Treat.
Eat the Food, but Keep the Keepsake
The food won’t be the only draw for the visiting the carts and restaurants. Cotton candy can be bought in a large Darth Vader bucket, fruit is available in a Chewbaca Stein, and popcorn is presented in a TIE-fighter bucket. But what will, no doubt, be one of the most popular items is the BB-8 Droid Sipper. You can also order the First Order Specialty Burger in a Han Solo carbonite box.
The Season of the Force is running for an unspecified time at Disneyland and will open on December 1 in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. All this seems to be a way to whet our whistles in anticipation of the highly anticipated Star Wars Land, a 14-acre immersive environment which will open in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. As for when we can experience this epic new land… no one yet knows. Let’s just hope the Force is with Disney Parks and it happens sooner than later!
