Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
I attended the dedication ceremony last Wednesday night inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek, spoke about the attraction’s immersive storytelling and technological innovations:
The ride is broken up into four parts. The first few are walk throughs where you feel like you are in an actual Star Wars movie. Again, after decades of Star Wars movies, it is a dream come true!
Some highlights of the experience include a room full of Stormtroopers. You have to see it to believe it, an incredible photo opp as well:
You and your resistance buddies enter a transport ship and get ready for the thrilling adventure of being shot at, and facing off against the First Order and Kylo Ren. One of my favorite parts of the ride was when we passed under and through a room full of At At’s. This is the moment where you feel you are in an actual Star Wars movie scene:
Then the ride enters simulation mode with a surprise ending. You have to experience it to believe it, it is something new in the field of theme park rides. It is a Star Wars adventure that you are a part of, a crash landing you will never forget!
Don’t forget, your are in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and there is another ride, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, a simulation ride like Star Tours, but on steroids!
During the week I had an opportunity to interview Scott Mallwitz, Executive Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering. He is responsible for the vision that is Galaxy’s Edge. This was my first official interview, so please watch and listen from start to finish, unedited for added humor: hey, I never did this before (it was awesome!). Plus, the excitement from Scott was palpable, I could tell from speaking with him that through all the work he did in helping to create Star Wars Land, he was coming up with even more ideas for the future. I suggested a fifth theme park!
What brilliance to create a new Star Wars world. We have so many that we already know about, creating Batuu gives the team the opportunity to create new things for us fans, with no fear of us getting bored, because we know every scene from every movie already produced. I can’t wait to see what comes next, and perhaps Batuu will inspire other Star Wars ventures!
And there is more!
Walking around the land of Batuu, you turn a corner, and there it is. The Millennium Falcon in real life.
This was another heart stopping moment. Over 40 years of watching Star Wars movies with the Millennium Falcon at the center of the action! I could just picture Han Solo trying to run up the walkway and turning and shooting at Imperial Stormtroopers!
Surprisingly enough, soda is not just an Earth habit:
The interstellar Coca-Cola was surprisingly tasty, and you know, there are no calories in space! The droid sales people are a little mechanical.
We did get to eat our way through Batuu at the opening night party and that was terrific, tasting all the “off world” foods! We also stopped in Olga’s Cantina, and I suppose it was an slow night, I only found very few aliens in attendance. I had been nervous that the place would be full of armed folks from around the Universe! This night the aliens must have been scared of us, they stayed up top, behind the barkeeps.
I wrote about the Disney PhotoPass here, I showcase the new magic available, you will want it all as I did! Here’s a quick taste:
The magic continues to grow at the Disney Parks all over the world. Star Wars land brought back all my memories from watching the movies over the last several decades. This beloved franchise is gong to continue to grow in the movies, and in the parks! Now it is time for you to book your next adventure!
Disclosure: Disney Parks hosted me for a media event. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I will miss my Batuu friends , until next time!
my friend is a huge fan of star wars and keeps telling me all about this 🙂 so awesome you got to experience it
How fun! I have some friends who are HUGE Star Wars fans, and they would have loved this! Heck, I’m an average fan, and I think it’s super nifty!
This looks like a really amazing experience. Thanks for sharing a recap. I can’t wait to check this out.
I have some friends that are huge Star Wars fans and I know they’d love this. Too funny about the interstellar Coca-Cola.
This AWESOME!!! I would love to go to this! I have a ton of family that is into Star Wars I think I might see if our whole family can go to this! You looks like you had a blast!
That is so awesome! I would have loved to go there. What a great experience that must have been.
I cannot wait to explore this place! We LOVE Star Wars. We go in June and I’ll be taking a ton of photos and hoping to hug Chewbaccca.
Now, this looks like something I’d enjoy! What an awesome experience. Star Wars Rise of the Resistance will entertain many. It’s always good to get out and have some fun, keeps you younger 😉
My son has really started to like Star Wars stuff. It seems like Star Wars is one of those trends that will never really die, ya know? Thanks for sharing this interview!
Can I admit that I have never seen a Star Wars movie? However, I think the whole new setup at Disney looks incredibly cool and I can’t wait to explore it with my family on our next Disney vacay.
I’m so jealous I have yet been able to visit the parks to see the new star wars additions! The pictures are amazing but im sure in person its incredible
It looks like Disney did an amazing job! I haven’t been to Disney in years, but I would love to experience the Rise of the Resistance.
Looks like you had an amazing time! What a neat place to visit. It really sounds like something any age would enjoy.
I’m not a huge Star Wars fan. But I have a friend that loves it. He collects the posters and other memorabilia.
Lucky you, Mitch! This looks like it was a great time. Our boys LOVE Star Wars. Might be worth checking it out with them sometime.
You just brought me back to my childhood with these shots. R2D2 and Chewy! Seems like it was a great time.
I have a friend who is a true blue Star Wars fan. She would love it there. I believe my sons would find it awesome too! I love that Coke machine!
Thank you for the review. This looks amazing. I may have to book a trip soon- for my husband who is a big Star Wars fan 🙂
I think you will understand how excited I am for you when I tell you that on the very first STAR WARS movie, I stood in line for nearly 24 hours waiting to buy a ticket. I slept outside. Such a geek to this day.
In 1977, Dad took my brother and I to see Star Wars at the Loew’s theater in Manhattan. We were awed by the movie screen, Luke, Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca (rip), Darth Vader, etc. I loved that movie and The Empire Strikes Back. Not into rest of franchise.
I remember when a new Bed, Bath and Beyond was bui;t close to my home in Queens,, NY a few years back. I was interested in kitchen gadgets and appliances, Had ohoped to get a job just to get an employee discount. There is a BBB near where I live in TN; still collect/save their coupons.
This looks like an awesome ride! My kids love Star Wars and I know they would love to check this out someday.
This looks like lots of fun
That is an amazing experience. So jealous, hope someday could go
Now that an experience
This place is great