Ok, so it's not May the 4th like we had hoped, but Disney CEO Bob Iger dropped a Death Star sized bomb shell on everyone when he announced that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be opening nearly a month ahead of schedule at Disneyland. The announcement which was followed up on the Disney Parks blog was not without a few interesting morsels of information. The least of which is that when it opens in May, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge will not be operating at full capacity and will instead open in two phases.
On opening day for phase one, you’ll be able to live your own Star Wars story and take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, sample amazing galactic food and beverages, explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and more.
That's right, when it opens only one of the two signature attractions will be available to guests, but you can still eat and drink to your Bantha Milk loving heart's content. As for the *other* attraction in Galaxy's Edge, the Disney Parks Blog said this:
Phase two, opening later this year, will be Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined that will put guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance and will blur the lines between fantasy and reality. In light of tremendous demand, Disney made the decision to open the land in phases to allow guests to sooner enjoy the one-of-a-kind experiences that make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so spectacular.
But Wait: There's More
Also noted on the Disney Parks Blog post, guests planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park in California between May 31 and June 23, 2019 will need valid theme park admission and will be required to make a no-cost reservation, subject to availability, to access the land. Information on how to make a reservation will be available at a later date on Disneyland.com and the Disney Parks Blog. Guests staying at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels during these dates will receive a designated reservation to access Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during their stay (one reservation per registered guest); valid theme park admission is required.
So(lo) there you are, welcome to the brave new world that is Disney with Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. We'll be bringing you more information as it become available, and of course we will be discussing all of this and more on the Vacationland Theme Park Podcast. May the force be with us all.