STAR WARS Lands Coming to Disneyland and Disney World, STAR TOURS Getting FORCE AWAKENS Destinations
During the Lucasfilm panel at the D23 Expo, Walt Disney Company Chairman and CEO Bob Iger came on stage to make a surprise announcement and said:
“I am thrilled to announce the next chapter in the long and exciting history between Disney Parks and Star Wars. Through each new attraction and new land we create, we push the boundaries of what is possible. And as you can imagine, with Star Wars, we are taking that to a whole new level, with a whole galaxy to explore.”
Disneyland Park in Anaheim and the Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando will each be getting 14-acre expansions for Star Wars-themed parks. Iger presented lots of concept art and a teaser video, and Disney sent us three pieces we can share. The Star Wars lands will be living, breathing worlds full of costumed performers, a full sized Millennium Falcon, a cantina, and several rides.
As you can see from the art, it's not a world we've seen before. In all likelihood this is a planet we will see in a future film (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). No exact date has been announced for when those lands will be opening.
Also, Walt Disney Imagineering's Scott Trowbridge announced that Star Tours will be getting new destinations added that tie into the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Again, no exact date was announced, but it's coming in the next couple months to coincide with the release of the The Force Awakens.