Disney unveils first Star Wars Land designs

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has previewed what Star Wars Land will look like at the Disneyland parks in the US cities of Anaheim and Orlando. The Star Wars portion of the parks is set to open in 2019.

A preview of what the Star Wars-themed areas of the park will look like can be seen in detail at Disney’s own D23 Expo. The company will present a full scale model of what Star Wars Land will look like at the fair. It is clear that well-known Star Wars locations such as Naboo and Tatooine and well-known ships such as the Millennium Falcon and the TIE-Fighter will not be missing. Various media present, including The DIS, have made close-up shots of the model and put them online.

The Star Wars Land designs were created by Walt Disney Engineering, which collaborated with the Lucasfilm Story Group. Pablo Hidalgo of Lucasfilm and Doug Chiang of Industrial Light & Magic also played an important role in the creation of the concept. During the Star Wars Celebration in 2016, Disney already revealed that the area will have its own place within the Star Wars universe. The sets and attractions are said to be on an entirely new planet located in the Outer Rim.

Both in Orlando and Anaheim, parts of the existing park had to give way for the arrival of Star Wars Land. In Orlando, an area was closed that included the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show was killed. In addition to Star Wars Land, Toy Story Land will also arise there. In Anaheim, the Big Thunder Ranch is closed, primarily at the expense of restaurants, shops, and a petting zoo. The nearby Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction will remain. It is not yet known whether Star Wars Land will also come to other Disneyland parks at a later date.