Yesterday was absolutely huge for Disney theme parks across the world as D23 saw some of the biggest announcements that the parks have ever seen, especially true for Hollywood Studios. This posts takes you through all of the Star Wars announcements that are coming to the Disney Parks in the future, some of which will be this year!

Huge Star Wars Expansions

This was one of the big rumours for Hollywood Studios that I am glad was true and yesterday Disney announced Star Wars is coming in a big way to several Disney theme parks.

The biggest Star Wars related news is that Disney are planning two huge expansions for both Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Park in California!

These plans will make the new Star Wars Lands the biggest lands Disney has ever created that are focussed on a single property and will be around 14 acres each!

Star Wars Land Millennium Falcon

Guests will be transported to a planet never seen before in the Star Wars Universe and according to Disney is:

“A remote trading port and one of the last stops before wild space where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life”

There are two planned attractions coming to the new Star Wars Lands:

  • One attraction will allow guests to take the controls of the Millennium Falcon on a customised secret mission
  • The other attraction is a Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle

Artist impression of the Millennium Falcon attraction

While it isn’t clear which attraction will feature this, Disney have promised one of the attractions will feature a huge battle between the First Order and the Resistance, the two new factions of the upcoming movie.

While as a huge Star Wars fan this all sounds absolutely fantastic, unfortunately Disney hasn’t revealed an expected completion date for the work. My guess at this time is at the very earliest we will see this come to life when episode VIII is released in 2017.

New Star Wars Experiences

On top of the huge news detailed above, Disney have also revealed that there will be even more Star Wars enhancements coming to the parks even sooner than the planned Star Wars Lands.

Star Wars Launch Bay

Star Wars Launch Bay will give guests insight into the upcoming Force Awakens film and is planed for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Star Wars Launch Bay Concept Art

 

Star Wars Launch Bay is set to include:

  • Special exhibits
  • Peeks at behind the scenes of the movie
  • Character meet and greets with new and fan favourite Star Wars characters
  • Special merchandise
  • Star Wars themed food and beverage offerings

Star Wars Launch Bay will be located in Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and in Tomorrowland at Disneyland.

The good news, Star Wars Launch Bay will be opening later this year!

Season of the Force

This is a brand new seasonal event set to begin in early 2016 and will include new experiences at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

While not too much has been revealed as of yet, Disney have confirmed that special entertainment will be on offer throughout Tomorrowland at Disneyland that is set to include themed food, locations and more.

Disney have also planned a reimagining of Space Mountain named Hyperspace Mountain which will feature the attraction in the middle of an X-wing Starfighter battle.

Hyperspace Mountain

At Hollywood Studios Disney have promised Star Wars fireworks on weekends set to the score of the movies.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Disney are adding a new adventure to the attraction later this year that is set to include locations and characters from the upcoming The Force Awakens movie.

I love this news, gets the fans excited for the bigger changes coming in the years ahead!

Jedi Training Academy

This is going to be reimagined and will feature brand new characters and villains from Star Wars Rebels!

I originally planned this post as a summary for all the Disney Parks D23 news but there was just too much to put into a single post!

As a huge Star Wars fan I am incredibly excited for what is coming to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, let us know what you think of all of the news in the comments!