The way we see theme parks is about to change as we get closer to the opening of Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. I am beyond excited for this! As a lifetime Star Wars fan myself, this is an absolute dream come true. While Star Tours has been the way to experience the movie in person, an immersed experience was only limited to a few short minutes. When I first heard that Disney was making this new land, I wondered how this could compare with something like Harry Potter World at Universal Studios, because the extensive detail Universal went through to make that area possible was impressive. As each update on Galaxy’s Edge has been released, it has made my mouth drop on how extensively interactive it will be.

For example, if you were like me and you dreamt of flying the Millennium Falcon as a kid, that dream is about to become a reality. Your experience will not be limited to just the ride itself, however. The character Hondo Ohnaka from the Clone Wars series, voiced by Jim Cummings, will be brought to life by some of the most advanced audio

animatronics to provide insight to you prior to your adventure on what to expect during the ride. Upon completion of your adventure, your results will draw the attention of the cast members around you, and you could receive either praises from a successful mission, or the warnings of the bounty on your head for damages made to the Falcon. I hope my video gaming hours have prepared me for this!

An additional ride, Rise of the Resistance, is going to be a grand mixture of ride technologies to put us in the middle of a Star Wars battle like never before! From Stormtrooper battle scenes, to Kylo Ren attacking us himself, this ride is sure to keep us on the edge of our seats. To top it all off, the classic Star Tours ride isn’t going anywhere, so we will have a total of 3 rides at both parks. And speaking of Star Tours, the original pilot, Rex, will reappear as a DJ at Black Spire Outpost; a very nice way to pay homage to the past.

Regarding merchandise, there is more than just basic souvenirs to choose from; you will be able to build your own lightsaber or even build your own personal droid. As the latest article on Starwars.com states, “After all, Luke Skywalker built his lightsaber, it didn’t come in a box.” Each lightsaber will contain a kyber crystal with a hidden message that can only be unlocked with a holocron, meaning you get to write your own story. Plus, your droid will be fully interactive throughout the park, reacting to every experience you have in Galaxy’s Edge.

You will have a theme park experience on a whole new level at Galaxy’s Edge. While I would have loved to experience Star Wars on a grand scale as a kid, I am excited that this is a place I will be able to share with my son and enjoy the experience through his

eyes. And that is our mission at ConciEARS. We at ConciEARS will be here to help you get to the galaxy far far away so that you and your family can enjoy what this new land has to offer. May the force be with you!

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