By Marcy Magiera
The Disney kingdom may have been started by a Mouse, but the biggest news out of the company’s D23 fan convention suggests that the theme park realm is now steered by a more celestial Force. The Star Wars franchise, which will next blast into theaters Dec. 18 with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, took center stage at Disney’s expo in Anaheim, Calif., last weekend. Disney Chairman/CEO Bob Iger told fans at D23 about ambitious plans to bring Star Wars to life in the company’s largest single themed land expansions, spanning 14 acres each at Disneyland park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
The announcement has been long anticipated: The ability to leverage Star Wars in its theme parks was seen as a major benefit of Disney’s $4 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. For Disney, the Star Wars attractions can provide a long-term flow of revenue from ticket fees and royalties on in-park merchandise sales, as well as valuable continuing consumer exposure for the property, which will also be supported by a new movie release each year at least through 2019.
“These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance,” Iger said. The battle experience will be one of two signature attractions. The other will put guests behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon, as they take on a customized secret mission. More immediately, Disney theme parks will update and add to existing Star Wars attractions, including updating Star Tours with a new adventure featuring locations and characters from The Force Awakens.
Toy Story, Iron Man to Anchor New Attractions
Disney also used D23 to share details of other new theme park attractions its most ardent fans. Among them:
- Toy Story Land is at the heart of the reimagining of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Fla., with the 11-acre land to include a family friendly roller coaster, an alien saucers attraction and an updated Toy Story Mania!
- As part of the expansion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom to include licensed land Pandora—The World of Avatar, which is now under construction, the park will add “E-ticket attraction” Avatar Flight of Passage, a flying experience over an alien world.
- Iron Man Experience will be the first Marvel attraction at any Disney park when it opens at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2016. The attraction takes guests to fly above Hong Kong and battle Hydra.