galaxy’s edge – A Walk With The Mouse

New Experience Announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Posted on January 11, 2024January 11, 2024 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Following the closure of Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser, Disney continues looking at ways to appeal to Star Wars fans by creating unique experiences throughout Disney Parks. Starting this month, Disney is bringing one new experience to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Trips to Walt Disney World are full of magical moments. These special moments happen daily at Walt Disney World, from the first time seeing Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom to the screams of excitement on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

Guests looking to capture those special moments with their loved ones can do so through Disney’s Capture Your Moment service. Capture Your Moment is a 20-minute photo session with a Disney Photopass Photographer.

During their photo session, the trained photographers take guests around Disney Park and capture magical moments. Star Wars fans will be thrilled to learn that they will soon be able to capture magical moments throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

On January 17, guests can book a Capture Your Moment session specifically for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for a session beginning on Janurary 24. Sessions cost $99 for 20 minutes; however, guests can book back-to-back sessions for longer experiences.

Oustanding professional pictures will be able to be taken in front of the Millennium Falcon, First Order Shuttle, at the Black Spire Outpost, or among the other unique backdrops that make Batuu so special.

Not only will guests be able to enjoy a private photography session in this extraordinary land at Walt Disney World, but the photographers will also have props such as lightsabers for guests to use during their session. These props will take these photos to the next level.

Guests can book Capture Your Moment sessions 60 days in advance. This is highly recommended, as spots are limited.

Capture Your Moment sessions are also available at Magic Kingdom, throughout World Showcase in EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Toy Story Land, Hollywood Boulevard, and Sunset Boulevard.

When booking your session, remember that the $99 does not include the cost of the pictures. Guests booking a Capture Your Moment session should also include Disney’s Memory Maker in their Walt Disney World vacation package. All of their pictures throughout their vacation, along with those taken during their private session, will be included with the purchase of Memory Maker.

Capture Your Moment is a beautiful way to add extra magic to your trip. Get those outfits ready and book your next Walt Disney World vacation session.

Former Imagineer Confirms ‘Elee’, A Large Creature That Could Carry Guests Around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Was Scrapped Due to Budget

Posted on April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Via wdwnt.com

On Twitter, former Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Mezzatesta confirmed that Disney scrapped plans to create a large creature that could carry guests around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge due to budget concerns.

“Elee”, The Giant Star Wars Creature

Yesterday, Twitter user @DisneyProject shared this look at concept art from “Elee”:

On display at Jerry Rees and fam’s exhibition in Burbank—“Elee,” Jerry’s concept art of a large, mechanical creature that would have walked around Galaxy’s Edge carrying up to 6 passengers. How cool would that have been pic.twitter.com/Ig3rElJKrw
— The Disney Project (@DisneyProject) April 2, 2023

The concept art by Jerry Rees shows Elee in more detail than we have ever seen her. Elee was initially designed as a large, mechanical creature that could roam Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with as many as six guests seated on her back.

Rees states that Elee was designed to be a relative to the Bantha, a wooly creature we first see in “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” in the deserts of Tatooine.

In response to seeing this detailed concept art, former Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Mezzatesta chimed in:

Yes it was real as we worked on it for like 2 years and had designed and built a lot of it but it was cut from the overall project when Galaxy’s Edge went over budget. https://t.co/tpwaCWpN2p
— Frank Mezzatesta (@FrankMezzatesta) April 2, 2023

According to Mezzatesta, while he and his teammates worked on Elee for “like 2 years”, she ultimately was a casualty of budget limitations as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge neared completion. If you scan the QR code next to the concept art in the tweet, you can hear Rees speak hopefully that even though Elee was scrapped, maybe she will eventually appear in the parks. He states, “Galaxy’s Edge is going to be around for a long time”.

“The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” is a coffee-table book by Nerdist managing editor Amy Ratcliffe, who spoke to more than twenty people involved in the land’s creation. This includes Scott Trowbridge of Walt Disney Imagineering, who also provides the book’s foreword. The 256-page book includes more than 300 images, including concept art and descriptions of ideas that made it into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and some that were scrapped.

Margaret Kerrison, Managing Story Editor at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Story Lead for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge had this to say about Elee: “We liked the idea of a big beast lumbering through the land and having a very personal connection with you. So you would go up and pat her muzzle, and she would react to you. We really wanted to make you believe that Elee was a real creature. So you would go on rides. We actually had a path that went around the land. Mostly to the Resistance area and back in front of the garage; it was a circle.”

Rees spoke glowingly of the backstory he created for Elee and his desire to see her be a gentle giant that even small children could walk up to and interact with in Galaxy’s Edge.

In these pieces of concept art, you can see Elee interact with a child guest. Initial designs seemed to allow guests to feel the breath from Elee’s mouth and even have their cotton candy slurped up by the giant beast.

Imagineer Scott Trowbridge had this to say about the reasoning behind why Elee never fully materialized: “Elee was a creature that we designed and did a fair amount of work to figure out how we would bring her to life. lain McCaig did some designs for her. We just fell in love with those designs. We did some models and figured out how we could bring her to life technically, and then ultimately what we realized is, with the kind of population we expect in the land, we won’t really be able to have her feel authentic.”

Elee was one of many initial designs for the land that either got scrapped or essentially ended up behind a “paywall” that guests could only experience if they visited Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

Woman Shoves Chewbacca, Forcing Character to Leave

Posted on October 13, 2022October 13, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

For many people, one of the highlights of a trip to Walt Disney World Resort is all the fun characters that they can meet at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood, Studios, and Disney Resort hotels. Not only can you meet classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, but you can also head to places like ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village to meet Lilo and Stitch or to Galaxy’s Edge to meet Star Wars characters like Kylo Ren, Rey, and Chewbacca.

Even though seeing one of your favorite Disney characters brought to life is an exciting experience, most people know how to act appropriately and control themselves. When they see the character, they get in line, then hug and spend time with the character when it is their turn. Simple.

Now, there are some times when characters don’t set up in a certain place at a certain time. Instead, they walk around greeting Guests. One place where this happens frequently is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Galaxy’s Edge transports Guests to the planet of Batuu, which is a completely immersive place. To keep things realistic, iconic characters are frequently seen walking around instead of just posing for meet-and-greets.

Recently, young Guests visiting Galaxy’s Edge were having a fun interaction with Rey and Chewbacca. Rey was talking to the kids as Chewbacca looked on when someone unexpected and completely against Disney policy happened.

A Guest was recording, and a woman can be seen sneaking up behind Chewbacca. The woman then yells and shoves Chewbacca — seemingly trying to startle him. Both the Cast Member playing Rey and the Cast Member playing Chewbacca were shocked. They immediately stopped what they were doing and Rey said, “because of that, we might have to leave the area”. They then walked away, leaving the kids confused as to what had happened.

You can watch the video of the incident below:

@nightmareadventures
Don’t be that adult that ruins a nice interaction between kids and characters because you think you’re being funny. #starwars #starwarsgalaxysedge #chewbacca #chewie #rey #reyskywalker #disneyhollywoodstudios #disneyhollywoodstudiosorlando #disneysgalaxysedge #maytheforcebewithyou #dontbeajerk #disneycharacterinteractions #disneycharacters
♬ original sound – Maria -Travel•Food•Theme Parks

Many people who commented on the video were 1) angry and 2) quick to point out that what the woman did could end up getting her banned from the Parks if Disney finds out who she is.

Walt Disney World Resort has the following policy stated on the Property Rules section of its website:

Please show common courtesy to fellow Guests and our Cast Members by not using profanity or engaging in unsafe, illegal, disruptive or offensive behavior, jumping lines or saving places in lines for others. For your safety and the safety of others, please refrain from running except in designated areas.

After the woman touched the Cast Member and is walking away, it appears that a Cast Member can be seen gesturing her away from Chewie and Rey, but it is unknown if the Guest was disciplined for her actions.

Enjoy Complimentary Access to a New Star Wars Lens Through June 7

Posted on June 3, 2022June 3, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Disney PhotoPass Service is bringing Guests a lens that will help them live their Star Wars story wherever they are – without needing to make the jump to hyperspace.

First, they can use this lens to select their species. Maybe they’re a Zabrak with a crown of horns protruding through their head. Perhaps they’re a Twi’lek or Togruta showing off their very striking features. Or, maybe they’re simply a human. That’s fine too!

Then they can discover who they truly are, because they can choose to unveil their hidden identity as one of the Empire’s Jedi-hunting Inquisitors – just like those seen in the new limited series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” now streaming only on Disney+.

I sense a disturbance in the Force.

Now through June 7, Guests can enjoy complimentary access to this lens in the Snapchat app by visiting the Lenses section of the Disney PhotoPass Service Snapchat profile. Whether they’re in the parks or at home, they can use this lens to capture out-of-this-galaxy photos and videos.

Starting June 8, this lens will be available exclusively in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios through the My Disney Experience app with the purchase of Disney Genie+ service.* With their purchase, they’ll unlock many other Disney PhotoPass Lenses, giving them a fun new way to capture the magic of Walt Disney World Resort right from their mobile device.

*With the purchase of Disney Genie+ service, Walt Disney World guests can access many Disney PhotoPass Lenses in the My Disney Experience app as soon as they enter the park. Select Disney PhotoPass Lenses are accessible only within designated areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other Disney PhotoPass Lenses will remain accessible in the My Disney Experience app until 5:59 a.m. on the 45^th day after the day on which the Disney Genie+ service was used; certain states and localities are excluded. Many Disney PhotoPass Lenses use technology that detects the coordinates of key points on a guest’s face and/or hands and may be used only by guests 18 years of age and older who have consented to use of this technology. Therefore, guests unable to provide such consent, as well as guests under 18 years of age, will have fewer lenses available to use. To access Disney PhotoPass Lenses, an eligible mobile device with the My Disney Experience app with access to the device’s camera and location is required. A purchase of Disney Genie+ service at Walt Disney World Resort does not include downloads of a guest’s Disney PhotoPass photos or videos that were captured by photographers and onboard attractions. Use of Disney PhotoPass Lenses is subject to the Terms and Conditions. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

New Characters Introduced INto Galaxy’s Edge

Posted on June 3, 2022June 3, 2022 by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

In 2019, Disneyland Resort opened a brand-new land that fully immersed Guests in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge allows Guests to fly the Millennium Falcon, be kidnapped by the First Order, and even drink the famous blue milk. Guests can also meet some of their favorite characters, including Rey, Chewbacca, and Kylo Ren. According to Disney, Batuu — the planet that is Galaxy’s Edge — exists in the timeline between the events of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. That means that, theoretically, certain characters would never be seen on Batuu. But Disney has decided to break that timeline.

Following a ton of exciting news from the Star Wars Celebration convention at the Anaheim Convention Center, Disney announced that some iconic characters would be making their Galaxy’s Edge appearance. Those characters are Fennec Shand, Boba Fett, the Mandalorian, and the much-beloved Grogu, AKA Baby Yoda. Fennec Shand and Boba Fett made their Disneyland debut on May 28. The Mandalorian and Baby Yoda will come to Disneyland at a later date.

If you are wondering, “So, will I see Boba Fett and Rey talking to each other?”, the answer is no. Disney Parks Blog shared more information on how they will incorporate these new characters onto Batuu without interrupting the storylines.

Since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Star Wars storytelling has experienced a galactic expansion to include many new characters and stories across a wide range of settings. Now, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is likewise expanding the stories guests can encounter when visiting. Having been designed from the outset to connect with a broad range of Star Wars storytelling, Black Spire Outpost has played a role in many of these stories stretching over thousands of years and while, up to now, we have mostly shared those story connections through media and publishing, we will soon give visitors to Batuu an opportunity to connect with those fan-favorite stories with the immersive detail and authenticity that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was designed to deliver.
We are committed to the long history of Batuu and the collection of amazing characters who inhabit the outpost including our legacy characters and original characters and know that we will feel the same about new and future characters from the ever-expanding galaxy of Star Wars storytelling. While we as visitors may be able to experience different stories throughout Star Wars history, the characters on Batuu can not. They will remain in their specific story and timeline and won’t intersect with other characters or stories that would not be appropriate for them.

At this time, Disney has not said whether Fennec Shand, Boba Fett, the Mandalorian, and Grogu will ever come to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. It is possible that they will not, as Disney also has the stories on the Galactic Starcruiser that also intersects with Galaxy’s Edge. However, Disney could always decide to put them at the Launch Bay, which is also in Hollywood Studios.