ILMxLAB and Meta Quest to Preview Special VR Experience Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge in Downtown Disney District

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Meta Quest and ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment studio, are presenting a special Quest 2 preview of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge coming to the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort, Nov. 21, 2021 – Jan. 5, 2022.

This preview version of ILMxLAB’s virtual reality experience expands the world of Batuu like never before! Once inside the Quest 2 headset, Guests will be immersed within sweeping 360 views of the Star Wars galaxy. The adventure takes place on the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu, as depicted in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the immersive epic lands at Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The story features both new and iconic characters from the Star Wars galaxy. Gameplay was designed for a variety of players – from Star Wars fans to VR gamers – at home on Quest 2. 

In Part 1 of this action-adventure experience, Guests take on the role of a droid repair technician operating near the Outer Rim. When a group of pirates attack and they crash on Batuu, they’ll discover that anyone in the galaxy can become a hero.

Then, Guests can continue their epic journey with Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge-Last Call, the recently-released expansion. This new add-on gives Guests the opportunity to expand their virtual reality adventures on the Outer Rim and experience more eras in the Star Wars galaxy.

For a limited time, this complimentary preview experience will be offered daily, Noon – 8 p.m., adjacent to Star Wars Trading Post in the Downtown Disney District. Reservations may be available. A Meta Quest staff member will assist Guests on-site with reserving a time to come back to participate or direct Guests to queue up outside the building, based on availability.

Guests must wear face coverings for this experience. For more information and to view important details, visit: http://disneytraveltradeinfo.com/dlr. Must be 13 years or older to experience. Subject to capacity availability. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Disney Announces Big Change to Rise of Resistance

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Since its debut, Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been one of the most popular attractions Disney has ever developed with demand significantly exceeding ride capacity. The demand has been so high that Disney employed a virtual queue to manage the flow of guests through the attractions. Today Disney announced upcoming changes that every guest should be aware of.

From Disney:

From bright suns to rising moons, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge continues to call travelers to the magic of Batuu, especially with the excitement of Walt Disney World Resort’s 18-month anniversary celebration getting closer and closer. As we ramp up to The World’s Most Magical Celebration honoring our 50th anniversary, we’re continuing to enhance experiences thanks to the feedback from our Guests.

We know our Guests love choice and flexibility when planning their time in a theme park—which is why, starting September 23, we will pause the use of virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios may experience this incredible attraction using a traditional standby queue for the first time since it opened in 2019.

Virtual queues continue to be helpful with attraction access, merchandise launches, grand openings and more, and Guests should continue to check the My Disney Experience app for the latest on how we’re using virtual queues across Walt Disney World Resort including its potential use at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at a later date, or from time to time.

In addition to virtual queues, we’ve been investing a lot into the Guest experience in other ways, including exciting new attractions on the horizon like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opening soon at EPCOT, and coming this fall, the new Disney Genie complimentary and convenient digital planning service designed to create your best Disney Day.

So, are you ready to rise up with the Resistance like never before? Whether it’s their first time visitng the Black Spire Outpost or their 50th, we can’t wait to welcome our Guests on their next trip to a galaxy far, far away.

Kat Saka’s Kettle & Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction Reopen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Kat Saka’s Kettle has reopened in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a last-minute menu change. Its online menu listed Outpost Popcorn Mix. But the menu has been updated to serve Buttered Blue Grains (popcorn) instead.

Kat Saka’s is in the Black Spire market, next to Ronto Roasters.

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Gertie the dinosaur is serving guests ice cream “of extinction” again at Echo Lake

The big green dinosaur is hard to miss, though, across from 50’s Prime Time Cafe.

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Guests can get Mickey ice cream bars, ice cream sandwiches, waffle cones, and ice cream cups at Gertie between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

New Droid Depot Backpack and Smartphone Case Available in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Via wdwnt.com

Droid Depot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a new backpack and matching smartphone case. The backpack is reminiscent of Droid Depot’s original grey and rose gold bag, but is dark blue and gold.

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Droid Depot Smartphone Case – $39.99

The smartphone case has BB-8 and D-O on the front, outlined in gold and silver. It has a gold detachable wrist strap.

Droid Depot Backpack – $74.99

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Details Announced for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel at Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Hollywood Studios

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will fully immerse guests in a galaxy far, far away when it debuts in 2022 at Walt Disney World Resort. As part of this first-of-its-kind vacation experience, guests become the heroes of their own stories during a two-day, two-night adventure where they see, feel and live Star Wars.

A model of the Halcyon starcruiser is viewable by guests for a limited time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. When guests book the two-night vacation experience for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in 2022, they will stay aboard this glamorous ship as they plunge into an all-immersive Star Wars story that goes beyond anything Disney has created before. (David Roark, photographer)

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser invites guests into a new kind of “storyliving” as they travel the galaxy in style aboard the glamorous Halcyon starcruiser, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. They will stay in well-appointed cabins, experience exquisite dining and out-of-this-world entertainment, visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and much more.

Throughout the journey, guests’ choices will determine their personal adventures by interacting with characters, crew and other passengers they meet as they become part of the action and the broader Star Wars saga. Decisions guests make will determine how their individual stories unfold as they seize control of their destinies – and potentially impact the fate of the galaxy.

Launch from Walt Disney World Resort

  • The adventure begins when guests arrive at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser terminal at Walt Disney World and check in for their two-night experience.
  • Guests will enter a Launch Pod to begin their Star Wars Through windows above, they’ll see themselves leave their world behind as they jump into hyperspace and draw closer and closer to the massive and magnificent Halcyon starcruiser.
  • When the Launch Pod docks with the starcruiser and the airlock opens, guests will step into the ship’s main deck Atrium to begin their journey through a galaxy far, far away.

An All-Immersive Experience

  • A visit aboard the Halcyon starcruiser plunges guests into a multi-day, interactive story that interweaves with members of the crew, other passengers, familiar Star Wars characters and others. Guests may encounter the starcruiser’s strong and charismatic captain, the ship’s plucky mechanic, heroes of the Resistance or many more as they choose alliances and chart their courses.
  • The all-immersive experience features enthralling onboard activities, such as:
    • Learning the ancient ways of the lightsaber and facing off against a training remote, where guests may discover their own connection with the Force.
    • Visiting the starcruiser’s Bridge to learn about its systems and how to operate them, including navigation and defense – skills that may come in handy during a journey through this adventure-filled galaxy.
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  • Guests will find refreshment each day in an enticing supper club known as the Crown of Corellia Dining Room. This bright and welcoming hall will offer breakfast and lunch daily to passengers before transitioning each evening into a lavish multi-course menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins.
    • One night’s dinner will feature a live performance from a galactic superstar who can captivate an entire room with the crook of her jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger.
  • The journey also includes an excursion to Batuu, where guests can explore the winding pathways of Black Spire Outpost and seek out a hidden Resistance base.

Fun Facts – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

  • Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser guests will be the first to see characters like Rey wield a brand-new, more realistic lightsaber designed by Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development to create dramatic in-person moments previously only seen in films or shows.
  • Every window in the Halcyon starcruiser – including those in each cabin – has a view of the galaxy beyond, with ever-changing vistas as the ship progresses from destination to destination.
  • Guests will be able to explore the starcruiser and perhaps discover hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship – perfect for uncovering secrets … or holding clandestine meetings.
  • The Crown of Corellia Dining Room is named for Corellia, the planet known galaxy-wide for the shipyards that created not only the Halcyon starcruiser, but also the famed Millennium Falcon.
  • For a limited time, guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios can now see a model of the Halcyon starcruiser on display inside Walt Disney Presents.