Disney has announced the details of four new Star Wars "experiences" opening in Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios next month as a lead up to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens on December 18th.
Starting December 1st, Hollywood Studios will host the Star Wars Launch Bay, which promises to "take guests into the Star Wars saga and the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with special exhibits and peeks behind-the-scenes, special merchandise and opportunities to encounter Chewbacca and Darth Vader."
Star Tours – The Adventure Continues will also offer a brand new experience inspired by the upcoming film. Disney released a teaser for the new 3D adventure, and it seems to focus on a paricular scene from the trailer featuring the Millenium Falcon weaving through wrecked ships on the planet Jakku.
"During the opening months, we’ll make sure that everyone who rides Star Tours will experience the new adventure. After that, it will be up to the will of the Force. Here’s a sneak peek of where the Starspeeder 1000 will be taking us," Disney said.
Star Wars: Path of the Jedi will be updated to feature scenes from the complete Star Wars saga and will provide newcomers with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the expansive Star Wars galaxy.
Adn lastly, Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple will open in "early December." This is a reimagined Jedi Training experience that will take younglings to the secret site of an ancient Jedi temple where they will face Darth Vader along with the Seventh Sister — a new villain in Disney XD's animated series Star Wars Rebels. You've probably seen the ancient Jedi Temple in the recent Force Awakens trailer.
All of this may lead up to The Force Awakens' release on December 18th, but Disney is building towards something much bigger — a 14-acre Star Wars-themed land at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Work will begin next year on the massive expansion.
With all this exciting news, however, comes a bit of disappointment — Disney confirmed they will not be able to offer Star Wars Weekends.
"While Star Wars Weekends has been a great way to enjoy the saga for a few days every year, now the Force will be with Disney’s Hollywood Studios every day," the company said.
Disney previously suggested the special weekend event would be replaced with Season of the Force, a new season event beginning in early 2016 which will invite guests to explore the Star Wars galaxy with special entertainment throughout the park (including a fireworks spectacular show set to the score of the Star Wars movies). While it's unclear how scaled down Season of the Force will be, Disney's Thomas Smith did assure that there will at least be Star Wars-inspired fireworks beginning in January.
[Disney]
