Star Wars Awakens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney Hollywood’s Studios’ enhanced Star Wars presence began this week with the opening of the Star Wars Launch Bay and the updated version of the Jedi Training experience. While not hosting a full-blown Season of the Force, like the Disneyland Resort, the new experiences build excitement for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The Star Wars Launch Bay has opened at the former Magic of Disney Animation location.

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The queue has gotten a Star Wars makeover.

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At the Launch Bay Theater guests can hear directly from the creative minds behind the Star Wars saga in a short video that includes exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, producers and other key movie crew members who bring the saga to life.

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The Cantina is a photo location featuring a holochess table.

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Guests can play Disney Infinity 3.0 at the Star Wars Game Center located in the former Animation Academy area.

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The Celebration Gallery features iconic ships from the Star Wars saga.

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The Celebration Hallway displays large-scale replicas of Star Wars props amid scenic murals.

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The preview gallery currently shows props from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but will feature items from other upcoming Star Wars projects, including Star Wars Land as it gets closer.

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Of course there are character meet-n-greets in themed environments including Chewbacca.

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The Launch Bay Cargo store features Star Wars merchandise including on-demand phone cases and MagicBands. You can even get a band in Aurebesh.

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Outside of the Launch Bay, the Path of the Jedi film is being shown in the former ABC Sound Studio near Echo Lake.

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Finally, the Jedi Training experiance has been refreshed as Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple where young Jedi’s face Darth Vader and the Seventh Sister from Disney XD’s Star Wars Rebels.

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Finally, we have Galactic Food being offered at Backlot Express including Star Wars cupcakes, Dark Side Chicken and Waffles, and Blue Milk Panna Cotta.IMG_7428 IMG_7430 IMG_7433

Of course, more Star Wars is on the way to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition to work begining on the 14-acre Star Wars Land, a new fireworks spectacular will begin in January featuring music from the saga.

 

Jeremiah Good
Our main correspondent for Walt Disney World and the Orlando area and a heck of a paleontologist if he does say so himself.