Over at the official Star Wars website Kristen Baver has written a detailed account of her experiences of Galaxy’s Edge pre-opening day.
Wandering the stalls of the sprawling marketplace at Black Spire Outpost is an altogether otherworldly experience. The indistinct chatter of haggling shoppers and shopkeepers, mixed with the locals living above, is interrupted by the unmistakable cackle of a Kowakian monkey-lizard. As the ambient noise fades into the background, you can smell the aroma of charred meats wafting from the Ronto Roasters stand, where a droid who has been made to suffer always turning a spit of meat in front of a searing podracing engine, reminds you that you haven’t eaten since you landed. But there’s so much to see, it’s easy to get sidetracked.
It’s clear from Kristen, and friends of FanthaTracks on location, that Disney have nailed the experience of being transported to the edge of the galaxy. As you can see from this photo the gift shops are all decked out to be themed as junk shops such as we see in The Phantom Menace.
A massive feat of engineering and Imagineering, the 14-acre outpost is truly a feast for the senses. For the deeply devoted fan, there are countless details and artifacts that call back to the original films, the prequels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and even The Mandalorian, in the land set in the time of the sequel trilogy in the Skywalker saga. Even for more casual observers, it’s still an enjoyable exotic affair filled with wonders like you’ve never seen before and a wholly immersive way to spend a few hours feeling like you’ve gone much farther than Anaheim, California.
If rare artifacts are what you’re after, Dok-Ondar is the Ithorian you’ll want to meet. In his Den of Antiquities, browse through holocrons and rare kyber crystals, ancient weapons and statues of Jedi and Sith legends from the past. Among his eclectic finds are a deactivated IG unit, an Imperial helmet said to be owned by Ezra Bridger, a beloved Kalikori said to represent the family of Hera Syndulla, a hulking taxidermied Wampa, and a golden Gungan. A striking Mandalorian helmet hangs just over Dok’s office, where he labors over the books and occasionally rises to his feet to survey his abacus.
Not too many photographs of the Falcon cockpit have been available and this shows it in all of its glory. A tip from a visitor is that Gunners and Pilots are the job to have on the ride. Engineers are placed in the last row and don’t have as much exciting interactivity on the ride.
“Even though the stories of Star Wars are set against this epic backdrop of action,” says Scott Trowbridge, the Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive on the project, “the stories are very personal and universal and archetypal.”
“This is a place that you come with your family and your friends,” adds Beck. “Star Wars is all about that connection, all about those choices, all about your family. It shares all of that.”
We excitedly seen the photographs, videos and press releases. Perhaps it’s time to start making those reservations!
Photos (c) StarWars.com
