New ‘Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’ Planet Batuu Revealed On Disneyland’s Star Tours
Could a new addition to theStar Toursexperience herald a future far, far away from the current Hollywood Studios and Disneyland parks location? Say, in the upcomingStar Warstheme park land,Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Possibly, probably, and most likely.
Two new planets, Crait and Batuu, have been added to theStar Toursattraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. The first planet Crait, which is introduced as a mineral world inStar Wars: The Last Jedi,follows the trend of updates to the ride to promote theStar Warsfilms, but Batuu stands out — not just because it is a brand-new planet, but because it is the main location of the upcomingStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, set to open in 2019.
The two planets will be added to the latter end of theStar Toursfive-part experience: takeoff, a first destination, a holographic transmission to the ship, a second destination, and an arrival at a base or world. Crait and Batuu will be the second destination and final arrival, respectively, according toStarWars.com.
Here’s the description of Batuu, seemingly a remote trade outpost, by Disney Creative ExecutiveScott Trowbridge:
“This remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes, but its prominence was bypassed by the rise of hyperspace travel. Now home to those who prefer to stay out of the mainstream, it has become a thriving port for smugglers, rogue traders and adventurers traveling between the frontier and uncharted space. It’s also a convenient safe haven for those intent on avoiding the expanding reach of the First Order. While Batuu may be new to us, it is clearly already familiar to many characters from theStar Warssaga as a stepping off point for epic adventures.”
According toWDWNT, the update also comprises of two new opening sequences with Kylo Ren and First Order Stormtroopers, and two new transmission sequences featuring Maz Kanata and Poe Dameron.
This update comes on the heels of speculation by /Film chief Peter Sciretta thatStar Toursmay not be long for this world, replaced by the upcomingStar Wars: Galaxy’s End, which expands a previously straightforward experience into a whole explorable theme park land. If that’s the case, it’s appropriate thatStar Toursliterally drops riders off at the home of the newStar Warstheme park land. /Film editor Jacob Hall notes that this update feels like a “passing the torch” moment for theStar Warsrides, after which theStar Tourslocation will likely be transformed into something else (possibly even something Marvel-related, if we were to make an educated guess). After all, the original ride becomes redundant once there’s an entire land dedicated toStar Warsacross the park.
“Looks like there are more adventures to come,” C-3P0reportedly tells guestsat the end of the updatedStar Toursexperience. It looks that way, indeed.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edgeis currently under construction at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida, but a new preview of the theme park will air during theThe Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday CelebrationTV special on November 30 at 9pm ET on ABC, according toThe Disney Blog. Meanwhile, you can watch a fly-through of a concept of the park below.
