After waiting what feels like a lifetime, fans of the Stars Wars series are only a day away from being able to travel to the galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The park opens for people with reservations tomorrow (and open to the public starting June 24, to avoid overcrowding) and last night the held the grand opening for a lucky few to experience early. The opening ceremony was broadcast live last night, and you can watch above as series legends George Lucas, Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford ushered in the new wonderland.
Lucas was the first to be brought out by Disney CEO Bob Iger, and the creator of Star Wars expressed how the land surpasses everything he thought possible.
“This could’ve gone very bad, but it didn’t. It’s Star Tours on steroids at a level you couldn’t possibly believe. I’d also like to thank the Imagineers and others who made this thing possible. It’s the first time that – because I worked with the Imagineers a long time ago and everything was like it was in the old days where it was very hard to do anything. So now the technology is, and this thing is amazing. It’s something you couldn’t even dream about 20 years ago. So, I hope you enjoy it. It was a great experience and I think it will change your life."
After him, Williams was brought out, and the original owner of the Millennium Falcon came out and expressed excitement about everyone getting to pilot the Falcon themselves “experience their own adventures.”
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Mark Hamill was in a different kind of disbelief, talking about how the last time he was at a Disney Park with George Lucas was for the opening of Star Tours at Disney World. “I told myself ‘This is inconceivable, that I could be part of a movie that would get its own ride in a Disney theme park. I better savor the moment because this will never be surpassed,’” he recalled. “And yet, look at where we are today; We get our own land!”
Finally, the one and only Ford came out when the rest of the group tried to get the Falcon to work. Ford offered his assistance, and before giving the big ship a good whack, he honored his old co-pilot, the late Peter Mayhew, by saying, “Peter, this one’s for you.”
Before the big fireworks show the video goes into Galaxy’s Edge, exploring all the locations and things you can do and stuff to buy. You can build your own lightsaber and build your own droid (for $200 and $100, respectively). They showed one group piloting the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run ride, fit with tilting cockpit and working features. There are also tons of food and space beverages (all the blue milk you can drink!) at local Cantinas and restaurants, where you may even get into a fight with some local scum. Okay, maybe not that, but I’m sure a few staff members are paid to just sit around and look like tough aliens all day.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge officially opens at Disneyland in California on May 31.