Here's Your First Look at Disney's Star Wars-Themed Season of the Force Event

November 12, 2015, 6:34 PM · Disneyland previewed its "Season of the Force" event Thursday night, offering a first look at some of the new Star Wars-themed attractions in the park's Tomorrowland.

Star Wars Launch Bay
Photos courtesy Disney

The heart of the event is the Star Wars Launch Bay, which has taken over the lower level of the newly-christened Tomorrowland Expo Center (the old Innoventions building). Rather than slapping together a simple meet-and-greet with a temporary souvenir location, Disney has created a narrative for the exhibit, which offers visitors the opportunity join the Resistance... or the Dark Side of the Force.

Inside the Launch Bay

Speaking of the Dark Side, First Order stormtroopers greet visitors to the Launch Bay, who will see a familiar text scroll on the ground as they enter. The first scene in the Launch Bay is the Cantina, where you can take your turn for a photo at the Holochess table and other iconic sights in the bar. From there, you can choose the light or the dark, entering a themed room — a Rebel base or Star Destroyer — where you can meet Chewbacca or Darth Vader, respectively.


Each side of the Force has its own gallery in the Launch Bay, displaying Jedi or Sith lightsabers, Rebel helmets and flight suits, and Stormtrooper armor. Props and replicas from episode VII, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be on display in the Preview Gallery.

Stormtrooper helmets

The Launch Bay Theater will show a video featuring interviews with members of the production teams behind the Star Wars films, and the Game Center will feature current and upcoming Star Wars video games, including new Disney Infinity 3.0 content, exclusive to the Launch Bay. And, yes, the Cargo Bay is the gift shop, with a selection of high-end memorabilia in addition to Star Wars souvenirs.

Beyond the Launch Bay, am X-wing battle rages inside Space Mountain, as Disneyland's iconic indoor roller coaster becomes "Hyperspace Mountain" for the event. The ride will feature a new soundtrack, inspired by the music from the films and recorded for the ride by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Hyperspace Mountain

Around the corner, Star Tours: The Adventurers Continue will feature new characters and adventures from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Tomorrowland Theater will be showing "Star Wars: Path of the Jedi," a compilation from the Star Wars films, including moments from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Over at the Tomorrowland Terrace, the restaurant is transforming into The Galactic Grill, with some new Star Wars-themed items on the menu, including the First Order Burger, with a patty of beef and chorizo, topped with fried cherry peppers and spicy-lime aioli on a dark bun.

First Order Burger

Starting Dec. 8, a new version of the Jedi Training Academy, "Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple," will debut on the Terrace stage.

"Season of the Force" and its attractions open to the public at Disneyland on Monday, Nov. 16. The Walt Disney World version of the event, minus Hyperspace Mountain, opens Dec. 1 at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Replies (14)

November 12, 2015 at 8:09 PM · ...and now queue the hateful comments claiming that Disney is just doing this to cash in on Star Wars instead of building an actual Star Wars Land.
November 12, 2015 at 8:54 PM · This looks really great. I'm pretty impressed with how Disneyland has executed their Season of the Force.
November 12, 2015 at 9:20 PM · Damn. Scheduled our vacation a week too early.
November 12, 2015 at 9:46 PM · How long does it run?
November 12, 2015 at 10:30 PM · I've heard April as a possible closing date, but not officially yet.
November 12, 2015 at 10:44 PM · To 70.126.135.117- Boy were you wrong
November 12, 2015 at 11:27 PM · Looks great. Seems like Disney is doing every possible thing to get that Star Wars hype before the movie is realeased next month. I can´t wait to ride Hyperspace Mountain.
November 12, 2015 at 11:49 PM · I've been cautiously optimistic about this event since it was announced, but what I'm seeing so far is looking really promising. I'm especially excited about Hyperspace Mountain, but I'll be sure to check all this stuff out when I visit next week.
November 13, 2015 at 12:02 AM · Looks awesome! I love the text on the floor. I hope this stuff stays until they open Star Wars land.
November 13, 2015 at 6:10 AM · They should call it the "Hypetrain Mountain" until the movie comes out. Seriously, though, it looks like a great overlay (and possibly a great idea for a permanent replacement).
November 13, 2015 at 7:43 AM · Okay, we don't have a land yet, but the Launch Bay definitely has me excited about the future of Star Wars at Disney. I was bummed that it wasn't open yet at DHS when I visited in October. I was able to see Watto's Grotto. True, it's basically all about merchandise, but the kid inside of me was excited to see it.

Oh and another thing. I'm pretty sure the First Order Burger will cause your poop to turn green. Which is good if you're into that...

November 13, 2015 at 12:11 PM · Building excitement for what is currently and promises to continue to be a very lucrative franchise is just good business.
November 13, 2015 at 2:17 PM · Re-Juan Hamilton

I'm glad I'm wrong. Quite refreshing to see Disney announcing a big business decision without receiving any negative backlash for once.

November 13, 2015 at 4:35 PM · Now THAT is how you do a quick overlay. It doesn't look like a cheap fix or cash grab. I'm impressed by this! This could be a good model to reinvigorate sad areas and bring them new life, if only temporarily. Wonders of Life pavilion would be a prime example of a space that could easily be turned around for an overlay of this caliber (but of course with a different focus). Wish I could be there to see this myself!

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