The Star Wars universe giveth... and the Star Wars universe taketh away. A day after Disney+'s new Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, revived the old Star Wars Holiday Special's Life Day, Legoland California announced the closure of its Lego Star Wars section in Miniland.
The exhibit will close January 6, 2020, park officials said today.
"Since opening in 2011 with additions made year after year, the Lego Star Wars Miniland model display has been popular for children and their parents," Legoland California Resort General Manager Peter Ronchetti said. "We are thrilled we were able to bring this generational experience to our guests and hope those who have yet to see it, or want to revisit with their friends, will come experience Lego Star Wars Miniland before it leaves us in January and before we prepare to build new memorable experiences for guests."
The exhibit has depicted scenes from eight planets in the Star Wars universe in 1:20 scale, using more than 1.5 million Lego bricks, park representatives said. The Star Wars planets in Miniland have been Naboo, Geonosis, Kashyyk, Mustafar, Tatooine, Hoth, Endor, and Jakku. Here are a few photos from our Miniland archives over the years.
For what it is worth, the Lego Star Wars Miniland exhibit will not be moving to the new Legoland theme park in New York, should you have suspected the work of Bothan spies here.
While the Miniland exhibit always has been for "Lego Star Wars," "Star Wars" Star Wars is now the property of Disney, of course, with the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land up the 5 at Disneyland providing a new theme park home for Star Wars in Southern California. But if you want to see the Lego version, the Force will be with you for only a short time more.
Visiting Legoland? For discount tickets to Legoland California, visit our officially authorized Legoland California tickets page.
Update: (Nov. 14) Legoland Windsor in the UK just announced that its Lego Star Wars Miniland will close December 31.
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I don't see any specific reason for this removal. Also, if California's installation is closing, what about Florida's Star Wars Miniland (though it's not quite as large)? Is this a function of Disney flexing its licensing muscle or did Legoland not see the benefit of maintaining the models (there were quite a few interactive effects that were only working intermittently when we were there in late July)?
I don't think this is a huge loss here, and could easily be replaced with some of Lego's other IPs (LegoBatman, Ninjagu, or Chima) could easily fill this space, though wouldn't have the quite same cache as Star Wars. However, how many guests decide to visit Legoland specifically to see Star Wars models?
I couldn't get a reason out of anyone other than the quote that they will use the space for something else. But I did get the confirmation that it's not going to New York.
I just read that it is also happening in other Lego theme parks. Probably a pity move from Disney.
Lego is still a key Disney partner for merchandise, for the stores at Downtown Disney and Disney Springs, etc. Interestingly, The Lego Star Wars movies are on Disney+, too.
As much as marvel fan boys loved disney taking back xmen and fantastic four, I think we are starting to see the negative impact Disney have when they purchased star wars and fox. Does anybody know what the situation is with the Simpsons ride at universal?
@Madvaz Simpsons is on a lease that will end (unlike Marvel at Universal). Rumor indicated the duration of a 20 year licensing agreement, putting the end year at 2028. After that I expect Disney not to continue the license.
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Is know why Legoland removes their Star Wars presents and will that also be done to all the Lego theme parks?