A long time ago on a holiday weekend far, far away . . .
Wishing all of our readers a very happy Thanksgiving weekend. I am thankful to be able to visit Disneyland and see my favorite park host my favorite movie experience, Star Wars. Let’s see what’s happening this week…
| Disneyland |
The holiday season is in full swing at Disneyland…
…except for Temporary Star Wars Land. A place formerly known as Tomorrowland. Here’s a look at Star Wars during the holidays at Disneyland:
Speaking of Tomorrowland…if you haven’t been in the lobby of the Disneyland Opera house, there is a small exhibit space that periodically changes out. Next to the massive model of Disneyland on opening day is a display case simply labeled, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”
Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Should Disney try to blend in the holidays with Star Wars? Well…somebody tried that once and it went horribly wrong.
| The Star Wars Holiday Special |
Do you have a member of the family that no one talks about? Star Wars does. And its name is the Star Wars Holiday Special. Shown only once in November 1978 on CBS, Lucasfilm has tried to bury it ever since. It features the original Star Wars cast along with what seems like the guests of a bad Love Boat episode.
The story here is that Chewbacca is trying to get home to his family for the Life Day Celebration. We meet his father Itchy, his wife Malla, and his son Lumpy. No joke. Those are their names. This was also the first time we saw Boba Fett in the Star Wars universe. But that’s not nearly enough to save this show. It’s awful. But if you want to see for yourself here is the full hour and a half show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3a5j8PgQxg
I can’t stomach more than a few minutes. If you just want a taste, here is a fifteen minute “Best Of” clip:
| News From The Outer Rim |
Rogue One Tickets Go On Sale Monday
If you want to get advance tickets, Monday is the day. If you are trying to see the Thursday night showings, especially at the better theaters, you better move fast!
Rogue One Will Not Have An Opening Crawl
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that Rogue One will not open with the iconic opening crawl. That will be reserved for the Saga movies. Her interview with Variety is here.
Disney Holiday Rogue One Preview
On Thanksgiving night, the Wonderful World of Disney Magical Holiday Celebration gave us a special preview of Rogue One with an introduction by Bob Iger. There’s some great new footage in here:
Want A “Rogue One” Rogue?
Nissan is offering a limited edition Rogue One trimmed version of its Rogue SUV. It also comes with a Death Trooper helmet. Details here.
Daenerys Targaryen Meets Han Solo
Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke has been cast in an unnamed role in the next Star Wars Story movie about Han Solo. You can read more about it here.
| Cyber Monday Gift Guide |
Looking for something for the Star Wars fan on your holiday list? We’ve featured some great stuff this year. Here are a couple of highlights that you don’t have to go to the park to get.
For Her:
You’ve seen the Her Universe clothing line many times in Star Wars Land News.
Ashley Eckstein created Her Universe with the mission to create stylish, fashion-forward merchandise for female sci-fi fans. She would know, Ashley is the voice of Ahsoka Tano in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels”.
Here’s a glimpse of what is featured in the park from Her Universe.
You can see all of the Her Universe line and shop online here.
For Him:
Sideshow Collectables is another company who’s products you’ve seen here. They make high-end figures that look fantastic. The attention to detail is amazing, down to scratches, battle damage and dirt. Here are a few of their items in Star Wars Launch Bay:
Their products are very limited. Click on the Sideshow Collectables photo below for availability, prices and to purchase online.
For Anyone:
Here’s a few other items from the park that you pick up from Amazon. And if you use our link, you can help support Star Wars Land News at the same time!
Star Wars Catalyst in hardcover or Kindle available at Amazon HERE.
Princess Leia and R2-D2 Ornament on Amazon.
Elite Series Stormtrooper Figure at Amazon.
Elite Series Deathtropper Figure at Amazon.
Star Wars Black Series Figures at Amazon.
Millennium Falcon XL Drone at Amazon.
K-2SO POP! Bobblehead at Amazon.
For more Stat Wars goodies, please click here:
| Star Wars Land Construction |
The big development this week in Star Wars Land Construction is the train. Well, that’s technically not in Star Wars Land, but it’s a big part of the project and the first to open next summer. Last time we saw some of the train’s path coming together near Critter Country. This time we see some interesting stuff around Frontierland and Fantasyland. Let’s take it from the top…top of Star Wars Land, that is…
After spending the first part of this year demolishing the backstage area and part of the Rivers Of America, the site looked like this:
MiceChat created a graphic that shows what the area was like before, and what we expect the layout to look like when complete.
[beforeafter]
[/beforeafter]
In the north part of the site where a mound of dirt collected from grading and being used to fill in different elevations now, we nicknamed this the Dirt Star when it was the most dominating feature in the land. But lately it’s been leveling off as the dirt is filling in around retaining walls. This is closest to the N on the photo and the future site of the Millennium Falcon attraction.
Just east of that, where the Disneyland Rail Road is being routed, the large inner wall made with steel I-beams and wood lagging will create a new berm separating Fantasyland and SWL.
On the other side of the berm, an outer wall was one the first constructed as the site went vertical. This is where the DLRR will go into a tunnel and make the turn into the Toontown Station.
We got a new look at the outer wall where it faces the DLRR and the Fantasyland Theater. From Big Thunder Mountain looking north, we can see the tunnel entrance and the rockwork that will be seen from the train.
Nearby, an arch is where the SWL entrance from Fantasyland will have the DLRR cross overhead.
Looking at this spot again from BTM, we can catch a glimpse of what that entrance looks like on the other side.
The next set of photos is approximately the middle of the aerial photo and will include the Fantasmic Backstage. This maze of walls will come off the Rivers of American to an area where the showboats can be stored and serviced.
In this area is the entrance from Frontierland tunnel that will have the DLRR crossing overhead.
Over the Fantasmic Dock area, work continues with something new on the Frontierland side of the tunnel.
From the Frontierland side, we got another look at the new bridge for the DLRR.
Around the bridge on the Frontierland side, more of the outer wall is being made to look like rock.
Back on the SWL side, the inner walls are evolving as well.
Following around the inner wall, the south side of the site will connect to Critter Country.
There will be a walkway from between the Canoes on the River and the Hungry Bear Restaurant to SWL.
From the Critter Country side, we can see a little closer.
From the walkway between Haunted Mansion and Hungry Bear, we can see the elevated tracks of the DLRR where they will cross in front of the waterfall.
On the west side of SWL, the excavation for the Battle Escape show building is still moving out and down.
There are a lot of retaining walls going up around the area where the backstage access road is forming. And it looks like there is still going to be a gate to the tramway.
That’s it for this edition. I want to take an opportunity to thank all of you for your love support this year!
| As Always… |
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