D23 Expo 2017 : First Look at Star Wars Land Model ! Bob Iger: Star Wars Land Will Open First Half of 2019

Please note that i will cover here on Disney and more essentially the D23 Expo news related about Disney theme parks. For others news from D23 Expo, please follow me on the D&M Facebook page HERE.


The highly awaited D23 Expo opens its doors today and D&M will do its best as usual to cover the main events. Two Star Wars lands are currently under construction at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts and we have now the first detailed look at the model of this new land, which is on display this weekend at the 2017 D23 Expo, land rumored to be named "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge"!.

Both Star Wars-inspired lands will transport guests to a never-before-seen planet, a remote trading port and one of the last stops before Wild Space, where Star Wars characters and their stories come to life.



Here, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action at two signature attractions: one that lets guests take the controls of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

According to Bob Iger during a D23 Expo celebration today, Star Wars land will open "before the next D23 Expo" - scheduled for 2019. Considering that D23 Expos always happen during summer this mean that it should open probably in May or June, and you'll note that Star Wars 9, the last episode of the new trilogy,  is scheduled to be released late May 2019. Knowing the love of Disney for synergy it's a safe bet to think that the land, at least in Disneyland, will open at that time.

More additional pictures of the Star Wars land model from the OC Register article HERE and screen captures from the video below!
































Even more pics from D23 showing the SW Land area with vehicles models too!





This vehicle model below is the one for the awaited "Battle Escape" E-Ticket ride...





Pictures and video: copyright Disney, OC Register

An Inside Look at Star Wars Land Imagineers Creating Star Wars Land ! New Artwork, Pictures, Videos, and more !

We've got some great Imagineering news for this week-end as, during the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, a new Star Wars land Imagineering video was presented to the audience, showing new Star Wars land artworks and WDI Imagineers at work at WDI. I did high-res screen captures for you but first, here is the video itself.




Now, let's have a closer look at it, would we? Let's start with the new artworks unveiled by this video showing scenes that will ( or eventually will not ) be created inside Star Wars land. Definitely click on each picture to see them in big size!

The artwork below is not really new but i add it here because of its good quality.

Now, we also have in this video plenty of great shots of Star Wars land Imagineers at work, whether they're drawing or painting...

...Sculpting models of buildings, mountains or creatures of the land...

...or testing the future attractions whether in virtual reality of in the "real" cockpit for the Millenium Falcon ride.

Some pictures of Star Wars land construction site at Disneyland were also shown...

And we also learn from the horse's mouth - i.e Imagineer Scott Trowbridge - exciting new details about the story behind this mysterious destination somewhere on the Outer Rim — lying on the edge of the Unknown Regions: "It's a new planet, a new place, the land has always been there, we are only just now able toe experience it.  It's a remote frontier outpost that used to  be a vibrant port but its prominence has fallen and faded a bit, but the most interesting people will be there". The remote village was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes, but the prominence of the outpost has been bypassed with the rise of hyperspace travel. Now home to those who prefer less attention, 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 others intent on avoiding the expanding reach of the First Order. Unusual characters from across the galaxy have landed here, preferring the “no questions asked” environment as well as easy access to exotic supplies and an abundant supply of ready rogues looking to join a crew for their next adventure."

Imagineer Wendy Anderson added "There will be a presence of the Resistance and the First Order."And about the Millenium Falcon ride Imagineer Asa Kalma said "We're not just going to let you ride the Millenium Falcon, we're going to let you control the Millenium Falcon. You and your flight crew are going to be responsible for piloting". Many Astromech Droids will hang around in the land and blue milk will be available as drinks, too!

Don't miss the video of the full Star Wars Land panel filmed by Inside the Magic where you'll learn much more from WDI Imagineers!




Now, don't go away as there is more Star Wars news as Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald also announced that a new movie will be added to Star Tours late 2017 and the action will take place on the new planet Crait from Star Wars 8!



Pictures and video: copyright Disney, Inside the Magic