News Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Historical Construction/Impressions

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Too many people quoting me to care or respond. Sorry! In summation, I'm one of those weirdos who apparently goes against the status quo now and enjoys the prequels and doesn't like anything Disney is doing with Star Wars, aside from getting John Williams to score some of their fan service cash grab films. I don't think I'm taking this too seriously. It's Disneyland. It's the obsession of Disney and apparently the public now. Everyone at Disneyland is wearing a Star Wars article of clothing. They're obviously taking it too seriously.

 

[rle4lunch]

No one is saying it's necessary. It's just makes good business sense. That's all. And Disney is a business, so it's not surprising they are choosing things that make better business sense.

It's just good business, I've heard that somewhere before...

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Opening Date 2019

In the same vein as the Pandora thread(s) by @wdwmagic, I felt it is high time for a dedicated construction thread for the Disneyland Star Wars Project.

This thread is NOT meant to discuss whether Star Wars has a place in Disneyland, the impact on ROA, your thoughts on the announcement or your opinions of the movie(s). Please instead see Star Wars themed land announced for Disneyland and Rivers of America concept art Revealed for excellent ongoing discussion of those topics.

Construction photos, concept art, specific details regarding the contents of the expansion, aerials and generalized speculation about the above are all appropriate.

Please see the WDW Magic's updated Star Wars Land news section for concept art related to both Disneyland and DHS.

Specifics pertaining to the current layout and contents of the land are available in this excellent MiceAge Article.

(Concept maps are unofficial reproductions of blueprints by Mice Age, both have been called extremely accurate by insiders whom have seen the plans)

Update Sept 24th, 2016
Here is a fantastic video to catch up on the progress from start until 'now' if you are new to this thread.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Very well then...

Ummm...that battle escape building is probably getting bigger as we speak...

 

[Curious Constance]

Very well then...

Ummm...that battle escape building is probably getting bigger as we speak...

Don't you mean "Alcatraz" is probably getting bigger as we speak?

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Don't you mean "Alcatraz" is probably getting bigger as we speak?

Oops, sorry. Forgot we were still using code names.

 

[yookeroo]

No one is claiming anything, but it's my understanding that you're saying IP inclusion is necessary to keep up public demand and interest in the park and I was merely giving you two examples where that has not been the case.

I never said it was necessary. Just that the incentives one way are HUGE. So big that it's very hard to go a different direction without a lot of risk. As a business decision, it's really hard to blame them. It's been working pretty great so far.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

I never said it was necessary. Just that the incentives one way are HUGE. So big that it's very hard to go a different direction without a lot of risk. As a business decision, it's really hard to blame them. It's been working pretty great so far.

I DO understand what you're saying and where you're coming from. Our disconnect stems from me being stubborn and not being willing to let go of what Disneyland should be (in my mind), and fully seeing it as a functioning business entity, which it currently very much is. It certainly isn't gonna change any time soon, and that's gonna have to be OK with me.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

Almost like clockwork...

 

[TP2000]

Isn't she great? She jumps in the backseat in traffic to get us some new footage from a new angle!

They are putting another level on top of the giant ride building (Battle Escape? Alcatraz? Escape From Alcatraz? No wonder WDI calls it Alcatraz), which looks to be about a 12 foot tall attic level likely for HVAC and building support systems. That building is huge, and has two levels about 30 feet tall each. That's like stacking two Small World rides on top of each other. This has to be one of the biggest ride buildings at Disneyland, and would seem to rival the big Epcot pavilions for Exxon and GM for size and scope. Huge!

And at the 7:00 mark, that big round mechanism-thing they are building on the other end of the same building is getting even more rebar, more support steel, and more reinforcing.

Whatever that thing does, it's been engineered to take the load of a Saturn V rocket at liftoff.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Whatever that thing does, it's been engineered to take the load of a Saturn V rocket at liftoff.

Or, 40 Americans.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Hmm. That round part. An elevator with an almost fully circular screen perhaps?

 

[Phroobar]

Hmm. That round part. An elevator with an almost fully circular screen perhaps?

I guess it isn't an elevator since it has concrete beams in the middle of it. Maybe it's a spiral ramp to the basement?

 

[Deleted member 107043]

They are putting another level on top of the giant ride building

I assume there will be rock formations constructed atop some of the buildings too, similar to Pandora at WDW.

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

I assume there will be rock formations constructed atop some of the buildings too, similar to Pandora at WDW.

Correct. I expect the whole building to have a rock-facade. In the concept art, the building itself is almost indistinguishable.

 

[truecoat]

Hmm. That round part. An elevator with an almost fully circular screen perhaps?

This one is made for boxes but maybe something like this?

 

[Phroobar]

So you go up the center elevator and then down the spiral with a movie playing around you?

 

[britain]

This one is made for boxes but maybe something like this?

View attachment 192030

Interesting! I know martin said there wouldn't be any inclines for the vehicles to go on, just elevators, due to limitations of the vehicles if power goes down. But if it's a wrapping conveyer belt, and the vehicles remain stationery on it... maybe. Again, interesting.

 

[britain]

I love this shot from mintcrocodile's new update!

What a crazy project! Designing something that works in one context and still works three hundred yards (and a galaxy) away in a different context.

They must have used up all their "Must make theming work from all angles" cards here so there's nothing left to use on GotG!

 

[Earl Sweatpants]

I love this shot from mintcrocodile's new update!

View attachment 192037

Interesting use of the dark shadowing effects...but a striking image at the same time.