After a record breaking opening with it’s latest cinematic installment, the STAR WARS franchise descends upon Disneyland.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past week, you may have heard about a little film that’s been smashing records around the world….! Fresh from accepting the crown of highest grossing worldwide film opening in history for THE FORCE AWAKENS, the Star Wars franchise is causing a major shut down at Disneyland.
In January, 10 attractions and eateries will close to make way for Disneyland’s largest expansion ever. What will this new expansion entail you ask? It will make way for a brand spanking new Star Wars land.
To build the new 14-acre Star Wars area, the park will be “retiring” Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland, Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, Big Thunder Ranch petting zoo and Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, starting January 10. (If you’re like me and immediately thought “what about the poor animals from the petting zoo?!” Don’t stress: Disneyland officials say they’ve been adopted by a Southern California family that has worked with Disney animals in the past).
Disney has yet to reveal what will be included in the new Star Wars land. In announcing the park expansion in August, Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said it would include a re-creation of the Millennium Falcon, in which guests can take the controls for a “customized secret mission,” along with an immersive attraction that will put visitors into “a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance”…sounds pretty sweet!
Though it is, as of yet, unsure when the new attractions will be open for business, Tomorrowland has some Star Wars themed attractions to keep fans happy until then.
With entry prices to Disneyland recently increased (despite the imminent closure of 14% of it’s attractions to make way for this new build) some have asked if Disneyland is worried about a resulting drop in admissions….but – to put it bluntly – they aren’t!
