In a decade far, far away, a six-year-old girl sat in a movie theater at what was Tamarac Square Mall in Denver, Colorado. (The mall is now a Target.) As the theater darkened and the movie started, she found herself instantly transported to a galaxy far, far away.
It was like nothing she’d ever seen before.
She suddenly had a new role model besides Wonder Woman: Princess Leia. And a new crush: Luke Skywalker. And if she could ever be part of as cool a duo as Han Solo and Chewie? She’d grab that chance in a second.
Money was tight in her household back then, but there always seemed to be enough to go to the movies. She’d end up seeing Star Wars nine more times that summer. For the next few Christmases, Star Wars merch would top her wish list.
Fast-forward 42 years.
That girl is now a woman and once again found herself transported to a galaxy far, far away on a jaunt to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. She hadn’t been there in decades, but she was one of the lucky foolish mortals who scored tickets to the special 50 Years of Retirement Unliving Event celebrating the Haunted Mansion turning 50.
But before the Haunted Mansion festivities, she had a day to explore Disneyland Park by herself. And that’s how it was she ventured into a whole new land.
Galaxy’s Edge
The last time a new land opened in Disneyland Park was Mickey’s Toontown in 1993. (Although Tomorrowland received a major overhaul in 1998, and Fantasyland underwent an expansion and renovation between 2010-2014.)
However, a whole new land? It had been many moons since once of those had been introduced.
But that’s what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is. A whole new land.
World really.
It’s like every other land at Disney in the fact that it’s distinct to its theme, but it’s also unlike anywhere else in the park. It’s the closest visitors can get to being transported to the wild frontier planet of Batuu, specifically the Black Spire Outpost.
Describing it doesn’t do it justice. With the new Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker, opening tomorrow, I thought it’d be fun to share some of the photos I took while I was there.
The Black Spire Outpost on Batuu
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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OMG Courtney I need to go I am a huge Star Wars fan. Same thing I was 7 years old and saw it in the theaters and I was hooked.
You DO need to go! OMG you will totally geek out! Also, how cool is this to learn about you? I love knowing you’re a Star Wars fan too!!!