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Inside Disneyland’s Star Wars: Season of the Force, Part 2

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Photos by FAWN KEMBLE
Text by LAVENDER VROMAN

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a two-part post exploring Star Wars: Season of the Force at the Disneyland theme park. Read the first post here. 

SPOILER ALERT: If you’re planning to visit Disneyland and want to be surprised when you experience Season of the Force, you may want to skip this post for now. 

I was skeptical about the idea of Star Wars: Season of the Force, just as I am skeptical about every new element Disney introduces to its Southern California theme park.

What can I say? I’m a traditionalist. I’m nostalgic. I’m slow to accept change.

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As almost always happens, however, I was impressed with this new addition to Disneyland, an appetizer designed to tide us over until the future Star Wars land materializes.

Season of the Force essentially transforms the generically sci-fi themed Tomorrowland into a temporary Star Wars land, complete with ambiance, attractions, “character experiences,” food and enough merchandise to make your head explode.

This event boasts Disney’s signature attention to detail. It’s fun to explore and discover new things.

The Ambiance

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Immediately upon entering Tomorrowland you’ll notice the Star Wars makeover. John Williams’ signature score plays throughout the area and you’ll find interesting touches everywhere.

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Visiting Tomorrowland at night is a must if you want to really appreciate the ambiance. The area is divided into the Dark Side and the Light Side with creative lighting effects and banners featuring characters from the franchise’s many incarnations.

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The Rebel Alliance insignia is projected onto the side of Star Tours. Apparently, the attraction already features a new destination from “The Force Awakens.”

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The Galactic Empire’s logo is projected across one of Tomorrowland’s murals.

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Beams evocative of lightsabers shoot into the night sky.

Hyperspace Mountain

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Disney has transformed its classic Space Mountain roller coaster into Hyperspace Mountain. The wait for the ride was two and a half to three hours long, but FastPasses were available at the beginning of the day.

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The queue for Hyperspace Mountain features added Star Wars graphics. Admiral Ackbar addresses those waiting, informing them they are about to participate in a battle as part of the Rebel Alliance’s Blue Squadron. I won’t spoil what happens inside the ride. Suffice it to say, it features great use of John William’s famous opening trumpet burst.

Path of the Jedi

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I opted not to check out Path of the Jedi, a new show in the Tomorrowland Theater that features “favorite scenes” in a “celebration of the entire Star Wars saga,” according to Disney.

The Food

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Season of the Force’s hottest food item is the BB-8 Sipper, the cutest sippy cup you’ll ever slurp soda from. It retails for $13.99 and is available at the PizzaPort restaurant. Some enterprising people are already selling it on eBay for upwards of $20.

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See, you can’t resist him.

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The Galactic Grill features an all-Star Wars menu, which includes the Han Burger, The Pastry Menace, Darth By Chocolate, the Cheese-3PO Burger and Wicket’s Wicked Veggie Sandwich. The grill continues to host the former Jedi Training Academy, now dubbed Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. If your kid wants to participate, you now must “preregister” him or her at a kiosk at the Star Wars Launch Bay.

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The Merch

It wouldn’t be Disneyland without a gift shop around every corner and copious amounts of merchandise tempting you to open your rapidly thinning wallet, now would it? The sheer scope of the Star Wars items available in Tomorrowland and throughout the park, as well as Downtown Disney, is almost impossible to comprehend.

So much Star Wars stuff! So much!

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One of the best new items can be found in a little shop across from the Star Wars Launch Bay. There you can pick out a unique faux leather bracelet and have it personalized with your name or text of your choice in Aurebesh, the Star Wars basic language.

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The Star Trader used to feature general Disney merchandise, along with items from Star Wars and Star Tours. It is now exclusively dedicated to a dizzying array of Star Wars stuff.

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One exciting development is that Disneyland now carries awesome clothing and accessories from Her Universe …

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… including the coveted lightsaber skirt …

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… and the most hideous shoes ever invented.

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Make sure to spend as much as you can. The Evil Galactic Empire is watching you!

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Outside the Park

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If you can’t find what you’re looking for inside Disneyland, you’ll certainly find it in the Downtown Disney shopping area.

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The World of Disney store has a whole section dedicated to Star Wars and it features a surprising amount of items dedicated to Rey.

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The Sanuk shop features these knee socks, which will go beautifully with your Her Universe lightsaber skirt.

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Build-A-Bear Workshop features customizable Star Wars teddies.

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WonderGround Gallery has a Star Wars collection.

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Of course, the Lego store is in on the Star Wars action, as well. (Check out that tiny Han Solo in Carbonite.)

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Just in case you forgot something, this Christmas kiosk is fully stocked with everything Star Wars, too.

Happy shopping.

 

 

Inside Disneyland’s Star Wars: Season of the Force, Part 1

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Photos by FAWN KEMBLE
Text by LAVENDER VROMAN

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post explores the new Star Wars Launch Bay at the Disneyland theme park. Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at more of the Season of the Force at Disneyland. 

SPOILER ALERT: If you’re planning to visit Disneyland and want to be surprised when you experience Star Wars: Season of the Force, you may want to skip this post for now. 

When did Darth Vader become so cuddly?

The towering, black-cloaked, mask-wearing, James Earl Jones-voiced, half-man, half-machine was once an object of terror. When I first saw “Episode IV — A New Hope,” I was genuinely awestruck and horrified by Star Wars’ ultimate villain.

There he was striding down the corridors of the Death Star, Force choking underlings who looked at him the wrong way, torturing Princess Leia with pointy, needly things, ordering the annihilation of entire planets, wielding that eerie red lightsaber, chopping off Luke’s hand! He was a fearsome sight to behold. And the now infamous sound of his breathing left us quaking in our boots.

And then something changed. Darth Vader became a comical figure — a clown, a joke, an object of laughter not fear.

goodnight_darth_vader_coverNow, he’s the star of children’s books, like “Darth Vader and Son” and “Goodnight Darth Vader.” He’s the subject of memes and comic strips. He’s a bobblehead. He’s a plush doll. He’s a Lego minifigure.

He eats ice cream. He rides roller coasters. He’s the harried parent of toddlers. He rolls his eyes at his Death Star minions like the grumpy CEO of an average corporation.

As a villain, Darth Vader has been rendered utterly benign, which is why I was surprised at my reaction when I met the Dark Lord himself last weekend at one of Disneyland’s Star Wars: Season of the Force events.

My sister and I went to check out the Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet, which is open from 4 to 8 p.m. daily for Disney Visa card holders.

Greeted by a long line, we took a tip from a Disneyland cast member and returned later. And there was NO ONE THERE. Literally NO ONE. Just us, Lord Vader and a bored-looking photographer.

This particular Vader was tall and surprisingly intimidating. He breathed his nefarious breaths, wagged his finger at us and scolded us for holding to the philosophies of the Rebel Alliance.

I’m not proud of my response. I cowered before the Dark Lord of the Sith. I laughed nervously. I froze. Then I squeaked, “Thank you, Lord Vader,” and made a beeline for it.

Was this the resurfacing of some latent childhood fear? Or am I just a total dork?

Perhaps I’ll never know.

Anyway, here we are, cowering before Darth Vader.

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The Imperial Meet ‘N’ Greet takes place inside Disneyland’s new Star Wars Launch Bay, the center of the action at the theme park’s Season of the Force.

(If you are a Disney Visa card holder, the meet ‘n’ greet is worth checking out. You get a voucher for one free 5 by 7 photo)

Season of the Force is a lineup of attractions, “character experiences,” themed food and merchandise galore meant to tide us over until Disney finishes construction of its much ballyhooed new Star Wars Land.

The Star Wars Launch Bay is on the first floor of the former Innoventions (which was once America Sings, and, before that, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress). The second floor is still home to Disney’s Marvel superheroes.

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When you walk through the doors — designed to look like the Star Wars blast doors, naturally — you are greeted by a special opening carpet crawl. To the right, a short film features the filmmakers behind “The Force Awakens,” discussing the impact of George Lucas’ original trilogy.

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The Star Wars Launch Bay features several themed galleries, displaying props, costumes, ships, models and other items from all the films in the franchise, like this Stormtrooper with flame thrower from “The Force Awakens.”

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A highlight of the Launch Bay is a large replica of the Mos Eisley Cantina, complete with bar for photo opps. Assorted aliens not included.

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Mom, bellying up to the Mos Eisley Cantina bar.

Han shot first

Lavender Vroman and Fawn Kemble settle the matter of whether Han shot first.

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In the Star Wars Game Center, you can try out the latest tech from the franchise galaxy, including Disney Infinity 3.0.

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The Launch Bay also includes “character experiences.” Chewbacca was holding court in the area above. There was quite a line of fans waiting to meet the furry Wookie.

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Above, another line forms to visit with Darth Vader.

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Of course, you can’t exit the Launch Bay without passing through a gift shop, this one filled with high-end merchandise, like this $3,000 model of Yoda.

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Han Solo’s duds can be yours for a mere $725.

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The shop features a station where you can design your own Star Wars-themed cellphone case.

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There’s an entire wall covered with autographed photos for sale.

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There’s also a lot of cool art on display, all available to purchase.

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Wouldn’t this make a great conversation piece for your living room?

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One final photo opp after you emerge from Star Wars heaven, back into the real the world.

Leia, the Disney Princess with a Blaster

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BY FAWN KEMBLE

Before Merida and Mulan, back when I was a girl, there was only one badass princess in my life.

While Disney princesses of the time lay passively awaiting their prince, or whined to their fathers, or cleaned house, we strong little girls could dream of being more than just the romantic interest of the main character. We too could be Jedi princesses, powerful forces in the Rebel Alliance.

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Fawn Kemble

When we meet Leia, she is on a mission to save her entire planet, not prancing around in a ball gown or sweeping up. She risks her life for the greater good. She is an active member of the team in the Star Wars trilogy (What? There were only 3, right?).

Yes, she is rescued by Luke and Han, but Han ends up frozen for a bit and Luke needs help all the time. She, just like them, has the opportunity to grow as a character and to have greater concerns than who she’ll end up with. In fact, she ends up in an intellectually stimulating relationship, on equal footing with Han.

I know she is not the perfect feminist icon (don’t even get me started on the gold slave Leia bikini), and most of her Jedi powers aren’t developed until later, in the book series.

Still, as a little girl, I never felt like I couldn’t run around with a blaster or lightsaber with the boys, they never said girls couldn’t be Jedis, and she has some of the sassiest lines to quote and requote.

Now, I call my lovely, feisty, intelligent little niece my Jedi Princess and I hope that when she’s a bit older, she’ll want to go to Disneyland with Leia buns and a blaster as her Disney Princess outfit.

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Fawn Kemble, dueling with nephew Graden.

Fawn Kemble lives in L.A. and gets to be a professional feminist, helping pregnant women. She got sucked into that Star Wars life at a young age by her oldest brother and her sister, Lavender Vroman. She didn’t choose the Lucas life, it chose her.

Photos: en.wikipedia.org; courtesy of Fawn Kemble.