7 years ago today, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened to the public at Disneyland. This new land at Disneyland dramatically changed the park. Not only was it a massive expansion of space for guests to enjoy, but it also changed the Rivers of America and the Disneyland Railroad. For the first time, the train turned left! It was also the first time that a new land opened in Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom for many of the fans in attendance early in the morning on May 31st.
There have been countless articles written about the opening of this land. They covered the crowds in the first moments people saw the Millennium Falcon, with Chewbacca, Rey, and Vi playing cat and mouse with Kylo Ren and the First Order, shopping, dining, or visiting Oga’s Cantina! Many of these articles were written by the Daps Magic team! As we celebrate seven years of this permanent Star Wars presence at Disneyland, what stands out to me is the feeling of the day. There was a surge of excitement as the anticipation grew while waiting to enter the new land. Then Disneyland Resort President Josh D’Amaro was charming the crowds and making friends everywhere as he joined those who were waiting for this momentous moment. The smiles, the Star Wars outfits, and the sense of a shared experience for something very special all stand out to me.
They say that people won’t remember what you do, but they will remember how you made them feel. Seven years after the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, that adage seems very true. While I can remember specific moments of the day, I remember more the joy of the day. I also remember the people we were with. On top of that, I remember the sense of optimism and excitement we had while entering Batuu and exploring Black Spire Outpost. In short, it was fun, and people were happy. As I think about it, that’s really what everything at Disneyland is all about!
Moving forward seven years, we have seen things change at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There are new characters there now. Both attractions are now running, with one of them recently updated. There is a renewed sense of optimism and excitement in the land. The initial concept for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a great one. Who wouldn’t want to step into a moment in time in a galaxy far, far away? It is incredible! The new approach to the land is also awesome. I love seeing the new characters in the land and hearing the iconic Star Wars music that John Williams composed. Both versions of this land make me happy.
As I think about the changes to the land and how it has evolved over seven years, I think about my love of cooking. One of my happy places is in my kitchen. One of the things I’ve also discovered through the years is that sometimes a perfect recipe needs to be updated. It might be the best thing I’ve ever cooked, and I can nail it perfectly every time. However, at some point, even a perfect dish can become stagnant if it never changes. This is why restaurants update menus and why I play with the recipes of things I make in my kitchen. As my mom always said when we were growing up, “variety is the spice of life!”
As Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge gets closer to being 10 years old, I like that Disney and Lucasfilm have shown that it is willing to mix things up and add some variety to the story that is being told and experienced here. I like that we are getting to experience different versions of this land and getting some variety added to it. I look forward to seeing what it looks like at 14 years and 20 years. There are so many stories and possibilities for this land. That is very exciting!
Today, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is 7 years old. It is a wonderful addition to The Happiest Place on Earth! I love visiting it. I love taking my camera to go on photo adventures there. I also love the power it has to bring fans of all ages and levels together. The Force is strong with this land, and I think it will continue to grow stronger moving forward!
Opening Moment: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Opening Day
