VIDEO: STAR WARS Launch Bay at Walt Disney World

In November, California’s Disneyland kicked off Season of the Force featuring a whole host of new Star Wars additions to the park.  Not to be outdone, Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort received some new additions as well including Star Wars Launch Bay with its host of immersive exhibits as well as a peek of the newest film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  In the video below, take a look at the sights, sounds, and surprises sure to delight any Star Wars fan.

Star Wars Launch Bay is the central locale for guests to celebrate all things Star Wars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort. Photo by David Roark, courtesy Walt Disney World Resort

Inside Star Wars Launch Bay can play the latest Star Wars interactive video games, explore galleries full of treasured memorabilia and replicas of large-scale Star Wars artifacts (including ones from Star Wars: The Force Awakens), and purchase special Star Wars merchandise.  One particular highlight of Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the chance to meet and talk with Darth Vader and Chewbacca. Darth Vader may be a bit intimidating but you can warm him up. Chewbacca, I am told, does speak his usual growlings but did not at the time we visited.

In addition to Star Wars Launch Bay, Disney’s Hollywood Studios added a STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS scene to the Star Tours attraction.  The sequence is a great addition to the ride, as you can hear from our oohs and aahs while riding in the video below.  Note: the video is in 3D so some blur is normal in the playback of this footage.

Unfortunately, Walt Disney World will not be getting the awesome Hyperspace Mountain overlay that was such a hit at Disneyland, but Disney’s Hollywood Studios will get the perfect conclusion to an epic Star Wars filled day when the Symphony in the Stars: A Galactic Spectacular begins on December 18, 2016.  The fireworks show is set to the sweeping John Williams score recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Of course, all these Star Wars additions to the Disney Parks are just the prelude for the official unveiling of a full-blown Star Wars Land coming to both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios far, far away in the future.

Disney Star Wars Land

What do you think of all the Star Wars additions coming to the Disney Parks?  Will you check out Star Wars Launch Bay the next time you visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios?  Please leave a comment, keep the conversation going, and share your thoughts below.  For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, too.

About John Saccheri

John Saccheri has been rooted in the Disney culture from childhood. John only had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World once, at the age of 5. After returning home, he never stopped talking about it, yearning to return. His parents were worried about this “obsession,” but John began working at the age of 12 with a focus on saving up for the next Disney trip. He was able to visit Disney World at least once a year from 14 years old onward. Today, a successful entrepreneur, John was able to move from his hometown of Long Island, New York, to Central Florida to be close to the Mouse. Going to the parks still seems like a fantasy to him!