Grab your lightsaber or blaster gun, as we introduce you to the theme park of our dreams.
Had you told the 10-year-old me (or 21-year-old-me) that there’d come a time when we would be getting a Star Wars theme park INSIDE a Disney resort, I’d probably punch you in the face and call you a liar. But the future is now and geekdom is king, as Disney is currently under construction on Star Wars Land at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Considering we live in a world where a new Star Wars film is set to be released each year till infinity, there will be no shortage of planets and characters to choose from in building rides, attractions and dining.
While no opening dates have been set for either park, the upcoming December release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has got our imaginations on hyperdrive on creations Disney Imagineers might have in store for us. So far there’s only been a few pieces of concept art that’ve been released giving us a sneak peek inside the new parks. Instead of waiting for Disney to release details on attractions, we’ve gone ahead and made a list of 5 rides and experiences we want to see once Star Wars Land opens.
Speeder Bikes Ride (Return of the Jedi)
Outside of the Millennium Falcon, if there’s going to be rides based on Star Wars vehicles, a must have is the Aratech 74-Z, better known to us all as the speeder bike. The moment Luke and Leia jumped on these things to chase down some scout troopers, we were hooked! Who wouldn’t want to go speeding around the forest moon of Endor, fighting the Empire with the wind in their hair?!
Creating a ride around this vehicle, the mechanics would be something along the lines of the Radiator Springs Racers from Cars Land, mixed with the ill-fated Rocket Rods. While the Rocket Rods found in Tomorrowland weren’t reliable with the ride always down, the high speed premise would work great for the speeders. This would be a partial open air thrill ride just like the racers, where guests would be strapped on to a speeder bike as they zip through a forest setting, similar to the chase scene in Return of the Jedi.
After an exhilarating journey, the ride ends when you’re greeted by festive animatronic Ewoks as they cheer and sing you the unforgettable hit “Yub Nub.”