Star Wars at Disneyland: Is Season of the Force Worth It?
By Kyle Warnke
Star Wars Launch Bay
Moving away from the new rides, Star Wars Launch Bay offers a different kind of experience for both casual and hardcore Star Wars fans. Instead of putting attendees into the middle of some Star Wars action, the Launch Bay acts as a combination of an ode to Star Wars‘ past along with a vision of its future.
As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by a message scrawled on the lobby floor in the style of the opening crawl from the movies. Before you know it, you have an array of options to choose from. The gift shop, naturally, is most visible on the left, complete with the latest LEGO sets as well as expensive fan art and posters.
Meanwhile, the main section of the Launch Bay is dotted with displays of props and costumes from The Force Awakens. You can see items ranging from Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, to a scale model of Captain Phasma, to models of the new X-Wing and Millennium Falcon. If you’ve been to any of the past conventions, there’s nothing new to see here, but it still heightens the sense that this place functions as a museum to a galaxy far, far away.
There are also areas where you can meet and pose for pictures with Darth Vader and Chewbacca, as well as a build-your-own-lightsaber game that’s sure to appeal to kids. The entire place has a cool vibe, juxtaposing the franchise’s storied past with glimpses into how it’s changed and changing for the future. If nothing else, it’s a cool way to take stock of where we’re at in the timeline of this saga’s life before we embark on the next chapter.
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