Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Bringing Changes to WDW and New Featurette!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is bringing some big changes to Walt Disney World Resort including a new 7 hour Star Wars guided tour, new updates to Star Wars Launch Bay and the return of the nighttime show, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on December 16.

Spaceship Earth at Epcot transformed into a giant Star Wars Death Star during a special Disney Parks Blog meet-up that included updates on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story inspired additions coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a surprise visit from one of the stars of the upcoming film – Mads Mikkelsen.

Star Wars fans and Disney Parks Blog readers experienced the once-in-a-lifetime transformation of Spaceship Earth at the park as well as online during the “Inside Disney Parks-LIVE” coverage of the event.

During the meet-up, Mads Mikkelsen – who plays Galen Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – made a surprise visit and joined everyone for a quick question-and-answer session. Mads talked about the character he’s playing and shared what it was like to be part of a Star Wars film.

Among the night’s announcements, Disney shared that AWR Troopers from the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios very soon. AWR (Advanced Weapons Research) Troopers are encased in specialized Stormtrooper armor with a dark, ominous gleam. They are the bodyguards and enforcers of Director Krennic, who holds a high status in the AWR division of the Empire. Guests will soon have a chance to spot these AWR Troopers in a new scene in the existing “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” daytime show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Launch Bay will soon be updated with new props from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, including items such as a Shoretrooper Blaster, Director Krennic’s Imperial Shuttle, a Death Star model, a U-wing gunship and more. Making-of footage will also be added to the the behind-the-scenes film in Launch Bay Theater. Similar updates can also be found at Star Wars Launch Bay in Disneyland park in California.

 A new Star Wars Guided Tour is in the works for Star Wars fans.  This seven-hour guided tour will be led by a Star Wars “all-in-the-know” tour guide that will include: a journey on Star Tours – The Adventures Continue; an opportunity to participate in Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple (for guests age 4-12); a guided exploration of Star Wars Launch Bay, dinner at a quick-service restaurant featuring Star Wars-themed items; the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party; fireworks viewing and more. 

The popular Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party will return. This includes Star Wars-themed cupcakes, cookies, brownies and a selection of savory snacks including cheese and flatbread and dip (as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages). The night ends with special VIP viewing for the night’s “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular.” 

Voyage changes are coming to Star Tours – The Adventures Continue starting in mid-December. The attraction will soon switch back to offer randomized beginnings (instead of starting each journey on the planet of Jakku) and final destinations.

Fan favorite nighttime show, “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular,” will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on December 16 and will join “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” as a second nightly fireworks spectacular at the park through December 31. 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016.

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is directed by Gareth Edwards and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, with Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker. Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are producing, with John Knoll and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The story is by John Knoll and Gary Whitta, and the screenplay is by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy.  “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016. 

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ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY arrives in theaters everywhere on December 16th In RealD 3D and IMAX 3D!