Star Wars Launch Bay opened today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and our own Nick LoCicero was there to bring us photos of this brand new experience aiming to fill the gaps in Star Wars fun in the park until the Star Wars themed land opens later this decade:

Where the Magic of Disney Animation once stood, you’ll now find Star Wars Launch Bay

The line to get in got pretty long later in the day, but the meet and greet lines inside were also over an hour all day

The queue features a large mural and concept art from the seven existing episodes and Rebels

A map of the inside

What was the Mushu show is now used to show a short film about the Saga which is shown on a very small TV at Launch Bay in California

 

Guests will find multiple galleries inside featuring models, movie props, and replicas

An actual pod from Episode I on display

 

This speeder bike is also an actual movie prop

Guests will find two meet and greets inside, Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Both will eventually have FastPass+ offered.

Guests can answer trivia while they wait

There is also a roomed themed to a cantina

Not functioning though…

Jawas may pass through here from time to time

 

The preview gallery comes towards the end of the experience

Guests can play Disney Infinity in the gaming area

There are also some mobile games you can play

At the exit you’ll find the store, Launch Bay Cargo

You can enter this without waiting in the long line

 

D-Tech on Demand phone cases exclusive to Launch Bay are available here

 

As are exclusive create-your-own MagicBands that can feature your name in English or Aurebesh

At the end of the day, Launch Bay oofers a short film, two galleries, two meet and greets, some small diversions, and a shop. While this isn’t anything earth-shattering, I think it is at least equal to the final version of the Magic of Disney Animation it replaced. A permanent Star Wars exposition space and character meet and greets is an awesome idea and I’m sure it will remain popular until the opening of the Star Wars themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Tom Corless