“Open a Star Wars land they said… It will be fun, they said…”
As much as it may pain superfans to admit it, not everyone is a Star Wars fan and not everyone is excited about the impending arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This hugely anticipated land is already changing the face of Disney parks and will bring record breaking crowds, significant shifts in attendance patterns, and unique challenges for resorts and infrastructure. Despite the downsides, Star Wars fans can barely hedge their excitement to finally fly the Millennium Falcon, take on the First Order, and build their own lightsaber.
But what if your response to the arrival of Galaxy’s Edge is just, “Meh”?
Fans of Disney parks come in all different varieties. It’s understandable that Star Wars just isn’t some people’s thing—indeed, there are even longtime fans of the series that aren’t crazy about the new film canon. There is no doubt that non-Star Wars fans will still feel the effects of the opening of Galaxy’s Edge, even if they never step inside.
Still, is there any reason for non-Star Wars fans to care a flip about the arrival of Galaxy’s Edge, let alone to visit?
Crowds alone will likely be enough to convince many non-fans to skip it until some of the craziness dies down. However, if that happens, there are actually some good reasons for a non-Star Wars fan to consider visiting Galaxy’s Edge once it opens. Indeed, you may just end up enjoying yourself. Here’s a few reasons why.
1. You can still enjoy an immersive land without caring about the franchise
Image: Disney
When Disney announced the opening of The World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, many fans were seriously left scratching their heads. James Cameron’s Avatar was certainly a successful movie, but it hadn’t necessarily stirred the type of intense fandom that Harry Potter, Star Wars, or even Marvel enjoyed. It seemed like a waste of an expansion, an easy land to blow off.
Boy, were we wrong.
The World of Pandora has become one of the most successful park expansions at Walt Disney World, and that success stemmed from the land’s incredible immersive feel. I would venture to say that the majority of visitors to the World of Pandora, especially small children, probably don’t plaster their homes with Avatar collectibles or consider the film a favorite. However, lack of connection to the franchise doesn’t take anything away from the awe-inspiring atmosphere of the World of Pandora. You can know literally nothing about the film and still get swept away by the immersion. Indeed, it seems likely that the opening of the land probably stirred some people to watch the film who had never seen it before.
You can similarly consider The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. While Harry Potter has a huge and intense fanbase, like Star Wars, there are people who just aren’t into it as a series. I’ll be honest, I was one of those people and was very skeptical upon visiting the first time (particularly because I’d loved the original mythology and fantasy-themed Lost Continent section). However, even without being a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, I could appreciate the excellence put into the ride technology and the insanely immersive setting. It’s an extremely well-designed land, and just walking through it is an enjoyable experience for the imagination.
Image: Disney
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will almost certainly follow this suit—indeed, it’s looking like it may prove to be the most immersive major theme park expansion in history. It’s not going to be a museum or “studio” experience for Star Wars fans—you won’t even see signs inside labeling it as “Galaxy’s Edge”, most likely. You’ll enter the immersive environment of the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, where you basically become a roving character within the Star Wars mythos. The crowds are an intended part of the atmosphere in this busy trading hub, and you won’t need an in-depth knowledge of Star Wars lore to appreciate it.
Even if you don’t care about a franchise or its intellectual properties, when Disney creates an immersive land, you can’t help but get swept up in it. We can appreciate the land as something beautifully and intricately crafted, a living piece of art. Even without personal connection, non-Star Wars fans will still be able to let the stories of the Black Spire Outpost carry the imagination to new places never before explored when they visit Galaxy’s Edge.
2. Thrills are thrills—and these attractions will be Disney’s most ambitious ever
Image: Disney
One of the biggest highlights of the opening of The World of Pandora ended up being its signature attraction, Avatar: Flight of Passage. It is widely considered one of the best attractions at Walt Disney World. I know I am not alone among Disney park fans in saying that even without being a fan of Avatar, I would still jump on any opportunity to seize a Flight of Passage Fastpass if it popped up. It is a seriously amazing attraction with appeal across all ages and fan-levels.
In similar form, both Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Rise of the Resistance are proving to be the two most ambitious attractions Disney has ever attempted. How many Star Wars fans grew up dreaming of piloting The Millennium Falcon? Even without that fan-connection, how many of us simply used to play pretend? Any attraction that allows you to actively participate in flying a spaceship on a galactic quest will make for a broadly-pleasing thrill ride (whether you know who the great Hondo Ohnaka is or not). This attraction will even include a scoring element, similar to Test Track or Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin—only these scores will affect your visit to Galaxy’s Edge when it comes to character encounters. Pretty cool, even if you don’t care about Star Wars.
As for Rise of the Resistance, visitors will get to participate in an entirely different experience—an adventure of subversion against evil galactic oppressors. It’s the model of every hero’s journey. Adventure is a universal language for storytelling and thrill rides, and even visitors who just aren’t into Star Wars will be able to enjoy this insanely immersive attraction.
Think about it. Do you have to enjoy car design to love Test Track? Do you need to be a Twilight Zone fan to appreciate the Tower of Terror? Splash Mountain was based on a film so widely controversial that it isn’t even available for purchase, yet the ride is still a fan favorite. If you decide to brave the lines to experience Rise of the Resistance or Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, there’s no question that even non-Star Wars fans who enjoy thrills will still have a good time.
3. An opportunity to connect with friends and family who are fans
Image: Disney
If you’re planning to visit Disney parks solo or with a partner who also isn’t crazy about Star Wars, it’ll be pretty easy to just skip Galaxy’s Edge. Indeed, other sections of the parks may have delightfully short lines as everyone floods in to visit that galaxy far, far away. However, what are you supposed to do if you don’t care about Star Wars but a friend or family member you are planning to visit with does—especially if that special someone is your kid?
Don’t automatically brush off visiting Galaxy’s Edge if you find yourself in this scenario. Indeed, if you muster the fortitude to give Galaxy’s Edge a try, it may just prove a unique opportunity to connect with your friend, child, or family member in a new way.
One of the most easily-missed joys of visiting Disneyland or Walt Disney World is seeing your loved one’s reactions to something that delights them. Fans tend to geek out about things they love, and this can be highly entertaining and endearing. You might not care about Star Wars, but seeing your beloved supernerd’s face light up at seeing a shop full of ancient Sith and Jedi holocrons may just make the whole trip worth it.
I am not necessarily advocating for non-Star Wars fans to endure the kind of bonkers lines that will likely mark Galaxy’s Edge during its first year open— cross that bridge carefully. However, if you either are willing to endure opening year crowds for the sake of a loved one or wait until crowds die down, you really might be able to have some fun just by watching the sheer delight on your special Star Wars fan’s face as they see these stories come to life. These are moments that no simple attraction or contrived thrill can replicate.
4. Experiencing a story and culture that isn’t your own
Image: Disney
Even if you aren’t visiting Galaxy’s Edge with a die-hard Star Wars fan, there is something very interesting about stepping back and observing a fandom that isn’t your own. You can become a fly on the wall, learning about the lore, culture, and intricacies of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge from a lens that isn’t tainted by connection to the films. Indeed, it might even make for a unique experience fans wouldn’t understand.
Star Wars fans are a passionate group. The insane backlash surrounding The Last Jedi proved that. It was a film as polarizing as that silly dress that no one could identify the color of. Half of the fans were delighted with the film and the other half are still railing to see it stricken from the canon. Star Wars has become an interesting backbone in cinema and storytelling culture, and it’s easy to form attachments that stir deep emotions. When expectations related to those attachments go unmet, fans get frustrated.
Casual fans and even non-Star Wars fans will have a unique lens to enjoy Galaxy’s Edge through. You won’t arrive with any of that baggage. Instead, you’ll be able to view the land for what it is—a unique achievement of Imagineering and science fantasy storytelling that guests can experience hands on. You can explore the shops, taste the food, fiddle with the Play Disney app, and follow the stories told with fresh eyes. You may miss some of the Easter eggs that leave fans giggling for glee, but you will still be able to enjoy the depth designed into this remarkable theme park land, and perhaps even learn a little bit about a fan culture that you aren’t personally connected with.
Should non-Star Wars fans care about the arrival of Galaxy’s Edge? We think so. Visitors who avoid Galaxy’s Edge will still feel the effects of the opening of this hugely-anticipated land. More so, however, we think that the past success of the World of Pandora and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter proves that you don’t have to enjoy a franchise to enjoy an immersive land connected to it. For non-fans who give Galaxy’s Edge a try, you may just find yourself pleasantly surprised.
How do you feel about the opening of Galaxy’s Edge? Are you a fan or non-fan?
