The dollar amounts are eye-popping, even for a project as big as Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
- $55.7 million for a Millennium Falcon flight simulator ride
- $12.5 million for a Cantina restaurant and tavern serving alien cocktails
- $350,000 for food freighter cargo spaceship sitting atop a quick-serve restaurant
It’s rare to see dollar amounts attached to new Disneyland additions – and the largest single expansion in the history of the Anaheim theme park has a lot of digits after that dollar sign.
Building permits submitted by Disney to the city of Anaheim tally up tens of millions of dollars spent on the new 14-acre themed land set to debut at Disneyland in summer 2019. The city documents also offer a sneak peek at what Disney has planned for the attractions, shops and restaurants in the smuggler’s port on the remote reaches of a galaxy far, far away.
The cost of Star Wars Galaxys Edge
Contractors set the valuation of the ongoing work at Disneyland’s Star Wars themed land at more than $185 million, according to Anaheim building permits. The entire Galaxy’s Edge project in Anaheim is estimated to cost in the region of $1 billion.
See also: Star Wars land: what to expect when Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland and Disney World
While building permits issued incrementally throughout the course of construction can’t provide a complete picture of the massive project, they do offer an intriguing glimpse at the scope of the work going on inside the new Star Wars land. Cost estimates made by contractors typically don’t include late changes or furnishings.
From a storytelling standpoint, the new themed land will be set in the Black Spire Outpost on the remote planet of Batuu, located on the outer rim of the Star Wars galaxy.
Let’s take a closer look at the costs of constructing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and what the Anaheim building permits reveal about the new themed land.
Restaurant and Merchandise: $18.4 million
The building permits call for a 15,550-square-foot restaurant with a 1,390-square-foot outdoor dining area. A $350,000 prefabricated cargo ship would be anchored to the roof of the building.
That description sounds like the counter-service restaurant planned for Docking Bay 7. A weathered and battle-damaged food freighter cargo ship was recently placed atop the building.
The permits also describe a 12,340-square-foot merchandise area covered by sunshades. The area would include a pre-fabricated themed apartment.
That description could pertain to the planned Merchant Row marketplace (or another shopping district known as Smuggler’s Alley).
The retail shops and food stands in the street market will sell story-specific merchandise and otherworldly delicacies. Concept art shows merchants selling futuristic pots, rugs, fruits and grilled foods. They do so from small shops beneath red and orange canopies strung between sandstone buildings.
Retail: $14.3 million
The permits describe a 25,416-square-foot retail area covered by canopies and awnings. The area would include three prefabricated themed apartments and extensive rock work.
That description could pertain to Smuggler’s Alley (or possibly Merchant Row).
The building permits call for an “overhead conveyor droid prop,” a possible location for the droid mechanic workshop planned for the land.
The documents also suggest an as-yet-unannounced “Attraction #3” is planned for this area of the themed land.
Attraction #2: $55.7 million
The city permits describe a 115,000-square-foot amusement building. It houses “Attraction #2.” The exterior of the two-story building would include a tower and antennas. The attraction interior would feature at least 20 scenes, with several “A/B scenes” suggesting multiple storylines. Scene 3 calls for a prefabricated “hero engine.”
The plans also call for the installation of a $4.4 million “iconic theme prop” in front of the attraction.
All those factors suggest that “Attraction #2” could be the Millennium Falcon flight simulator ride, codenamed “Big Bird.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssgGCjpFP4Q
Aerial images show the distinctive wireframe outline of the Star Wars galaxy’s most iconic ship emerging amid continuing construction at Disneyland.
The Millennium Falcon ride at Galaxy’s Edge will put riders in the cockpit of the fastest ship in the galaxy. They will battle Imperial tie fighters during a mission to bring back a pile of loot to a vengeful space pirate.
Attraction #1: $77.9 million
The city permits describe a 165,000-square-foot amusement building housing “Attraction #1.” The two-story attraction interior would feature at least 18 scenes. Exterior scenic elements would feature towers and antenna arrays.
The plans also call for a prefabricated “Escape Pod” prop vehicle.
All those factors suggest that “Attraction #1” could be the Battle Escape dark ride, codenamed “Alcatraz.”
The Battle Escape dark ride will put riders in the middle of a battle in a “race against time” to aid the Resistance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSxE-b2YDAQ
Restaurant and Shop: $12.5 million
The building permits describe a 16,535-square-foot restaurant with a 720-square-foot merchandise area. A bridge connecting the restaurant to a nearby building would be used by employees only.
The description suggests the building could house the Cantina table-service restaurant and bar.
The new Star Wars themed land will include an upscale “dinner club” and a local tavern for the “truly adventurous” where droids serve cocktails to customers.
Interactive Area: $2.4 million
The building permits describe a 2,950-square-foot interactive back-of-house area with dressing rooms and break rooms. The exterior would feature a covered queue area, freestanding rockwork structures and decorative faux tanks, generators and evaporators. A bridge connecting to a nearby building would be used by employees only.
That description suggests a meet-and-greet area where visitors could interact with costumed characters from the Star Wars universe.
Disney will be putting a heavy emphasis on storytelling and character interaction in the Galaxy’s Edge themed land. The new land will feature walk-around characters and creatures. They will interact with visitors as part of a continually-developing story line that evolves and progresses throughout the day.
