LOS ANGELES—Disney will ban smoking, vaping and large strollers at its theme parks in California and Florida starting on May 1, the company said on March 28.
The restrictions are designed in part to help deal with the large crowds expected to flock later this year to new “Star Wars”-themed attractions at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Disney said in a blog post that it would remove designated smoking areas at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, water parks, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida and the Downtown Disney shopping district in California.
Smoking areas will be available outside park entrances and in Disney hotels, the company said.
Stroller size will be limited to 31 inches wide and 52 inches long, and no stroller wagons will be permitted. Disney said many strollers on the market, including many double jogging strollers, fit these specifications.
“These updates are intended to provide a more enjoyable experience for everyone who visits by, among other things, easing guest flow and reducing congestion,” Disney said.
Disney also banned loose ice, often brought in coolers to chill beverages, and dry ice to help speed bag checks at entrances. Reusable ice packs are allowed, and visitors can ask for free ice at food and beverage stands, the company said.
The 14-acre (5.67-hectare) “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” sections will open May 31 at Disneyland and Aug. 29 at Walt Disney World.
Star Wars Theme Park
Galaxy’s Edge is a new 14-acre land at the Disney theme parks, featuring rides and experiences that thrust visitors into the world of the recent “Star Wars” trilogy and the fight between the Resistance and the evil First Order. The marquee attraction is a massive replica of the Millennium Falcon where guests can roam the ship’s halls and engage in a dogfight with TIE Fighters.Guests will also be able to build their own personal droids, light sabers and feast on “Star Wars”-appropriate food and drink.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Selfie opportunities will be abundant inside and out of the “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” The spaceship is the exact replica of the ship from the films, measuring more than 100 feet long.Inside the cockpit, a team of six people operate the spacecraft during an interactive experience that, just like the movies, that will get a little bumpy. An encounter with First Order fighters put guests in the role of pilots, gunners or flight engineers to ensure their mission is completed.
While others wait their turn, they will walk the halls of the Falcon or hangout in the area where R2-D2 played a round of the holographic chess-like game called Dejarik against Chewbacca in the original film.
Rise of the Resistance
This is where it gets real. On a full-size starship, guests play as new Resistance recruits and go on a journey. A hologram image of Rey will appear with a message before guests board their ship and take off from Batuu and head into the orbit.But the starship runs into some trouble: It’s intercepted by a nearby Star Destroyer. This sets up a climactic battle against military members of the First Order, who will probably give you a piece of their mind.
“They’ll bark at you,” Larena said. “They might say ’Move along, move along. You’re going into detention.”
Resistance guests will be thrown into a detention cell where they could run up against Kylo Ren.
Savi’s Workshop
Even though Skywalker, Vader and Yoda won’t show up in “Galaxy’s Edge,” their lightsabers will. Guests will be able to purchase their popular weapon or hand-build their own. Bring plenty of credits: the price for the hilt is around $109 and the blade costs $49 depending on the type.Droid Depot
Who doesn’t want their own personal R2 unit?Guests—for an undisclosed cost—can either purchase a pre-built droid or build one in the colors of their choosing by picking pieces off a conveyor belt.
Taste of Star Wars
There’s no such thing as chicken in “Galaxy’s Edge.” That’s Tip Yip, and the cornbread that you might eat with it is blue, gravy is green and cauliflower is orange.Oga’s Cantina
While talkative DJ R-3X spins music, bartenders pour beverages.The cantina will be the first location to serve alcohol to the general public in Disneyland’s 60-plus year history. It’s the place to come and unwind, but officials say it’s also known to have some of the most disreputable characters in the galaxy.
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