Star Wars Launch Bay Headed to US Disney Theme Parks?

disney-ceo-bob-iger-hints-at-star-wars-theme-parksLast week we told you about the new developments coming out of Shanghai Disneyland. One of the planned Star Wars attractions heading over to Disney’s first park in mainland China will be the Star Wars Launch Bay. An exposition of sorts of all things Star Wars. The Launch Bay is expected to be part store, part museum, and part interactive experience with places to buy Star Wars merchandise, see Star Wars props and concepts, and interact with Star Wars characters.

 

 

Screamscape is now reporting that the Launch Bay may be making its way to the US well ahead of Shanghai Disneyland’s 2016 opening. The site is stating that the Launch Bay could be on track to replace the Innoventions (a similar expo-style attraction) pavilion in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland before The Force Awakens opens. While this would be a very quick turnaround for Disney Theme Park construction, it does stand to reason that Disney will want to increase US parks presence ahead of the release of the first Star Wars trilogy to aid in the mass marketing campaign expected this fall.

 

launch bay

Additional rumors have the Launch Bay possibly going into the recently shuttered Disney Animation Building in Disney Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando. While Hollywood studios has historically been a place where Disney likes to promote upcoming films and is the home of Walt Disney World’s only current Star Wars attraction as well as the site of their hugely popular Star Wars weekends, there are contradictory reports out there as to the future purpose of this location. The site WDWMagic, a Disney Theme Park fansite, is reporting that the Orlando location will become a “Blue Sky Cellar” an attraction that details upcoming rides and attractions coming to the theme park in the future.

 

With what is rumored for the US parks, the Blue Sky Cellar idea makes sense. It was recently reported that Disneyland has approved a $1 Billion budget for Disneyland in California aimed at increasing Star Wars and Marvel presence. And there are heavily credible and numerous rumors online that Walt Disney World has approved $3.5 Billion for future improvement, $2.8B of which is slated for a Hollywood Studios overhaul focusing on Star Wars and Pixar properties as well as massive infrastructure improvements (Anyone who has ever visited for Star Wars Weekends knows the issues this park has with massive crowds and parking).

 

park

At the same time, Disney does have a history of “cloning” rides from its other theme parks to save money on research, development, and design by building the same ride in multiple parks. So, if something is being built in Shanghai, there is every reason to believe it could find its way stateside. At this point, I would not be surprised at all to see Launch Bay in one or both parks before The Force Awakens hits theaters.

 

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18 thoughts on “Star Wars Launch Bay Headed to US Disney Theme Parks?

  • July 20, 2015 at 5:20 pm
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    “when i first met your father he was already a great pilot”

  • July 20, 2015 at 5:26 pm
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    yawn!!

  • July 20, 2015 at 5:33 pm
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    C’mon SW7N: we’re out here thirsty for more TFA-realated news/rumors/scoops/updates/spoilers and you’re posting articles that don’t really have much to do with TFA details-wise? C’mon bruh, we’re dying over here of lack of substantial TFA info. Stupid JJ and LFL/Disney and their over-the-top and ridiculous (yes, it’s gotten to that point right about now) sense of secrecy, with this BS “mystery box” and whatnot. The general public needs something of substance story-wise about this movies (i.e. opening crawl, synopsis, etc) besides hearing all this talk about practical effects ad nauseum (which has been beaten to death already); the general public couldn’t care less what effects are being used as long as the movie looks good and the story is good.

    P.S. Some of you may be content with not knowing details about the movie and its story but you have to realize that not everyone is like that, and some people are into wanting to know something about the story before the movie comes out (plus, let me me remind everyone that you’re on a site that is dedicated to providing the public with TFA-related news; plus, it’s counter-intuitive for those who are trying to avoid spoilers to be visiting this site in the first place for reasons as I’ve stated).

    • July 20, 2015 at 5:39 pm
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      What do you think, “Anonymous”? That we’re sitting on a shooting script or a work print of TFA and deliberately holding out on you guys?

      (Oy…)

      • July 20, 2015 at 5:49 pm
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        I am honestly surprised they haven’t released at the least a teaser poster yet. I know that the basic poster is out there. But I would’ve thought at Comic Con they would release it. But now I’m guessing it will be at D23.

      • July 20, 2015 at 7:20 pm
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        You’ve held plenty back. The leaked footage springs to mind.

      • July 20, 2015 at 8:43 pm
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        LOL well you or some other OP did post pictures of three of them at some point a while long ago.

    • July 20, 2015 at 5:50 pm
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      This complaint is getting really old. They report the best information there is. If you want massively unsubstantiated spoilers go to 4Chan or something.

      There is a reason this is regarded as the best Star Wars News site, because it is. There is not a constant flow of SW7 info grow up a bit. Plus, everyone has different interests in the GFFA, some are super into the parks. Let them have their news.

    • July 20, 2015 at 6:20 pm
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      Anon, I think your comment should be sent to Disney, not this site. I too agree, I am getting sick of hearing about practical effects too.

      With that said, I would really love if this site would post a few specuative pieces using the limited information we have.

    • July 20, 2015 at 6:49 pm
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      I seem to recall Viral Hide stating something in The Cantina about how you guys at SW7N have sources thhat have given credible information to you in the past that turns out to pan out when the info is officially released. So yeah, don’t tell me that you do not have details about TFA stored somewhere because the evidence of you guys having info on the details surrounding TFA is out there in some of the statements you have made in your articles and in The Cantina.

    • July 20, 2015 at 6:52 pm
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      i agree with everything u said. we need some kind of story plot or something by now. give us a damn poster. we are about 5 months away and we know absolutely nothing of the plot. thats kind of fucking stupid to keep teasing fans like that. i really hope episodes 8 and 9 dont do this.

  • July 20, 2015 at 5:56 pm
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    Never mind the great wall of china – now I have a reason to visit China!!

  • July 20, 2015 at 5:59 pm
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    Wow. Darth Vader is really starting to become a lovable character. Like Mickey Mouse.

  • July 20, 2015 at 6:38 pm
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    The artwork looks exactly like the inside of the building they’re currently refurbishing in tomorrowland at Disneyland. The upper floor is all marvel props and meet and greets. So hopefully they’ll be ready with the Star Wars stuff for the D 23 expo next month, looks like it will be great. I know they’re greatly expanding the size of Disneyland(they recently told the city hall that) with hopefully a new Star Wars/Marvel areas, but that will take years. With Lucasfilm and Disney headquarters in the state it will be a great place to make the originals to clone from around the world.

  • July 20, 2015 at 10:39 pm
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    As an annual pass holder for Disneyland, I certainly hope this is true! Innovations would be perfect for launch bay… Although I confess I was hoping for a new Star Wars themed land… I’ll take what I can get when it comes to Star Wars though!

  • July 21, 2015 at 12:53 am
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    People are not commenting on C-3PO! In the depot picture the shadows show two red C-3PO legs. This may just be reflections and they may be gold-metallic. There is something mysterious about the right arm, again? It is now the droid-like hand that held the burnt Darth Vader mask in trailer #2; meaning, it was C-3PO saying, “The Force is strong in my family … my father … sister … I have it!” Father was Anakin, who as a child built his memory parts. That means C-3PO is talking about a Darth Vader Droid the Emperor had him build sort of like K-3PO?

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