Bob Iger Says Star Wars Land is Opening in June!
Everyone, MickeyBlog has huuuuuge news! We have a scoop on the biggest Disney news story of the year! Yes, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at a pair of Disney theme parks this year. We now have a better idea of when the first of them will debut. Read on to learn everything we just found out.
What We Know and How We Learned It
As the Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Robert Iger does a lot of press. Sometimes, he gets tripped up on a question and reveals too much. In other situations, he utilizes his tremendous media savvy to leak something that he disguises as an accident. I suspect that today’s news falls into the latter category.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
On January 4, 2019, Barron’s author Jack Hough published an interview with Iger. While the article is behind a paywall, the major takeaway from the piece centers around Star Wars Land. Iger answers a question so matter-of-factly that it doesn’t seem random or unintentional. Here’s the question that Hough asks:
“Do you still feel like you can bring more people through the parks, or is it more about growing ticket prices?”
Iger’s reply will make the hairs on your arm stand up:
“In some, you get more repeat visitation and increased length of stay because there’s more to do. You get more capacity. When Star Wars opens in Anaheim in June and in Florida later in the year, that’s adding capacity.”
Oh yes, the person in charge of Disney just revealed the month when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disneyland! Is it possible that he got ahead of himself and stated a date that Disney won’t meet? Sure, anything is possible. Let’s be realistic, though.
Robert Iger has just stated the opening month for Star Wars Land at Disneyland. How much trouble would his employees be in if they missed that deadline? And what are the odds that Iger would stick his neck out like that if he believed that the opening date was shaky?
Folks, Stars Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is coming to Disneyland in June. It seems like a slam dunk now. Otherwise, some people are getting fired.
What This Means for Disney Fans
Okay, let’s be clear about something. An opening month isn’t the same as an opening date. Google tells me that June has 30 days (I never learned that days-in-a-month rhyme), and most people aren’t going to book a 30-day vacation. We have jobs and lives that get in the way of that sort of perfection. So, this remark isn’t as helpful as it could be. Iger hasn’t locked Disney into a specific timeline for Galaxy’s Edge, just a general one.
Disney analysts had guessed June for Star Wars Land anyway. After all, Pixar Pier opened on June 23rd last year, and then Toy Story Land opened on June 30th. Those were the last two Saturdays in June of 2018. A similar timeline for Galaxy’s Edge would signal that either June 22nd or June 29th is the opening date for the cutting edge themed land.
There’s no rule saying that Disney has to debut the land on a Saturday, either. Realistically, we only have a general idea of the exact opening day for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Sneak Peak Just for You
Twitter user @sw_edge tweeted the following photos Friday evening which provide never before seen photos of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
** BREAKING PICTURES **
Picture # 1 From the Disney Cast member magazine… pic.twitter.com/BUVOmQDYz0
— SWGalaxysEdge (@sw_edge) January 4, 2019
** BREAKING PICTURES **
Picture # 2 From the Disney Cast member magazine… pic.twitter.com/FbfGoovQ8j
— SWGalaxysEdge (@sw_edge) January 4, 2019
** BREAKING PICTURES **
Picture # 3 From the Disney Cast member magazine… pic.twitter.com/dyDDjZdnhk
— SWGalaxysEdge (@sw_edge) January 4, 2019
What You Should Do Right Now
Okay, this part is a bit tricky. Were I betting a man, I’d wager that June 22nd is the most likely date followed by June 29th. If you booked a trip for one of those dates, only to be disappointed to discover that Star Wars Land isn’t open yet, I’d feel terrible. I’m not out to ruin anyone’s vacation. Instead, I want to offer the best suggestion that I can to assure you a quality trip to Disneyland.
My suggestion is that contact a representative at MickeyTravels to book a trip to Star Wars Land for the final days of June and the first few days of July. By taking this approach, you’re almost certain to have a reservation and admission tickets for one of the first few days of Star Wars Land. Since July 4th is a holiday in America, you also might have some vacation wiggle room with your job, spending fewer vacation days for your trip.
I cannot stress enough that you should book fast, though. Word spreads quickly in the social media era. When major news sources pick up on Iger’s “slip of the tongue,” even non-Disney fans will start booking trips to the Happiest Place on Earth. You could easily find yourself shut out of your dream trip to the opening month of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Thankfully, the pros at MickeyTravels are the best in the world at booking Disney vacations. Their service is free to you, and they’ll provide plenty of guidance on the best ways to guarantee yourself a hotel room and admission to Star Wars Land.
June just became the most exciting month on the 2019 Disney calendar! Act now so that you don’t miss out!
Credit for Photo in header: Barrons.com via Disney
