Five changes that could improve 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge'

It’s been said before, but one thing missing the most from Galaxy’s Edge is any kinetic energy. It’s the world’s most beautiful and immersive Star Wars standing set, but it has no life. It feels frozen, like a living screenshot. When you walk into Fantasyland, you immediately see the King Arthur Carousel spinning. When you stroll into New Orleans Square, the Mark Twain glides by. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge needs something like that. It might be time to bring back the roaming Bantha ride that Imagineering originally planned, but later scrapped for budget reasons. Or, come up with something entirely new. But it needs something moving to give the land a sense of energy.

2. Aliens in Oga’s Cantina 

What do we think of when we think of the cantina from Star Wars? Aliens. Lots of aliens. Sadly, when you walk into Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge, you mostly just see other park guests getting a tasty beverage. While Oga’s can’t be as packed as the cantina from A New Hope (or any other Star Wars movie), there should always be at least one or two, hanging out at the bar, asking for their drink of choice. And probably evading a bounty on their heads. It creates the proper Star Wars atmosphere and makes the cantina really feel like THE cantina.

3. Characters From Across the Star Wars Saga, Not Just the OT

It’s fantastic that more original trilogy characters are coming to Galaxy’s Edge. It’s long, long overdue. But there really should be more. At Disneyland After Dark Star Wars nights, we see characters from across the saga, including Anakin, Padme, the Emperor, Darth Maul, along with Jawas and Ewoks. All of those characters need to be in Galaxy’s Edge on the regular, not hoarded away until special events that come at extra cost. Even if the budget doesn’t allow them to all be there at once. And don’t get rid of Rey and Kylo Ren. Sorry haters, those characters have their own intense fandom that shouldn’t be ignored. And DSNY Newscast suggested the new Frozen Olaf animatronic could be the basis for a Yoda one. How cool would that be?

4. The Kalakori Club

Disney originally announced the Kalakori Club as a multi-level sit-down restaurant, a “hidden” speakeasy eatery operated by a Twi’Lek performer. It would have featured live alien entertainment and elaborate décor, including a massive aquarium with an alien underwater creature. But for budgetary reasons, Disney stopped development on it. However, the physical space for this unrealized club remains, near Oga’s Cantina. Either as the Kalakori Club (or maybe a Hutt-owned location), this needs to be realized where it was always supposed to go.

5. Star Tours Moved to Galaxy’s Edge

This one might be the most difficult to pull off, but we know there’s space in Galaxy’s Edge siloed off for future expansion. When Tomorrowland gets its eventual (and much-needed) revamp one day at Disneyland, it might be time to bring an updated Star Tours over to Galaxy’s Edge. The Starspeeder 1000 had been a staple of Disneyland ever since 1987, and people love it. And since 2011, it’s been revamped regularly, adding new destinations from new Star Wars movies and shows. It’s time to not only update it, but give it a new home in Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. And eventually, in Walt Disney World as well.

Hopefully, the recently announced changes to Galaxy’s Edge are just beginning. No single land in the Disney theme parks has as much potential as Galaxy’s Edge. Here’s hoping Disney corporate opens their wallets and allows Imagineering to run wild.