Star Wars Nite at Disneyland Celebrates the Prequel Period as Revenge of the Sith Turns 20

This 12 months, Star Wars Nite on the Disneyland Resort expanded its run with a number of dates of the favored, individually ticketed occasion geared towards fans of a galaxy far, far away. And let me inform you, I’m so glad they did this to satisfy the demand from earlier years.

Final spring, the restricted occasion felt packed to capability. It was arduous to do a lot as content material creators and influencers flocked to get the primary seems at character interactions and meals—to the purpose the place it was arduous for normal park-goers (together with a really pregnant me on the time, and the good friend who’d invited me alongside) to do something. Even with four-ish hours to do it in, if you simply needed to strive the Star Wars-themed food or meet characters from the movies not normally obtainable throughout common park hours, it felt inconceivable. I solely obtained to strive one ration of the particular meals objects hidden deep in Tomorrowland that was not that nice, and waited in a very lengthy line to satisfy an Ewok. 

This 12 months, Star Wars Nite expanded to final a number of weeks, taking place on choose nights between April 8 and Could 6. Disneyland invited io9 to attend one of many nights and we knew to select one thing smack within the center to keep away from the frenzy of Disney influencers competing to their firsts in. It was a a lot better expertise than earlier than and way more accessible.

The general expertise was enhanced by permitting Star Wars followers extra alternatives to collect over the course of the park’s “Season of the Pressure” celebration (March 28-Could 11), and get to expertise shorter wait occasions for all of the choices. It was such an satisfying expertise to have the ability to do extra and spend a night with out the kiddo—my eight-month-old just isn’t prepared for late park nights—and get a redo with my good friend.

It was a lot simpler to get meals and check out various things for a Star Wars meals crawl. I began out with my new favourite, the Fried Falumpaset cheese skewer, which is a Korean scorching dog-inspired tacky deal with (no meat) that comes with a incredible mustard cheese sauce. Whereas it’s obtainable in the course of the day too at Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge, it’s an merchandise we hope stays a staple year-round.

Earlier than the evening exclusives grew to become obtainable I additionally obtained the Fried Hen Baos for a small chew to carry me over earlier than attempting the occasion’s specialty noms. First up was the brand new honey chipotle-glazed Kalbi Ribs, which had been completely charred on the floor and tender like Anakin’s face on the lava shores of Mustafar. It was served with with a facet of steamed broccoli, purple cabbage, and blue rice. I’d positively have this once more as a result of it’s arduous to seek out themed meals that aren’t predominately carb loaded.

Earlier than wandering off for rides and character strains, I used to be intrigued by the obscure description of Cafe Orleans’ themed choices as “small bites and drinks.” It was a chilly blustery evening as we made our approach to New Orleans Sq. because the candy steel sounds of the Imperial March performed from the stage on the Rivers of America by a canopy band. Sure, they performed  Billy Idol’s “Insurgent Yell” too, and what? It was simple to get into the vibes. Once we obtained to Cafe Orleans, the Star Wars Menu had an merchandise that appeared to essentially be what the evening wanted for dessert: the sipping chocolate.

Initially I used to be going to have the Galactic Princess Sundae however I didn’t need to really feel Hoth-level chilly so this new choice was excellent and such a hidden gem. It was completely wealthy and heat, and got here with candy biscuits and a marshmallow that ought to have been Insurgent emblem or Yoda formed. It made me want it had been a part of a Star Wars themed excessive (republic) tea as a result of that will have been so enjoyable to decorate up for. Disneyland already had the makings of it, with a Coruscanti salad with a Hawk-bat egg and the Galactic Republic flatbread.

There was additionally a boozy choice, the Insurgent Refresher— it might be liquid braveness to maintain you heat and tackle the Empire, however you would possibly have to go to the refresher quickly after. Eating at Cafe Orleans for his or her themed heat drinks and teas was such a pleasant approach to not really feel such as you needed to go-go-go, and it had an awesome vantage level to take heed to the sounds of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes enjoying dwell on the river.

This 12 months, the environment was a lot simpler to take pleasure in. The DJ events had been enjoyable to roam round as we made our approach to numerous meet and greets. The strains had been so quick for all of the Star Wars rides it made it actually definitely worth the admission for the night occasion; in the course of the day with common park company they only get so crowded.

The one factor that was actually lacking was the usage of the theater subsequent to Hyperspace Mountain, which may have had an Andor season two preview going. However there was a lot to do together with costume parades, “A Gathering of the Resistance” with Rey to unite in lightsaber igniting, and in addition a lightsaber how-to on the Fantasyland Theater.

Merchandise was nonetheless just a little arduous to come back by as Star Wars Nite exclusives ran out shortly in sizing, and the beforehand teased distant managed Mouse Droid nonetheless hasn’t been launched.

The spotlight of the evening was assembly Queen Padmé Amidala. The road final 12 months didn’t enable for stopping for a pose, you needed to seize a selfie and hold shifting. It was higher facilitated this time and we really obtained photos with (and of) the unbelievable face actress who was a useless ringer for Natalie Portman. The one bummer was once we met Padmé, Anakin was not out to satisfy people, that means I missed him for the second 12 months in a row. They’ve an awesome Jedi face character for him we’ve seen on-line. Ah, nicely subsequent time!

The Skywalkers had such an awesome presence at Star Wars Nite which is sensible as this 12 months marks the twentieth anniversary of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The movie marking the tip of the prequel period has seen a lot love from followers who grew up on it and the power of the Y2K gen was felt all through the evening. There was a lot pleasure when Darth Maul confirmed up along with his double-edge mild saber and even Sheev Palpatine by some means returned.

It was nonetheless the attractive re-telling of these three movies by means of Shadows of Reminiscence: A Skywalker Saga by means of projection lights and narration by the lore weaver which capped off the evening completely at Galaxy’s Edge. Whereas there weren’t too many new-for-2025 sights, it was an awesome change of tempo to have the ability to lastly do much more of what’s been provided and hoping that the following slate of occasions presents extra thrilling updates and characters from Andor, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. As a result of if the prequels are any indication, followers of Star Wars adore it all and outnumber the loud offended followers who gatekeep the content material to simply the unique movies.

For extra info on Disneyland After Darkish: Star Wars Nite and tickets go to here.

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