We already knew the (under construction) Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World would each have two big rides, one focusing on the Millennium Falcon and another putting you in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and First Order. Now we know we’ll get to pilot the Falcon ourselves, and we couldn’t be more excited.
The news comes from a recent Disney Parks presentation, where Disney Imagineer Scott Trowbridge gave the follow information:
Step aboard that iconic spaceship, the Millennium Falcon and take the controls yourself. You’re actually going to pilot this thing. You’re going to be the one in complete control, steering it through outer space, firing those lasers cannons, it’s all up to you so please be gentle with her.
(You can hear the quote, and see more images and info from not just that ride, but the other ride and more, in this video from Inside the Magic.)
So now the question is, how is this going to work? Disney already has similar rides, like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Toy Story Midway Mania, where you fire a weapon, but neither gives you control over its direction. This also has to be a set up that allows a lot of people can ride simultaneously (to keep the line moving) but is also user-friendly enough that people of all ages can have fun.
Putting all those things together feels three pieces of totally different puzzles. Thankfully, Disney pays people to solve problems like this and we don’t have to worry about it. We just have to wait to ride it. Or, more specifically, fly it.
[Inside the Magic via /Film]