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 onerous to do a lot as content material creators and influencers flocked to get the primary seems to be at character interactions and meals—to the purpose the place it was onerous for normal park-goers (together with a really pregnant me on the time, and the pal who’d invited me alongside) to do something. Even with four-ish hours to do it in, if you simply wished to attempt the Star Wars-themed food or meet characters from the movies not normally obtainable throughout common park hours, it felt inconceivable. I solely received to attempt one ration of the particular meals gadgets hidden deep in Tomorrowland that was not that nice, and waited in a extremely lengthy line to satisfy an Ewok. 

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

The general expertise was enhanced by permitting Star Wars followers extra alternatives to assemble over the course of the park’s “Season of the Drive” celebration (March 28-Might 11), and get to expertise shorter wait occasions for all of the choices. It was such an gratifying 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 pal.

It was a lot simpler to get meals and take a look at 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 improbable mustard cheese sauce. Whereas it’s obtainable throughout the day too at Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge, it’s an merchandise we hope stays a staple year-round.

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

Earlier than wandering off for rides and character traces, I used to be intrigued by the obscure description of Cafe Orleans’ themed choices as “small bites and drinks.” It was a chilly blustery night time as we made our option to New Orleans Sq. because the candy metallic 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 you recognize what? It was straightforward to get into the vibes. Once we received to Cafe Orleans, the Star Wars Menu had an merchandise that appeared to essentially be what the night time wanted for dessert: the sipping chocolate.

Initially I used to be going to have the Galactic Princess Sundae however I didn’t wish to really feel Hoth-level chilly so this new choice was good 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 may 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 may very well 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 option to not really feel such as you needed to go-go-go, and it had an amazing vantage level to hearken to the sounds of Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes enjoying dwell on the river.

This 12 months, the ambiance was a lot simpler to delight in. The DJ events have been enjoyable to roam round as we made our option to numerous meet and greets. The traces have been so quick for all of the Star Wars rides it made it actually definitely worth the admission for the night occasion; throughout the day with common park visitors they only get so crowded.

The one factor that was actually lacking was the usage of the theater subsequent to Hyperspace Mountain, which might 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 likewise a lightsaber how-to on the Fantasyland Theater.

Merchandise was nonetheless slightly onerous to return 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 night time 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 transferring. It was higher facilitated this time and we really received footage with (and of) the unimaginable face actress who was a useless ringer for Natalie Portman. The one bummer was once we met Padmé, Anakin was not out to satisfy of us, that means I missed him for the second 12 months in a row. They’ve an amazing Jedi face character for him we’ve seen on-line. Ah, effectively subsequent time!

The Skywalkers had such an amazing presence at Star Wars Nite which is smart 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 night time. There was a lot pleasure when Darth Maul confirmed up together with his double-edge mild saber and even Sheev Palpatine in some way returned.

It was nonetheless the gorgeous re-telling of these three movies by Shadows of Reminiscence: A Skywalker Saga by projection lights and narration by the lore weaver which capped off the night time completely at Galaxy’s Edge. Whereas there weren’t too many new-for-2025 sights, it was an amazing change of tempo to have the ability to lastly do much more of what’s been provided and hoping that the subsequent slate of occasions affords 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 indignant followers who gatekeep the content material to only the unique movies.

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

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