8. New options for Walt Disney World transportation

Image: Disney

Galaxy’s Edge is also changing the landscape of Walt Disney World transportation. Getting around in the Most Magical Place on Earth has traditionally stayed mostly the same the last two decades: monorails, busses, and friendship boats. With an expansion as massive as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney has finally set to work improving their transportation infrastructure to handle the high guest demand.

Both Disney’s friendship boats and the bus stations for Disney’s Hollywood Studios have seen improvement and renovations so far. The resort’s Minnie Van ridesharing service has expanded as well, but the biggest change, however, is the arrival of Disney’s Skyliner gondola service. These incredibly-Disney-appropriate gondolas will provide new guest transportation routes between Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Epcot, and finally Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Skyliner will also connect to Disney’s new Riviera resort, one of several expansions across the property to meet higher guest capacities. It looks like the Skyliner will be a crucial mode of transportation for fans looking to visit Galaxy’s Edge.

9. The changes won’t be limited to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Image: The VOID

It’s one thing for shifts to take place in and around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However, we are convinced the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is going to change Walt Disney World as a whole. In Disney Springs, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire slipped in under the radar as what might be the best attraction at Walt Disney World pre-Galaxy’s Edge. The hyper-reality adventure has been so successful, other VOID experiences for films like Wreck It Ralph are on the way, giving guests and locals new reasons for visiting Disney Springs.

Disney has always hosted Star Wars related events, but the buzz of Galaxy’s Edge could have a very similar effect to Harry Potter’s influence at Universal—new Star Wars-related shops and experiences well beyond Hollywood Studios, like special events, tours, and upcharge experiences will almost certainly multiply. Star Wars movie premieres also might trigger special activities throughout Walt Disney World.

Most of all, increased attendance from the Galaxy’s Edge hype will definitely factor into the Walt Disney World experience, with both positive and negative effects. It’s already difficult enough to pin down Disney’s ever-changing off-season these days. The huge influx of guests hoping to check out Galaxy’s Edge will definitely affect that, prompting crowd shifts in other parks. The positive side is that strong attendance means a healthy budget for Disney, which will help development throughout the resort.

10. A franchise with near-endless potential

Image: Disney

There have been plenty of fears that Star Wars as a franchise will burn itself out far too soon. Disney certainly started out with an enthusiastic schedule of films and television programs slated for what felt like the next century. Some of that momentum slowed with the mixed success of films like Solo: A Star Wars Story and issues with small but outspoken pockets of toxic fandom.

However, anyone who is familiar with the Star Wars Expanded Universe—the books, comics, video games, and cartoons that came well before the Disney deal-- will know that there is endless potential where this galaxy far, far away could go. Tales of the Old Republic are one prime area where the Star Wars franchise could spread its wings to new territory and set off a whole new blaze of fandom. The years between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens are ripe for fresh storytelling as well, and more and more, Disney has started pulling beloved characters and stories from the original expanded universe and adapting them to their new canon. Any new element of the Star Wars franchise booming with success could affect future expansions and attractions at Galaxy’s Edge. The stars are the limit, and we are certain Galaxy’s Edge will affect the course of Walt Disney World for many long years to come.

What part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are you looking the most forward to?