This week we’re gonna’ Go Rogue, get a shave and send a fan favorite into the Force. Prepare to make the jump on my mark…

 

Hyperspace Mountain Makes Its Last Jump

 

Goodbye Hyperspace Road…
Sung to the tune of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. Go ahead…do it. It’s been stuck in my head all week. See if it sticks in yours.

This Labor Day marks the end of the incredibly popular Hyperspace Mountain. The Star Wars overlay was introduced last November as a part of the Season Of The Force to celebrate Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The attraction has been a rope drop destination from the beginning and has commanded the longest wait times at Disneyland. As we say goodbye this weekend, let’s take one last trip.

Tomorrowland just prior to rope drop.
Tomorrowland just prior to rope drop.
And then a few minutes later, everyone is at Hyperspace Mountain.
And then a few minutes later, everyone is at Hyperspace Mountain.
The classic ride was renamed for the Star Wars overlay.
The classic ride was renamed for the Star Wars overlay.
Next week this will be Ghost Galaxy.
Next week this will be Ghost Galaxy.
Waiting in the que, Admiral Akbar gives a quick mission briefing.
Waiting in the que, Admiral Akbar gives a quick mission briefing.

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Briefings continue as you wait to board.
Briefings continue as you wait to board.

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And then it’s off on the mission.
And then it’s off on the mission.
Does Tomorrowland reclaim Space Mountain in November? Or does the Season of the Force return.?
Does Tomorrowland reclaim Space Mountain in November? Or does the Season of the Force return.?

 

Mark Hamill Tweets And Shaves

Luke Skywalker cut his Jedi beard off this week in a video on his twitter page.

 

Included in his tweet was: #ByeByeBeard (at least til #EpisodeIX). Huh? Does that mean Luke will live to see another episode? Or is this a misdirect? What do you think?

 

Limited Edition 3D Glasses

 

Rogue 1 3D Glasses

Want to look especially cool in your 3D glasses when you see Rouge One? Select theaters will offer Limited Edition optics when the movie opens this December.

 

Go Rogue Superfan Films

 

The new toy line for Rouge One: A Star Wars Story was introduced this week via the first in a series of fan-made films featuring the toys in stop-motion animation.

As part of a competition in collaboration with creative network Tongal, a team was assembled to write, direct and produce original, fan-made stop-motion shorts starring key toys from the new line to kick off a global UGC contest that asks fans to share their own “Rogue Stories.”

The global contest, which kicks off September 30, invites fans to share their own short stories or skits set in a galaxy far, far away… Winning entries from around the globe will be chosen by a panel including “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” director Gareth Edwards. Beginning September 30, teen and adult fans can enter the Go Rogue contest on StarWars.com/GoRogue. In addition to the global contest on starwars.com, in the U.S. and parts of Canada, kids 8-12 can participate on Disney.com/MyRogueStory. Winners will be invited to Lucasfilm in San Francisco to attend a screening of “Rogue One,” and see their short story on the big screen.

“These fan-created shorts are a tribute to the incredible content that the Star Wars community posts online every day. The Go Rogue campaign was designed with Star Wars fans in mind – we want them to be front and center in the run up to ‘Rogue One’ by imagining and creating their own Rogue Stories.”
– Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media

This week’s Fab News has a bunch of behind the scenes photos from the project as well as closer look at the toys. Check it out here.

 

Rogue Friday?

 

September 30 is also the release date for the new line of toys based on Rogue One. Expect a lot of marketing over the next month in anticipation of the event that was called “Force Friday” last year. Can we expect “Rogue Friday” this year? This merchandise event may also give us a peek at new characters and situations we can expect to see in the new movie. Here’s one that caught my eye:

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Is this the same flying Stormtrooper that we see in the Darth Vader sequence in “Star Tours”? This variation hasn’t been seen anywhere else. Will Rogue One have the Stormtroopers take flight? Hmmmm….

 

New Rogue One Character

 

This week’s The Star Wars Show introduced us to a new character that will appear in Rogue One. He/she/it is C2-B5, an Imperial Astromech droid that looks just like R2-D2 except for his nefarious paint job.

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The background on this character was intentionally vague. Imperial Droids aren’t treated as well as Rebel droids and are subject to frequent memory wipes to insure loyalty. His significance remains to be seen. But don’t be surprised if he shows up books, comics or games at some point.

 

Star Wars Land Construction

 

In the dirt, rebar and concrete place we call Star Wars Land, the area around the re-formed Rivers Of America was the big focus this week. The walls separating the old frontier from a galaxy far, far away continued to sprout up as new activity was seen around the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Let’s start in the north end of the construction zone.

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Looks like the Dirt Start got a little off the top this week.
Looks like the Dirt Start got a little off the top this week.
The lagging between the I-beams increased as well.
The lagging between the I-beams increased as well.
From Big Thunder Mountain, a view of the north I-beams.
From Big Thunder Mountain, a view of the north I-beams.

 

Next to that, the area where the retaining wall behind Fantasyland Theater and the entrance tunnel from Thunder Mountain moved along. With what looks like the train crossing over the top of the SWL entrance here, I wonder if the Disneyland Rail Road will be able to see into the area.

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It looks like this archway will be the entrance from Fantasyland and Frontierland, with the DLRR going over the top.
It looks like this archway will be the entrance from Fantasyland and Frontierland, with the DLRR going over the top.

 

Moving on to the area behind Big Thunder Mountain, the walls that will separate SWL from the River are going up fast.

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From BTM, the walls are clearly visible as you exit the ride.
From BTM, the walls are clearly visible as you exit the ride.
This maze will house the Fantasmic backstage.
This maze will house the Fantasmic backstage.
Through a knot hole, we see where Big Thunder Ranch used to be.
Through a knot hole, we see where Big Thunder Ranch used to be.
And also from BTM, the walls are stretching toward Critter Country.
And also from BTM, the walls are stretching toward Critter Country.

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Back on the SWL side, the walls are starting to frame the turn in ROA.

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Meanwhile, by the Hungry Bear Restaurant, the rebar is starting to rise from the edge of the riverbed while the old stairs by the restrooms are cleared for the new walkway to SWL.

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And by the Canoes, a bridge has been constructed to Tom Sawyer’s Island.

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On the west side of the site, work on the backstage access road and show building excavation is humming along.

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And Finally…

That’s it for this week’s Star Wars News. See you next week…

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