On Galactic Starcruiser, the Crew Is More Important Than You Think

Recently we acquired an opportunity to talk with Disney Imagineer Alex Lee, an leisure producer for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. In the primary a part of io9’s interview, performed over video chat, Lee shared how friends have been influencing the continuing evolution of Walt Disney World’s first totally immersive expertise. In the second half, he defined the way it’s all because of the arduous work of the crew inside guiding friends—and people behind the scenes making the magic.

As we’ve coated beforehand, the two-day “cruise” invitations Star Wars followers to take part of their personal journey in a galaxy far, far-off, an expertise that’s crammed with methods for friends to turn into part of the story. As you may think, it takes an unlimited quantity of coordination between all these secret missions, lightsaber coaching courses, musical performances, and even the meals served aboard the Halcyon, all creatively introduced into the expertise from an array of sources. “It’s a diversification of stories, but also a diversification of how I’m building my own team of designers, vendors, and partners who haven’t typically worked in a theme park environment but do great work,” Lee mentioned. “We’re able to help clear some of those boundaries for them and allow them to have a chance of executing work and coming into this franchise. A lot of them come from marginalized communities or [are] owned by vendors of color.”

As reactions to Galactic Starcruiser proceed to pour out on social media, the impact the solid has had on guests is seen not solely in response movies but additionally fan artwork and writing. “I am honestly enthralled by the response to Gaya and her crew,” Lee mentioned, referring to the music performer who headlines aboard the Halcyon. She’s a Twi’lek pop star, however her position is extra than simply her live performance look—she’s an authentic character for the expertise, with a storyline that has resonated with Galactic Starcruiser guests.

Lee identified it’s partly because of the dedication from the assembled expertise—and partly because of the likelihood Lucasfilm took to convey the entire thing to life as sort of a residing play contained in the Star Wars universe. “I think what we presented to Lucasfilm to collaborate and bring on the artists that we did felt like such a risk, because it’s not what has been identified in Star Wars mainstream media, but we were able to dive into the deeper catalog of all of their assets to create Gaya’s story,” Lee mentioned. “We were telling such overt stories and such overt messages through her progression over the two days that people may or may not pick up on, and they love her. I think the response to her music and the type of warmth that she exudes for the type of character she is. We got to tell a whole new story of the Twi’leks, what they are in the Star Wars universe and reframe the narrative for them … We’re proud of the roles and stories that we created to highlight local Orlando talent in a way that’s really meaningful, and bringing a very intense art form, writing music and improv—[it requires] high stamina in a very sandbox story.”

During rehearsals proper earlier than expertise previews, Star Wars hero (and present Moon Knight star) Oscar Isaac visited the Halcyon to get a sneak peek of its voyages right into a world he’s fairly acquainted with. “It was great that someone from Star Wars, who was creating stories for everyone else, understands that’s what we were doing, an experience that’s very heartwarming that wasn’t a film,” Lee mentioned. “And here he was, in a full environment. So it was so much easier for him to play. He was very excited in the bridge where he has a particular affinity to [since he played a pilot in the films]. We tell so many different stories of both the First Order, as well as with the Resistance, that we were able to share with him and the various stories that we were telling and the archetypes that you see. Like Sammie, our mechanic [character], is very much a wannabe hero, and you see that full arc. That’s a very familiar trope within the Star Wars storyline.”

With characters that actually convey the expertise to life—one thing that’s since been given the seal of approval from Poe Dameron himself—the tales aboard the Halcyon proceed to develop from their authentic intentions. Disney’s Imagineers hope to supply an expertise that impacts vacationers in significant methods—and never simply the hardcore followers, but additionally curious events with informal curiosity (and deep pockets). “We’re able to take on things that are more real-world based and messages that are overt and relevant now and tie that back into a Star Wars franchise,” Lee defined. “So we kind of got to play on both sides of that and find a strong middle ground of what guests are looking for from Star Wars.” While Star Wars followers can count on appearances by acquainted characters—once more, we’re asking you to please not rat out Chewbacca—it’s the brand new ones you meet that Disney Imagineers hope stick with you when your personal journey unfolds aboard the Halcyon.

Find out extra about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser on its official Walt Disney World website.

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