New Star Wars immersive experience coming to Disneyland and Disney World by late 2017
A new hyper-reality “Star Wars” experience will be coming to Downtown Disney and Disney Springs beginning this holiday season.
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire will plunge fans into the Star Wars universe in an “untethered, social, and multi-sensory experience, including interaction with friends, fans, and Star Wars characters,” according to a Lucasfilm press release.
Lucasfilm, ILMxLAB have teamed ups the THE VOID to produce he experience. No specific dates or locations at either Downtown Disney in Disneyland nor Disney Springs in Disney World.
“At THE VOID, we combine the magic of illusions, advanced technology and virtual reality to create fully immersive social experiences that take guests to new worlds,” Curtis Hickman, co-founder and chief creative officer at THE VOID, said in the release. “A truly transformative experience is so much more than what you see with your eyes; it’s what you hear, feel, touch, and even smell. Through the power of THE VOID, guests who step into Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire won’t just see this world, they’ll know that they are part of this amazing story.”
THE VOID currently has four locations around the world offering whole-body, fully immersive VR experiences. Their current production in New York City, Lindon, Utah, Dubai and Toronto is a Ghostbusters experience.
Disney has been investing heavily in the Star Wars experience. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new Star Wars land, will open in 2019 at both Disneyland and Disney World. In addition, Disney World will be building an entire Star Wars hotel which is billed to be a one- of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure.
Vicki Dobbs Beck, executive in charge of ILMxLAB, said the new experience coming from THE VOID combines “Lucasfilm’s storytelling expertise with cutting-edge imagery, and immersive sound from the team at Skywalker Sound, while invoking all the senses,” she said. “We hope to truly transport all those who experience Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire to a galaxy far, far away.”