Utilizing the animation projection infrastructure used in the Halloween-themed Ghost Galaxy overlay, laser effects, and a newly recorded arrangement of assorted John Williams scores performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, the attraction puts guests into a dogfight between X-Wing starfighters and TIE Fighters at the start of the Battle of Jakku.[4]
The attraction queue is mostly left in its standard form, though graphics and a brief pre-show and safety film set up the simple story.
Admiral Ackbar sends out a brief transmission to a group of reconnaissance pilots to investigate an Imperial Star Destroyer in orbit around Jakku. He also announces the Blue Squadron will provide support for the mission.
After boarding the reconnaissance vehicle (played by Space Mountain's rocket vehicles rather than a completely new vehicle design), the recon team make a jump through hyperspace. Upon arrival at Jakku, a group of TIES ambushes the team almost immediately. The recon vehicle ducks and weaves its way through the dogfight and assorted laser-fire from either side. With the TIE squadron destroyed, Blue Squadron can make a critical destructive hit on the Star Destroyer's bridge area and make a quick jump through hyperspace back home.
Behind the scenes[]
Space Mountain originally opened at Disneyland on May 27th, 1977, two days after A New Hope first premiered in theaters. The second of its kind, with the Walt Disney World original opening two years earlier, Space Mountain became one of the central landmarks of Disneyland's Tomorrowland area and Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland area. In 2005, as part of Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, the attraction underwent a significant overhaul with a complete rebuild of the track, a new in-vehicle sound system, and new digital projection infrastructure that would allow for alternative versions of the attraction, starting with a short-lived version known as "Rockin' Space Mountain". A few years later, a more involved Halloween overlay borrowed from Hong Kong's park, "Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy", would add additional projection hardware in 2007 and became a more successful tradition.
In 2015, to promote The Force Awakens and act as a stop-gap until the Star Wars-themed expansion of the two parks both opened, Disney announced a promotional event called "Season of the Force" located in the Tomorrowland area of the park, consisting of an update to Star Tours: The Adventures Continuefeaturing elements from the new film, a clip show of the entire saga entitled Path of the Jedi, an update to the Jedi Training Academy show drawing elements from Star Wars Rebels entitled Trials of the Temple, the Star Wars Launch Bay exhibit and Hyperspace Mountain.
The Imagineers consulted with Lucasfilm Story Group to ensure the attraction would fit into the canon timeline and decided to tell the story of the space battle portion of the Battle of Jakku, which also appeared in the novel Lost Stars and the Star Wars Battlefront video game[5]. New starfighter animation and musical arrangements of John Williams tracks were produced for the overlay and the temporary attraction opened on November 15th, 2015.
As of March 2017, the overlay is still running at Disneyland, and it is believed by many that it will remain until Star Wars Land opens in 2019, drawing the ire of many fans who have accused Disney of caving in to pressure from stockholders to inject the park with more intellectual properties. MiceAge reported on March 3, 2017, that there are plans for the overlay to close on Memorial Day Weekend in 2017 and reopen as the regular Space Mountain alongside the rerouted Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America for the busy summer season, then return as a seasonal overlay in December in time for the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Whether the overlay remains in place remains to be seen
Easter Eggs[]
The 77 Squadron takes its number from 1977, both the year when Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope first premiered and when Space Mountain first opened at Disneyland park.
Disneyland Railroad • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln • The Disney Gallery • Dapper Dans • Main Street Vehicles • Main Street Cinema • Penny Arcade • Walt Disney — A Magical Life
Animation Academy • Art of Animation • Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad • Hong Kong Disneyland Band • Main Street Vehicles • Ragtime Piano • The Annex • Building a Dream: The Magic Behind a Disney Castle
Festival of the Lion King • Jungle Drumming • Jungle River Cruise • Karibuni Marketplace • Liki Tikis • Moana: A Homecoming Celebration • Tarzan's Treehouse
Seasonal:A Celebration of Coco • A Magical Frozen Snowfall • Adventureland Oasis Party • Alien Invasion • Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Boot Camp • Demon Jungle • Disney Friends Springtime Processional • Disney Music Program • “Frozen” Festival Show • “Frozen” Village • Glow in the Park Halloween Parade • Graves Academy • Horrors of the Amazon • Inferno Dance Party • Mickey's Halloween Time Street Party • It's a Small World Holiday • Jack Skellington’s Villainous Gathering • Journey to the Halloween Town • Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity • Lightning McQueen Live! • Main Street Haunted Hotel • Marvel's Mission: Dimensions of Danger • Mickey's Halloween Time Street Party • Mickey's House • Mickey's WaterWorks • Nightmare in the Sky • Pirate Takeover • Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost Trail • Royal Christmas Ball • Santa Mickey's Toy-riffic Street Party • Star Wars: Tomorrowland Takeover • Space Mountain: Ghost Galaxy • Stitch's Summer Dance Bash • Stitch and Friends Summer Surprise • The Nightmare Experiment • The Revenge of the Headless Horseman • Tinker Bell Castle Illumination • Tomorrowland Party Zone • Turtle Talk with Crush • Villains Night Out!
Seasonal:The Hunchback of Notre Dame Carnival • For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration • Disney Christmas Parade • Disney's Maleficious Halloween Party • Disney's Showtime Spectacular • Dr. Facilier's Carnival-Loween • Following the Leader with Peter Pan • Goofy's Skeletoons Street Party • Frozen Summer Fun! • The Forest of Enchantment: A Disney Musical Adventure • Royal Christmas Ball • Mickey's Magical Celebration • Mickey's Winter Wonderland • Mickey and his Magic Halloween Night • Mickey's Halloween Celebration • Aladdin's Royal Caravan • Wishes • Star Wars: Path of the Jedi • Mickey presents: "Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris" • Mulan, La Légende • Mulan Parade • Hercules Happening • A Merry Stitchmas • It's Good To Be Bad With The Disney Villains • Mickey's Christmas Big Band • The Jungle Book Jive • The Jungle Book Jive • Disney Pirate or Princess: Make Your Choice
Resorts
Disneyland Hotel • Disney's Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel • Disney's Sequoia Lodge • Newport Bay Club Hotel • Disney's Hotel Cheyenne • Disney's Hotel Santa Fe • Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch
Spin-off films:Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) LEGO:The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special (2020) • LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2024)
Live-action:The Mandalorian (2019-2023) • The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022) • Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) • Andor (2022-2025) • Ahsoka (2023-present) • The Acolyte (2024) • Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024-2025) LEGO:LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures (2016-2017) • LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy (2024-present)
Jedi:Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023) Angry Birds:Angry Birds Star Wars (2012) • Angry Birds Star Wars II (2013) LEGO:LEGO Star Wars:The Force Awakens (2016) • LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022) Miscellaneous:Roblox (2006) • Club Penguin Star Wars Takeover (2013) • Star Wars: Tiny Death Star (2013) • Disney Infinity: 3.0 Edition (2015) • Star Wars: Uprising (2015) • Disney Magic Kingdoms (2016) • Star Wars: Force Arena (2017) • Star Wars: Squadrons (2020) • The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu (2020) • Star Wars Outlaws (2024)
Books
Novels:Lost Stars (2015) • Ahsoka (2016) • Bloodline (2016) • Battlefront II: Inferno Squad (2017) • Star Wars: The High Republic (2020)
Comics:Marvel Comics (2015-present) • Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017-2018)
Films:The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026) • Star Wars: A New Beginning (TBA) • Star Wars: Lando (TBA) • Rogue Squadron (TBA) • Taika Waititi Film (TBA) • Shawn Levy film (TBA) • Dave Filoni film (TBA) • James Mangold film (TBA) • Simon Kinberg film (TBA)
