Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Resurrecting the Disguise Shop Concept.

 Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Resurrecting the Disguise Shop Concept.

Hello Readers, as mentioned in previous concept articles, I have a deep love of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and more importantly the Imagineering Concept Book for Galaxy’s Edge: The Art of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. within the pages, I discovered a concept that was lost when Galaxy’s Edge did open. The concept mentioned is on page 192 of this book as part of the Tailor shop concept. Where Disney Imagineer Margaret Kerrison mentions a “Bippity Boppity boutique” type experience set in the star Wars Galaxy, where guests would receive an “identicard” and be made up into different alien species from the Star Wars Galaxy. Arguably this is something that Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is in need of Alien species from across the Galaxy Roaming the Streets of BSO(Black Spire outpost), and as mentioned in many articles of mine, I think that miss Kerrison was onto something as she came up with this Concept, but as a person who studies Immersive storytelling, and LARP, I believe with what little we know about this concept it could have been fleshed out into an idea that would Change Galaxy’s Edge and BSO for the better.

Location.

While looking at countless Google Maps, and Aerial views of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, I had made multiple attempts to find new locations for this experience to be placed. This wouldn’t be a small experience as the demand would be higher than most Disney experience especially if this is open not only to Children but to Guests of All Ages. at first my idea was to place it behind the door just left of the Marketplace when Din Jarin(The Mandalorian) and Grogu(The Child/Baby Yoda) meet guests, but upon further investigation, the ride building for Rise of Resitance and Cast Services are both located in this location. The next logical place was in the area behind Oga’s Cantina between the Millenium Falcon and Oga’s unfortunately there are also buildings for Smugglers run and important for the operations at  Ogas in this area. The final place was just under door where the First Order Flag hangs above, and while this area would work, the rest of my Concept for this area wouldn’t as it is right next to the back of Toy Story Land. It wasn’t until then that I realized that Disney has a building not being utilized that would be perfect to house this experience, and even act as a second entrance into the park for these guests both too and from Batuu, that of Course being The Galactic Star Cruiser, the Star Cruiser, has Rooms for Makeup and Costuming, Sinks and Showers to Wipe off unwanted makeup and is highly themed in a way guests can already enjoy. 

If Disney Imagineering were to redo the Halcyon as this Disguise Shop, in some capacity they could possibly overtime the capacity would be enough to deliver a return on the currently vacant building that is sitting in the perfect spot for this experience. 

What would this  Experience Entail?

Just like Bippity Boppity Boutique, this experience will entail costuming a makeup items, turning guests of all ages from humans to Aliens. However unlike other Disney Experiences, this Day Experience will be for guests who only wish to do Galaxy’s Edge, and will require Imagineering to Create Signs at the Entrances to Galaxy’s Edge stating that if Guests are wearing a Lanyard with their Identicard Logo on it, they aren’t a cast member and can be approached at their own risk, putting these signs in very visible places and in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese as well as in English at the entrances to Galaxy’s Edge, making certain that Disney isn’t liable for these guests once inside of Galaxys Edge. on top of participating the experience, Guests who choose to take part in the Disguise Shop Experience will receive one Costume consisting of a : Top, Bottom, Outer top,Belt and Boot Covers, as well as Makeup to an Alien species from the Star Wars Galaxy Including: Twi’Lek, Togruta, Pantoran, Zabrak, Theelin, Chagrian,Mirialan, Iktotchi, Cerean, Tholothian, Chiss and Nautolan, with more expensive packages being Weequay, Rodian, Mon Calamari, Wookie and Duro. Castmembers will then assist Guests with Makeup, and face paint as guests are transformed into alien species. These guests will only be allowed within Galaxy’s Edge unable to leave this area of the park and as such will receive a discounted ticket price for Galaxy's Edge only, as well as access to the Halcyon which will be a special lounge for these Cosplaying Guests to gain AC in the hot Florida Sun. Further guests participating will also receive an Identicard, a lanyard that acts as their credential that will deter guests from taking pictures with them or interacting with them as if they were face or character actors. 

How this will work.

Rather than guests participating in this experience traveling to Disneys Hollywood Studios they will travel and Valet their cars at the current location of the Galactic Star Cruiser, upon entering they will check in for their experience if it is reserved, if not participating in the disguise experience they will be allowed to the Lounge, or shop area, or to go directly to the transport to Batuu, which will now run all day. This experience, while it will operate as the basis of what the rooms on the Halcyon are now used for, will not be the only option for guests to explore the Halcyon. While it is exclusive to guests with Identicards, not all guests will be required to do the experience, but will be required to Cosplay in order to enter The halcyon. This means that Guests who come in premade cosplays may use this entrance as well, bringing more exciting costumes to Batuu from beyond just what Disney supplies. In doing this guests to enter Batuu this way are actually purchasing the Identicard to enter this way and the experience is separate, however to purchase the identicard, they must do so at the front of the Halcyon upon arrival and in order to do so they must be in a cosplay of some sort. Returning guests who already have an identicard may bring their returning visitor one, and as such annual passholders, will be granted access to this for free, but still must have an identicard to board the Halcyon.

Back to the Disguise experience, upon boarding the Halcyon Guests will check in if they ordered the disguise experience and will be shown to their room where they will meet their Designer, a cast member who has been assigned to them. The Castmember will meet every member of the party and show guests a variety of outfits and help them create the perfect outfit for their character, next they will choose an alien species if so inclined, from there the cast member will ask Guests to use the bathrooms to change into their new outfits. Guests will change into their outfits and by the time they are done changing the necessary components to do their makeup will be delivered to the room. From there the cast member will begin making up the guests faces and applying prosthetics where needed turning guests into their alien, at the end Guests will look in a mirror as see themselves transformed, from there they will be given instructions by the AI Droid personality on the rules of Cosplaying in the parks and from there they will exit the room to the lockers where they will store their belongings that they will not be taking with them until they return. The guests spend a day at the park and then upon returning will scan their Magic Band on their locker and retrieve their items. Before returning home now with their new easily applicable prosthetic makeup and or costumes with them.

Will all guests boarding the Halcyon be required to do the disguise shop?

As mentioned that is a no, but they will be required to Cosplay to receive their identicard and entry aboard, day guests ages 13 and younger may also do the experience similar to bippity boppity boutique however, will not receive an identicard, and can experience the rest of the park. The identicard is really for Adult Guests who do the experience who may not leave galaxy’s edge once in cosplay. Guests without identicards will not be allowed to enter the lounges or Cosplay Halcyon guests areas, which will be restricted to guests who have identicards who valeted at the Halcyon, and came dressed in cosplay. 

What of the Rest of the Halcyon?

The Bridge and Engineering will be open for All guests as an expansion to Galaxy’s Edge, however the Crown of Corellia will be available to All guests, but will now be a sit down restaurant by reservation only, and guests will be required to arrive on time with no exceptions. The Sublight lounge, will become the Cosplayers Lounge, where only guests with Identicards may enter, and will be a place for Cosplaying adults to mix and mingle. As for the Halcyons Chandrilla Collection gift shop, this will be changed into an exclusive shop for guests with Identicards to upgrade their cosplays or Disguise shop Packages. The Dojo and the Climate simulator will be available for all guests to experience, as the Dojo becomes an attraction and the Climate Simulator remains a space for guests to get some fresh air. 

Why let not Disguise shop Experience guests board the Halcyon?

It's simple, Galaxy’s Edge is Lacking immersion, it requires aliens, more Storm Troopers, and the return of the Star wars fans to the parks, to larp and Cosplay is enough of an attraction to bring guests to do this. Perhaps this time guests didn’t do the Disguise shop experience, but many of the guests who travel here will be local Batuu adventure groups and cosplayers who would much rather just enter DHS(Disney’s Hollywood Studios) directly into Galaxy’s edge anyways, lets cater to this minority,by creating a ticket price of $100 for the Identicard(free for annual passholders) which includes entry into “Galaxy’s Edge only”, entry into the Identicard specific lounges, Valet Parking Fees, and will discount the Disguise shop experience which will normally cost a guest from $250 with a $50 discount which is incentive to do the experience.

What about Star Tours?

As a boy I dreamed of riding Star Tours with Star Wars Aliens as it is shown in the safety video prior to boarding the Starspeeder 3000, but unfortunately with Muppets in between Galaxy’s Edge and Star Tours this may not be a possability unless muppets is moved to another section of the park,(Read that Article on the blog for that Concept).

What else can be sold on the Star Cruiser, under these guidelines?

In Galaxy, Magic Band+ this concept has been on my mind for a while the only magic band that currently is close to looking canon is the Baby Yoda/Grogu One which has the red Bounty Fob at its center, more of these should be made like this for guests to fully immerse themselves in the Star Wars Galaxy.

What if guests arrive at the Star Cruiser not in Cosplay, and aren’t participating in the Disguise shop?

These guests must be asked to park at Hollywood Studios, not at the Halcyon and will not be allowed to purchase an Identicard,or enter the Halcyon through the Halcyon entrance,  as it is exclusive for Guests in Cosplay, not just to get Guests a cheaper entry into DHS. The same rule applies To Annual Passholders, who must be in cosplay to enter through the Halcyon and receive an Identicard, if not participating in the disguise experience. Any guest who purchased an identicard or Valeted with the Halcyon who leaves Galaxy’s Edge to another portion of the park should face consequences for doing such, as it is unfair to guests who followed the rules. How disney decides to go about this is completely up to them. 

Concluding Statements:

Disney has an opportunity with this concept created by Margaret Kerrison and by combining it with The Halcyon they open it up to alot of possibilities. I am of a minority who bought a Disney Annual Pass just to Travel to Batuu whenever I want but without new experiences and the need to walk through the entire park breaking my immersion everytime i arrive and leave, i feel it would be beneficial for Disney to take Margaret Kerrison’s idea and combine it with my own of turning the Halcyon into the cosplay entrance into the Star Wars Galaxy. Help US Disney, your our only Hope.