Rothana Drive Yards

No franchise represents the light, and specifically in this case, the dark, more so than Star Wars. With films spanning decades that explore the ever changing balance between the two, it was a logical fit into Disney’s Dark Kingdom and also represents the first foray of a galaxy far, far away into the Asian Parks. As the inversion to Tomorrowland, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Rothana explores a similar futuristic look at the galaxy, but instead of progress, through industry, might, and the dark side of the Force.

While Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge has been duplicated in the two US parks, and further development is planned for the Disneyland Resort in Paris with the similar setting of Batuu, Rothana takes Hong Kong’s guests to an entirely different locale and time period in the Star Wars universe. Home to shipyards on both the planet surface and in orbit above, it explores one of the backbones of the Empire’s war machine during the height of the Skywalker era, Episodes IV - VI.

From the icy mountain village overrun with pollution and poverty...

To the hectic shipyards fueling the Imperial War Machine.

Getting to Rothana is no small task due to its remote location in the Outer Rim Territories. For those who enter Rothana, they will be struck by the mood and feel of the land. Framed by snowy peaks, the population is not vast due to the snowy, arctic, conditions, with the bulk of the inhabitants there working for Rothana Heavy Engineering, a subsidiary of the Kuat Drive Yards that calls the planet home. The village/city area of Rothana will take guests through a myriad of structures, each with a distinct industrial look made from what looks like a bunch of old Imperial tech, and all mingled in with various icy rock formations.

One of the first “businesses” visitors will come to is Gwarm's Bounty. Not your everyday shop, this place is frequented by the few bounty hunters who make their way to Rothana, either as hired guns to protect Imperial shipments, or to drop off the grid. Run by Gwarm, a Weequay pirate and an associate of Hondo Ohnaka during the Clone Wars, you’ll find all manner of weaponry, tools and equipment adorning the walls; each essential to any bounty hunter worth his weight.

Mingling around the shop, you’ll have your pick of replica items and various gear to create your own bounty hunter look, but you’ll also come across a semi-permanent guest of the shop, one IG-88. The ruthless assassin droid currently calls Rothana home, and Gwarm’s by default, both to keep a low profile but also due to the proximity of all of the tech available in the nearby ship yards. Lucky for you he is all too ready to share stories of some his bounties and will direct you to a few indicators of other bounty hunters who’ve made a visit, most notably claw marks in the desk from one Bossk and blast marks from Boba Fett’s sawed off rifle. Attached to the shop, you’ll also have the opportunity to Meet & Greet with Boba Fett, IG-88, Dengar, and Bossk!

Continuing your exploration of Rothana you’ll come across numerous other shops and experiences. Kembassa's has an assortment of clothing items you can purchase, each suitable for the cold environment, but also breathable enough to be worn in other systems. You will also come across an animatronic Artic Horney Whelmer. Once used by R.H.E. for vehicle design, this beast is now part of Merchant Row, providing both heavy muscle for moving equipment, but also a deterrent for any thieves in the area.

Before heading into the shipyards themselves, you may grab a bite from one of the many stands in the area or the local quick service, Candor's ($). While Rothana has little to no vegetative life to speak of, Candor has stocked up an ample supply to provide a wide variety of healthy and filling options, each with a twist of Rothana thrown in. From salads, hearty soups and a gelagrub burger, you’ll find plenty of choices available.

The Shipyards

After venturing through Rothana proper, guests will come up the shipyards that take up the bulk of the land. You will notice at each of the entry points to the yards a orange glow framing the way in. This is part of the heat shield put in place by R.H.E to warm up the facilities and make production easier, while still allowing testing to take place in the harsh environs just outside. This backstory makes it easier for cast members working the land to still appear in theme and not burdened by wearing heavy attire fitting with the location.

Within the shipyards, guests will experience all of the attractions within SWGE: Rothana as well as a one of a kind dining experience. There will be all manner of Imperial assault vehicles already built or under construction and factory-like structures that guests can walk in and out of providing numerous walk through experiences and exploration opportunities. With a mix of steampunk and an industrial style, the area will look to be in constant movement and an interesting dynamic to the snow environs that surround it. Icy elements will be added to the peaks and roofs of some of the structures, just out of reach of the heat shield.

The first of three attractions that guests will notice moving about the land is the R.H.E. Transport. Styled after the Magic Kingdom’s Peoplemover, the transport built by Rothana Heavy Engineering, takes guests in and around the shipyards, giving brief glimpses of the two main attractions of the land and the yards below.

Each transport holds up to 4 guests and remains connected to two other vehicles, all with a very industrial look. Providing great kinetics, similar to what the Bantha attraction would have done for Batuu, the R.H.E. Transport has a high capacity of slightly over 3000 guests per hour and gives a no height limit attraction that anyone in the family can enjoy. Riders have access to a "radio", and have the ability to change "stations" to change the ride's audio. The channels are as follows:

Imperial Propaganda NewsDJ Max Rebo: Jedi RockModal Nodes: Live from the Officer's GrillThe Tonight Show with Jar Jar Binks

Among the shopping opportunities will be the R.H.E. Surplus. Run by the company, this shop shows off many of the designs with small replicas to take home as a souvenir. Stations will also be set up throughout the shop allowing you to virtually create your own battleship using the numerous templates available to the company. A blueprint of your design can printed out for taking home upon your exit from Rothana. Get yours today, starting at $24.99!

The Officer's Grill

Venturing further into the shipyards, you are struck by an oddly shaped structure rising up out of the buildings and factories around. Built inside a decommissioned Observation Ship from Kamino sits the Officer's Grill ($$$).

Built exclusively for the visiting Imperial Officers coming to inspect the latest shipment and those few officers stationed here, the grill provides a one of a kind table service dining experience. Entering the first floor, guests happen upon a large open space for the lobby/waiting area with a ridiculously long bar towards the back creating a natural hang out spot for those lucky enough to be inside. As will be the case with the floors above, the backside of the restaurant has had their paneling removed and replaced with glass, or so it appears. While it will appear you are staring out into the shipyards and bustle of the area with the planet in the background, in fact it will be a large video screen embedded that shows off the changing scenery outside.

Once your table is ready, you’ll make your way to either the 2nd or 3rd floor of the restaurant via the grand staircase or elevator, each floor with a distinct Empire flair. The surroundings will make you feel much like you are sitting on the deck of a Star Destroyer. The 2nd floor provides an open expanse of seating as well as a close up view of the musical act there for entertainment, Figran D’an and the Modal Nodes. After their run in Mos Eisley, the Empire has locked them into a semi-permanent gig at the Officer’s Grill for their enjoyment.

Dining on the 3rd floor you’ll have an even grander view out into Rothana. While you won’t be close up to the entertainment, guests can still listen and look down below thanks to the catwalk like structure that makes up the floor with a large center opening to the floor below.

March of the Empire: Omnimover

The Empire needs you today!

That is recurring message on the Imperial Recruitment Station, an extraordinary patriotic building just across the road from the Officer's Grill. On March of the Empire, you'll join the everyday imperials working to keep this Drive Yards up and running.

Once you board the omnimover (themed as imperial transports) you will sent off into the "briefing room". The omnimovers are encircling a hologram of your commander, who is or ordering the new recruits to investigate the sudden power outages on the Shipyards. Every second they waste without power, the Empire loses hundreds of credits. Time is of the essence.

We then move down into the "underground" of Rothana. The industrial aesthetic is dropped. Instead we find ourselves in an icy wonderland. Nature is still thriving without the Empire's Surface Influence.

Much of the ride is spent admiring the beauty of the ice cave. Giant kyber crystal spires hang from the ceiling. A rainbow waterfall spews out drink to the cow-like Yeskitis. A group of giant birds are working together to reach an egg which has fallen down a ledge.

But then we begin to see the pipes return, and we realize why there's been power outages of late. The Empire is digging further underground, into the cavern! Dead drills crack through the ceiling bringing the icy atmosphere in. Moving further we see the animals didn't take the Empire too kindly either... all that is left of the search party is a couple Stormtrooper helmets. Then there is a great roar and we encounter a Wampa!

The Wampa tries to attack us, but we are able to evade it and reach the central reactor and (hopefully) turn on the kyber crystal power. But the Wampa gets in our way, and we must make another turn. We manage to escape the Wampa, but fail to bring back the power. As we leave, our Commander decides perhaps that kyber crystals here aren't as economically viable as they thought, and it would be smarter for them to move to a less populated location.

Exiting guests are directed to the Star Barracks, a large gift shop selling all sorts of SW gear. The Barracks is located in the center of the land and is built up as a focal point.

Rebels in Rothana: EMV

Framing the back of the land is Rebels in Rothana. With the entirety of the land filled to the brim with the dark side, this is your chance to win one for the rebellion. Entering Rothana Heavy Engineering's largest factory, you’ll stealthily make your way through the queue working to keep out of site of passing security and an occasional Stormtrooper. Cast members will help you avoid detection and direct you when it’s okay to make your way to each portion of the queue.

Your goal on this mission? Cause as much destruction to the Empire’s newest inventory before it can reach their hands. Your only problem is how you can best accomplish this. At various points in the queue you’ll be able to look down on various ships and combat vehicles being prepped before making your way via other passages to a communications room. Here you’ll receive a transmission for Rebel Headquarters giving you the location of an AT-TE that is nearby that can help you accomplish the mission. Their transmission though also comes with a warning. Of all days, Darth Vader, unhappy with the recent work and speed has arrived personally to speak with the company.

Modeled after the Artic Horny Whelmer that you saw previously in town, the All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer is large enough to carry your entire party of up to 12 for the mission. Using EMV technology, the ride system can easily mimic the speed of up to 60 km/hr, and maneuverability of the tank. Boarding your AT-TE you’ll set off for one of the hangars where all craziness starts happening once you’ve started deployment of your weapons.

Before you’ve gone far though you’ll come face to face with Darth Vader, his lightsaber flashing across your path and force hurtling objects at your party. After barely making it out of Vader’s clutch’s, guests will plow their way through the shipyards leaving a path of destruction in their wake with fires and sirens blaring. Throughout the attraction Vader's personal legion allies with the factory droids to stop your ship at all costs. How will the rebellion survive?

The final scene sees Darth Vader use the force to lift the walker up, trying to destroy. But we manage to fire a blast just near him, knocking him off balance. Now freed, we destroy the factories and depart the ride vehicle before the Empire catches us. We are led straight through the backdoor of the R.H.E Surplus.

Overall Star Wars: Rothana Drive Yards is a bold new direction for Galaxy's Edge. It fits with the theme of the park like a glove, but also manages to stand apart as one of the most immersive lands (thanks largely to the franchise). Considering the popularity of Star Wars it is likely this area will be crowded, however, it should not be as messy as in Batuu. Star Wars is not quite as popular in foreign countries... but hopefully the memories that guests make here will make them change their mind.

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