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Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

Of all the upcoming Disney World updates, we’re pretty excited to see what Disney does with the Star Wars Hotel.

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

Star Wars Lightsaber Experience

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to be a 2-night ultra-immersive experience that opens in 2021. Aboard, you’ll be able to look out windows into space, operate the ship’s defense systems, and offer guests the chance to wield their own lightsaber. Woah! That lightsaber experience sounds pretty cool and, before today, we weren’t sure how we could ACTUALLY wield a lightsaber. Now though, Disney might have developed some tech that could help!

If you’ve hung around DFB before, you might know that we love to look into the patents that Disney is filing for their newest inventions. Well, we spotted one patent that has some pretty interesting language — some language that might be an EXACT description of part of Galactic Starcruiser’s lightsaber experience or a similar experience elsewhere in the Disney Parks!

The patent is for a new system that helps to bridge the gap between virtual reality (VR) experiences and the outside world. We’ve imagined that VR could be a good solution for bringing lightsabers to this reality and this patent seems to indicate that that’s EXACTLY what Disney intends to do. Fair warning! These details are pretty on-the-nose, so if you don’t want spoilers about a possible lightsaber experience, click away now!

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

Sabers assembled!

Here are the pieces of the patent that could be describing a lightsaber experience. It says, “a VR user is instructed that…a tool or weapon (such as an energy sword or saber that is the physical object in this example) will be made available for their use. In the VR world, they will use their superpower of telekinesis to concentrate on moving the tool/weapon, and, when they concentrate with enough energy, the tool/weapon will fly through the air and land…in their hand.”

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

A robot moves the lightsaber handle into your hand as if it is flying through the air. ©Disney

HOLD UP. Energy sword or saber? Telekinesis? Disney…did you mean to say “LIGHTSABERS” and “THE FORCE!?” It sure sounds like Disney has come up with a way for us to use the force to summon a lightsaber to our hands. Needless to say, we are freaking out.

The patent goes into even more detail saying, “The user is…asked to stretch out their hand to see whether they can cause the object to leap into their hand from a distance away… The user is asked to move their hand back and forth slowly to see whether they can attract the physical object… When the user moves their hand…the object holder rocks the physical object back and forth. The rocking strength is varied by the control system from barely moving to rocking back and forth violently as if trying to fly depending on how close the user’s hand is to the future ideal interaction position in the later VR experience.”

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

Imagine the sparkly object is a lightsaber handle. ©Disney

This is super interesting. Basically, the patent says that, prior to putting on any sort of helmet, you’ll be tasked with bringing the lightsaber to your hand with the Force. Of course, we’re first-time force users, so we won’t be immediately successful.

But, this “pre-show” as the patent calls it has two important effects. First, it “trains” the user where their hand should be for later in the experience (without the user knowing), and it helps with the story as the user feels like they’ve really accessed the Force. But the lightsaber can’t come flying into your hand just yet.

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

Trying out hilt parts

The patent continues, “After the user has tried unsuccessfully to pull the physical object to them without the [Head-Mounted Display] on, they are advised that their powers will be increased by dawning the [Head-Mounted Display] helmet, which may be disguised as a helmet from a particular movie or animation to fit the VR experience and/or otherwise themed to enhance the overall experience.”

Hmm…how could they theme the helmet, do you think? We have an idea. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Luke uses a blast shield helmet to help him see through The Force. Another training helmet is used with Jedi Younglings in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. So there’s even in-universe precedent for a themed lightsaber-training helmet.

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

©Lucasfilm/Disney

The patent goes on in less detail about how the system can be configured for sword fighting, “In some cases, the handover robot (or other robot with an object manipulator) may be controlled not to simply provide an object but to provide other physical interactions with the participant such as a sword or other fight in which a physical object strikes or contacts the participant’s body or an object they are already holding.”

Spoiler Alert: The SECRET Behind How We Could Get REAL Jedi Powers at a New Disney Attraction!

VR view of the lightsaber fighting portion. ©Disney

Um…WOW. Did Disney REALLY just come up with a way to give us Jedi powers!? We’re honestly freaking out. Obviously, we won’t have any idea how this tech will be used until we see it applied in Galactic Starcruiser or elsewhere. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping an EXTRA close eye on those Disney patents and crossing our fingers that we’ll be using the force next year!

Do YOU think this tech is for the lightsaber experience? Share your thoughts in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, Featured, Galactic Starcruiser, Walt Disney World, Disney Invention, Disney Patent, Disney Tech, disney vr, galactic starcruiser, Star Wars hotel

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Disney Movies Disney Parks Disney Vacations Other Star Wars

Is The Star Wars Hotel Closer to Blasting Off in Disney World? Check Out Some Fun New Details!

Even as the Disney parks remain closed with construction halted, we’re still seeing some building permits from Disney World.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Atmosphere

Sometimes, there’s work that just HAS to get done! Recently we spotted some permits for Epcot’s Play Pavilion and more, but we’ve got even more interesting documents today.

With everything from MAJOR Disney projects, to third-party construction, to some EMERGENCY work; we’re taking a look at the building permits that Disney has had to file over the past few weeks!

Galactic Starcruiser

We’re starting with the permit that made us the MOST excited! Ready your blasters, we’ve got a permit on Galactic Starcruiser! You might remember when we spotted a permit for the guard shack going up at the upcoming Star Wars hotel, but this time the permit is for the hotel itself!

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art

The new permit, filed May 13th, is for “fabrication and installation of sets” for “Project H.” Now we’re not sure what that H stands for (probably “Halcyon” — the name of the starcruiser) but we DO know that the permit is for the address where the Starcruiser construction is located!

Does this mean it’s starting to look spacey in there??? After all, the hotel is supposed to be themed as if it was a ship flying lightyears away in space.

Galactic Starcruiser Building Permit

We can’t wait to get into Galactic Starcruiser in 2021 — that’s why we’re waiting not-so-patiently for reservations to open this year. After all, with the immersion of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we’re sure that Starcruiser will be a trip to remember. This unique experience will allow the Star Wars story to unfold all around you. How cool is that?

Click here to learn EVERYTHING we know about Galactic Starcruiser!

Starbucks at Disney Springs

Next up, it looks like the Starbucks in Disney Springs might be getting a little bit of a makeover. You might remember that we recently saw a permit for a new Lovepop Store, so things are movin’ and shakin’ in Disney World’s retail and dining complex.

Disney Springs West Side Starbucks

The Starbucks permit, filed May 12th, calls for a “tenant remodel” of the existing Starbucks on the West Side of Disney Springs. Oooooh! We love to stop in at the Starbucks of Disney World to get our caffeine fix, so we’re curious if this means this spot will be getting a new look.

Disney Springs Starbucks Permit

Both Starbucks locations in Disney Springs have reopened (with new a new tasty drink to mark the occasion)! So we’ll be keeping our eyes on the West Side location to see any changes!

Click here to learn more about Starbuck’s reopening drink!

Disney Springs Restaurant Updates

But Starbucks isn’t the ONLY dining location in Disney Springs that’s getting a little bit of an update. Jaleo and City Works Eatery and Pour House are making some updates as well. Since Disney Springs is open, hopefully we’ll get to see these changes pretty soon.

City Works Outdoor Bar in Disney Springs

Both of these new permits were filed on May 14th. Neither of them is for a full remodel, but they do mean that both restaurants are looking for some fun updates.

The Jaleo permit was filed with a design firm to “install new wall-mounted graphics.” Ooh! We can’t wait to see what those look like.

Jaleo Building Permit

Over at City Works Eatery and Pour House, a still very NEW spot in Disney Springs, they’ve filed a permit to install a canopy. Hmm, maybe this spot is looking to expand on outdoor seating in response to the Florida government’s health regulations?

We noticed a to-go drink window under construction on our recent walks around Disney Springs, so it’s possible this canopy could be related to that.

City Works Building Permit

Whatever the case, we’re excited to see the updates to these two spots whenever they get them finished!

Never been to City Works? Click here to learn about the new restaurant!

The Hollywood Brown Derby

WHAT? Construction coming to The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Not exactly. Remember how we mentioned some emergency construction? Well, it looks like the Derby had a little bit of an incident at some point during the closure.

Hollywood Brown Derby

On April 21st, Disney filed a permit for a “kitchen gas leak repair” at the famous Disney dining spot. Yikes!

Hollywood Brown Derby Building Permit

Luckily, it seems that everything is a-ok as we haven’t heard anything from Disney on it. Maybe it’s a good thing that the restaurant was closed when that happened!

Thinking about a meal at the Brown Derby? Click here for our latest review! 

Flamingo Crossing

Now we’re taking a look at the retail district Flamingo Crossing. This is a developing project coming to the west side of the property. So far, we know we can expect a Walgreens, a Speedway Gas Station, and A TARGET!!

Flamingo Crossing Building Permit

We’ve already seen a pretty clear plan for the area through a different permit, but it appears that construction teams are set to get started on “new shell buildings” for the property. Shell buildings, like the name says, will act as a shell for the different third-party stores in the complex —  yes, like Target. It’s pretty awesome to see some movement on this massive project!

Click here to learn more about Flamingo Crossing

Four Seasons Orlando

Last but certainly not least, we’ve actually spotted THREE permits for the massive renovations going on at Four Seasons Orlando. Though the Disney Springs area hotel is currently closed with the rest of Disney World, we have seen some movement. For instance, they’ve opened their on-site restaurant, Plancha!

Four Seasons Resort Orlando

And apparently, the teams at Four Seasons are also working hard getting permission for all of the work they’re doing on the pool area and beyond. We spotted a permit with the South Florida Water Management District to permit the relocation of some natural resources — we only see these for BIG projects!

Four Seasons Orlando Building Permit

We also saw two more specific permits. One was to remove cabanas and do some paving work on the concrete surfaces at the hotel. The other was filed a few days later to continue work on the concrete slab pathways — most likely around the pool area.

Click here to learn about the reopened restaurant at the Four Seasons!

And there you have it! Things have definitely slowed down in Disney but there’s still some interesting stuff going on! As always, we’ll keep an eye on those Disney permits and report in whenever we find some good ones. Until then!

Click here to check out what ELSE Disney is working on!

Which of these Disney projects are you most interested in? Tell us in the comments!

Related posts:

  1. Epcot Fireworks? Star Wars Hotel? Roundup BBQ? We Found MORE Details On Some Upcoming Disney World Projects!
  2. A New Store Coming To Disney Springs and More Epcot Updates! Check Out These SECRET Disney World Projects!
  3. Ride in Style with These Fun NEW Magnets in Disney Springs!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Disney News, disney parks, Disney Springs, Featured, Walt Disney World, Building Permits, Disney Permits, disney springs, disney springs starbucks, disney world construction, flamingo crossing, Four Seasons Orlando, galactic starcruiser, Hollywood Brown Derby, Star Wars hotel