One of the defining characteristics of a culture is its language. The newly inducted citizens of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have been given a list of phrases to use with their guests from planet Earth. I’ll let you decide if the lingo is catchy.

There’s also news on why the Mickey ride headed to ToonTown will take so long to build, and exactly where it will be located. Plus, a little surprise for you at the end of this update – I hope you can join me in learning a little magic and giving some back.

How to Speak Batuuese

Cast members who will be working in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have been given a 15-page booklet and encouraged to create a backstory of the character they will be playing in the “immersive experience.” Each department—Attractions, Merchandise and Foods—has been given a different booklet. Each booklet has several pages devoted to terminology that the cast members should be using. Here are some examples:

As one cast member mused, “Unless you are a Star Wars fan, it’s going to be fun watching the guests’ expressions when Galaxy’s Edge cast members talk to them.”

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Timetable

Although Disney gave the internal greenlight last Fall to add Mickey’s Runaway Railway to Disneyland, they knew it was going to take nearly four years until the ride was completed. Here’s what’s taking so long:

The park’s official announcement last week that Mickey’s Toontown is getting Runaway Railway came just days after the last workers were moved out of backstage buildings 500 (maintenance/mechanical shops and ride vehicle warehouse) and 9073 (show overhaul building). Some operations were moved to another building on the property (one of the few backstage buildings remaining) and others to an off-site complex about two miles away.

As soon as possible, the Entertainment operations in N19 (Entertainment Production Center, which sits directly behind Mickey’s Toontown) will begin relocating into these just-vacated facilities. Entertainment has yet to start its move, according to one insider, “since the 500 building and 9073 are still a construction zone.” Once Entertainment is out, “N19 will be temporarily used for another purposed before it is demolished and rebuilt.”

The ride will be accessed through the current Gag Factory, so the Five and Dime facility will also have to be reconfigured a bit.

Consequently, it will take until 2022 before they’ll be able to complete construction of Runaway Railway on the site of N19.

August 21 – 55er Reunion Before D23 Expo

Disneyland fans: Do whatever it takes to arrive in Anaheim two days early for D23 Expo. There will be an incredible show taking place near Disneyland on Wednesday evening August 21 that you will not want to miss: a “55er Reunion” featuring appearances by scores of Opening Day cast members. Many of these original employees have never before appeared publicly to share their tales.

Presented by MiceChat and held in conjunction with the release of my new book “The 55ers: The Pioneers Who Settled Disneyland,” this will be a show unlike any other—an opportunity to meet original employees from Entertainment, Attractions, Merchandise, and more. There will also be performances by big-name surprise guests and, our headliners who were featured in Disneyland’s Opening Day parade.

I guarantee you will love this event.

Tickets to the “55er Reunion” go on sale soon, and soon after you’ll be able to pre-order the book for a very limited time. For now, get your name on the list and we’ll let you be first to claim your spot to experience the magic of the 55 club and give a bit of the magic back by letting them know how much they mean to you.

Add your name to the event list:





Well folks, that’s what I’ve got for you today. Until we meet again, may the spires keep you!

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