Here’s what’s closing at Disneyland (sniff, sniff) to make room for ‘Star Wars’ land

In case you haven’t noticed, the growing Star Wars franchise is kind of a huge deal. All sorts of partnerships and projects have been announced, including the roll-out of 360-degree videos on Facebook. But the latest is sort of a mixed bag, as Disney prepares to shut down a few attractions at Disneyland ahead of building a new Star Wars land.

Along with the permanent closure of Big Thunder Ranch in January, a few attractions will be temporarily shut down. The Disney Railroad, The Fantasmic! Show, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, and the Pirates’ Lair on Tom Sawyer Island will all be shuttered for a year as the Star Wars expansion gets underway.

As for the Star Wars land, it’ll be the largest single-themed expansion at the park, with construction slated to begin no later than late 2017. It’s part of a $1 billion investment agreement between the park and the city of Anaheim, and the construction should be totally done in about a year, although there’s no final date as yet. It will stretch from the northern area of Frontierland through Big Thunder Ranch and Circle D Ranch, covering 14 whole acres.

But what will it look like? It’s going ot be a trading outpost on a totally new planet from the Star Wars universe, complete with aliens, droids, and humanoids. Two new, signature rides will feature both the Millenium Falcon (of course!) and a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. And for those looking to grab a bite of food, a Mos Eisley-esque cantina will also be featured.

If all this can’t come soon enough, take comfort in one more piece of Star Wars news: A seasonal event called Seasons of the Force will be opening in November at Tomorrowland. Hopefully that’ll hold you over until the expansion is done!

(Image via Disneyland)