Jedi Forces Unite At Galaxy's Edge In Lightsaber Meetup

ANAHEIM, CA — More than 100 "Star Wars" fans visited at Disneyland Resort's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge this month to celebrate the new Rise of the Resistance ride. The self-proclaimed Jedi gathered with lightsabers in tow at the meetup, their second of the year.

Annual passholder Bryan Carlson, one of the organizers for the event, paused his newfound social stardom to chat with Patch about the event. Fellow fan Morgan Funder was the actual brainchild behind the meetup, Carlson said.

"Funder organized the first meetup through the Discord app's Galaxy's Edge group," Carlson said. "I just happened on the August event by chance, naturally attracted by the glow of 50 sabers over by the Millennium Falcon!"

Since that day, the pair were determined to do it again. The grand opening of the Rise of the Resistance ride was a natural choice. On Jan. 17, around 100 lightsaber-carrying fans ignited their torches, setting the Falcon alight in an otherworldly glow.

"I've been a ('Star Wars') fan since 1977 when I was 9," he told Patch. "My dad took me to see the original 'Star Wars' in Eugene, Oregon, on opening weekend." He has long collected memorabilia and still has his original action figures from that time. When Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened to the public, he was one of the first in line, he said.

With a four-hour window to explore the area before his boarding pass on Smuggler's Run, he went straight to Savi's Workshop to make his first lightsaber. Now, he plans to join an official costuming group that frequents the park, ahead of the August 2020 Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim.

According to Carlson, the addition of the new ride has transformed the outpost area of Galaxy's Edge.

"The outpost was desolate compared with the rest of Batuu," he says. "On the night of the meetup, the opening of Rise of the Resistance, it was a different story."

Those present — wearing their appropriate park costumes and set alight by the glow of their green, purple, orange and red sabers — were happy to share and bring others into the moment.

"It's fun to help make magic for people, especially if it is someone's birthday or anniversary," he said. Though he now works as an executive director of foundation development at UC Riverside, obtaining grants for that university, if there is someone who understands Disney magic, it's Carlson.

He was once part of it.

"I worked at Disneyland in college, 30 years ago, and met my wife in the break room of the Haunted Mansion," he said. Disneyland has remained in their hearts, and they've maintain their annual passes from their home base of Anaheim Hills.

The Disney cast members present joined in the meetup, as they freely move through the park. Rey and several stormtroopers posed with the crowd and regular guests. Several Sith characters also joined the group.

"There was a healthy dose of friendly booing from those of us on the light side," he said. If you haven't seen Batuu at night, you need to give it a try, he recommends.

If you see a meetup, he said, don't hesitate to say hello or ask to hold a lightsaber for a photo.

While Carlson's wife, brother-in-law and sister rode Rise of the Resistance, he was busy with the meetup and missed his chance. He plans to return and get a boarding pass soon with his son.