11 Things We Learned About Galaxy's Edge at Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars fans from across the galaxy have converged in Chicago at mega fan gathering Star Wars Celebration for five days of panels, autograph and photo ops with the stars, cosplayers, exclusive merchandise, and, of course, big announcements. After the excitement of Day 2's massive and long-awaited reveals-Episode IX's official title, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and its accompanying trailer (which left us all with more questions than answers)-on Day 3, the focus shifted to Galaxy's Edge, the Star Wars-themed land coming to Disneyland Resort May 31 and Walt Disney World August 29.

We know some of what we can expect to find at Galaxy's Edge once it opens, but Disney is still unveiling plenty of details throughout Celebration at the Galaxy's Edge booth, and Saturday the Imagineers behind the land shared even more secrets and surprises during a panel moderated by Josh Gad. Here are 11 things we've learned.

Celebration attendees are getting the chance to see-and sit in-an actual ride vehicle from one of two main attractions at Galaxy's Edge: Rise the of Resistance, in which guests will play the role of captive Resistance members on a First Order Star Destroyer. The vehicle is a First Order Fleet Transport vehicle, helmed by an Imperial R5 Series Astromech Droid.

Gad didn't waste any opportunities to eke out the details we've all been clamoring for. By way of nods, he secured confirmation that Rey, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, and BB-8 will all play roles in the Rise of the Resistance attraction.

Oz will return to voice the beloved Jedi master, delivering messages to park guests via the Force. "Not every character that we hear is a character we can see," Imagineer Scott Trowbridge said during today's presentation. And Oz's isn't the only original voice you'll hear. Disney went to great lengths, all the way to Kenya, in fact, to ensure that Nien Nunb was also voiced by original actor Kipsang Rotich.

Imagineers used this opportunity to emphasize that no shortcuts were taken anywhere in Galaxy's Edge in order to provide guests with a truly immersive experience. The "space meat," the term Gad and Trowbridge used to describe the fare to be served up at dining location Ronto Roasters, is no exception. But don't worry, "it tastes like shawarma," Trowbridge says.

Disney has teamed up with long-time partner Coca-Cola to create customized bottles that will only be available at Galaxy's Edge. The bottles look a bit like banged-up droids, with the names written in Aurebesh, the fictional language used throughout the films.

Most Star Wars fans have been waiting their whole lives to ride in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon-or better yet-take the controls of that blazing-fast hunk of junk. On the second Galaxy's Edge attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, riders will play the role of pilot, engineer, or gunner, and will have to do their best to keep the Falcon from getting too banged up. "Everyone has a very important role to play and it's up to you and your flight crew to determine the fate of the ship," says Imagineer Asa Kalama.

Droid RX-24, or simply "Rex," who originated on Disney's Star Tours attraction and was beloved by fans of the ride, makes a triumphant return as the DJ at Oga's Cantina, with Paul Reubens, the original voice actor, back to reprise the role. Two new cantina songs were teased at the panel, one from original cantina band Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes, which maintains the band's iconic sound, the second by a droid band with a more techno-sounding beat.

While on the subject of music, the panelists reminded everyone of how integral John Williams' music has been to Star Wars films to date. Trowbridge says Williams' original score composed for Galaxy's Edge "feels like it's a character in the way that it brings these experiences to life throughout the land."

We've long been told that the animatronic Hondo Ohnaka, currently in possession of the Millennium Falcon, is the second most advanced animatronic ever created for Disney Parks (after the Shaman in on the Na'vi River Journey attraction in Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom). We were given a video sneak peek at the animatronic in action, voiced by legendary voice actor Jim Cummings, and the hype is legitimate.

Using the Play Disney Parks app, guests will get to perform four different functions via their phone: hack-interact with droids, light panels, and ships; scan-point a phone at cargo crates throughout the land and get a peek at what's inside; translate-decode the signs and text throughout the land in Aurebesh and other foreign languages; and tune-tune into satellite dishes and antenna rays and eavesdrop on stories heard throughout the land.

Don't expect to find the iconic Star Wars logo plastered all over the merchandise locations in Galaxy's Edge: the immersion doesn't end once you enter the shop. Star Wars attendees are being treated to new merchandise reveals every day during the five-day event. So far we've seen items like an X-wing helmet, resistance rank badge set, and a Wookiee bag from Resistance Supply and First Order Cargo, as well as charming, seemingly hand-crafted toys and plushes from Toydarian Toymaker.

Another item is the interactive kowakian monkey-lizard, reminiscent of the shoulder-sitting banshees at Pandora at Disney's Animal Kingdom, from Creature Stall. Still to come are droids and make-your-own light sabers, which the Imagineer panelists have promised will be extremely advanced, and like nothing we've ever seen before.

Watch the full panel presentation here.