ROTR and Millennium Falcon - Need to Watch Movies (if so, which ones)?

[Frozen2014]

I'm in my 40s and as a kid, saw the original 3 Star Wars movies. Don't remember much aside from the basic characters.
DH and DS really enjoy Star Wars and so we will be hitting the Star Wars stuff at Hollywood Studios. For me personally, I'll go on ROTR but not Millennium Falcon. DD will do both.

Should I need to watch the Star Wars movies to appreciate the land/rides? Or does it not matter.
And if I should watch, any specific movie(s)?
(Don't think DD would have the patience to watch any but will still enjoy the rides)

 

[kgcricket]

ROTR is based completely on the happenings of the latest trilogy. The queue/pre-show sets up the story of the ride well, & makes it easy to appreciate the ride whether or not you've seen the films.

But it will enhance your understanding of the storyline if you at least watch the 1st film (The Force Awakens) & get to know the characters a bit. Having a little base knowledge can only add to the experience.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you. Don't think I'll watch all for them, but will look for The Force Awakens.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I haven’t seen any of the new movies so cannot comment on what to watch but I really enjoy Galaxy’a Edge and all the rides including Star Tours with my limited knowledge. My 6 year old has never seen any SW movie and loves all the rides too.

I dont think you need to watch anything to appreciate the atmosphere.

A drink at Oga’s paid for with a spira gift card would round out the experience for me.

 

[loves to dive]

I've seen the original 3 and the one that Harrison Ford was in of the new ones. That's it (I only watched it to see him). I didn't have any problems in the land or riding the rides but like a previous poster said RoTR does take place in the later ones time frame so since I had seen the one, I got it all.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

People have spelled out the Need to Watch: original trilogy and "The Force Awakens." (You need to know who Rey, Kylo, Pie, and Finn are.)
For the sake of completeness, I will attempt to list other things you can watch on Disney+ that are referenced in Batuu and Star Tours. Please add to my list because I'm sure I'm missing stuff.
-Entire sequel trilogy because Episodes 8 and 9 are now options you can encounter on Star Tours.
-Animated series "Clone Wars" and "Rebels" so you know who Hondo is when you see him in MFSR. Wookiepedia will help you just view eps with him included. I also highly suspect Ahsoka Tano content will show up in Batuu with her show, so Hera and Sabine from "Rebels" and the upcoming "Ahsoka" shows could get involved, too.
-"The Mandalorian" because bounty-hunter content is coming to Batuu. Basically just know who the Clan of Two is, Mando and Grogu (aka The Child, aka "Baby Yoda").
-I'm reaching here, but if Lola models get sold in DHS, should you add "Kenobi"?

 

[Skywalker3]

Force Awakens for sure to know Resistance vs First Order, Rey, Ren, Hux, etc.
Maybe at least one episode of Clone Wars or Rebels w Hondo. He's such a great character! But if not devoting a lot of time, Force Awakens will give a good overall backstory for the characters in GE

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you for the movie info! Will start with Force Awakens and see from there. Tbh, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan (although the originals do make me think of my childhood and parents so they do give me some comfort and a smile).

 

[only hope]

The time period of the land is set between movies 8 and 9. As others suggested, if you don’t want to devote a lot of time watch 7 at a minimum before the trip. If you want to understand the time period and what is going in in the galaxy, watch 8. If you want to better appreciate Hondo, the Rebels episode Brothers of the Broken Horn is a good episode to watch because it’s closer to the time period of the land and i’s pretty much a standalone episode. Or there are also short Youtube videos with best of Hondo, funniest Hondo moments, etc.

Be sure to go through the queue for Falcon even if you don’t want to ride. The queue is a huge part of the experience and if you are sentimental towards the OT, you don’t want to miss it. When the CM assigns roles, tell them you aren’t riding and will be exiting after the next room. It’s the room after position assignments you don’t want to miss.

Disneyland‘s Black Spire Outpost is moving away from being set at a specific time period through the whole land and other asynchronous characters will be there, but not at Hollywood.

 

[Frozen2014]

The time period of the land is set between movies 7 and 8. As others suggested, if you don’t want to devote a lot of time watch 7 at a minimum before the trip. If you want to understand the time period and what is going in in the galaxy, watch 8. If you want to better appreciate Hondo, the Rebels episode Brothers of the Broken Horn is a good episode to watch because it’s closer to the time period of the land and i’s pretty much a standalone episode. Or there are also short Youtube videos with best of Hondo, funniest Hondo moments, etc.

Be sure to go through the queue for Falcon even if you don’t want to ride. The queue is a huge part of the experience and if you are sentimental towards the OT, you don’t want to miss it. When the CM assigns roles, tell them you aren’t riding and will be exiting after the next room. It’s the room after position assignments you don’t want to miss.

Disneyland‘s Black Spire Outpost is moving away from being set at a specific time period through the whole land and other asynchronous characters will be there, but not at Hollywood.

Thank you for this! Will definitely watch 7, and then see how I like it and if I want to watch 8. Will look up the Youtube videos.

Really appreciate too the note about the queue for Millennium Falcon. There are a bunch of rides I'll need to skip and am not sure how they all work. Great to know that I can go with my family for the queue. When I part with them, will they exit where I exit?

 

[only hope]

Thank you for this! Will definitely watch 7, and then see how I like it and if I want to watch 8. Will look up the Youtube videos.

Really appreciate too the note about the queue for Millennium Falcon. There are a bunch of rides I'll need to skip and am not sure how they all work. Great to know that I can go with my family for the queue. When I part with them, will they exit where I exit?

Every queue at all of the parks have a last-minute exit, though not all are worth going through. I think all will eventually lead you to the same exit as everyone else. For Falcon specifically, there are multiple points into the exit hallway so I would not wait right around the corner. I’d wait outside or near the end of the hall/tunnel. Also, if you have Disney+ and want to know how the ride works, episode 6 explains. There’s Youtube videos for that too. Though I’d wait til after I visit to avoid spoilers. The technology and setup are very interesting!

 

[Frozen2014]

Every queue at all of the parks have a last-minute exit, though not all are worth going through. I think all will eventually lead you to the same exit as everyone else. For Falcon specifically, there are multiple points into the exit hallway so I would not wait right around the corner. I’d wait outside or near the end of the hall/tunnel. Also, if you have Disney+ and want to know how the ride works, episode 6 explains. There’s Youtube videos for that too. Though I’d wait til after I visit to avoid spoilers. The technology and setup are very interesting!

Great thank you. Definitely have to figure this out for the rides where I meet my family after. Wish I could go on everything but I have to be careful with bumpy or g-force rides.

Yes, we have Disney+ and I've started watching some great episodes on Disney. Love them! I'm on the one now where each episode focuses on something (e.g. haunted mansion, its a small world, monorail). Haven't come across one on MF yet but that could be the series.

 

[buzlite]

The rides are based on the new trilogy. BUTTR through music and other factors they really do invoke the nostalgia of the original movies. I felt like like flying through the galaxy

 

[SkipperDave]

The time period of the land is set between movies 7 and 8.

8 and 9, actually.