"In a dark theater called the Cineramadome in late 1976, my late mom, brother and myself looked up at the movie screen and were immediately mesmerized by the music and the ominous scope of this black outer space image freckled with stars... For us, it was more than spectacular," a "Star Wars" fan first-named Randall tweeted.

Now, almost 43 years later, Randall is thrilled to experience, together with his family, being inside the world of this remarkable movie franchise at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.

"Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge", the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park, is officially open to the public on Friday.

Spanning more than 14 acres (56,656 square meters), the new land is not only the park's hottest new attraction, but also a wildly immersive experience, an extension of the iconic Star Wars franchise.

Another Star Wars land at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will be launched on Aug. 29.

"Now, for the first time, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the iconic stories that have captured audiences' imaginations for decades and live their own Star Wars adventures in the most creative, innovative and ambitious land we've ever built," said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company.

In an epic ceremony to unveil the land on Wednesday night, Iger was joined by Star Wars icons including George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams in front of the Millennium Falcon, a fictional starship in the Star Wars franchise.

Lucas created the Star Wars movie franchise in 1977. Since then, it has attracted legions of fans with 10 live-action movies and three animated TV series.

Development of the Star Wars land started in 2014. It features the anchor attraction, Millennium Falcon, a fictional starship in the Star Wars franchise, as well as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which is scheduled to open by the end of this year.

The land offers visitors the chance to step into the Millennium Falcon's cockpit and control a simulated flight.

Visitors could also drink blue milk, eat space meat roasted by a spare pod-racing engine, and have a drink at an outer-space cantina.

Expectations ran high from generations of fans, many of whom have waited 40 years since the original film to visit a real-world version of the galaxy far, far away.

"It is an amazing experience. It is all about open, joy, optimism and all that could happen," said Paul Kenline, who is visiting from Colorado together with his whole family.

"Star Wars is the first movie my father took me to when I was a little boy. Now I'm so glad to share with my kids for years," he told Xinhua.

The new land offers unique opportunity to interact with all the characters and settings in the movie, he added.

"Thank you for making the galaxy not so distant anymore for all of us to share and enjoy! Batuu, here we come...," tweeted a fan at Disney Parks blog.

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