The parks, each covering 14 acres, will let visitors walk through fully realised worlds, where they can interact with characters, such as humanoids and droids, fly the Millennium Falcon, have a drink at the cantina, and experience a major battle.

The announcement was made by Disney chief executive and chairman Bob Iger at the annual D23 Exposition in Anaheim.

“We are creating a jaw-dropping new world,” he said.

“These new lands at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will transport guests to a whole new Star Wars planet, including an epic Star Wars adventure that puts you in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.”

In addition to that battle experience, visitors will be able to drive “one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy,” the Millennium Falcon, on a secret mission, he said.

Mr Iger described the project as “the largest single-themed expansion in the company’s history”, but did not comment on the cost or give a date for the launch.

Separate Star Wars attractions will begin appearing in Disney’s existing parks later this year, around the time of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

In early 2016, for instance, guests will be able to ride Hyperspace Mountain, a play on the Space Mountain ride re-imagined as an X-wing Starfighter in battle.