5 Awesome Things About Galaxy’s Edge at Disney

With the unveiling of Galaxy’s Edge, the new Star Wars land at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a whole new world of exciting Star Wars adventure is brought to life. Ready for you to explore! So, whether you’re just visiting the parks with your family or you’re a hard-core Star Wars fan who dreams of living in the Star Wars movies…. Galaxy’s Edge is an immersive experience that lets you spend a day in a galaxy far, far away.

The Detailed Theming is SO Fantastic

The first thing you notice about Galaxy’s Edge is the incredible detail that Imagineers (with input from Lucasfilm) included when creating the land. You find yourself at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, a planet not known in the movies but completely authentic. It’s on the edge of the galaxy’s Outer Rim, with bustling markets and unique food stalls. You hear the buzz of speeders and strange animal noises as you enter the land.

The look of the area is incredibly realistic, from the marketplace to the mountains and …. wait for it…the Millennium Falcon. Part of the land is occupied by the First Order and part has been taken over by the Resistance. All signs are in Aurebesh, the local language, and English. Cast members may greet you with, “Bright suns” the equivalent of “Hello” on the planet.

If you ask a cast member a question, they will give you a whole backstory about the planet and recent happenings. In fact, a great feature of the land is the datapads found all over. They can be unlocked with the Play Disney Parks mobile app to scan crates, hack into devices and translate Aurebesh into English. Using the app was a lot of fun for our family while standing in lines.

It’s THE Place for Star Wars Merchandise

Serious Star Wars fans will love the variety and authenticity of merchandise available in Galaxy’s Edge. Black Spire Outpost, the area’s marketplace, reminds one of a Middle Eastern souk, with wires haphazardly hanging free and colorful lanterns draped for light. It truly appears to be an alien planet from a distant galaxy.

Looking for a cuddly animal friend from the movies? The Creature Stall in the marketplace is the place to go. Sand creatures, banthas and porgs, oh my! I especially loved the moveable Kowakian monkey-lizards that can sit on your shoulder.

Toyadarian Toymaker sells handmade toys, collectibles and games. And rare and unusable items from Sith or Jedi lore (or from your favorite Star Wars movie) can be found in the fantastic collection at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.

But for the best souvenir experience, visit Droid Depot or Savi’s Workshop for a droid or lightsaber you can build yourself. Both encounters require a reservation, although you can stand in line if spots are available.

In the Droid Depot, you choose what body, head and features you want your robot to have. Metal droid parts move above you in a line, and simulate the feeling of a high-tech factory in the future. Be sure to purchase a new personality for your droid before you build it-you can make it a rebel sympathizer or First Order loyalist, for a few dollars more. Then, take it for a spin in the testing area just outside the shop.

For lightsabers, Savi’s Workshop first lets you chose a kyber crystal, the source of the weapon’s power. Builders get help from the Gatherers, who assist in the ancient art of lightsaber creation. You then assemble your lightsaber as you like, choosing from the themed parts of Elemental Nature, Power and Control, Peace and Just or Protection and Defense. The moment you bring your saber to life will be a moment to remember.

Book your appointment at Savi’s Workshop or Droid Depot on the Disney Parks official website.

There are Star Wars Characters All Around You

One of my favorite surprises in Galaxy’s Edge is the characters that surround you, giving an authenticity to the land. While walking around, expect to see storm troopers marching by, Rey casually skirting through the crowd (protected by her staff), or Kylo Ren menacing guests as he passes through the area. A high-ranking First Order official interrogated a family near us, and Chewbacca snapped pictures with a few guests across the land.

Characters have long been a vital part of the Disney parks, and getting a photo, hug or autograph can be a highlight of a guest’s visit. But the way the Star Wars villains and heroes just naturally appeared here was really special. At first glance of Rey, I wondered if that was really her or not. No accompanying cast member was in sight! But she seemed plenty in control of herself, staff by her side. Perhaps Poe was nearby to help her if she got in a sticky situation.

You Can Take a RIDE in the MILLENNIUM FALCON!

Ok, now for a sight that will take your breath away-the famed Millennium Falcon sits in the center of the land, in all its “bucket of bolts” glory! It houses one of the main rides in the land, Smugglers Run, which is a wild ride through space in a gritty, Star Wars-type adventure.

The queue is dark and rusty, just like you’d imagine the interior of the ship to be. You get your assignment from the amazingly realistic animatronic, Hondo Onaka, which is on the cutting edge of Disney technology. He asks you to use the falcon to pick up a shipment for him… with no questions asked. The waiting area before you board the cockpit puts you in the belly of the ship, complete with a holographic Dejarik game board. Snap a quick photo playing the iconic game before you go on the ride.

When its finally your turn, you get assigned one of six jobs inside the cockpit: two pilots, two gunners and two engineers. By far, the best job is pilot. There is a partial amount of control, and it’s actually quite challenging to steer the ship in the correct direction. And the pilot on the right side gets to pull a lever to jump to hyperspace! The best part of the ride, in my opinion.

The gunners fire weapons (significantly harder if you choose to use Manual mode), and engineers push buttons to repair the ship. The best situation is if you have a large party and go several times, taking turns with jobs. Like all immersive rides, it’s good to go more than once to really catch all the details and intricacies. There are several story lines in the ride, so each go may be a different experience.

If you’re flying on a plane to the parks, be sure to read 1o Things You NEED to Do Before Flying with Kids.

Rise of the Resistance is Like Nothing You’ve Ever Experienced

Smuggler’s Run is just the appetizer for the real meal…the land’s feature ride, Rise of the Resistance. It is billed as a combination of Disney’s best rides: it’s thrilling, interactive, and creative storytelling at its best. You find yourself in an epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order, with a running time of more than 15 minutes. It’s really a show and ride combined. And a new peak for theme park experiences!

Without giving too much away, you encounter famous Star Wars personalities like Rey, BB-8 and Kylo Ren while being chased by Stormtroopers, and trying to escape a First Order ship. It’s exhilarating and surprising and epic. Sadly, the long-running and complicated ride format contributes to few guests being able to make virtual queue, which usually fills up less than hour after park opening. If you’re one of the lucky few who make it, though…what a ride. And hopefully park maintenance will be able to work out the bugs to eliminate downtime soon.

Adding to the surprises of Galaxy’s Edge are unique dining opportunities such as Olga’s Cantina, a galactic watering hole with out-of-this word beverages, the Milk Stand, with Luke’s famous colorful blue milk drinks, and Ronto Roasters, a barbecue joint like you’ve never visited before. Even fun, BB-8 style Coke bottles offer quick refreshment with a unique twist.

Whether you love Star Wars or just want to try out Disney’s latest rides and eateries, you have to check out Galaxy’s Edge, and all its surprises. With the combination of the iconic Star Wars universe and Disney’s knack for bringing movies to life, it is sure to be a day to remember.