The most anticipated expansion in Disney history is here! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and both of its rides are officially open at Disneyland and Disney World.
Yep, it’s a pretty big deal. After all, the new Star Wars land is the largest single-themed land in Disney Parks history. It take up more than 14 acres and has more than a dozen venues to explore. Spires soar 130 feet in the air. Incredible detail, down to actual R2-D2 tracks in the concrete, bring the new land to life.
If you and your family are Star Wars fans, then you’ll want to know all the details of what to expect at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Updated for 2020!
If it’s your first time to Disneyland, don’t panic! Check out our First Timer’s Guide to Disneyland. We also have lots of must-know Disney World tips.
Accessing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Droids | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Guests no longer need to use a virtual queue to enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, some attractions, such as the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride, Oga’s Cantina, and Savi’s Workshop may utilize a virtual queue based on demand that particular day. This queue will be accessed via the Disney Parks app under a dedicated module on the main page titled “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge- Status and Access”.
Once guests access the virtual queue, they will be assigned a time to visit the attraction. Your time assignment is attached to your park ticket electronically. You will receive a push notification when it is your group’s turn to enter the attraction.
Remember: 14 and up, leave costumes at home.
It is Disneyland policy to only allow guests 14 and younger to dress in costume so if you are an adult, leave your Yoda mask at home. Outfits inspired by your favorite Star Wars characters are still encouraged. The rules are more extensive, so be sure to check the Disneyland Resort costume policy for more details.
Use the “Play” Disney Parks Mobile App To Engage with Planet Batuu
Play Disney Parks App | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Disney really wants a guest’s experience in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to be about more than just the rides. They have added quite a bit of technology to the visitor experience via their Play Disney Parks mobile app. As a matter of fact, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the first land in any Disney park to fully integrate the app.
The Disney mobile PLAY app will activate your galactic data pad as soon as you enter planet Batuu. Choose to be a Smuggler, member of the Resistance, and loyal to the First Order, and have a different experience on each visit. As you do different things inside the land you will earn galactic credits and digital rewards such as ship schematics and star maps.
Using the app, users will be able to hack into blinking door panels and other scenic elements. They can interact with droids and scan the contents of cargo containers. Users can continue to play spy by translating written languages such as Aurebesh and eavesdrop into character conversations by tapping into satellites.
There is also a multiplayer game going on inside the land several times a day– “Outpost Control”. Use the app to choose to join the First Order or the Resistance and then compete with your team to hack door panels. Whoever hacks the majority of the panels first, wins!
Tip: Bring backup phone batteries when visiting Disneyland Resort. Batteries tend to drain quickly while inside the parks and you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will interact with your smartphone if you download the Disneyland mobile app.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Rides
There are two rides in Batuu, the distant planet this new land is themed after, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Inside the Millennium Falcon | Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks
Yes, it’s true- you finally get a chance to help pilot the most famous ship in the galaxy! The Millennium Falcon sits in the Black Spire Outpost Spaceport and comes in at over 100-feet long.
The Queue
While waiting in line for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, visitors can use the Play Disney Parks app to play an in-queue game. During the game you take on jobs for Hondo Ohnaka (from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels fame) and prove you are ready to pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.
If you have to go to the bathroom while in line, you can get a bathroom pass and then meet your group when they reach the merge point for the stand-by line and the (future) FastPass line.
There is also a single rider line. I would DEFINITELY take advantage of that if you can. The line for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run can be quite long on busy days. Keep watching the watching the wait time on the app and try to queue up any time you see it get shorter than 45 minutes. Thankfully, there is plenty to look at while in line and the app to entertain you, so the wait should be less painful.
Note: There is no FastPass available for this ride at this time.
The Ride
Eventually, you will reach the end of the queue and each rider will be assigned 1 of 3 important roles on board the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” and your decisions will have an impact on your ride experience. Each ship has 2 pilots, 2 gunners, and 2 engineers. These jobs are assigned by a cast member randomly when she hands you a colored card with your job on it. You are welcome to trade with other people in your group.
You will then wait in the lobby of the Millennium Falcon (take time to pose for pictures in its swanky booth) until your color is called. When your color is called, all 6 members of your group will be taken into the cockpit and of the Millennium Falcon and told where to sit.
Pilots up front, gunners in the middle, and engineers in the back. Everyone has to work together to successfully complete the mission. Gunners shoot down enemy ships, engineers fix and damage that the ship acquires, and pilots fly the ship.
The entire experience is intense, wildly fun, and feels insanely realistic. You feel the Falcon bounce off of the things it hits. You aggressively shoot your weapons at the enemy to keep everyone else alive. You feverishly make repairs to keep the ship in the air. It’s AWESOME.
I don’t want to give everything away but I will say that Star Wars fans will definitely not be disappointed. I was a gunner and took down 6 enemy ships during my flight. Not bad for a first timer. I definitely want to be pilot next time.
A word of caution- if you are prone to motion sickness and rides like Star Tours make you queasy, you may find this ride getting to you as well. I was definitely getting nauseated by the end of the ride.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Stepping into the Stormtrooper Room Feels Like Stepping into a Star Wars Movie | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Disney calls Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance their most ambitious ride to date because it pushed the boundaries of technology and sets a new standard for guest immersion. The entire experience is nearly 20 minutes long!
The Queue
As with several other recent rides, Disney continues to begin their storytelling and guest immersion with highly detailed queues which help set the scene. Riders begin in the forest. They follow a path towards the remains of an ancient civilization, and wind through stone corridors towards the Resistance encampment.
There are opportunities for guests to use the Play Disney Parks app to join either the Resistance or the First Order, and play interactive games while they wait in line.
The Ride
The great thing about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is that the queue and the ride sort of blend into one exciting experience. The real excitement begins when you enter a briefing room and spot BB-8. Shortly thereafter, Rey appears in a holo-transmission and you suddenly feel like you are in a Star Wars film!
Rey gives you your mission (and a couple other Star Wars stars make an appearance), and after briefly heading outside in a themed courtyard, you will board an Intersystem Transport Ship (ITS). During this portion of the ride, you are standing in a room with Lieutenant Bek, a Mon Calamari. His character, along with so many others you will encounter, is incredibly realistic.
The ground will start vibrating and It will as if your ship is lifting off heading into space. The imagery created by cutting-edge technology will definitely make you feel like you are flying in outer space! Alas, the ITS gets caught in the tractor beam of a Star Destroyer and your ship is captured. But this is when the real fun begins.
First Order members ask you to disembark the ship and you enter a room filled with 50 Stormtroopers. It will take any Star Wars fan’s breath away.
After that, a First Order member (aka Castmember) will put you line and assign you a color. You are placed in a cell and interrogated by General Organa and Kylo Ren. The doors close. All seems bleak. Until, the Resistance cuts through your cell wall and tells you they have a plan for escape!
Your vehicle is a First Order Fleet Transport piloted by a R-5 droid that has been reprogrammed by the Resistance. You sit in your color group, buckle up, and enjoy the adventure!
I could go on and give a detailed account of all the fun you are about to have on these trackless vehicles, but I think you should watch the video below instead. Let’s just say you won’t be disappointed!
The minimum height for this new ride is 40 inches. This ride isn’t fast or jerky like a roller coaster (it is actually incredibly smooth) but it is quite realistic and might be scary for especially timid young guests. The audio-animatronics and technology used to bring this ride to life are truly unbelievable.
There are video motion effects in some of the scenes but since it isn’t prolonged, it didn’t make me nauseated like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run does. Even those of us prone to motion sickness are okay on this ride.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Character Visits
Trekaroo Editor Sharlene Earnshaw and Rey | Photo by Katie Bodell
Disney has gone to great lengths to make the land as immersive as possible- the cast member costumes alone took 3 years to develop! Each person is a citizen of Batuu and has their own backstory. We all want to meet our favorite Star Wars characters while inside of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Luckily, Disney have given us several opportunities to say hello!
Instead of just having the traditional character meet-and-greet locations, many of the characters will be mingling with visitors throughout the land. There are also raised platforms by the various airships which allow for various character mini-performances to take place.
Chewbacca trying to convince customers to give him their food at Ronto Roasters | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
During our visit Rey was found wandering around the ancient ruins of the Black Spire Outpost looking for Resistance recruits as well as over by the Millennium Falcon. Chewie, temperamental as always, seemed to be just about everywhere. He even got a group of visitors to walk all around him so that he could “hide” from the the First Order. Vi Moradi was creeping around all over the land. She is a spy for the Resistance and always looking for people to help the cause.
The Dark Side is represented as well. Kylo Ren with his posse of Stormtroopers tend to hang out over by the First Order encampment. As does General Hux. They are very suspicious of everyone they encounter and are especially wary of cell phones. You will also often see Storm Troopers over by Docking Bay 7. Don’t be surprised if they ask you to show the ID to prove you are who you say you are! It is all great fun.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Food and Beverage
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Coke Products | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Sure, we have all wondered what it is like to pilot the Millennium Falcon but have you ever thought about what it must be like to taste Blue Milk? Star Wars fans will now have a chance to sample this as well a diverse array of food while on Batuu. There are over 50 different menu items and we aim to try them all!
Mobile Ordering will be allowed at Docking Bay 7, Ronto Roasters, and The Milk Stand. This will allow guests to avoid long lines by pre-ordering and pre-paying for their food. If you’re traveling with someone with has food allergies, we have tips on visiting Disneyland with Food Allergies.
Ronto Roasters
The Ronto-less Garden Wrap is a Tasty Vegetarian Option at Star Wars: Galaxy Edge | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
This food stand’s large entrance features a smelter droid turning a podracer spit filled with exotic “ronto” meat.Their signature food item will be a Ronto Wrap. This handheld pita sandwich is filled with roasted pork, Portuguese sausage, and a cabbage slaw topped with “clutch sauce”. The wrap was pretty tasty and easy to walk around with while exploring the land. The flavors are mild enough to appeal everyone.
There is also a vegetarian Ronto Wrap option. It looked like sausage. It tasted like sausage. But it was meatless and tasty! Wash it down with a Tatooine Sunset- a drink with an Arnold Palmer vibe.
Note: There is no gluten-free food option at Ronto Roasters at this time.
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
Fried Endorian Tip-yip | David Roark/Disney Parks
This restaurant is housed in a multi-purpose transport shuttle that is docked atop a large hangar overlooking the Millennium Falcon. Inside Chef Strono “Cookie” Tuggs is serving up a wide variety of dishes using spices and techniques from across the galaxy. It is the main eatery in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Food options here include Kaadu Ribs (pork ribs with a blueberry muffin and cabbage slaw) , Felucian Garden Spread (a vegetarian “meatball” dish served with herb hummus and tomato-cucumber relish with pita bread), chilled Yobshrimp Noodle Salad, and Fried Endorian Tip-Yip (rectangular fried chicken served atop mashed potatoes and veggies with gravy). Save room for a Batuu-bon for dessert.
If you are looking for a fun beverage don’t miss the Meiloorun Juice which is based on fruit from the popular Star Wars Rebels animated series.
Note: The kid’s version of the Yobshrimp Noodle Salad is gluten-free. If you are a gluten-intolerant adult, you can order the adult version of the salad with the kid’s sauce. This is the only gluten-free meal option we could find in all of Batuu.
Milk Stand
Blue Milk and Green Milk | Photo by Disney Parks
Blue Milk and Green Milk are sold at this food stand. Theses vegan milks are are made from a combo of coconut and rice milk and served in a slushy form. Blue Milk was first seen in Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope. It has a tropical sweet flavor which reminded me a bit of tropical flavored bubble gum. The Green Milk made its debut in Star Wars: Episode III- The Last Jedi. Green Milk is quite floral with a citrus undertone. In my non-scientific poll, everyone agreed that Blue Milk was better.
Kat Saka’s Kettle
Popcorn at Kat Sakas Kettle | Photo by Disney Parks
We all love Disneyland popcorn but they had to dream up something extra special for Star Wars fans so they kicked things up a notch at this food stand. The resulting popcorn snack is sweet, salty, and savory. It really quite tasty and hard to stop eating. Bonus- it is gluten-free!
Oga’s Cantina
Oga’s Cantina | Photo by Disney Parks
At long last, your dreams will be realized; you can enjoy a frosty beverage inside a Cantina like the one made famous in the original Star Wars film! Oga’s Cantina is loud, fun, and filled with fun drinks to enjoy. I really felt like I had stepped into a Star Wars movie while hanging out here. DJ R-3X, of former Star Tours fame (yep, he’s back!), steals the show with great music. I wanted to book him for my next party!
Non-alcoholic drinks include the Tatooine Sunset which is a tea-based drink and Moof Juice which is a pink fruit juice. Blue Milk is also available at this location but it isn’t a slushie. I like the slushie version much better.
Cocktails have fun names like the Fuzzy Ttauntaun, the Outer Rim, Bespin Fizz, and Jedi Mind Trick. All the cocktails we tried were actually really good. Beer, wine, and cider is available to purchase as well. Drinks are typically about $15 but if you want a souvenir Endor Mug, that will set you back $42. A Rancor Beer Flight Souvenir Board with 4 Teeth is a whopping $75!
Oga’s is one of the most popular spots in all of Batuu. Reservations may be required to enter Oga’s Cantina. You can book your reservation using the Disneyland app. You will need to “participate” in the experience (aka: buy a drink).
There is very little seating inside the cantina because they really don’t want people to hang out in there for too long. We were happy to stand at the bar and soak in the ambiance. Customers are allowed a 2 drink maximum per person and a 45-minute max experience inside the cantina. I imagine this will continue to be one of the most popular spots in Batuu for many years to come.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Shopping
We can buy shirts with Star Wars characters on them just about anywhere these days, so Disney made an effort to do something different with the merchandise for sale in Batuu. Instead of selling the same old gear, they are also selling things that you might expect to buy while visiting this distant planet in another galaxy which is pretty cool!
Droid Depot
Droid Depot Conveyor Belt | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Build your own droid! For $99 you can start with a base model (R-series or BB-series) and then choose parts from a conveyor belt to customize your droid. Additional programming chips and special accessories are also available. There are almost 280,000 possible combinations so the possibilities are (almost) endless.
After you finish building, take your droid to the activation station to being them to life. These special droids will be able to interact with elements in the land as well as other droids.
Besides the build-your-own fun, Droid Depot also sells pre-built droids, droid action figures, color changing droid play sets, droid apparel, and light-up R2-D2 or BB-8 headbands.
Play With Your New Droid at The Droid Maze | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
Trekaroo Tip: There is a maze area for droid owners to try out their new new droid behind the Black Spire Outpost Marketplace.
Savi’s Workshop-Handbuilt Lightsabers
Savis Workshop | Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks
As the name suggests, this is the place to go to build and customize your own lightsabers. “Gatherers” help shoppers look through unusual parts and pieces so they can build a lightsaber that is unique to them. You must pay the $200 lightsaber fee before you are allowed to enter Savi’s. Only 2 people per lightsaber are allowed to enter.
On busy days, reservations may be required to enter Savi’s Workshop. You can book your reservation beginning at 7am on the day of your visit via the Disneyland app. You will need to “participate” in the experience (aka: buy a lightsaber).
Choose from 120,000 possible combinations in 4 different lightsaber themes. Peace and Justice uses scraps from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships to create a lightsaber reminescent of the Republic era. Protection and Defense uses mysterious materials to connect the owner of these lightsabers with the Force. Elemental Nature uses Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones and Rancor teeth to craft a special saber. Power and Control, well those are best for those insterested in the powers of the dark side.
Ultimately, this experience seems to be the Star Wars version of the Harry Potter wand experience at Universal Studios. Since major Star Wars enthusiasts are flooding the park right now, the line for participating in this experience is quite long. We can’t imagine there is an endless supply of people will to spend $200 on a lightsaber so I imagine lines will die down significantly in a few months.
Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities
Dok Ondar’s | Photo by Disney Parks
A wide variety of rare and mysterious items are for sale in this shop. Keep your eyes out for Dok-Ondar and the large Ithorian in charge of checking inventory.
Lighsaber replicas from popular characters such as Luke Shywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Maul. Kyber Crystals, the heart of lightsabers, are sold here as well. Of course, every lightsaber needs some good accessories so Dok sells those, too!
First Order Cargo and Resistance Supply
First Order Cargo | David Roark/Disney Parks
Just outside of the market you will find First Order Cargo, selling pins, caps, gear, and model ships which allow guest to pledge allegiance to the first order.
Hidden in the Resistance command center over by Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is Resistance Supply, filled with pins, caps, and gear that will help guests feeling like they are joining the cause. You can even buy a soldier’s ration kit that was modeled after Luke Skywalker’s kit in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
Black Spire Outpost Marketplace
Black Spire Outpost Marketplace Entrance | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
In addition to consulting George Lucas’ private Star Wars archives, imagineers traveled to the open-air markets of Morocco and Turkey to find inspiration for Black Spire Oupost. They used a special scanner to create 360-degree images and 3D prints were made to serve as models for items sold in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
I absolutely loved this market. There are a few different stalls at this market. Kat Saka’s Kettle is located here, as well as the following:
Creature Stall
Creature Stall | Photo by Sharlene Earnshaw
The Creature Stall sells rare and fascinating creatures from across the galaxy. Perhaps you have your eyes on a Kowakian Monkey-Lizard which loves to sit on your shoulder. Or maybe you are more of a Porg person; these flat-muzzled owl-like creatures love to chirp and flap. Of course, nobody can resist a Loth-cat from Lothal. These adorable creatures can either be naughty or nice, depending on how you treat them.
Toyrdarian Toymaker
Toydarian Toymaker | Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks
Toydarian Toymaker sells toys crafted by a Toydarian, an alien species first seen in Star Wars Episode I- The Phantom Menace. Children will love the plush Yodas, Chewbaccas, Ewoks, and more. There are toy vehicles modeled after famous vessels from across the galaxy as well as a variety of games such as Chance Cubes, Dejarik, and Cards of Sabacc.
Black Spire Outfitters
Black Spire Outfitters | David Roark/ Disney Parks
Check out the latest fashion in the galaxy at Black Spire Outfitters. This is the place to purchase robes, tunics, and lightsaber belts. Robes are inspired by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s own garb.
Jewels of Bith
This seems to be the most classic tourist shop in Batuu. There are plenty of souvenirs to remind you of your time on this remote planet, such as clothing, drinkware, and even cooling fans for those hot Batuuan days.
Disclosure: The author received complimentary admission to Disneyland in order to attend the media preview of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. All opinions are her own.
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