Galaxy’s Edge had a dedication ceremony on May 30th, opened on May 31st to reservations, and will open to the public on June 24th at Disneyland. It will open at Hollywood Studios on August 29th. So for Star Warriors, the fans of Star Wars, Disney fans, and everyone else here are some considerations ro know before you go. First, know that June to August 11th, is some of the busiest times for Disneyland.
Hollywood Studios has more lighter guests at that time, but it might get more with the opening of Galaxy’s Edge. The park expansion was announced by Bob Iger at the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015 during the Star Wars portion of the live action movies presentation. Side note: D23 Expo returns to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 23 to 25th. The theme park presentation might reveal what we will have in store for Galaxy’s Edge in the future. I’ve tried to keep surprises for you to discover at Galaxy’s Edge.
Hollywood Studios has more lighter guests at that time, but it might get more with the opening of Galaxy’s Edge. The park expansion was announced by Bob Iger at the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015 during the Star Wars portion of the live action movies presentation. Side note: D23 Expo returns to the Anaheim Convention Center on August 23 to 25th. The theme park presentation might reveal what we will have in store for Galaxy’s Edge in the future. I’ve tried to keep surprises for you to discover at Galaxy’s Edge.
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| A-Wing fighter at the Resistance Base, Galaxy's Edge, photo by the author. |
I was able to get a reservation for June 6th, initially it was for a group of five, but was changed to only one additional guest. I submitted the other group members, but only one guest was added to my reservation. I heard at Galaxy’s Edge that one group had four. I’m not certain what is the current policy. There are several groups that enter Galaxy’s Edge. The reservation establishes when you start two hours before your reservation time. This is at Star Wars: Launch Bay in Tomorrowland. There is a queue to the side of the Launch Bay displays, winds past the cantina-like booths, to several cast members that enter your reservation into computers to get your group wrist bands.
They are color coded which identifies your group. Then, about one hour before your reservation, you gather at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It extended to the side of the Splash Mountain queue. Next, it goes to the side of Hungry Bear by the river, and your wristband QR code is scanned. The last queue area is right before the Resistance base, it has an aisle for guests who may be from the previous group. There are cast members, residents of Black Spire Outpost?, who are there to answer guest questions. Shout out to members of the Resistance; Thomas, Tina, and Brian! The usual greeting is "Bright suns!"
They are color coded which identifies your group. Then, about one hour before your reservation, you gather at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It extended to the side of the Splash Mountain queue. Next, it goes to the side of Hungry Bear by the river, and your wristband QR code is scanned. The last queue area is right before the Resistance base, it has an aisle for guests who may be from the previous group. There are cast members, residents of Black Spire Outpost?, who are there to answer guest questions. Shout out to members of the Resistance; Thomas, Tina, and Brian! The usual greeting is "Bright suns!"
You see the Resistance X-Wing, some people were amazed at the engine sounds, and there are several merchandise kiosks. I was unable to see what they offered in terms of merch. Wandering around is Rey and Chewbacca, they were celebrities like rock stars, followed around by guests. Once the group is given entry, there is a crowd that heads to Black Spire Outpost. Cast members block off entry at what is the entrance of the Market. Then, you can enter towards the First Order base entrance.
Here Kylo Ren wanders around, but there are mostly stormtroopers. This is the Galaxy’s Edge entrance by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Now here is the other consideration, there are highly popular areas in Galaxy’s Edge that also need reservations. The reservations run out fast for the four hour time so that may be your first place to go if you are interested. There is Savi’s Workshop and Oga’s Cantina. Only one person is needed to make a reservation so you can divide up your group. You may want to see both places, but note that you must purchase the $199 lightsaber to enter Savi’s Workshop. There was also a queue for Droid Depot, but unfortunately, I never entered it.
Here Kylo Ren wanders around, but there are mostly stormtroopers. This is the Galaxy’s Edge entrance by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Now here is the other consideration, there are highly popular areas in Galaxy’s Edge that also need reservations. The reservations run out fast for the four hour time so that may be your first place to go if you are interested. There is Savi’s Workshop and Oga’s Cantina. Only one person is needed to make a reservation so you can divide up your group. You may want to see both places, but note that you must purchase the $199 lightsaber to enter Savi’s Workshop. There was also a queue for Droid Depot, but unfortunately, I never entered it.
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| Lighsabers at Savi's Workshop, photo by the author. |
Savi’s Workshop, the queue ends at a counter where you select your lightsaber style, there are four, and purchase it. You are given a pin to wear and a color-coded card. The time for your group is given to you and there is a separate queue area with seats. Once your group time is up, you enter the darkened room of the workshop. There is a long, rounded table which you find your section; I think there is space for about sixteen Force-sensitives. It is a show similar to Ollivander’s at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, except it is for everyone not one volunteer.
The other important part is that you get to build your lightsaber. The three assistants, called Gatherers, are incredibly helpful in helping you construct your saber. Shout outs to Gatherer Adam and Sam! Oga’s Cantina has a return time that is notified by cell phone messages. There is also a queue to the side of the building before you enter the cantina. It is a large, darkened room with booths right out of A New Hope. There are tables around the curved bar where you can order alchololic drinks and drinks like lemonade or snacks. Also, there to provide music is DJ Rex, he of course is the former droid pilot in the original Star Tours.
The other important part is that you get to build your lightsaber. The three assistants, called Gatherers, are incredibly helpful in helping you construct your saber. Shout outs to Gatherer Adam and Sam! Oga’s Cantina has a return time that is notified by cell phone messages. There is also a queue to the side of the building before you enter the cantina. It is a large, darkened room with booths right out of A New Hope. There are tables around the curved bar where you can order alchololic drinks and drinks like lemonade or snacks. Also, there to provide music is DJ Rex, he of course is the former droid pilot in the original Star Tours.
Let’s get to food, drinks, and snacks. First, of course is Blue Milk at the Milk Stand, it needs a more distinctive name. This is across from the First Order Cargo shop. Blue Milk is delicious! It is made with coconut milk with fruit flavors which is refreshing on a hot day. The cost is about $8 and worth it. A drawback is that it is iconic, yet served in a cup, I think it should be in a collectible bottle similar to Harry Potter’s butterbeer. There were Coco Cola thermo detonators at the Resistance Base and at the Market by Savi’s Workshop, but I don’t like its Star Wars theming.
Kat Settle’s Kettle offers popcorn and you can buy a collectble mouse droid container, about $20. It is around the corner from Ronto’s Roasters. It is a showcase having a podracer engine cooking a ronto. I bought a Ronto Wrap and a non-alcholholic Tatooine Sunset. The wrap was in a pita with pork like a hot dog, yummy, and the Tatooine Sunset was a tea, lemonade, with melon and blue berry flavors. Shout out to Anthony! I did see Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, but passed up it’s menu, maybe next time. I like the Galaxy’s Edge food and drink offerings, they are different, it seems less exotic than the offerings at Pandora: The World of Avatar at Walt Disney’s World’s Animal Kingdom. I didn't get to Kat Saka's Kettle, long line, but had my Ronto Wrap on the table next to it.
Kat Settle’s Kettle offers popcorn and you can buy a collectble mouse droid container, about $20. It is around the corner from Ronto’s Roasters. It is a showcase having a podracer engine cooking a ronto. I bought a Ronto Wrap and a non-alcholholic Tatooine Sunset. The wrap was in a pita with pork like a hot dog, yummy, and the Tatooine Sunset was a tea, lemonade, with melon and blue berry flavors. Shout out to Anthony! I did see Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, but passed up it’s menu, maybe next time. I like the Galaxy’s Edge food and drink offerings, they are different, it seems less exotic than the offerings at Pandora: The World of Avatar at Walt Disney’s World’s Animal Kingdom. I didn't get to Kat Saka's Kettle, long line, but had my Ronto Wrap on the table next to it.
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| Dok-Ondar at Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, photo by the author. |
There are also some shops to cover including Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. There is a large statue of a female Jedi where you queue to enter Dok-Ondar’s den. You enter the den which is filled with so many creatures, weapons, and artifacts that you can really just look around the shop. I bought a holocron, $49.99 and kyber crystals, $12.99 in small capsules. You can place the kyber crystals into the holocron for a message! There is a button on top that activates the voices. Of course, there is Dok-Ondar himself, who is in a cage, busy at work. He is featured in the Galaxy’s Edge comic book. It is the most fun place I went to at Galaxy’s Edge. Shout out to Natalie!
Then, there is the Creature Stall in the Market, I really wanted a Puffer Pig. There isn't animation or creature sounds from parts of the store like what is in Harry Potter at Universal parks so it is just rows of stuffies. I ended up a Krykna Spider, $19.99, it is of course based on a Ralph McQuarrie design for Dagobah. It showed up in Star Wars: Rebels. The best part is that it skitters, once I saw that, I bought it. All of your creature purchases come in large boxes like carrying cases. This is something that is not at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Kowakian Monkey Lizards are on the side of the shop. I would like to have seen a Womp Rat or a Dianoga. I did not get to Toydarian Toymaker which was across from the Creature Stall.
I hope this gives you good ideas about what to expect at Galaxy’s Edge. There was some signage, but I was mostly confused about locations there. The cast members are there to help you. There are some wrinkles to be worked out, “patience you must have”, cast members are working out their characters, and service is being smoothed out. I didn't get too much interactivity with the cast members, there weren't too many hints of an ongoing story such as that of Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town Alive! or a Renaissance Faire. Also, there didn't seem to be any missions to search for things like the map quests at Walt Disney World.
There are hints of the Resistance and First Order, but there really isn’t a store for supplies for the smugglers who seem to be a big part of the Falcon ride. The entertainment offerings are minimal, there is a First Order searches for the Resistance offering, but I didn’t see it and there doesn’t seem to be times for it. The theming is excellent, not to the extent of being on another planet, still very hot, there needs to be more tarps or places with shade. We will cover the Millennium Falcon attraction soon! There were a few shops that I did not visit so I do expect a return trip to Batuu.
Then, there is the Creature Stall in the Market, I really wanted a Puffer Pig. There isn't animation or creature sounds from parts of the store like what is in Harry Potter at Universal parks so it is just rows of stuffies. I ended up a Krykna Spider, $19.99, it is of course based on a Ralph McQuarrie design for Dagobah. It showed up in Star Wars: Rebels. The best part is that it skitters, once I saw that, I bought it. All of your creature purchases come in large boxes like carrying cases. This is something that is not at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Kowakian Monkey Lizards are on the side of the shop. I would like to have seen a Womp Rat or a Dianoga. I did not get to Toydarian Toymaker which was across from the Creature Stall.
I hope this gives you good ideas about what to expect at Galaxy’s Edge. There was some signage, but I was mostly confused about locations there. The cast members are there to help you. There are some wrinkles to be worked out, “patience you must have”, cast members are working out their characters, and service is being smoothed out. I didn't get too much interactivity with the cast members, there weren't too many hints of an ongoing story such as that of Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town Alive! or a Renaissance Faire. Also, there didn't seem to be any missions to search for things like the map quests at Walt Disney World.
There are hints of the Resistance and First Order, but there really isn’t a store for supplies for the smugglers who seem to be a big part of the Falcon ride. The entertainment offerings are minimal, there is a First Order searches for the Resistance offering, but I didn’t see it and there doesn’t seem to be times for it. The theming is excellent, not to the extent of being on another planet, still very hot, there needs to be more tarps or places with shade. We will cover the Millennium Falcon attraction soon! There were a few shops that I did not visit so I do expect a return trip to Batuu.
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| DJ Rex at Oga's Cantina, photo by the author. |
#GalaxysEdge, #Disneyland, #StarWarsLaunchBay, #SavisWorkshop.
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