Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, the Best Galaxy in California

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is obviously the hottest theme park ticket this year! Disney’s Star Wars land opened this month in Anaheim, California, and I was one of the few who had a reservation to get in early. Thanks to a lovely friend of mine, I was able to see the 14 acres of Star Wars at Disneyland the week it opened.

The Black Spire Outpost is on the wild frontier planet of Batuu, with its time period set between the films The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. As I had a reservation between 8 pm – 12 pm I was able to see the park without insane crowds, though it was still very full at the park that day.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Datapad

Before you even get to your hyperspace adventures at Disneyland, you can download the Play Disney app. It allows you to interact in the park, not just in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. It advises you to turn on location services and Bluetooth technology on your device so you don’t miss out on any experiences. Even though I had this turned on, I didn’t receive whatever I was supposed to at the end of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. Since I was there the week it opened, it may have just been a glitch.

The app turns into a Datapad designed to guide you on missions in the galaxy. You’re able to interact with droids, scan objects, translate other languages, listen to transmissions, and more. You’ll also be able to pledge your allegiance to either the First Order, the Resistance, or go out on your own as a scoundrel. When completing tasks, you can collect digital rewards.

It’s an interesting setup for someone with time; however, since we were trying to pack it in, I wasn’t able to freely wander around and use the app much. Once the crowds calm down, I’m going to guess it’ll be like Pokemon Go, as it’s a location-based game.

Visiting Savi’s Workshop

What would Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge be without custom lightsabers? I truly don’t know, and that’s why they have Savi’s Workshop, where you can build your own. If you’ve been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and seen the wand ceremony there, it’s a similar concept.

A group known as the “Gatherers” run a covert workshop to help Jedis build their custom lightsabers. With their help, you can select a kyber crystal and construct the lightsaber hilt with a variety of pieces from your chosen theme. When you go to make a reservation for Savi’s Workshop, you choose one of these themes:

Building a Custom Lightsaber

Once you’ve selected a theme, you’re given a cloisonné pin to identify your selection. Return to Savi’s Workshop at your allotted time. Ours was at 10:45 pm, I believe, but we didn’t get in until after 11 pm. This may have been because it is brand new, and they are still working out kinks, but be aware there may be a waiting period. Upon entering, the Gatherers help you select a kyber crystal, which is available in red, blue, green, or violet. Then, you can begin to build the hilt of your custom lightsaber.

Hilt parts include:

• 1 hilt
• 2 emitters (pick 1)
• 2 pommel caps (pick 1)
• 4 sleeves (pick 2)
• 2 sets of activation plates and switches (pick 1 set)

Finally, the Gatherers connect your hilt to a 31” lightsaber blade! Please note that you must pay $199.99 per lightsaber, plus tax. You can, however, bring people in with you to watch the ceremony. That’s how I was able to see it, as my aforementioned friend got the custom lightsaber.

There is one custom lightsaber per builder per experience. Same-day reservations are required. Reservations are released daily beginning at 7:00 am and are nontransferable. I’d say if you really want a lightsaber, do it. However, if it’s not worth the $199.99 to you, then you may want to pass.

The Droid Depot

Since we were going to Savi’s Workshop, we didn’t opt to do the Droid Depot experience as well. I did, however, pop in just to look around, which you’re allowed to do. It is stocked with parts, chips, manuals, and other items for constructing your very own droid.

If you wish to, you can either build a BB-series or R-series unit. You’re provided a blueprint and go thru stations to build the droid. When complete, you’re given a remote control to activate it. To build a droid at the Droid Depot, it’s $99.99 per unit, plus tax. Other personality chips and accessories are available for an additional charge.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Food

The minute we got into the park, we split up so that one of us was in line for reservations for Savi’s Workshop and another for Oga’s Cantina. I was in line for Oga’s Cantina for about 30 minutes before they told me it was full. They take same-day reservations, and I think everyone else went for that line as well because it was wrapped around half of the land. I wish you the best of luck in getting in!

We ate dinner at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. It’s like a cafeteria setting in that you walk up to order, wait for your food, and then sit where you like. I have to say we all enjoyed the food we ordered. It wasn’t my favorite Disneyland food of all time, but it was pretty good. I had the Ithorian Garden Loaf, which is a plant-based “Meatloaf” with roasted vegetable potato mash and vegetables in a mushroom sauce.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Drinks

After dinner, we went by the Milk Stand. If, during your 1 day at Disneyland, you download the Disneyland app, you can order some food in advance. The Milk Stand is one such place that does mobile orders. It tasted a bit like a fruity slurpee to me. I wasn’t in love with it, but it was okay. I believe we tried the blue one. Before the fireworks, we went to Kat Saka’s Kettle snack shop in the market. It’s unusual popcorn in that it tasted like fruity pebbles to me. I don’t think I would get it again, as I wasn’t thrilled about it.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities

One of the more interesting shops at Disney’s Star Wars land is the Den of Antiquities. You can buy souvenirs in it, just like the many, many other shops around Black Spire Outpost, but the decor inside is what I went in for. Every nook and cranny of the shop has nods to the Star Wars franchise. I’m told there’s even an Arc of the Covenant hidden there, but I didn’t see it.

As far as shopping here, you can get jewelry, kyber crystals, statues, cosplay outfits, lightsabers, and more. It’s a good shop if you’re looking for a gift or something for yourself.

Black Spire Outpost Shopping

There are a number of other places you can shop as well. Honestly, I’d say there were more shops in the whole of the Star Wars Disneyland section than in other lands throughout the park. There’s Black Spire Outfitters, First Order Cargo, Resistance Supply, Creature Stall, Toydarian Toymaker, and others. You will not be at a loss for shopping. However, I didn’t find anything I really loved. If you’re looking for some Star Wars Cosplay, they had some pretty good stuff. But I couldn’t really find anything I wanted.

A friend was looking for something with Han Solo on it, but we didn’t see much of any merchandise with characters on it. I’m sure the Disney Star Wars land merchandise will evolve and I’ll wind up finding something to take home!

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Now for the best part of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride is AMAZING!!!! I haven’t felt that invigorated by a theme park ride since Indiana Jones drove onto the scene. I got to be the left pilot, which means that I piloted the ship left and right while my friend was the right pilot, going up and down. She also put the Millennium Falcon into hyperspace twice! There are also engineer and gunner positions.

We did really well for our first time as I’m told if you damage the ship too much, you sometimes can’t jump to hyperspace. You’re seated in the cockpit for the duration of the ride; however, part of the wait for the ride is within the ship! And do not worry if you’re unsure of your skills; you can put it on autopilot, I’m told.

A Review of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

All in all, Disney’s Star Wars Land is pretty well done. My favorite part was the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride, of course, and I eagerly await the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride later this year.

I did see Rey and Chewbacca walking around the park, but no Storm Troopers. I’d really love it if they had more characters roaming around or a show like they did over by Space Mountain previously. They did have an excellent fireworks display right behind the Millennium Falcon, so make sure to check into that, as I’m told it’s only on certain days.

It is a bit costly if you’re big on shopping. Between the Droid Depot and building a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, you can easily spend $300+, not to mention the cost of food, drinks, or other merchandise. If you’re looking for a budget way to spend time there, I’d recommend sticking to the rides and the Play Disney App.

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