The latest addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is every Star Wars fan’s dream: Galaxy’s Edge. The Star Wars-themed land we’ve all been waiting for is by far the most detailed and authentic part of Disney World I’ve ever seen. With two rides, multiple restaurants and shops, and incredibly realistic scenery, you could easily spend hours in this part of the park.
I’ve taken everything I know about this amazing land and compiled it into the ultimate guide with everything you need to know about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge so that you can get the most out of your trip to the planet of Batuu!
This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn compensation when you click on the links in this post at no cost to you. For more information, see our terms and conditions. All opinions are my own.
Rise of the Resistance
The Rise of the Resistance is the newest ride in Hollywood Studios and Galaxy’s Edge. It’s definitely one of the most immersive and realistic rides that Disney World has ever done. Without giving you spoilers, here’s a little of what the ride entails. You are a part of the Resistance fighting the First Order and you get to travel into space and board a First Order Star Destroyer. As a Star Wars fan, I have to say that this whole experience was so cool!
Rise of the Resistance is not an easy ride to get on quickly. The wait during the day is nearly always over an hour. I suggest arriving at Hollywood Studios before the park opens and heading straight for this ride.
If you don’t want to get up early or wait for hours, your other option is to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane selection using Genie+. This pass costs an average of $15 per person, so I highly recommend getting to the park at rope drop instead.
Food and Drinks
There are lots of options for food in Galaxy’s Edge. One of the unique snacks available for purchase is blue or green milk!
I preferred the blue milk to green. They had a slushy consistency and a subtly sweet taste.
There are two restaurant options: Docking Bay 7 and Ronto Roasters.
I’ve never had the chance to try Ronto Roaster’s, but I did get to eat at Docking Bay 7. Honestly, I was unimpressed. As expected the atmosphere was authentic and cool, but the food was subpar, especially with the hefty Disney price tag. In my opinion, you’d be better off eating your meals at Backlot Express near Star Tours.
Oga’s Cantina sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks. Reservations would probably be a good idea if you want to go inside, but it is possible to get in without a reservation on some days. I was able to get inside with a very short wait during the morning.
We tried two of the non-alcoholic beverages and the Batuu bits which was a really tasty snack!
Oga’s Cantina has a neat atmosphere and friendly staff. The bartenders were very attentive and even interacted with DJ R3X (pictured above).
And don’t forget the famous thermal detonator Cokes! They offer Sprite, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola in various places throughout Galaxy’s Edge, and most are sold from these adorable transport carts.
Picture Spots
Galaxy’s Edge is a great place to take photos (and get some content for your Instagram!). Obviously, everyone wants to get a picture in front of the Millenium Falcon, but it’s usually pretty crowded. Luckily there are plenty of good angles to get a photo in front of it, and if you’re lucky, you might even find an empty spot like my sister Molly did!
Side note: I took all of these photos with either my Canon Rebel T5 and 18-135 mm lens or my iPhone. If you want to see more of my favorite camera gear and accessories, check out this blog post: My Photography Gear: What’s In My Camera Bag
Aside from the obvious photo opportunities like standing in front of the various ships, there are props and scenery everywhere that make a great backdrop. My favorite are the doors!
There are several different doors throughout Galaxy’s Edge that can perfectly frame a shot.
Shopping
As always, Disney has plenty to offer in the way of shopping. You can get some First Order gear at First Order Cargo or find some cool toys at Toydarian Toymaker and the Creature Stall, and those are only a few of the places to buy awesome Star Wars souvenirs!
At the Droid Depot, you can build and activate your own custom droid. You can build a droid with the same model as R2-D2 or BB-8 from the films, but you can customize the parts and colors. You can even get a personality chip (for an extra charge). Building your own droid will cost you about $100. You can make reservations for your droid building experience, or you may be able to walk right in on less crowded days.
I personally thought that the coolest store was Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. This shop is full of unusual items such as Jedi and Sith Holocrons, lightsabers, and plenty of other unique merchandise. The theming in this store was really detailed, just like the rest of Galaxy’s Edge.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
If you’ve ever wanted to fly in the Millennium Falcon, now’s your chance! You’ll work as part of the space pirate Hondo’s crew on a smuggling mission in the role of either pilot, gunner, or engineer. There are 2 of each role per flight since 6 people can fit into the Millenium Falcon’s cockpit. I personally prefer to be the pilot, but that doesn’t mean I’m good at it…
This ride is interactive. It’s the same story every time you ride it, but the outcome varies depending on how well you do in your role. Overall, this is a pretty fun ride, and it’s really neat to see the inside of the falcon. While you wait, you can even take pictures at the famous holo-chess table!
Characters
The characters in Galaxy’s Edge don’t really have assigned meeting areas. They can usually be seen walking around freely and interacting with guests. As long as they aren’t going somewhere, they will usually let you take a picture with them if you ask.
You can see Rey, Chewbacca, R2D2, and Kylo Ren and his Stormtrooper guards. The stormtroopers seem to patrol more frequently than the other characters.
Build Your Own Lightsaber
One of the most unique and immersive experiences in Galaxy’s edge besides the rides is Savi’s Workshop. Here you can build your own custom lightsaber using components from 4 different hilt themes, and you can even choose the color of the blade by selecting a Kyber crystal.
You will need to make a reservation for Savi’s Workshop, and purchasing the lightsaber is required. It’s expensive ($200 for the hilt and blade), but for Star Wars fans, it’s a truly memorable experience.
So there you go! It’s a lot, but it’s everything I know about Galaxy’s Edge. I hope you have an amazing time when you visit the planet of Batuu. I can’t wait to see what else Disney has in store for this amazing land!
What’s your favorite part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?
Recommended:
5 Must-Do’s in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
8 Must-Do’s in the Magic Kingdom
10 Snacks at Disney World You Have to Try
