This past weekend I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to see Disneyland’s newest “land” inspired by the Star Wars Universe: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Replacing the Big Thunder Ranch area located behind Thunder Mountain and spreading all the way around the backside of the park towards Critter Country, it’s a completely immersive experience like none other, bringing the joy and awesomeness from a galaxy far, far away.
Welcome to Black Spire Outpost, on the wild frontier plant of Batuu. The area itself is a 14-acre land that features several shops, attractions, restaurants and entertainment no one has ever seen before. Set between the films The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker, here at the Black Spire outpost it’s just another day for the residents. All the workers are always in character and have lives in the world of Star Wars. From the way they talk and interact with guests it really builds into the world you are visiting. The area is so immersive you can’t see anything “Disney”. From the clothes, the products, food and even seeing other areas of the park, you simply do feel like you are on another planet the whole time you’re there.
Galaxy’s Edge currently has two rides. The first is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – a simulator ride in which you can pilot the Falcon. You and five others take on the roles of pilots, gunners and/or engineers, assigned a mission from Hondo Ohnaka and Chewbacca to get a shipment of coaxium for the Resistance. The ride itself is amazing, and pure dream-fulfilling for any Star Wars fan. When you walk around the corner to the ride you are greeted by a life size to scale Millennium Falcon. It is astounding to see. And many a geek were standing there and crying. It’s a piece of art and such an important landmark in geekdom. Seeing the Falcon will definitely bring up some emotions.
The queue is long, but full of wonderful things to keep you occupied along the way. The Hondo animatronic is one of the best ever seen. He moves, speaks and looks like the real character from the Clone Wars and Rebels series. Once inside the ride itself it’s like walking into the movie and dreams. The ride is wonderful, fun and challenging. Yes! You get rated on your performance of piloting the Falcon. So you better do good, don’t crash the Falcon! Pulling the hyper-space lever was a dream I always had, and finally getting to do it was nothing but amazing.
The second ride which will open later this year is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – a dark ride in which guests are involved in a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Rumors are it will be something completely new, a never before seen kind of attraction that will last up 20 mins. Hope the rumors are true! Only time will tell.
The other three attractions other than food and shopping are: Mubo’s Droid Dept, where you can buy and build your very own R2 or BB droid; Oga’s Cantina, where you can try the best drinks in all the galaxy; and last but not least is Savi’s Workshop, where guests can create their personal lightsaber.
Oga’s Cantina is great looking, and the drinks are wonderful, but not worth the wait on your first trip. Because of the four-hour-only reservations Disney is doing right now this line can take up to two hours to get though, and frankly there’s other and better things to do than sit and drink. It’s way too small and at the end of the day it’s just a bar. Granted a very cool looking bar, but still a bar.
Mubo’s Droid Dept. is amazing. A conveyor belt constantly pushing out droid parts from one side of the store to another. Outside of the shop, guests will find audio-animatronic droids who will interact with visitors. Here you can build a R2 or a BB unit. Mix and match colors and create your only little friend that you control. Depending on what type of personality chip you put in the droid can be a rebel, smuggler or a First Order. And if you walk your droid into an area he’s not welcome in (for example: a resistance droid in the First Order area) the droid will react differently. They have a mind of their own and interact with things and places in the land itself. 99.99 for both models and that includes the instructions and carrying case.
But by far the best purchase you’ll make is to stop by Savi’s Workshop. There you will have a one-of-kind experience. Outside you’ll meet one of Savi’s Gatherers, where you’ll choose one of 4 available hilt themes and receive a cloisonné pin to identify your selection. Themes include:
-Peace and Justice
Salvaged scraps from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in these Republic-era designs that honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
-Power and Control
Originally forged by dark side warriors, this style features rumored remnants from the Sith home world and abandoned temples.
-Elemental Nature
This theme embodies the Force—an energy created by all living things, like Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones and Rancor teeth.
-Protection and Defense
Hilt materials bear mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect users with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
After asking yourself what kind of Jedi you would be, you are assigned a time to come back. Then you are ushered into a backroom where The Gatherers will now help you select the heart of your lightsaber, the kyber crystal, which is available in red, blue, green or violet. Next, begin assembling your hilt, from parts provided based on your theme. This was one of the best experiences of my geek life. Being able to make my own lightsaber is truly a dream come true. I chose the Elemental Nature path with a violet kyber crystal. The whole experience lasts about 25 minutes and is worth every penny. 199.99 is the current price, which includes your lightsaber, kyber crystal and carrying case. Yes, it’s expensive, but worth it. The saber itself is made of strong material, has some weight to it and can be taken apart and have other kyber crystals placed inside to make the saber any color you want it to be. The ceremony that takes place inside the chamber is nothing but breathtaking and I’m not going to lie, I rolled a tear for sure.
There are several different food options, whether you want a full meal from Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or just a simple snack from Ronto Roasters. From Docking Bay I tried the Smoked Kaadu Ribs: sticky pork ribs, blueberry corn muffin with cabbage slaw. It was pretty damn good. From Ronto’s Roasters I tired Nuna Turkey Jerky. It was fine. Not a lot of the food options thus far, but what they have is great.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is outstanding. Never have I had a better time being immersed in such a world where I literally felt like I’m not in Disneyland. From the sights, sound and smells this is the planet of Batuu. The best parts were making the lightsaber and the Falcon ride. The negatives were the lack of things to do and the Cantina which will cause issues in the future. But over all this was the best time ever and an experience I will never be able to have the same way again. Once more, Disney proves why they are who they are and why they get it right every time. So, if you get the chance to go, get there early, and make a plan to make sure you get to do what you want to do in a timely manner. Because this is new and the lines will be long. But completely worth it.
