Galaxy’s Edge: What We Know & What We Expect for Hollywood Studios
Now that Galaxy’s Edge has opened to the public in Disneyland, we are excitedly waiting for Walt Disney World’s land to swing open the gates. From all accounts, Black Spire Outpost (aka Galaxy’s Edge) will be the same as the version in California. Disneyland had a successful opening, and we can only hope it goes smoothly for Florida. With the new land, here are a few things to expect when visiting a galaxy far, far away in August and beyond.
What We Know:
Food:
From the time Luke poured out a healthy serving of Blue Milk on Tatooine, we all wanted a taste of the yummy beverage (maybe now so much after The Last Jedi though). There are two versions of the milk-like drinks, and they both contain no dairy. Many people are saying these drinks have the consistency of a smoothie. The Blue Milk has a more coconut flavor, while the Green Milk is more melon-y. From all reports, the green milk is an acquired taste (i.e., gross).
Ronto Roasters features grilled sausages in pita bread with a helping of coleslaw, or you can try the sweet or spicy turkey jerky. The Tatooine Sunset is their take on an Arnold Palmer with added melon and blueberry flavors. For breakfast, they offer an oatmeal bowl or breakfast sandwich wrap.
The central quick service spot is located at Docking Bay 7. You can find everything from Smoked Kaadu Ribs to an Ithorian Garden Loaf (vegetarian option). If you are looking for chicken dishes, look for Tip-Yips on the menu. Like Ronto, there are a few breakfast options as well. They also have their own selections of specialty drinks, including Moof Juice (orange and fruit juice), Phattro (ice tea and lemonade), and Batuubucha Tea (pineapple and passionfruit kombucha). Docking Bay 7 and Ronto Roasters both have mobile ordering to make everything a little easier for you.
Kat Saka’s Kettle sells a mix of spicy and sweet popcorn. You can also find a few stands with the Coca-Cola thermal detonator bottles for purchase.
Merchandise:
Creatures and more are all for sale on Batuu. Want a Salacious B. Crumb? You got it. There are Loth Cats and Porgs galore at the Creature Stall. The Toydarian Toymaker is the spot to get more “rustic” looking versions of Jabba, Ewoks, and Stormtroopers in toy form.
Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities features plenty of higher priced items for sale (think legacy sabers), along with hidden Easter eggs from all the realms of Star Wars universe. You can even see Dok-Ondar keeping his eyes on the shop. In the Market, there are other souvenirs, crafts, and other trinkets you can purchase to commemorate your visit to Batuu.
If you are expecting to grab a Jedi robe and roam around Batuu, you are out of luck. Disney’s strict “no costumes for adults” policy still applies in the land, even though Black Spire Outfitters is devoted to authentic clothing (boo!).
There are two immersive retail experiences: The Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop. Both of these locations are listed as “attractions” on the Disneyland maps. At the Droid Depot, you can purchase an optional chip that will add a little personality to your BB or R2 unit. From there, you have to collect the parts and assemble the droid (with the help of a tech). Your custom droid (minus the personality chip) is about $100.
At Savi’s Workshop, it kinda works the same way, but you choose the kyber crystal (purple, blue, green, and red) with the hilt. A tech (oops, “Gatherer“) helps you assemble the blade, and you have yourself a somewhat personalized lightsaber for $200. In true Disney fashion, there is a bit of razzle-dazzle for both build-a-droid/lightsaber, so you are paying for the experience as well.
Residents of Batuu (Cast members):
From all accounts, the residents of Black Spire Outpost are the highlight of the land. Each cast member (there are over 1,400 people) has a unique story and costume. Some of the Star Wars characters roaming around the area include Rey, Chewbacca, Kylo, and a team of Stormtroopers. There are also some spies keeping tabs on the First Order for the Resistance. If you are a prequels/original trilogy/Clone Wars fan, you will be disappointed to know that none of these characters have a presence in the land.
Entry:
Disneyland offered “reservations” for entry into the park. Each person has a four-hour window to explore the land, fly the Millennium Falcon, build droids, and eat. The whole process for opening day was smooth sailing until the next group of reservations arrived, and there was a huge amount of overflow. For the most part, the land was uncongested, and many people were able to experience most of Batuu. Right now, Hollywood Studios are only offering an early opening for the land on August 29th.
Popular Spots:
Amazingly, the lines to pilot the Millennium Falcon/Smuggler’s Run were only long at the beginning of the reservation time slots. The rest of the day varied from 20 to 30 minutes. You are assigned the role of pilot, gunner, or engineer. Many people are saying the ride is not really a ride, but more of a video game experience. But seriously, how can you turn down a chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon?
The most popular spot is Oga’s Cantina, where you can hear DJ-Rex spinning out the tunes while enjoying an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. The line is often cut off at times, and the CM usually tells guests to come back in 15 minutes to see if a spot has opened up. If you have your heart set on sitting in the Cantina, you better make this your first stop, or at least, check back throughout the day to get inside.
What to Expect for Florida:
We are seeing what is extremely popular (Oga’s Cantina, Droid Depot, and Savi’s Workshop), and what is a walk-up (Smuggler’s Run) in the new land. Now, these times and popularity are based on timed reservations. Hollywood Studios has not tipped their hat whether they will follow Disneyland’s lead, or let it be a free-for-all come August.
Start planning:
Since there are no reservations (right now), preparing for the opening of Florida’s Galaxy’s Edge will take some patience and a lot of theme park strategy. Many guests are already planning to arrive midnight (or earlier) on August 29 and hope for the best. Disneyland’s first day was a calm and less hectic experience. With the enormous crowds, first-come-first-serve, and the Florida heat, that can spell a huge mess for the opening in Hollywood Studios.
So what is your take on the Disneyland Galaxy’s Edge opening? Do you think Hollywood Studios will set up a reservation system for opening day? Let me know in the comments.
