After much anticipation, I finally got to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World! I had a great time exploring the details of this new land, and here are a few tips for your upcoming visit to Batuu!
Monitor Wait Times for Smuggler’s Run
The only attraction currently operating in Galaxy’s Edge is Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run – at least, until Rise of the Resistance opens on December 5. Smuggler’s Run is pretty popular and mostly had wait times of around an hour while we were there – but, the wait times fluctuated throughout the day, and by watching wait times we rode with about a 20-minute wait. So, keep an eye on wait times throughout the day and get in line if the wait goes down. You can also try for Smuggler’s Run first thing in the morning, but be sure you get there well before park opening – guests showing up right at park opening are typically behind a long line of everyone else that showed up before park opening.
Make Advance Reservations
There are some experience in Galaxy’s Edge that offer advance reservations, and I recommend making them if you want to participate in these, since walk-ups are limited or often aren’t available at all (when we were waiting to build our lightsabers, I listened to several people get turned away, since the experience was full for the day). Experiences that offer reservations include visiting Oga’s Cantina, building a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, and building a droid at the Droid Depot.
Characters Roam, But Don’t Meet
In the world of Galaxy’s Edge, you’re really visiting the planet of Batuu and meeting the residents of Black Spire Outpost – thus, there are several characters fans will recognize such as Rey, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and a few Stormtroopers roaming around, as well as characters specific to Batuu like Vi Moradi. Unlike the Launch Bay area elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, there are no organized character meets where you can expect to get posted pictures with characters. Instead, Chewbacca roams around the Millennium Falcon making repairs, Kylo Ren prowls the area with Stormtroopers, and Rey carefully avoids them. It’s easy to spot the characters as they roam, and there are opportunities to interact with them and – maybe – get a picture, but if you want a posed family picture you’ll need to go to the Launch Bay instead.
Download the Play Disney Parks App
For some extra things to do around Galaxy’s Edge, be sure to download the Play Disney Parks App on your phone. Once you’re inside Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll be able to access a Datapad to get more of the story around Black Spire Outpost. Here you can translate the Aurebesh writings around the land, scan crates to see what’s inside, and take virtual jobs from residents of the outpost – they let you earn credits to dress up your digital character in the app. My favorite thing to do with the app is the ‘hack’ function. This lets you interact with doors, panels, and ships around the land, often triggering an interaction with them, which was cool to see.
Visit at Night
If your trip allows for it, try to spend some time in the land at night. The area is beautifully lit after dark, and it’s awesome to see sights like the Millennium Falcon all lit up after the sun goes down.
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I’m Elizabeth, and I’m a planner, a vacation enthusiast, and quite the nerd. Even better, I’m dedicated to helping you plan an unforgettable vacation without all the stress. I like to say that I specialize in nerd travel – to me, being a nerd has always meant being unashamedly passionate about the stories I love. This is why I love planning for my favorite destinations – these are places that can take you right into the world of your imagination and make it real. If you’re just a grown-up kid like me, you’ll love these destinations, too. Whether you’re imagining fairytale castles or adventures with wizards and dragons, I can help you make it happen! I’m putting all that I’ve learned about vacation planning and my nerdy love of fantasy to work for you, so that you can write your amazing vacation story. Visit my blogNerdTravelPro.com to learn more about how you can get help planning your next adventure, and come visit me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for even more vacation fun and tips. Contact me at [email protected] to start planning.
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