Bright suns and welcome back to KatDoesDisney!! My family and I recently returned from a trip to The World in February (where we stayed off-property!). We were very excited to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World for the first time. In this post, I’ll give you my honest take on the newest land in Hollywood Studios.
First and foremost, Galaxy’s Edge is unbelievably amazing! We have Star Wars fans as well as padawans in our group and everyone enjoyed the land equally. This truly takes the business of theme parks to a whole new level! Let’s talk about the various elements of Galaxy’s Edge:
The Atmosphere
To be perfectly honest, I was expecting Batuu (the host planet of Galaxy’s Edge) to be similar to Pandora- The World of AVATAR at Animal Kingdom. Beautiful landscaping and theming, but no real immersion and interaction. Oh how wrong I was! Galaxy’s Edge is just like walking into the Star Wars universe. So much so that you forget you’re in Disney World! The entire atmosphere is transformed into a galactic experience. The Cast Members wear unique uniforms so that they perfectly blend in and belong with the environment. There’s even a new lingo to go with Batuu!
We found we kept looking up to the sky because the sounds projected in Galaxy’s Edge perfectly mimicked a ship flying overhead. The Star Wars Characters (Chewy, Rey, Kylo Ren, and Storm Troopers) walk around freely and interact with guests. There are no true meet-and-greets!
Finally, you won’t find Mickey Mouse on Batuu (you’ll have to go “off planet” to visit him again!). There are still at on of Star Wars Easter Eggs hidden on Batuu, so make sure to check out every inch of the planet!
Oh! One last thing about the atmosphere… Galaxy’s Edge takes on a completely different feel at night. So be sure to visit Batuu in the evening. We actually made it a point to hop back on over there in the evening after visiting other parks!
The Food
Prior to traveling to Batuu, I read that the food was average at best and really polarized guests! Thus, I was a little hesitant to try the galactic treats. After doing so, my opinion is that Galaxy’s Edge has some amazing food and drink options! You just have to be willing to be a little adventurous. Makes sense if you’re visiting a new planet, right?
I’ll write a post reviewing the food in more depth, but our favorite dish was the Ronto Wrap from Ronto Roasters. It was so delicious we actually ate two wraps in one day! Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo also had some great options such as the Endorian Fried Chicken Tip Yip with macaroni and cheese as well as the Felucian Kefta and Hummus Garden Spread. YUM!
We frequented the Milk Stand quite often as we all enjoyed the “milk” there! Both blue and green milk are plant-based and served frozen. We were told the blue milk is tropical-flavored while the green is citrus forward. We loved and preferred the blue milk with or without rum. The green milk was also good, but just couldn’t compare to its blue counterpart.
The only food item that we collectively didn’t really care for was the flavored popcorn from Kat Saka’s Kettle. It tasted too artificial for us to enjoy.
Building a Lightsaber or Droid
Building a lightsaber or droid are both very different, but very memorable experiences on Batuu! I highly recommend constructing your own lightsaber, especially if you are a diehard Star Wars fan. The best way I can describe this experience is to say that constructing a lightsaber is actually a more of a ceremony. Let yourself get caught up in the moment and really experience the magic! It is definitely appropriate for adults or older children and the finished product is something you will certainly cherish forever. If you visit in the evening, find a PhotoPass Photographer as they will take some truly amazing pictures of you with your “scrap metal.”
Building a droid is more hectic and “messy” compared to a lightsaber. There’s no ceremony about it, but doesn’t mean it is any less fun! My husband and son loved picking all of the parts along the droid conveyor belt. They opted for the R2 units, which are easier to control and don’t get scratched as easily compared to the BB8 units. We still love having them run around our house!
Pro Tip: Be sure to secure a reservation for building a lightsaber or droid in advance. Otherwise, you may be stuck waiting for a while!
The Rides
Unfortunately, we were not able to experience either attraction on Batuu. With a little one in our party, it made it near impossible to ride efficiently. Rise of the Resistance required a boarding pass (which required a very early wake-up and commute in to Hollywood Studios). Smuggler’s Run was not on FastPass+ and the standby lines were just too long. It’s OK though… We have the perfect excuse to travel back to Galaxy’s Edge!
I hope you enjoyed this general review of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World! I’ll be writing more in-depth posts soon!
What are you most excited for in Batuu? Tell me in the comments below!
Until next week… Cheers!!