9 Things to Know Before You Visit Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World

On Saturday, August 17, a moment that had been building up for years after waiting with the patience of a Jedi Master arrived - I got to visit Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (thanks to my passholder preview)! After having an incredible six and a half hours (yes, I know the time slots they gave were only four hours, but no one checked and we had so much fun that time flew by), I've finally found myself in an emotionally capable place to whip up the 9 things I think you ought to know before visiting Batuu, specifically in Hollywood Studios (though these things will likely apply in Disneyland, as the lands are near mirror images of each other). 
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1. It's immersive - like, really immersive!

I honestly forgot I was in Hollywood Studios for a while! The land really puts you in Black Spire Outpost, which means we aren't on our dear Planet Earth anymore - we're on Batuu in a galaxy far, far away.

That means you can expect signage (and soda bottles) written in Aurebesh (a language from the saga), cast members in character, and interactive components throughout the land (more on that later, but I do remember refilling my water bottle where a dianoga lived and a cast member being absolutely disgusted that I would dare drink it! But don't worry, the water is legitimately clean. Dianogas aren't that nasty).

There are also some local phrases you'll hear. It may be handy to be familiar with them such as:

• Bright suns! = Good morning/Hello
• Rising moons! = Good evening
• Refresher = Restroom
• Hydrator = Water fountain
• Til the spire! = Goodbye (think of it as, "Until we meet again," and it will seem less ominous, haha!)
• May the spires keep you = Goodbye

There's more that you'll hear, but these are the phrases I heard most. Also don't forget that if you ask, "What movie is that from?" that there are no movies on Batuu because this is their reality! It may be better to ask something like, "Where do the legends say this is from?"

2. Smuggler's Run is meant to be ridden multiple times.

The story for the ride is really fun and something that kids and adults can both enjoy, especially if you've seen The Clone Wars and/or Star Wars: Rebels (the animated series) and thus know Hondo Ohnaka. Hondo, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a space pirate who is ultimately out for himself (mainly, his wallet) but does have a good heart at the end of the day. He's acquired the Falcon and is recruiting you to help him smuggle some coaxium (not sure what coaxium is? They cover this in Solo: A Star Wars Story!). You'll get a cut of the profits, but it depends on how good of a condition your ship is in and if you can get one or two shipments. 

After going through the queue of the workshop where they run some tests, you get some beautiful views of the top of the Falcon from above, and then you get to board the famous Corellian freighter after meeting Hondo himself. The Hondo animatronic is beyond realistic and absolutely mind blowing; I didn't bring my DSLR, so my zoomed in iPhone pic doesn't do him justice!

You walk through the hallways and are given a card for one of three positions: pilot, gunner, or engineer (two of each per ride). You then get to hang out by the Dejarik board and take a seat (and photo!) while you wait for your boarding group to be called. Your boarding group is the color of your card stating your position. Then, behold the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. I'm not going to lie, you guys -  I got really teary eyed. The first time I rode it, I got to pilot with my dad (my fiance was a gunner for us) and I was the one to launch the ship into take off and also to pull the lever for us to make the jump to lightspeed, and that's when teary eyed switched to full streaming tears. The surrealness and immersion of it all was a lot, and I loved every second.

My view as the left side engineer during the ride

 My view as the ride side pilot right before we started

Anthony said that being a gunner was just okay - it was the more boring of the three positions - so we went on again to see what luck we'd have for positions that time. We both ended up engineering, and it was a ton of fun. You don't see a ton of action since you have a lot of buttons to push - especially if your pilots crash a lot - but you get a nice theater view of the cockpit when you do have a second to sit back and enjoy it.

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Getting to pilot the Millennium Falcon with my dad was definitely a highlight of my Galaxy’s Edge experience, and we weren’t too bad! Props to Anthony for being a great gunner and for engineering with me on a second ride where we kept the ship in perfect health. □

A post shared by Jessica • Disney + WW Blogger (@magicallyfit) on Aug 20, 2019 at 4:38am PDT

Worth noting: this ride is not necessarily friendly for those who are prone to motion sickness. If you do not fare well on Star Tours, I would think twice before boarding - it is very similar, but you don't wear 3D glasses.

3. And yes, if you're a bad pilot, they will call you out.

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A post shared by Jessica • Disney + WW Blogger (@magicallyfit) on Aug 23, 2019 at 4:18am PDT

This was advertised as something they'd be doing when they announced the ride a while back - that if you did a great job, the locals would applaud you for it, but if you weren't too hot of a pilot then you might get some attitude for it.

Well, I don't know how they did it, but they did. When I piloted, my dad and I had a little bit of a bumpy start (but once we figured out the controls, we made for pretty good pilots!), and when I went to buy some blue milk for everybody, the cashier knew we crashed it a few times at the start. Oops!

By the way, blue milk was delicious - it reminded me of a Starburst smoothie. I've heard mixed reviews on green milk, though!

4. The Batuu residents (aka cast members) all have their own stories, so they're worth talking to.

Each of them has taken so much time and care into crafting their characters that it is definitely worth chatting with them on your travels! They will tell you when the Resistance and First Order arrived, and they may have even picked a side that they sympathize with. If you really want the full experience, definitely take a few moments to have some conversations - you'll learn the local lore and find yourself even more immersed.

5. You'll see some fan-favorites roaming the area, but it is not your typical photo op.

If you've ever been to Hollywood Studios, then you know how the two stormtroopers would roam around the area by the Launch Bay, and they might snap a pic or they might just be on patrol and have to go? Similar concept here.

You can expect to see Kylo Ren with two stormtrooper guards patrolling and making sure there aren't any Resistance fighters (they tend to start over by the First Order base); Chewbacca stopping for a few photos before helping a Resistance engineer repair an X-wing in the Resistance camp (though he can also be seen hanging out nearby the Millennium Falcon, too!); Rey trying to evade the First Order throughout the land, mainly by the Resistance Camp and the marketplace near the Millennium Falcon; or Vi Moradi (recommended reading: Phasma by Delilah Dawson) trying to gather intel on the First Order to take them down.

They won't always have a Photopass attendant with them, but if you ask nicely, they're usually down for a quick photo (just be cautious of Kylo's temper).

New book release also worth reading: Black Spire! It follows Vi Moradi on Batuu.

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If you’re unfamiliar with Vi Moradi’s story, Phasma by Delilah Dawson is an amazing read and Vi is fantastic. □ You can spot this Resistance fighter gathering intel around Batuu to keep locals and travelers safe from the First Order’s reign!

A post shared by Jessica • Disney + WW Blogger (@magicallyfit) on Aug 22, 2019 at 4:22am PDT

6. Some of the food offerings are better than others, so pack a snack if you're picky.

While my fiance enjoyed the ribs at Docking Bay 7 and I've heard good things about some of the other options, I was not a huge fan of the yobshrimp salad (kid's menu version pictured below; the noodles reminded me of cellophane noodles) and there weren't very many snack options. The Ronto Wrap seems to be a fan favorite, but is the same price as a regular meal (and they're all pretty pricey), and the only real snack available at the park that isn't a cupcake is sweet-and-spicy popcorn. Oh, and I've heard many people say how excited they are to have dinner at Oga's Cantina - don't get too thrilled because they really only serve drinks. If you're a picky eater or follow a strict diet, then definitely bring your own snacks if you don't plan on leaving Galaxy's Edge. Otherwise, I'd recommend other quick service places outside of Batuu within Hollywood Studios. From now on, I'll be bringing a Built Bar with me! If you want to plan ahead with the Galaxy's Edge menus, you can check out my dining guide for Galaxy's Edge (featuring some highlights of healthier options) here.

7. There's more to the merchandise than meets the eye

Many of the offerings on Batuu for merchandise are interactive, like the Salacious Crumb Anthony got for himself or the kyber crystals that can be used in the holocrons (which are filled with Jedi or Sith knowledge and messages) and the lightsabers at Savi's. Lots of it is shrouded in lore, whether it be something as simple as Darth Nihilus' logo on a notebook or more intricate like Hera's kalikori (pictured) or Padme's headdress. Even the droids at the Droid Depot can have personality chips added to them so they have some spunk to your liking - oh, and the headbands you get there can talk to each other. Holocrons will talk to each other, too.

8. Savi likes to keep his lightsaber operation on the downlow, but there are plenty of options for sabers once you're in the door (or even if you opt not to build a lightsaber)

The Gatherers don't want Kylo Ren to think the wiser of them, so the operation is pretty lowkey. There are different themes to your lightsaber and its elements, but be warned - these lightsabers are heavy. I got to hold one in my hand and while it would be really cool as a display piece, it's not something I'd want to carry around if I was cosplaying a Jedi. If you're looking for a more lightweight piece, check out the Den of Antiquities; there are some legacy lightsabers there (aka lightsabers from characters) that are much more lightweight and a hair cheaper, too. I think that Savi's Workshop is a super cool experience and, seeing that real deal lightsabers that are battle ready are pretty expensive no matter where you get them, there's some added value with the experience added to it. But the weight is something to consider depending on what you'll be using it for! 

9. You get to choose your own story.

Remember how I said the land is incredible interactive and immersive? That continues on mobile! There's an app that Disney has called "Play Parks" which really can help you create your own story in Batuu with the Star Wars Datapad, which is available while you are located in Black Spire Outpost. 

You can hack into things and determine if you'll benefit the Resistance or First Order, examine what is inside crates throughout the land by scanning them, snoop in on transmissions from across the galaxy, translate the Aurebesh, and complete jobs and tasks and see if you end up being more of a Resistance fighter, First Order sympathizer, or a smuggler.

Just be sure to bring a portable phone charger because I found my battery draining pretty quickly, especially since I was going back and forth between the app and my camera!

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“Chewie, we’re home.” ✨

A post shared by Jessica • Disney + WW Blogger (@magicallyfit) on Aug 18, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

There you have it! Overall, I had an absolutely amazing time on Batuu and foresee myself going for many evening walks throughout the park and spending a little more time there than the rest of Hollywood Studios. I am so excited for everyone to experience this for the first time. Even my mom, who isn't super privy to everything Star Wars and didn't ride the Falcon (she gets motion sickness), found herself feeling really immersed in the land and enjoying herself. 

What are you most excited for in Galaxy's Edge? Let's discuss in the comments and on social!