Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland opens this Monday, June 24 to the general public and without a doubt, it will be one of the most insane days at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure.
Previously, Galaxy's Edge was only open to those with timed reservation slots, which most people were able to get via an online reservations queue or through booking a room at one of the Disneyland hotels. We did the latter and forked out more money than we'd like to admit BUT at least we can tell you what to know before you go to Galaxy's Edge.
1. DOWNLOAD THE DISNEYLAND APP.
Do not even think of entering Galaxy's Edge, let alone Disneyland in general, without downloading the app. This will help you make reservations for Oga's Cantina and Savi's Workshop, where you can make a light saber (more on that below.) It will also help you determine exactly where things are located, especially if you can't read Aurebesh, the language of Batuu, the official language of Black Spire Outpost where Galaxy's Edge is located. You can also place mobile food orders through the app which saves you yet another long wait in a line.
2. CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN A BOARDING GROUP.
Anticipating that the crowds are going to be off the charts for Star Wars, not just on June 24, but nearly every day after, Disneyland will implement Boarding Groups to manage the influx of nerds, er, visitors to the park. And you'll need the app to see if Boarding Groups are required on the day of your visit. Some days they won't but we suspect they will be required in the beginning.
Here is more on this procedure from the Disney Parks blog:
You may use the Disneyland app to request to be part of a boarding group after entering Disneyland park, if implemented that day. Simply link the theme park tickets of everyone in your party together on the app to request the same boarding group for your entire party. To see which boarding group is currently being admitted to the land, look on the app or digital signage in the park.
If you enable push notifications on your mobile device, you will be notified when it is time to enter the land. If not, continue to check the Disneyland app or digital signage in the park, and enjoy other experiences, while awaiting your boarding group. You have up to two hours to enter the land after your boarding group is called for admission, so there is no rush!
3. MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THE CANTINA AND LIGHT SABER WORKSHOP AT 7AM.
Reservations for these two places will open in the app and on Disnyeland.com at 7am every morning. Make yours ASAP. If you get one, then you are automatically guaranteed access into the park, no boarding group needed. By contrast, when I visited, reservations for Oga's had to be made as soon as you entered Galaxy's Edge. And it was not guaranteed you would get a reservation after waiting in line. Grrr. So this makes it easier to get a reservation. However, you'll need to put down a credit card to hold the reservation. If you don't show up, you will be charged $10 at the Cantina and the full $199 for the workshop.
4. ONCE IN THE PARK, GET IN LINE FOR THE MILLENNIUM FALCON.
It will be tempting to want to ooh and aah at everything when you finally enter Galaxy's Edge but RESIST. Your first order of business should be to get over to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. It's awesome but lines will be long, especially since there is no MAXPASS available for this ride. See the video of the ride below.
The ride operators will “randomly” assign you your positions in the cockpit—pilot, gunner, or engineer. There are two of each positions. Pilots will do the most work while gunners and engineers will push buttons and try to get a high score. Younger kids will most likely be assigned engineers while super Star Wars geeks will angle to be pilots. After the ride, then you can roll back into the park and start exploring.
Searching for treasures in #GalaxysEdge ? Head to Droid Depot first to get your Batuuan Spira: the ancient currency of Black Spire Outpost. After a $100 activation, you can use it to purchase goods and services throughout Batuu and beyond! pic.twitter.com/ROYSEpXU5X
— Disney Gift Card (@DisneyGiftCard) May 31, 2019
5. BUY A BATUUAN SPIRA GIFT CARD.
These Batuuan currency gift cards sell out quickly, largely because they double as a “free” souvenir from Galaxy's Edge. Try to nab one when you get inside (they don't sell them at other shops outside of Black Spire Outpost). Then load it up with 100 credits, aka $100, and start shopping. Keep in mind you won't find many “cutesy” Star Wars merchandise but rather these handmade plush dolls, crazy-looking creatures from The Creature Stall, a sort of alien pet shop, and tons of apparel from First Order Cargo and the slightly more hidden Resistance Supply depot.
6. AND FEED YOURSELF.
If you're thirsty, you can use the spira to buy some Blue or Green Milk (we liked the green better) or the surprisingly tasty and healthy food from the cavernous Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. (We had pita slices and a plant-based kefta.) If you get into Oga's, you can even have alcohol, a first for the Disneyland park. Two other outposts serve quicker fare but are equally Star Wars land exotic. We also picked up a specialty Coca-Cola and Sprite bottle which are shaped like orbs and feature Aurebesh writing on the side.
6. THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ARE CHEAPER THAN LIGHT SABERS AND ARE INTERACTIVE.
On our visit, we didn't even try with the light saber workshop. Instead, we waited about 35 minutes in line to make both an R-series and a BB series droid at Droid Depot. The kids, er, visitors, get to pick out different color of droid parts, assemble them at a build table, have the droid activated and plopped into a cute cardboard box. Plus, we got two droids for the price of one lightsaber (Each droid is $99.)
What is great about the droid is that they interact with bluetooth beacons and other droids located throughout the park, so you'll be hearing your droid talking as you walk around. But remember, you'll have to carry this around with you the rest of the day.
7. PLAY ALONG.
The castmembers in Galaxy's Edge do. not. break. character. for. any. reason. If you are well-versed in the Star Wars universe, then go ahead and play it up. Ask them questions, tell them who you are allegiant to, make up a fake scenario, anything. And they will play along. It's pretty awesome.
8. TAKE YOUR TIME.
There are so many hidden elements within the 14 acres that make up Galaxy's Edge and you can only see or find them if you take the time to slow down and look at everything. Everything. For more information, you can always read the Disney Parks Blog for their official info, but I leaned heavily on the advice of Carlye Wisel, a theme park expert extraordinaire who contribues to Travel + Leisure. Read her pieces here. She's already working on the Galaxy's Edge that's coming to Walt Disney World this fall. #prayforusall.
BELOW ARE MORE PHOTOS OF GALAXY'S EDGE. YOU CAN FIND MORE UNDER THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE.
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