All You Need To Know About Exploring Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge

Why You Should Be Excited About Galaxy’s Edge

Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge open in 2019, and it seemed like the jury was out on the new addition to the park for the first few months. Was it worth the cost of admission? Was the food good? The blue milk weird? And were the new characters enough to bring the world to life? The answer to all of these things is YES, and you need to visit to see just how amazing this place is.

For Lucas Star Wars Fans

I’m what I refer to as a “Lucas” Star Wars fan, because I love the universe of Star Wars that was developed while George Lucas still owned his own franchise. I am honestly not a huge fan of what Disney has been creating for this science fiction staple. But nonetheless, I loved Galaxy’s Edge.

Even if you don’t like Disney’s new movies, Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge will make you feel like you’ve finally entered the world of Star Wars. It really was like a dream come true and I couldn’t get enough of it. In typical Disney fashion, they hit this place out of the park from the smallest detail to the largest. The buildings were amazing, and the food was fascinating. The lightsaber building experience was surprisingly emotional. I thought all of the cast members in Galaxy’s Edge were really great as well.

For Disney Star Wars Fans

I think it goes without saying, but I will say it. If you are a Disney Star Wars fan, Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge will have everything that you love! You’ve got the universe, you’ve got all the great characters from the movies, and more! You are really in for a treat if you love the newest movies.

(c) ABR 2019

For People Who Aren’t Star Wars Fans At All

You don’t need to be a Star Wars fan in order to enjoy Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge. If you love all of the environments that Disney creates, you will appreciate this corner of the park. Disney is in true form when it comes to this new addition. If you listen to the ambient sounds you will be hearing an alien world. If you are a plant connoisseur, you will notice that each piece of flora was selected for its beautiful and yet otherworldly forms. The buildings have a science fiction quality that is carried over into the gift shops and restaurants. It is truly a unique experience that any Disneyland fan will enjoy exploring over the years.

Getting into Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge

(c) ABR 2019

When Galaxy’s Edge first opened, there were a few hoops that you had to jump through in order to get in. Now, however, I can tell you that Disneyland’s version is fully open. So you don’t need to worry about reserving a time to enter or any time limits to how long you can stay in the area.

Just walk right in!

You will, however, need reservations to get a lightsaber or go to Oga’s Cantina. More details on that below.

Rides

(c) ABR 2019

As of writing this, there is only one open ride at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge- Smuggler’s Run. I had my doubts about this one, because I honestly couldn’t imagine how they were going to make the piloting thing work for a ride. But unsurprisingly, Disney blew me away. Somehow they made the labyrinth inside the building turn into the interior of the Millennium Falcon seamlessly. The credential system of assigning jobs also works smoothly. All of the positions are way more fun than I thought. Initially, I had assumed that anything other than the pilot position would be boring, but serving as engineer ended up being my favorite.

My only complaint is that I wish there was a little variety to the mission. That being said, I went on the ride about four times and never got bored with it. Smuggler’s Run is also kid friendly. I did see a few children disappointed that they weren’t able to pilot as good as they had hoped, however. In any case, I think this is a new chapter for rides. Disney has created something really special with Smuggler’s Run. Its both exciting and immersive and I love it for that.

When I visited Galaxy’s Edge, Rise of the Resistance was not completed yet. It opens in January 2020. So I can’t say how that one ends up, but I have high hopes for it! 

Restaurants and Food in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge

The Blue Milk

(c) ABR 2019

Blue “milk” has showed up in Star Wars since the beginning. It was present in a big (and weird) way in The Last Jedi. Now you have a chance to try it too!

In all seriousness, I thought this was a strange addition before I had the chance to give it a try myself, but I ended up loving this culinary creation. There are two flavor options at the Milk Stand- green and blue. Both of the milks aren’t actually milk, but rather a rice/coconut milk that is chilled to the point of having a slushy consistency. The blue option is a very sweet, dragonfruit flavor, and the green has a citrus flare. I really enjoyed both, but the citrus was my favorite. It’s a must-try in my opinion, and you can order using the Disney app if the line looks too long.

Oga’s Cantina 

(c) ABR 2019

Oga’s Cantina is the first real bar in Disneyland, and boy oh boy, the creative chefs at the park have really outdone themselves. You will find some very innovative flavors among the drinks on Oga’s menu. There are also some strange experiences to be had when you drink some of these concoctions. In particular, if you get the Fuzzy Tauntaun, expect to have your lips and tongue go numb. I considered keeping this a surprise, but I’ve heard that this has scared some.  For people with allergies, can it reminds them of having a bad reaction. So, if you are interested in something very strange, give this one a try and don’t worry if you end up feeling like you have sandy lips for a few minutes. It’s supposed to be that way!

So, yeah, the drinks are a huge draw for the cantina, but it kind of goes without saying that the atmosphere in this place is amazing as well. Oga’s seems to be inspired by the seedy bars of Tatooine, and I am all about it. We ended up at a stand-up section of the cantina. I totally fell in love with the glowing surface of the table, and the great view that we had of the whole place. The bar itself is a flurry of activity and above the bartenders is a massive array of strange and fantastical machines that seem to be harvesting the ingredients of your drinks in real time. Of course, they aren’t but I loved the creative flare to every inch of the room. Fans will also find a load of Easter eggs in Oga.

More Details on Oga’s

(c) ABR 2019

Finally, for those of us that loved the original Star Tours and its haphazard pilot, the little droid Rex has found a new home! Rex is now the DJ in Oga’s and I couldn’t be more happy to see him keeping his place in Disneyland.

In order to get into Oga’s Cantina you will need a reservation, and you will likely have to wait in line a little bit. So, get your reservation a couple days ahead of time at leasat, and then arrive in time to get in line. I know it sounds weird, but when you see how busy it is on the inside, you will see why. You should also expect to have a time limit once you get inside; I believe ours was 45 minutes.

The Docking Bay

(c) ABR 2019

The Docking Bay is the largest restaurant in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge and we stopped by to enjoy both breakfast and dinner here throughout our trip. This is one of those Disney dining options that involves ordering at the cash register and then picking up your food at the counter. There are some really interesting options here, all of which I enjoyed.

I will say, however, for people that prefer more familiar foods, I am somewhat doubtful that this will be a place that you are super comfortable exploring. There are some odd combinations of flavors and colors at Docking Bay, capturing the science fiction feel of the whole area, so it might be jarring to more picky eaters. For people who like giving new flavors a try, however, this is a great spot. I love the work that the Disney chefs did in putting together the menu here as with the rest of Galaxy’s Edge.

Merchandise and Souvenirs

I’m a bit of a souvenir fanatic, and I was really excited to buy some merchandise from my favorite science fiction universe. While there are some big ticket items in Galaxy’s Edge, like little remote robots and lightsabers, there are also plenty of little knick knacks as well.

Droid Depot

(c) ABR 2019

For building a robot, just stop by the Droid Depot. You will get to select an R2-D2 type model or a BB-8 from a conveyer belt. Both are adorable, but only come in a few colors so plan on personalizing yours with a decal or two when you get home. Once you have the main components of your droid picked out, you can move on over to the assembly area. A cast member will help you learn more about putting your new little friend together. Then you will have our own little work bench to get your droid functioning. It isn’t quite the show that building a lightsaber is, but it’s a really unique experience nonetheless. It’s also only just affordable at $100 for a standard droid without special parts.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities

(c) ABR 2019

The more expensive souvenir, of course, is the lightsaber. You can get this in one of two places. Character sabers can be purchased in Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, but you can also build your own. If you are interested in doing this, plan on shelling out $200 (without taxes) and getting a reservation ahead of time. We were able to get ours last minute, but I wouldn’t risk that if this is something you really want to experience. Just plan ahead and snag your reservation once you know what days you will be in Disneyland.

Savi’s Lightsaber Workshop

(c) ABR 2019

When your time comes around, head over to Savi’s Workshop and pick out your build from four different options. (1) Peace and Justice, (2) Power and Control, (3) Elemental Nature, and (4) Protection and Defense. Whatever you pick will lay out which pieces you get to choose from when you put your saber together. I would suggest going for whichever one fits the aesthetic you are looking for. Functionally, they are all the same. Also note that you are not allowed to trade pieces with other people while in the workshop, so either do so quietly or make your peace with the options you have. It really isn’t a massive selection. Once you pick, however, you will get a nice little pin, which is a cute little perk, especially if you are a collector.

After you pick your build and grab your pin, you will wait around for a little before being ushered inside by a cast member who reminds you that lightsabers (let alone the building of them) is illegal in First Order Space. Once inside, you will get a spot at the build table. You will pick your crystal. Then piece by piece you will put together your new lightsaber, until you are finally able switch on the blade and admire your handy work.

Other Spots and Thoughts

(c) ABR 2019

Outside of the big ticket souvenir shops, there are loads a great little stores to explore and enjoy. In particular, I enjoyed Dok-Ondar’s Den because the decorations inside are impeccable. The other smaller shops have both in-world and out-world options for visitors. I picked up a pair of Han’s dice, and a little carved animal that looked like something you’d find in a street shop in some ecotourism town. They also had postcards, costuming clothes, books, and more.

My one disappointment with the shops in Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge was with the in-universe clothing store. For one, there were no mirrors, so seeing how you looking in the crazy clothes wasn’t easy. The sizing was also very confusing, as was the fit of the clothes. I really wanted to get something from the clothing store, but there just wasn’t anything that fit me or looked right on me.

(c) ABR 2019

Looking for more…

We have a guide to Last Minute Disneyland trips, and a whole mess of posts about exploring California in our guide to the state.

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