The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios was the most anticipated event of 2019 at Walt Disney World. Initially scheduled for a fall opening, Disney brought it forward to August 29. Unfortunately, this was just a couple weeks after our 2019 Walt Disney World Vacation. 2020 brought a somewhat crazy change to our world, and only after five aborted attempts to visit Walt Disney World have we eventually visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, has the land lived up to our hopes? Here are our initial thoughts on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Where is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set in the village of Black Spire Outpost, on the remote frontier planet of Batuu. The land features attractions, shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Batuu is a new world to the Star Wars Universe created especially for Galaxy’s Edge. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is located at Hollywood Studios, and a similar land is also available at Disneyland California.
The land is awe-inspiring and is a genuinely immersive experience. You can easily imagine you are part of the Star Wars Universe, but Mickey ears, ECVs, and strollers slightly damage the illusion. However, there are some real fanboys around; all dressed up for the occasion in their best Jedi gear.
The Big Attractions
There are two big attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Both big attractions are great fun, but Rise of the Resistance is the must-do attraction for most guests:
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests pilot the Millennium Falcon on a mission to steal precious cargo from the First Order. Each guest will take one of 3 critical roles(pilot, gunner, or engineer) to complete the mission. The attraction is great fun, but the ride can be bumpy.
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, guests experience a battle between the First Order and the Resistance and even experience a Star Destroyer’s hangar bay. The attraction contains numerous features and sections, including a trackless dark ride, audio-animatronics, screen-based media, a walk-through section, actors, a motion simulator, and a drop ride system. The attraction includes most of the cast from the Star Wars sequels. Rise of the Resistance is hard to explain, but it is unmissable.
Other Attractions
There are so many things to see at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but two minor attractions I feel are worth mentioning:
- Oga’s Cantina isn’t a recreation of the famous cantina from Star Wars: A New Hope but is a similar local watering hole. The cantina is fantastic fun, but don’t buy the Bloody Rancor; it was “Bloody Rank.”
- Droid Depot has expensive droids you can make and take home. An expensive toy that will probably never be played with again, but it was good fun.
Final thought
I expected to be disappointed with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but I wasn’t! The attention to detail was fantastic, plus with two of the best attractions in Walt Disney World, I left happy. We will visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge again later in the vacation.
And finally…disaster in the toilet!
No further lost property to report today, but last night there was a disaster in the toilet. Walt Disney World toilets have an automatic flushing function, which occasionally goes off unexpectedly. However, last night, it went off and went off again, and again, and again, and kept going off. Eventually, the whole bathroom was flooded, and I was left a little wet as I hurriedly tried to get through the hotel lobby.
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