A Fan Guide to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

By: Arlene Allen

I know I’m not alone when I say Star Wars changed my life. I was an unusual girl-child who loved pirate movies, Westerns and action heroes and heroines. Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), unlike my other heroes of the day (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Bionic Woman,” “Wonder Woman”), did not answer to any man. Her snarky banter with Han (Harrison Ford) is still one of the highlights of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. She made me brave enough to go into comics and gaming stores. The rest, as they say, is history. Literally. My first husband used to dress as Darth Vader at special events. Yeah, yeah, I married Darth Vader. Trust me, I’ve heard all the jokes. Still, I’ve always wanted to be in a Star Wars movie. I had the opportunity to visit Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida where dream comes true in an entirely immersive experience that was more fun that I had ever dreamed.

As a family we planned our trip to coincide with the opening of the new attraction, Rise of the Resistance.  The Disney World app was invaluable. It lets you know wait times for all rides and attractions. It is also how we got our “boarding passes” for Rise of the Resistance.  I’ll give you some more planning tips at the end, but this app is a must. We arrived at the park at about 7:30 AM and the park was already open. The park will continue to open early to accommodate as many boarding groups as possible. As soon as our Magic Bands were scanned in, I got us boarding passes that put us in Group 65. Forty-five minutes later the ride was completely booked that day. However, Smuggler’s Run was only a forty-five-minute wait, so off we went to Galaxy’s Edge.

When you’re a kid it’s not so much that you believe in space ships or epic battles between good and evil. It’s that you WANT it to be real.  Well, turning the corner and coming face to face with a full-sized Millennium Falcon, my adult heart knew what my kid heart always knew. Holy Cow! It IS real. I’m supposed to be a writer, good with words, but all I can tell you that I just stood there gawking with my jaw on the ground.

We then got in line for Smuggler’s Run and dazedly wandered through the amazingly themed cue. At one point, Rey (a Disney cast member) comes out and tinkers with the Falcon. It lights up! It makes noises! I have no idea how the magic works, but was highly amused! The line sets you up to be a group of six. You’re assigned your flight position (I was a pilot!) … and then you get to wander the deck of the Falcon. I sat at the chess table with my daughter (she’s not a Wookie so I didn’t let her win).

The door to the cockpit opened and then there I was in the pilot’s seat. I was in charge of making the ship go up and down. Then, we were off on a mission to obtain containers for Hondo Ohnaka (you’ll meet him, one of the most complex animatronics Disney has ever made). Your group has to work as a team to fend of First Order ships, navigate a meteor field and land the Falcon safely. I’m not sure how well I did as a pilot, but wow! Sitting in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and jumping into hyperspace certainly blew my mind!

Because we had boarding passes, we were free to roam the park until our group was called. We rode Star Tours again, for the first time in many years. It is not in Galaxy’s Edge proper, but we were out to make this a Star Wars day. There, of course, have been updates and refurbishment through the years, but Star Tours is still a whole lot of fun.

Next up we tried Blue Milk and Green Milk. Both use plant-based blends of coconut and rice milk. You may actually like the Blue and Green Milk, but they both tasted like Pepto Bismol to me. Even adding rum to the Blue Milk didn’t help. So, we went and bought thermal detonators. That would be Coca-Cola products sold in bottles resembling those notorious detonators. At the time we went they were allowing only one “detonator” per person.

We also visited Sabi’s Libghtsabers, but I’m holding off until I see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Sabi’s is the most realistic and most expensive lightsaber, coming in at $200. But never fear, there are lightsabers of many sizes, shapes and colors located throughout the park. Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t have to be as expensive as perceived. We bypassed Mubo’s Droid Depot, but at the Launch Pad where you can meet and greet Star Wars characters, I made a tiny two-inch droid for under ten dollars. We also hung out and waited for Chewbacca. I have to say, I’m sad men are cutting their hair short, but not Chewbacca – he’s a rock star forever! I told him I hope I didn’t damage his ship too much.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a park in the process of evolving. Many references to classic Hollywood are fading away and The Great Movie Ride has been closed for years. It’s sad to think that many of this generation don’t know those classic movies. Of course, I loved the theme of “riding the movies.” With Galaxy’s Edge, though, you are actually IN the movie. Your Galaxy’s Edge experience is going to be different from mine as your family will have unique adventures themselves. Nowhere is this more evident than with Rise of the Resistance.  It’s an attraction, it’s an experience and it’s a ride. Once you agree to help the Resistance, you’re led through caves containing secret Rebel intelligence, flight suits and weapons. We get a message from Rey that the First Order is coming and we must protect the secret base. She tells us there’s a shuttle waiting for us…and when we exit the cave, there’s an X-Wing ready to accompany us and our shuttle. Both are ready to take off. I think that was my “OMG! It’s really real! I’m in a Star Wars movie!” moment. We get into the shuttle which takes off and you can see the earth retreating in the back window. Of course, we do get caught and pulled into a Star Destroyer with General Hux and Kylo Ren on board. I’m not going to spoil anything, but wow! Just wow! It’s just an incredible, immersive experience. I was in my own Star Wars movie.  I flew the Falcon. I defeated Stormtroopers and even Kylo Ren. It was an experience I’ll never forget!

Full costumes are not permitted in the park, except for small children. There’s a Jedi academy for the Padawans, but hope is not lost for grownups who like to cosplay! There is Disneybounding, which is dressing up in ordinary outfits inspired by characters. Star Wars Disneybounding is really popular, as well as the parade of t-shirts. “Wow, where did you get that?” is a common question. A sad warning though to those who wish to put Star Wars OC (original characters) names on anything – you can’t. Not even in Aurebesh (I tried). It’s a copyright thing. There were a few pouty faces, including mine, who simply stuck with my real name on my Magic Band. Maybe I started the day off as “Arlene,” but I actually became hotshot pilot (Hondo told me so) Lizzmere Valdash.

It was a fantastic overall experience, one I believe the whole family will enjoy. Walt Disney wanted to create “the happiest place on earth” where kids’ imaginations run wild and adults unleash their inner child. Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge fulfills that mission beautifully.