What to Do and Not Do at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
When Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, many casual fans shared the same opinion.
They desperately wanted to visit the new themed land, but they were wary of going during the early months for fear of massive crowds.
Ironically, this led to articles wondering why crowds weren’t problematic at Galaxy’s Edge. The plan also backfired, as the pandemic ruled out Disney visits for wary vacationers.
Well, you don’t have any excuse now, as the time is right for your next visit.
Here are some things you should do and not do at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Don’t Sleep In
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance employs a virtual queueing system known as Boarding Groups.
You’ll get two attempts at this, but the first one represents your best bet.
The Boarding Group queue opens at 7 a.m., which means you’ll want your phone in hand at 6:55 a.m. The speed with which Boarding Groups sell out will blow your mind.
Seriously, at 7:01, if you don’t have a Boarding Group yet, you’re probably shut out.
So, you should plan your entire Hollywood Studios park visit around your early morning success or failure.
Let’s presume that you are fortunate enough to get a Rise of the Resistance pass. You’ll still experience some randomness.
Disney offers more than 100 Boarding Groups each day, which means you’ll have no control over when you get to ride this attraction.
That’s different than legitimately everything else at Walt Disney World right now.
If you have a Boarding Group of 20 or less, you must head straight to Galaxy’s Edge at the start of your park visit.
Disney will give you a one-hour window after it calls your Boarding Group. Honestly, there’s still some flexibility after that.
You should still expect to visit Batuu first in such situations. Otherwise, you’re taking a needless risk.
If your Boarding Group is above 20, you’ll have more than an hour and probably several to experience everything you want at Hollywood Studios.
Just remember that everything else you’re doing takes a backseat to your Boarding Group status.
Do Book Oga’s Cantina and Other Experiences Early
There are three upsell charges at Galaxy’s Edge, although one is really just a bar.
Oga’s Cantina is the most popular of the three, as it imitates a beloved scene from Star Wars: A New Hope.
Before the pandemic, Oga’s Cantina was one of the hardest tickets to get at Disney World. That situation only grew worse with social distancing.
Even with smaller crowds, Oga’s Cantina reservations proved nearly impossible. You can book 60 days in advance and should plan to do so the moment your window opens.
Otherwise, you’ll miss out on an extremely entertaining aspect of Galaxy’s Edge.
Similarly, Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop allow you to construct personalized Star Wars toys, specifically droids and lightsabers.
Savi’s Workshop is nearly as popular as Oga’s Cantina. If you want to guarantee yourself a personalized lightsaber, you should book this at the first opportunity.
Droid Depot’s popularity would seem strong compared to anything else in Orlando but does flag behind the others. You could feasibly get in without a reservation, but you should book this in advance to be safe.
Don’t Do Single Rider at Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
If you’re any kind of Star Wars fan, you’ve dreamt of walking through the cockpit and recreation areas of the Millennium Falcon.
When you choose Single Rider Line, your wait could be as much as 70 percent less. However, you’ll only get to do one of those things.
The ride takes place in the cockpit, but you’ll miss the rest of the ship.
Since the theming of this ride represents one of the integral selling points of the entire themed land, you mustn’t skip it.
By standing in line, you’ll receive a photo op in the recreational quarters that will continue to make you happy years after your visit.
Do Try the Blue Milk and Green Milk
I’ll be blunt. I think both of these are gross.
The texture feels wrong in my mouth, and the flavors are best described as liquid sin.
However, mine is the minority opinion. Disney communities passionately debate which flavor is better, which comes across to me like would I prefer Brussel sprouts or broccoli.
By the way, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, pair the milks with the Outpost Popcorn Mix. Milk and popcorn sound even grosser to me, but some folks rave about it.
Don’t Think Your Visit Is a Bust If You Can’t Do Rise of the Resistance
I realize that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has become the dominant attraction at Galaxy’s Edge and arguably Walt Disney World.
However, I’ll remind you of something that you may have forgotten.
When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in August of 2019, Rise of the Resistance wasn’t ready yet. It wouldn’t debut until early December.
Yes, Disney felt comfortable with what this themed land offered. So, it didn’t need Rise of the Resistance at the start.
For more than three months, guests happily devoured all the amenities at Blackspire Outpost before Rise of the Resistance ever operated.
Sure, you want to ride it. But please don’t feel like the success of your park visit hinges on it.
Do Take Your Time, as There’s Plenty to See
When’s the last time you were berated by a Stormtrooper?
Has blue-haired rebel Vi Moradi ever assigned you a secret mission?
Have you ever thanked Rey or Chewbacca for saving the universe?
You can do all of these things and so much more at Galaxy’s Edge.
The photo ops here rival anything you’ve ever seen at a theme park before. You can stand outside a full-sized Millennium Falcon or First Order Transport Ship.
In other sections, there are X-Wing ships and souped-up Landspeeders. You’ll even find some cubbyholes and a terrifying drinking fountain.
The Star Wars universe celebrates exploration, and the same underlying philosophy applies at Blackspire Outpost.
You may even find the occasional nook where you can capture a private moment.
If you spend less than two hours at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you’re doing it wrong.
