Walt Disney once famously said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” Since its creation, Disneyland has expanded many times over the decades, bringing new attractions, rides, and worlds to the delight of park visitors young and old.
One of the most recent additions to Disneyland was Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Ever since Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars in 2012, the House of Mouse has done all it can to capitalize on its acquisition. In 2019, Galaxy’s Edge officially opened to the public, becoming a cornerstone of the Disneyland experience.
If you haven’t been to Disneyland since 2019 (or haven’t fully explored this galaxy far, far away), now is the perfect time to book a trip. But what can you expect from this section of the Happiest Place on Earth? Here’s everything you need to know.
The Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
As you walk into this section of the park, you really feel like you’re entering a whole new world. While other sections of Disneyland feature themed decor and buildings, Galaxy’s Edge goes a step further by adding Star Wars elements to everything, including the walls. So, you don’t really feel like you’re inside Disneyland anymore, but at a brand-new theme park. Once you see the Millennium Falcon in all its glory, you would swear that you’ve stepped through the movie screen and into the actual Star Wars universe.
First, let’s answer some questions about Galaxy’s Edge:
Where is Galaxy’s Edge Located?
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is located at the left rear of the park. There are three unique entrances, and you can plan your visit accordingly. The first entrance is on the path between Fantasyland and Frontierland. The second is next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and it’s technically the “main” entrance. The final option is to walk up past Critter Country, where you’ll encounter the Rise of the Resistance ride.
Do you need a special ticket to enter Galaxy’s Edge?
No, all sections of Disneyland are included with your ticket, so there are no additional fees to get into Galaxy’s Edge.
While you likely won’t spend your whole day in this section of the park, there are plenty of things to see and do while you’re here. Here’s a complete breakdown of all the rides, attractions, restaurants, retailers, and characters you can discover.
Rides
There are only two rides at Galaxy’s Edge, but they’re both doozies. In fact, these two rides account for some of the longest wait times at Disneyland, so you must plan accordingly if you’re trying to do them both and visit other sections of the park.
The first is Rise of the Resistance, which is next to Critter Country. This ride is about as immersive as it gets, as you move around a First Order ship and try to escape. Technically, you’re riding as a droid, but each vehicle holds up to six passengers. During the ride, you’ll have narrow escapes from First Order troops as you make your way through different sections, including the bridge where the sinister Kylo Ren tries to trap you.
Overall, the ride is about four and a half minutes long, and it’s non-stop thrills and excitement the whole way through. So, even though you’ll be waiting for at least an hour (realistically speaking), it’s well worth braving the lines.
The second ride is Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. This ride came online with Galaxy’s Edge (Rise of the Resistance didn’t debut until 2020), and it’s a much different experience. Firstly, the line to get to the ride is full of Star Wars Easter eggs and a pre-show to get you hyped up. Some fans say the experience of waiting for the ride is just as enjoyable as the ride itself, but only if you’re a true Star Wars fan.
What sets this ride apart from others is that it’s much more interactive. Rather than being passive observers of what’s happening on screen, each rider has a role, such as pilot, gunner, and engineer. During the ride, each person has a job to do, which includes pressing various buttons. Because of this, the ride can be slightly different each time, particularly if you take on a new role.
Some people argue that Smuggler’s Run isn’t very exciting because it’s a virtual ride. This means that, rather than moving on a track, the whole vehicle shakes and turns while you watch the action on a 3D screen. However, because it’s so immersive, the ride feels about as real as anything else. Plus, because it’s virtual, you’re not bound by the limitations of a track.
Overall, while you may be waiting a couple of hours to experience both rides at Galaxy’s Edge, they’re a lot of fun and worth doing at least once. That said, you can buy Lightning Lane tickets to reduce the wait time and get more out of your Disneyland visit. You’ll miss some of the pre-ride action at Smuggler’s Run if you do it this way, so we recommend doing the Lightning Lane only after doing the regular line once for the full experience.
Restaurants
There are five unique dining options at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. Here’s a brief overview of what each offers:
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – The Docking Bay is a sit-down quick-service restaurant that has a limited menu. Options include a marinated chicken salad, fried chicken, seasoned beef, and even a vegetarian meal. Prices are relatively inexpensive at around $15 per person or less.
- Oga’s Cantina – If you want a more immersive Star Wars dining experience, you must make a reservation to eat at Oga’s Cantina. You’ll find all kinds of wacky characters and an extensive drink selection. Here is one of the only places you can get cocktails and beer on tap, so plan accordingly. The food menu is relatively light, though.
- Milk Stand – Have you ever wanted to try the blue milk from Star Wars? Well, now you can! Milk Stand sells blue or green milk, as well as a “boba” style version and some puffbread to snack on while you walk around the park.
- Ronto Roasters – Street food is much more exotic when it comes from a galaxy far, far away. Ronto Roasters is a meat stand, and you can even see the robots roasting the Ronto right in front of you! In reality, you can get the famous Ronto Morning Wrap (with pork sausage or vegetarian), along with several unique beverage choices.
- Kat Saka’s Kettle – You may have had Disneyland popcorn before, but not like this. Kat Saka’s Kettle sells popcorn with red Crait salt or Cajun seasonings to kick things up a notch.
Shopping
A Disneyland vacation is not complete without buying at least a few souvenirs. There are quite a few retailers scattered throughout Galaxy’s Edge, and each one offers different types of products.
For example, at Savi’s Workshop, you can build your own lightsaber. At Droid Depot, you can build a droid with parts from different series, such as BB-8, R2D2, or C-3PO. Creature Stall allows you to buy virtually any huggable critter from the entire Star Wars saga, so it’s a favorite spot for younger kids. If you’re looking for more adult souvenirs and collectibles, you should visit Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.
Rounding out the shopping experience, you can buy clothing and swag from Black Spire Outfitters, all kinds of Star Wars toys from the Toydarian Toymaker, and First Order apparel and costumes from First Order Cargo.
Characters
Since Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is set during the sequel films, you won’t find any OG characters like Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker. Instead, you’ll be able to meet characters like:
- Rey
- First Order Stormtroopers
- Kylo Ren
- The Mandalorian (with Baby Yoda)
- Chewbacca
- R2D2
- Ahsoka
Since these characters are often just walking around the place, you’ll have to be on the lookout while you’re in the galaxy. They’re always game for photos if you ask politely.
Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
If it’s your first time traveling to a galaxy far, far away, you want to make the most of your journey. Here are some of our top recommendations to make this trip as memorable and engaging as possible:
- Download the Disney Play App – With this app and the Galaxy’s Edge Datapad, you can interact with various features throughout the area. For example, you can “hack” droids, panels, and devices. You can scan and decode markings on different crates. You can translate the various languages you hear throughout the park, and you can earn rewards for completing tasks through the app. Overall, this app makes Galaxy’s Edge far more interactive.
- Make Reservations Online – You’ll need reservations for dining and experiences like Savi’s Workshop. Without these reservations, you won’t be able to get the full experience.
- Dress the Part – There’s something so special about walking around a Star Wars-themed land while dressed as your favorite Star Wars character. Not only can you take better photos with the official characters, but many guests and park members will treat you like royalty.
- Take Advantage of Drop-Off Locations – If you’re building a lightsaber or droid, you don’t want to carry them around from ride to ride. Fortunately, there are drop-off stations that can hold onto your belongings until you’re ready to leave the park.
- Use the Lightning Lane – Since the wait times for both Star Wars rides can be long, you should take advantage of the Lightning Lane and Genie+. However, if you’re going to use Genie+, you’ll want to ride as many other Disneyland rides as possible to make it worthwhile.
How to Book a Disneyland Trip for Less With Boardwalk Travel Agency
As you can see, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is a universe of entertainment within the Disneyland Resort. But what if you could book your Disney vacation for less? As an independent travel agent with Boardwalk Travel, you can! Agents get access to special discounts and deals that aren’t available to the general public.
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Find out why Boardwalk is the best host agency for travel agents and sign up with Boardwalk today to see how becoming a travel agent can help you get more Disney!
