One of the main reasons for my recent trip to Walt Disney World in September was the chance to check out Disney’s new immersive land. Originally announced in 2015 at the D23 Expo, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has garnered serious attention from more than just hardcore fans. The 14-acre lands themed to the Star Wars franchise arrived on both coasts this year. While crowds haven’t flocked to the parks like Disney has expected, there is still a lot to like at Galaxy’s Edge.
My takeaway from this visit is that Galaxy’s Edge is an unfinished land. There’s too much pressure on the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction to carry the land. When the epic Rise of the Resistance opens at Walt Disney World on December 5th, it will change the entire dynamic. The looming question is whether Disney will also add entertainment and continue to enhance the land once it’s fully operational.
I visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios before dawn for the Extra Extra Magic Hours that started at 6 a.m. It was fun to see the park in darkness and then watch the sun rise. This article includes pictures from my visit on Friday, September 6th. Crowds were light, which was partially due to Hurricane Dorian occurring earlier that week. Join me, won’t you, for this visit to Galaxy’s Edge!
The Arrival to Galaxy’s Edge
My arrival to the Studios was just before 6 a.m., which was a bit late to avoid the masses on Hollywood Boulevard. Familiar Star Wars music played while cast members led us slowly through the park to Galaxy’s Edge. Because of the amount of people all heading to one place, it took a long time to reach out destination. The benefit was having a chance to experience the growing anticipation inside the crowd. The land had opened just eight days earlier, so most of us were seeing it for the first time.
My first impressions of Galaxy’s Edge focused on the massive scale of the area. It feels epic and fitting to the Star Wars universe. Because the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu is not something familiar from the movies, there is a real sense of discovery in this journey. The large spires lit up in blue in the background of this photo show the depth and size of this striking location.
Here is a closer look at the majestic spires within the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. The blue light does a great job in spotlighting the rock work and size of this land. This doesn’t feel like an artificial construction designed to fool guests. Instead, it sells the idea that we have entered a completely different world. This is not an easy task given the high expectations of modern theme park audiences. Even so, the Imagineers did an outstanding job conveying the epic scale.
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
The flagship attraction (at this moment at least) is the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run simulator ride. Our ultimate destination for this initial trip is the Falcon itself. This picture can’t fully showcase how large and convincing the ship is here. It’s the perfect photo spot and is definitely the big moment for Star Wars fans. Seeing the Falcon in its full glory near the entrance to the attraction sets the stage for the fun to come.
It is worth doing the standby queue in Smuggler’s Run at least once to check out all the cool details. The ship in this photo is bigger than it looks and accompanied by well-done background audio from the mechanics. There is a lot to see before you even get to the final waiting rooms, and this is one of several great examples. My posted wait time was 80 minutes, but I only waited about 35 minutes and barely stopped moving.
Our first stop is a preshow room with the stunning animatronic of Hondo Ohnaka, voiced by Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Pete from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). It’s easy to get distracted in this room and not listen to the key information from Hondo about our mission. He stands on a platform above us, and he’s a believable animatronic. It is an excellent way to introduce the story and create a believable world.
Before we start our mission, we can explore some familiar parts of the Falcon, including the iconic hallway. You can take a seat for a photo at the chess table and just appreciate the set design. It’s impressive to watch the cast members work in this area. Small lights reveal the next color group to depart, and it’s generally an efficient process. The only delay usually comes from guests expecting a longer wait inside the room. I never waited more than a few minutes during my four rides.
There is a lived-in feeling to this entire attraction that deserves a mention. One aspect that I enjoyed in the original trilogy (and recent films) was the down-to-earth setting. This does not feel like a computer-generated fantasy where everything looks pristine. This jumbled mess of wires in the waiting room offers a perfect example of the excellent theming inside Smugglers Run. The Imagineers created a believable world that fits in the Star Wars universe.
I did not spend my time in the cockpit taking photos; there was a job to do! Even so, I couldn’t help but take a quick shot before we took off to get the coaxium. I never got the chance to pilot the Falcon, though I did operate the guns in my first ride. The other three roles were all engineers thanks to the single rider line. I still had a blast with each job and got better each time.
Oga’s Cantina and Blue Milk
It was not a surprise when Disney announced there would be a cantina at Black Spire Outpost. It represents a classic Star Wars setting and gives Disney the opportunity to sell very expensive food and drinks. My ADR was around 10 a.m. at Oga’s Cantina, and that is not the optimal time to visit. The atmosphere felt a bit too relaxed to sell the concept. This picture shows the attractive theming, but it is harder to appreciate while standing in a small slot at the bar.
DJ Rex from the original Star Tours keeps spinning the dance tunes inside Oga’s Cantina. It’s a cool nod to the original Star Wars attraction, but I don’t want to over sell it Depending on where you’re sitting, you may barely see Rex high above the festivities. I like the choice from Disney and have heard it’s a fun place at night. I would have enjoyed paying less than $15 for a beer; that’s even high by theme park standards!
Disney keeps trying to find its own Butterbeer, and I’m not sure the answer is blue or green milk. I did try the sweet blue drink, and it fared better than I expected. It’s not a bad choice for a hot Florida day! Guest reactions have been muted, though I expect offering rum at the Studios might help sales. This photo shows the design of the primary milk stand, and I like how it avoids just looking like a typical drink stand.
The Ultimate Conflict at Galaxy’s Edge
We’re reminded throughout Galaxy’s Edge about the ongoing conflict between The First Order and The Resistance. Kylo Ren and Stormtroopers frequent the area looking for spies, and Rey and others work to stop them. I would have enjoyed seeing more live entertainment, but I can’t complain about the design. This shot with the large First Order banner provides on example of how the small touches sell the battle.
We also see the presence of The Resistance through ships like this X-wing fighter. Galaxy’s Edge includes numerous photo spots and little nooks that expand the story. I spent a few hours there and feel like there was still plenty to experience. There was a lot of care put into the layout and the physical sets that expand the story inside the land. Galaxy’s Edge has a lot of promise, and the impending arrival of Rise of the Resistance should take it to another level. Thanks for joining me on this Star Wars journey through the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu!
Other Photo Essays
Exploring Pandora: The World of Avatar
A Visit to the Disney/MGM Studios in 1989
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How I would improve Galaxy’s Edge:
– Open Rise of the Resistance
Yes I already know ROTR will open later this year in WDW and next year in DL but its still counts as to what I would improve with Galaxy’s Edge.
– Move The Jedi Training Academy to the ‘Resistance base’ area.
It’ll give the kids something to do.
– Add more missions to Smugglers Run.
– Let The guests get more than one or two containers of coaxiem on Smuggler’s Run.
I heard somewhere on the internet that you can get three but I’m guessing thats not at all true at this point.
-Add more interactive elements in the land.
Not just ones that can be triggered by doing something on your phone, but a more ‘hands on’ approach.
-Add a third attraction somewhere in the land.
wasn’t there going to be one where you we’re riding on the back of some kind of creature?
– ADD ROAMING ALIENS AND DROIDS! Seriously. This my biggest complaint with Galaxy’s Edge! aside from Chewie Why are there no alien characters roaming around? Or droids? most of the characters we currently see walking around the land are Humans (Vi Moradi, Rey, Kylo Ren, The Stormtroopers, An Imperial officer, and CMs)
Hopefully we’ll see these changes soon once the land is fully operational, rather than allowing it to just exist unchanged for all eternity. Because I feel that Galaxy’s Edge is in desperate need of entertainment.
Price, these are great ideas and would definitely help with the land. I agree that we need more customized options on Smugglers Run. I would hope that Disney has plans to add more missions in the future; they also could make edits to give you more variability even within the first mission. I enjoyed it but do feel like it needs more variety for repeat visits. Rise of the Resistance is going to make a big difference, assuming they are able to keep everything operating well. It’s a complicated ride system! I also think that more walkaround characters and entertainment would also improve it. The little bit that’s there is great; they just need a lot more of it.
Great article, Dan! Thanks for walking me around the new land. Like your other commenter Price, I am mourning the loss of the Bantha ride that was planned but scrapped. How wonderful it would have been to give people a “Peoplemover” type tour around the land. I know capacity might have been an issue, but hopefully they could have worked that out. I look forward to visiting the outpost eventually!
Thanks Melanie. I agree that it would have been amazing to have that view of Galaxy’s Edge. It would expand the land so well! Having a laid back way to enjoy the scale of the area would also complement everything else perfectly. I think they could have figured some way to keep the vehicles moving and expand the capacity. I guess you never know what can happen down the road!