Mackenzie Clark
In a corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the entrance to the park’s latest edition: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The entrance is through a lantern-lit tunnel to which brings you to Batuu, a brand new Star Wars planet set within the third trilogy. Each building is made out of stone with unique designs, lampposts and colored tapestries draped off the overhangs. The life-size X-wing or fighter jet is stationed in various corners of the park to create an environment much like the Batuu.
Galaxy’s Edge officially opened on Aug. 29, 2019. The detail in the land alone, as well as the interactive language and games included on the Walt Disney World app is meant to make a trip to enjoyable both for super fans or those that have no prior knowledge of Star Wars.
The land allows fans to become part of a new story in the franchise while still including appearances of timeless Easter eggs throughout the saga.
“There’s crazy attention to detail,” FSC Senior Arjeet Tipirneni said. “You really don’t feel like you’re inside Hollywood Studios.”
This new section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios park offers 14-acres of immersion where Star Wars fans can become their own character in the story. Cast members are trained in speaking the Batuu’s language (which guests can access on the Walt Disney World app) while dressed in traditional robes and headscarves. Characters such as Chewbacca, Rey, Kylo Ren and StormTroopers interact with visitors as they walk around the park.
Galaxy’s Edge’s main attraction, a to-scale version of the Millennium Falcon, allows visitors to have an interactive experience. The Millennium Falcon, Han Solo’s starship, stands as the main staple of the land. Smugglers Run, one of two rides in Galaxy’s Edge, allows guests to become a pilot, engineer or gunner of the Millennium Falcon.
“No matter your position in the cockpit you have fun, and you’re incentivized because the better you do on the ride, the more you get to interact with the app around the park,” Tipirneni said.
The queue offers views of the Falcon and the land itself, as well as the ability to walk the white-tiled corridors of the Falcon.
Visitors are able to cosplay their favorite characters when they visit the Black Spire Outfitters, or they can adopt galaxy-exclusive critters at the Creature Stall. Savi’s Workshop offers a guided lightsaber building session for $200, while Droid Depot is the ultimate headquarters to build and personalize a droid unit for $100.
The land wouldn’t be complete without themed dining. Past the Millennium Falcon is the Milk Stand that offers blue or green milk, a refreshing, non-dairy blend of unique fruits. The green milk is “more refreshing and citrine” according to Tipirneni.
“[The blue milk] kind of tasted like cotton candy, but I wouldn’t get it again,” sophomore passholder Rachael Bennett said.
Oga’s Cantina is a bustling little outpost offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while DJ RX-24, a moving droid stationed in the corner, blasts classic Star Wars tunes and guides sing-alongs for guests. Docking Bay 7 and Ronto’s Roasters offer quick-service unique dining experiences that include their own story for guests to discover.
“Seeing everything I love about Star Wars in a personal and up-close way was so surreal,” Bennett said.
