Five Things to Know About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Galaxy’s Edge was among the most anticipated openings in the history of Walt Disney World, and for good reason! While Disney has always strived to provide guests with an immersive experience, Galaxy’s Edge allowed guests to step into a world that many had dreamed of. It’s possible to forget you’re even in Hollywood Studios, which is a testament to the work of the Imagineers who created Batuu. There’s so very much to explore here that these five things will serve as an intro, but we’re only really skimming the surface.

1. It started a long time ago…

“On the edge of the galaxy, between the Unknown Regions and Wild Space, there is a long-forgotten planet named Batuu.” This is how Disney describes the setting for this land, creating a brand new space not found in any of the Star Wars movies.

Galaxy’s Edge was announced in 2015 at D23, and four years later on August 29, 2019, it opened at Disney World. In all, Galaxy’s Edge comprises about 14 acres, replacing portions of the Backlot Tour and the Streets of America in Hollywood Studios. There are two ways to enter the land: one from Toy Story Land, the other from the top of Grand Avenue/Muppets area in Hollywood Studios.

No matter which way you enter, you leave behind the rest of the park and become surrounded by a galaxy far, far away. The village is called the Black Spire Outpost. (The story goes that the settlement’s name comes from the forest that once thrived here, but now only petrified tree trunks remain, one so dark it seemed to be a black spire against the sky.) Half of the village is occupied by the First Order; the other half is a secret base of the Resistance. The market feels like an uneasy middle ground where almost anything can happen.

FWIW, the Outpost can be a confusing area to navigate. Toward the marketplace especially, multiple intersecting paths make it easy to get turned around. But that all plays into the fact that the village is built on the remains of an ancient city that has long since crumbled into dust. It makes sense that builders of the outpost would utilize pre-existing roads, right? As for timeline, your adventures on Batuu take place somewhere between the events of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi and Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker.

2. You can aid the Resistance, fly the Falcon, and much more.

Without doubt, Rise of the Resistance  is one of the most remarkable attractions Disney has ever built. Walking through the hangar or under full-size AT-Ats alone will create memories you’ll never forget. Or you can choose to pilot (or ride along in) the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” at Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.

For adventures on the ground, you can build your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. The Droid Depot is the place for you if you’ve always wanted to build your own droid. Neither experience is cheap, and reservations are wise.

If you have a mobile device or a Magicband+ there are even more adventures to be had. The Play Disney Parks app will turn your phone into a Datapad, allowing you to translate signs from Aurebesh, interact with droids, and intercept communication transmissions. You can even hack into some control panels and other devices along your way.

With Magicband+ you can play the Batuu Bounty Hunters game. Starting at the Bounty Board between Droid Depot and the Market, use the Play Disney Parks app to select the game. Instructions will tell you how to play. Along the way, as you find bounties, you can use the Play Disney Parks app and see an amazing, augmented reality effect in the thermal viewer.

Lastly, some of the characters you may encounter roaming around in Galaxy’s Edge include Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, Kylo Ren, Rey, Vi Moradi, Mandalorian and Grogu. While not true meet and greets, it is a chance to sight them on the streets of Galaxy’s Edge and maybe interact for a while.

3. The dining is out of this world.

Dining on Batuu is…an interesting experience to say the least. Fans of Star Wars will find some familiar foods and flavors, while first-timers may be over- (or under-) whelmed by the offerings here.

Oga’s Cantina is a bar/lounge that takes its inspiration from the Mos Eisley Cantina in A New Hope. So very popular that you may find it hard to get in (reservations are required). The menu, as it were, consists primarily of cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Wine, hard cider, and beer round out the offerings while the “bar snacks” comprise Batuu Bits and the Happabore Sampler (a sort of other-worldly charcuterie board). While you drink, the droid DJ Rex provides entertainment for your listening pleasure.

If it’s a real meal you’re after, Docking Bay 7 food and Cargo is your best bet. Open for lunch and dinner, you’ll find above-average entrees and some plant-based and allergy-friendly options as well. The indoor seating makes it a great place to rest and take a break from exploring the planet.

The nearby Ronto Roasters is open for breakfast and lunch, serving drinks and the popular (and terrific smelling) Ronto Wrap from the grill.

On the go eating your thing? The Milk Stand serves the blue and green milk you’ve seen Luke Skywalker drink (it’s an acquired taste, to be sure). And Kat Saka’s Kettle serves flavored popcorn, beverages, and a couple other things…but I’m told the trick here is to combine the popcorn flavors as you eat. They’re meant to go together.

Lastly, even on Batuu, there are stands selling Coke products to quench your intergalactic thirst. You’ll recognize the logo even if you’re not fluent in Aurebesh.

4. You’ll find exotic antiquities and adoptable pets in the Market.

You might think that shopping would be difficult way out on the edge of the Galaxy, but happily, you would be wrong! There are all sorts of places here to stock up on supplies, adopt a creature, or outfit yourself for your next adventure. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the merchandise itself is that it doesn’t have the standard Star Wars (or Disney) logo anywhere on it. This is to avoid piercing the illusion that you are actually on Batuu, where all the souvenirs for sale were crafted by and for the Black Spire villagers themselves.

Many of the shops are located in the unique marketplace in the middle of the Outpost. One of the more interesting stops is Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Dok-Ondar is a hammerheaded Ithorian and the local “godfather” of black market goods. Look overhead as you browse, and you’ll see easter eggs from nearly every film or TV show in the franchise.

Bina’s Creature Stall is the place to adopt a plus Porg, a baby Rathar, or a Kowakian monkey-lizard that will stay perched on your shoulder. Take time to notice all the other animatronic aliens in here.

The Toydarian Toymaker features “handmade” toys by Zabaka the Toydarian. Plush dolls and AT-Ats look to be made from recycled scraps and parts gathered from who knows where? For T-shirts, caps, and pins you’ll find a selection at First Order Cargo, or if your thinking is more in line with the resistance, shop at the Resistance Supply stall. Lastly, Jewels of Bith offers shoppers a variety of accessories from all across the Outer Rim.

5. The Black Spire Outpost holds many secrets.

⭐ DJ R-3X had a previous job at Disney World. Before Star Tours was redesigned as Star tours – The Adventures Continue, DJ R-3X was a Star Tours pilot droid. The late Paul Reubens is the voice of DJ R-3X.

⭐ DJ R-3X works for Oga, but so do a lot of other folks, it seems. Oga Garra was created by the Imagineers for Galaxy’s Edge. Her backstory is that she’s the planet’s “crime boss” and everybody working on Batuu owes her in one way or another. You’ll never see her, but sometimes you can hear her shouting at the cantina workers.

⭐ Disney Imagineers traveled around the world to find inspiration for Batuu and the Black Spire Outpost. In order to make the market area as realistic as possible, they visited the open-air markets in Morocco, Turkey, and Greece. I’d say they succeeded in creating a space that feels like it’s been there a long time.

⭐ The Black Spire Obelisk is near the market entrance. In Star Wars lore, it was tradition for visitors to touch the obelisk and say, “Til the Spire,” for good luck so you will return here in good health. Let us know if you’ve done that – and if it worked!

⭐ Signs in the Black Spire Outpost are printed in Aurebesh, the most commonly used language in the galaxy. If you’d like to sharpen your translation skills, here’s an article  to help.

The Bottom Line.

While Disney World has created many lands that surround you with the look and feel of another time and place, and Galaxy’s Edge is one of the most immersive of all. The entire area is so much more than just like walking through a movie set. It feels real; it feels like you’re no longer on earth. The Imagineers have gone all out to immerse you in another world, and they have succeeded!! And when you exit – say, through Toy Story Land – the transition back into reality can be startling. It would be easy to spend a day exploring here, but the Black Spire Outpost is even more exciting after night falls and the village lights up. Can I say that it’s out of this world? (I’ll see myself out now.)

What’s your favorite experience in Galaxy’s Edge?  What surprised or delighted you most? Let us know in the comments.