A Travelers Guide
For anyone who is remotely a fan of Star Wars, going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to experience Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is an absolute must. From the second you walk into the Star Wars area, you are immediately immersed in a new world. You feel like you have left Florida and are on another planet. As you walk through the paths, you are surrounded by the sound effects of the creatures from the Star Wars world hiding in the trees and spot droids along the walkway only to realize they are a disguise for trash cans. The world itself is detailed with intricate nooks and crannies that you can explore. In this post you’ll find the information you’ll want to know when visiting. Review our list of must do rides, attractions, and activities and learn how to prioritize your Star Wars adventure if short on time. You can explore all of Star Wars Galaxy’s edge in one park day while enjoying other aspects of Disney’s Hollywood Studios as well but you must prioritize your day correctly.
The Rise of the Resistance
This is, without a doubt, the highlight of the park. This ride became my favorite ride of all time and will most likely be yours as well after experiencing it. The ride is intended for all ages and is not a thrill ride. It is an experience ride, and Disney delivers big time. You will begin your journey while in the line queue taking in all the sites and sounds until reaching the start of the ride where you truly become part of the action in an original Star Wars adventure. As new recruits for the resistance, you will go on a mission and get captured by Kylo Ren and the First Order which then leads to a rescue from your allies (the resistance) and a battle breaks out. In order to avoid spoilers, we will leave the remainder of experience to your imagination until you experience Rise of the Resistance first hand. The ride is incredible and make you feel as if you are in the middle of the movie. It was a 10/10 experience and should be at the top of your list for must do activities at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Build a Lightsaber at Savi's Workshop
For any fan of Star Wars this is a “do not miss” experience. It is costly at around $200 per builder, so plan accordingly with your budget. One person can join the builder to watch and experience the magic. There are four different lightsaber builds and a choice of four colors for your lightsaber: blue, purple, green, and red with a few other colors available for additional purchase after completion of the workshop. The workshop lasts about 25 minutes, and the people in charge make you feel like you are in a far-away world for the duration of the experience. You will become a new Jedi, and the experience was worth every penny for an avid Star Wars fan. The only downside is that only one person can build, and each builder can only bring one guest to watch. If you have multiple children wanting to have the experience, it can add up quick! There are also some limitations on who is allowed to build as it does take a bit of handiness, so children under age 5 may not be able to build. However, if you are a lifelong fan or even a moderate fan, don’t miss this experience.
For younger fans or those wishing to spend less money on a workshop experience, check out the Droid Depot where you can build and purchase droids.
Millennium Falcon
As you approach the life size Millennium Falcon, you will be in awe of this magnificent spectacle. This is one of the best photo spots in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and photos can be captured at many angles. Bring your lightsaber and pose for some neat shots as the sun goes down! The entrance for the ride is right next to the Falcon and as with many rides in the Star Wars area, the line queue is an experience itself. Disney does a great job of putting all kinds of details into the scenes they created for you to take in as you wait in line. It makes a long line seem less like a chore and more like an adventure. You and your group are a crew on the Millennium Falcon, and one of you captains the ship. This ride may be a bit rough for those prone to motion sickness, but you can still enjoy the line queue without riding and meet your party at the end of the ride. For those of you that do not get motion sickness, the ride is great and will exceed your expectations.
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
This attraction is not in Galaxy’s Edge, but right outside of it. It is the first ride that was put into the park that was Star Wars themed attraction. Like the rest of the rides, this line queue is also a great experience. Detailed replicas line the queue paying homage to the original films. The ride itself is a 4D spaceship experience. For those that do not get motion sickness, you will enjoy this adventure. For those of you that do, I would recommend walking through to see everything and then skipping the ride at the end. Overall, this is a good ride, but one you could skip if short on time without much disappointment.
