Disney’s new “Star Wars”-themed land will blow your mind into a galaxy far, far away.
Galaxy’s Edge goes live at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Friday, May 31. The salivating fans lining up for hours on end to fly the Millennium Falcon and drink blue milk (the rich, sweet Bantha drink that Luke Skywalker chugged on Tatooine) will not be disappointed. After a visit to the new land, which is Disney’s largest expansion ever, parkgoers will likely be squished, tired, hot and empty-walleted — but never underwhelmed.
Disney’s Imagineers (aka park, ride and scenic designers) are known for their attention to detail, but that’s like saying The Beatles are just a band. Legendary status is a given. So let’s break down what they’ve dreamt up for this 14-acre, outer space-themed new realm.
The backstory: We are in the Black Spire Outpost (named for its landscape of petrified tree) on the planet of Batuu, which lies at the edge of the galaxy right before wild space. The realism is definitely a wow factor. It’s like a full-on movie set — but no surprises here, since Lucasfilms, who made the first three “Star Wars” movies were equal partners in the land’s development. (George Lucas sold the intellectual property to Disney in 2012 for $4.05 billion.)
“We had access to all the same people that did the original movie production design,” says Asa Kalama, executive creative designer for Disney Imagineering, who was in charge of recreating the life-size Millennium Falcon attraction. “It’s not an interpretation.”
Lightsabers aren’t the only things ablaze in the galaxy far, far away. Wednesday night’s dedication ceremony for Disney’s new Star Wars land Galaxy’s Edge included fireworks.Reuters/Mario AnzuoniBatuu, however, never existed in the original Star Wars movies — it was first mentioned in the “Solo” spinoff movie — so this is an “in-the-vein-of” creation, with Middle Eastern marketplace vibes paired with dinged-up space cargo and otherworldly beings. Part of this thought process is that fans of all ages and “Star Wars” eras (or someone who has lived on another planet and is somehow not familiar with the franchise) can still jive with the land’s vibe.
But diehard fans should rejoice, too. In order to make sure the Comic-Con crew isn’t disappointed, the team hired a number of self-confessed “Star Wars” savants — some of whom are even fluent in Aurebes, the galaxy’s most-used language — to ensure accuracy.
“It enabled us to have a level of detail that works for all levels and ages,” says Chris Beatty, executive creative designer for Disney Imagineering.
There are three areas in the Outpost: the first is a dark-side First Order stronghold, where you might find Stormtroopers or Kylo Ren, first introduced in “The Force Awakens”(boo, hiss); the second is a neutral zone of outlaws and traders (think Jack Sparrow-type space pirates); the third is the terrain of the Resistance, where you might bump into Empire champions Rey or Chewbacca.
Leave it to sunny SoCal to turn Stormtroopers into Warmtroopers.Chris Pizzello/Invision/APWithin Galaxy’s Edge, cast members speak Batuuese. It’s like English, but more poetic (“bright suns” for “good morning” and “rising moons” for “good evening”). Expect them to ask parkgoers whether they are loyal to the First Order or a rebel with the Resistance.
The land even has a musical background adapted from John Williams’ original soundtrack. Williams not only approved the music but also wrote a whole new “mini-symphony” just for the land, says Matt Walker, a music studio executive. “It was a dream team,” he says of the collaboration.
Here’s the lowdown on what to do and see,
Try the one ride — Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
The OG Millennial, if you please. The storied spaceship is the site of the only ride within Galaxy’s Edge.Chris Pizzello/Invision/APForget X Wings or Tie Fighters — the Falcon is the legend that made the Kessel Run in under 12 parsecs, so that’s the one everyone wants to pilot. You and five compatriots (i.e. the people in line around you) will get the chance to sit in a simulated ride that has you transporting precious cargo, entering via the exact airlock featured in “The Last Jedi.”
The premise of the ride: Space pirate Hondo Ohnaka has signed up the Millennium Falcon, and other ships seem interested in what we’re carrying, so diversionary tactics are needed. Videogame players will have the edge during this ride, as you shift the craft around various obstacles. Meanwhile, engineers and gunners keep the enemy at bay. The Lucasfilm visual effects department, Industrial Light and Magic, collaborated on the CGI effects so the ride’s realism is pretty intimidating — and awesome.



Those of us less experienced — who just might ding up the vessel pretty badly — affect the success of the mission. Cast members proceed to shoot you sad glances on your way out of the ride. Even the walls of the exit halls show the damage you inflicted. (Sorry, Falcon.) Gossip is rife on Batuu, so if you’re keyed in to the land’s dedicated app, expect your performance (good or bad) to be recognized outside the ride. A cast member who sells you a green milk, for example, may comment on your performance.
Because of the level of interaction during the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run ride, the possible outcomes are limitless. That means the ride will never be quite the same twice.
There will be no fast passes for the ride, so expect (at best!) several hours in line. There will be drinks and snacks available, and there’s a handoff service for necessary bathroom breaks. (Are we having fun yet?)
A second ride, called Rise of the Resistance, is due for release later this year.
What to eat
Five eateries line the land, with 50 menu items in total. Chef Brian Piasecki had the job of making dishes supposedly from another planet look appetizing.
“We wanted to make food that looked different but tasted familiar,” he says of snacks like brightly-colored popcorn. “And we wanted food that looked familiar but tasted different.”
Hence the Falucian meatballs, which are in fact plant-based and reminiscent of falafel.
At Ronto Roasters, you can see mock-up spits of “Ronto meat” over the fire. (They’re the pack animals that Luke Skywalker rides on Hoth at the start of “The Empire Strikes Back.”) The barbecue pit serves up Ronto wraps, a kind of hot dog-cum-taco.
Oga’s Cantina is where film fans will want to head. Reminiscent of the iconic cantina in “A New Hope,” this is not quite a hive of scum and villainy — but it is the only place in Disneyland where you can get alcohol. Get the space dirt out of your throat by sipping on an Outer Rim margarita or a Fuzzy Tauntaun.



















The music for the cantina features 30 or so tracks by other artists “from around the galaxy,” which are mixed by a droid DJ on-site. (And if you can’t wait to visit the cantina to hear it, you can download it on iTunes.)
Where to shop
“Star Wars” merch has a tractor beam all its own. This is the Droid Depot, where you can custom-make your own robot for $100.Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesWhat’s a visit to the park without a little retail therapy? As you might imagine, there are multiple plush toys (including porgs) available, but the big draw is the Droid Depot, where you can hand-select pieces of robot from a conveyor belt and have your chosen chunks crafted into your own R-series (like R2D2) or BB-series droid. It will not be unique to you, but because there are 280,000 possible combinations, you can get creative. The cost for such a personalized pal: $100.
Also exciting: Over at Savi’s Workshop, you can construct your own lightsaber. Each of the options comes with a unique crystal that lights up the blade and looks and feels just like the “real” thing.
“It’s made of handcrafted steel,” says Brad Schoeneberg, director of merchandise strategy and new park experience. “It has a heft to it, the same as the movie props.”
You’ll need to shell out $200 for one of those babies, but if that’s a budget-buster, never fear. There are off-the-peg, less extravagant lightsaber options for sale elsewhere in the park that start at $20.
Then, at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, you can buy a recreation of Princess Leia’s iconic Planetoid Valleys necklace as worn by Carrie Fisher at the end of “A New Hope.” While copies have been on Etsy for awhile, Disney tracked down the jeweler, Finnish designer Björn Weckström, who still had the mold from the original.
How to visit (and how to snag a hard-to-get reservation)
You’re gonna need the force and then some to land reservations here.While the park officially opens on May 31, only guests with reservations will be allowed in until July 23.
At this point, these coveted bookings are pretty much only available to those staying at Disneyland hotels. Last year, a few were released by lottery and were snatched up like hot porgs on a stick. Right now, chances of scoring a reservation at one of Disneyland’s four hotels before June 23 are slim.
The land opens fully on June 24, and when that rolls around, you might need to crack out the camping gear to get into the park — full capacity is expected. Entrance to Galaxy’s Edge is not guaranteed with Disneyland admission; plus, time there will be limited to four-hour chunks. Luckily, guests can queue virtually via a paging system on the Play Disney Parks app, which means they can enjoy the rest of the park while waiting for the call to enter.
If you go, get the app, which adds a whole new dimension to the land. It lets you scan prop-style cargo trunks and unlock goods that you can then download and sell or trade with others. It can also translate signage in alien languages and signal where your allegiances lie. Kids’ preoccupation with the app will come in very handy in the ride’s long lines, where multiple points for interaction are located.
Galaxy’s Edge is also opening in Orlando’s Walt Disney World on Aug. 29, which should help spread the wealth. Disney is not yet saying whether that version of the land will have a staggered opening, too.



