Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Discover Batuu

Ever wondered what it’s like to be submerged in the world of all things Star Wars? Ever wanted to control the power of the Force or wield a blazing lightsaber? Maybe you’ve speculated at what it would be like to command your own ship and fly somewhere far, far away. Well now’s your turn to delve into a galaxy full of adventure, wonder and action as you enter the extraordinary world of Batuu, at Disneyland Resort, California.

This once bustling, busy outpost is now almost desolate and remote due to advances in hyperspace travel. Batuu use to be a favoured stop along trade routes, but in recent years traders have been drawn to more popular, easily accessible routes due to these advances, leaving behind Batuu for those trying to keep a low profile, out of sight of the First Order. Smugglers, traders and adventurers still thrive on the planet so don’t be surprised if you’re offered the chance to join their missions.

Being a representative of the Dark Side, I have put together this helpful guide in order to help you navigate Galaxy’s Edge, assisting the First Order in finding the spy that still remains undetected on Planet Batuu.

Black Spire Outpost

Your adventure begins when you exit either Fantasyland or Frontierland and enter Planet Batuu through one of its two entrances. Through the main entrance, you will be greeted by the remarkable spire and the life size, incredibly impressive Millennium Falcon. The spire acts as the passage into what appears to be a landing dock and trading centre, where goods are being transported and smuggled across the galaxy. In short, the ride entrance for ‘Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run’.

Droid outposts, workshops, antique stands and supply stalls litter the planet. Make sure you visit every single shop and outfitters as they all offer unique merchandise and bizarre experiences that are tailored to make your time in Batuu feel as immersive and captivating as possible. Even the water fountains have aliens inside them!!

Walking the streets of the village is effortless as the pathways are extensive, allowing for an influx in visitors and still allow for a feeling of spaciousness. I personally recommended visiting Black Spire Outpost in the evening due to the lines of the attractions being shorter, the village being quieter, and because the planet becomes illuminated with hanging lanterns and glowing beacons of multicoloured light. Do not fear though, just because the suns have set does not mean the characters we all love vanish. In fact, the action increases as Resistance Fighter, Rebels and members of the First Order persevere in their struggles to gain control of the galaxy, each side encouraging members of the public to join their contrasting causes. *cough cough* JOIN THE DARK SIDE... WE HAVE COOKIES!! *cough cough*

Rides & Attractions:

Ride the Millennium Falcon

Featuring Han Solo’s full-size Millennium Falcon, this intense, interactive adventure is truly out of this world. Become a pilot, gunner or engineer on the Falcon as you embark on a critical secret mission on behalf of Hondo Ohnaka. The mission’s goal is to transport hard to locate treasures safely to specific clientele, collecting Coaxium by destroying their original transporter containers.

Be a part of a six-person crew in the cockpit of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy as you hurtle though hyperspace. Your positions will be assigned to you before you enter the ship by a member of crew. Pilots will control the ship and jump to hyperspace when necessary. Gunners defend the Falcon by firing canons and missiles, while engineers clean up the mess made and repair damage. Due to this experience being interactive, the mission will vary depending on the skills and abilities of each member in the ship. Your team will gain more or less points during the flight but it is influenced by if you press/pull appropriate buttons and levers on time, how many times you damage the ship through crashing, how well you defend the ship from the bad guys, and if you miss opportunities to fix issues etc. Piece of advice, don’t mess up and you’ll be fine! JOKING!! Have fun and ‘May The Force Be With You’... Or something like that.

Rise of the Resistance

For those who aren’t living in a galaxy far, far away, you already know that there is a new attraction coming to Galaxy’s Edge in the up and coming months – ‘Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance’. This ride will open on the 17th January 2020 and will be located at the Resistance Base as you exit the village of Batuu.

Join the Resistance as they recruit you in joining in a climactic battle against the First Order as you experience what will be the biggest and most immersive Disney Park attraction ever! Fight alongside Rey, BB-8 and a whole host of familiar faces to stop Kylo Ren and the First Order from gaining control of the galaxy. This experience also hints at having the same element of rider interaction as the ‘Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run’ attraction; your actions playing a role in your fait during the ride. You will be caught in a conflict between the Resistance and the First Order as they desperately try to get you to pledge your allegiance to their side. Expect to encounter AT-ATs and a Star Destroyer, as well as coming face to face with the (devilishly handsome) Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren!

The pre-ride, or ‘pre-experience’ I should say, promises to be just as incredible as the ride itself, as you walk through themed interiors and learn more about the mission that awaits you.

Galaxy Treats & Treasures:

Whether you want to fill your wardrobe with the finest authentic Star Wars gear the galaxy has to offer or simply need to refuel before hitting your next destination in Disneyland, Galaxy’s Edge has a whole host of shops and canteens that cater for everyone’s desires... Except for taking home Kylo Ren:(

The Best Droids Money Can Buy (Shops & Stalls)

· Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities – Whether you’re naturally gifted at dealing with Ithorians, visiting Dok-Ondar’s den is essential if you want to buy rare and uniquely valued items from across the galaxy. Each trinket has its own peculiar story to tell and has been valuable to someone of any importance at some point in history; each item being displayed a specific side of the den depending on whether it belonged to the dark or light side. Famous lightsabers from both sides are available here so try and get your hands on one if you get the chance (red ones are the best).

· Savi's Workshop – Inside Savi's Workshop, you are able to build and customize your own, unique lightsaber under the guidance of one of the Gatherers, continuing the traditions of the Force. Follow their advice and guidance as they inspire you to choose a theme to base your lightsaber on, giving it more ‘personality’ and meaning.

· Droid Depot – Choose from the BB- or R-series and assemble your very own droid, using a range of chips, parts and tech items. Not feeling too creative but still want to take home a sidekick of your own? Just purchase a pre-made droid! Once finished, your droid will be placed in a box for safe keeping. They cannot be removed from the box and placed on the ground unless for photos. The droid can still interact with areas and elements in the land from inside the box.

· First Order Cargo and Resistance Supply – Being my personal favourite shop on Batuu, the First Order Cargo temporary base is the spaceport hangar bay and landing spot for the First Order within the outpost. It’s based right next to the TIE Fighter Echelon so don’t forget to keep your eyes open for Kylo Ren. Make sure to give him a big hug for me! The base sells all things ‘bad guy’ related and helps you dress appropriately if you choose to fight for the best side in the galaxy – the Dark Side. The Resistance Supply shops are secret makeshift stalls that supply the Resistance with everything they need to fight against the Dark Side: from apparel, pins, badges, jackets, tools, training supplies and much more. Not that you’ll need any of that as you will not join the cause to defeat the First Order... YOU WILL NOT JOIN THE CAUSE TO DEFEAT THE FIRST ORDER!!!

· Street Market Stalls – There are many stalls to browse while you visit Batuu but the ‘Creature Stall’ is by far one of the best and most exciting as you come face to face with incredible yet eccentric creatures. You may even choose to take one home. These critters come to life when you touch them but the porg puppets were a personal favourite of mine. ‘Black Spire Outfitters’ is another must-see stall that features clothing fit for all space travellers. Whether you want to go over the top with your look or simply want to blend in with the locals, you'll find an astonishing selection of practical and out of this world clothing that suits the style of Batuu.

Batuu Beverages & Bites:

Each with their own unique theming and interactive experiences, there are many places to refuel, catching a bite to eat or drink or something more substantial, in Galaxy’s Edge. While we were there, my family and I were too fascinated and preoccupied with discovering the land every time we went that we never got the chance to stop and try anything (apart from trying both blue and green milk, of course, because who doesn’t do that when they travel to Batuu?!). However, here is a list of some of the cantinas and dining locations found within Batuu that you can seek out on your next visit to the planet:

- Oga’s Cantina – Welcome to the watering hole for smugglers, bounty hunters, locals and travellers alike. Be wary space traveller, this place is not for the faint heated. Always be alert for trouble... and some of the most unusually fascinating flavours in the galaxy!

- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – This is the place for exotic tastes and flavours procured by one Chef Strono Tuggs, who has travelled the galaxy far and wide after his time at Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana.

- Ronto Roasters – Continuously turning the spit, former smelter droid 8D-J8 roasts tasty meats at Ronto Roasters. A recycled podracing engine powers the roasting, which is visiable as you enter the shopping part of the village.

- Kat Saka's Kettle – Snack on some Outpost Mix (a blend of sweet, savoury and spicy popcorn) or grab some chocolate covered popcorn if that fuels your X-Wing (credit to those who understood my horrific attempt at a Star Wars pun).

- Milk Stand – When visiting Batuu you have to stop by this stand to try farm-fresh, phenomenally tasty, frozen concoctions. Choose from two different refreshments: Blue or Green Milk. Both drinks are made with coconut and rice milk but the blue is flavoured with dragon fruit, pineapple, lime and watermelon, where as the Green Milk is flavoured with mandarin orange, passion fruit, grapefruit and orange blossom. I can confidently report back that they were both very tasty and refreshing but the green was my favourite as the blue reminded me too much of Rey’s lightsaber... Andddd it was just very sweet. But if you have a sweet tooth then maybe it’ll be your favourite.

- Refreshment stands – There are refreshment stands dotted around the land but make sure you take a look at the bottles of fizzy drink. Well, when I say ‘bottle’ I mean something very different to what you’re probably imagining...

Dark & Light:

Are You The Spy?

Be transported to the world of Star Wars as you bump into old friends, meet new characters and interact with familiar faces. Batuu is positively crawling with Stormtroopers as they try to seek out the Rebel spy and pinpoint where the Resistance is seeking refuge on the planet. Don’t be surprised if they interrogate you and your family as they try to gain knowledge on the whereabouts of their enemies. I ended up having a great chat with the Stormtroopers and even the one and only Kylo Ren... Think I convinced him to let me rule the galaxy by his side.. So yes, you could say I was incredibly happy but that would be the understatement of the century!

During the time we spent in Galaxy’s Edge, I also bumped into Chewbacca and Rey (who were both very concerned, disappointed and worried after they found out I didn’t support the Resistance and loved Kylo. I think Chewie almost passed out when he saw him on my shirt). It was such an amazing experience to feel fully submersed on planet Batuu as the characters and actual land were so engaging. It was easy to find yourself feeling a part of the storyline as you took control of a spaceship, had a one-on-one conversation with a rebel, and wondered the streets of a place that was so detailed and realistic it almost felt too real.

Improvements To The Land

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is honestly one of my favourite lands in any Disney park I’ve been to. In fact, it was my favourite part of every single day spent at Disneyland! There is, however, one tiny teeny thing that needed to be added to make my experience the best it could possibly be: I personally believe there needs to be more Kylo Ren merchandise for adults, especially shirts.... If that’s too much to ask, Disney?!!

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Hope you enjoyed reading about Galaxy’s Edge and all the exciting things it has to offer. The future of the land looks astonishingly bright as more attractions, aspects and details are added to enhance every guest's visit to Batuu. Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are on this new land, and, if you’ve been before, what your favourite part was when visiting. I also hope that your allegiance has been pledged to the right side... You know EXACTLY what side I mean!

Thanks for reading!