A long time ago (well, the 70’s) in a galaxy far, far away (mostly London, but Tunisia and California as well) Star Wars was born. In the years since Star Wars first hit theaters, there have been sequels, prequels, remakes and, now, an entire land in a theme park.

We were lucky enough to preview Hollywood Studios’ latest land and it was a treat for both of us. Jessica was able to appreciate the “immersiveness” and design of the land and Tyler was able to geek out because he’s a huge Star Wars fan. Even though we spent six hours at Galaxy’s Edge alone, we still can’t wait to go back!

Planet Batuu at Galaxy’s Edge

Simply walking into Galaxy’s Edge in Orlando takes you to another world. There is a specific tunnel entrance that really separates the land from the rest of the park. Unlike the entrances to Disney’s other highly themed lands like Pandora and Toy Story Land, there is a clear message of “you’re going to another world.”

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The first area after the tunnel is Galaxy’s Edge’s marquee ride “Rise of the Resistance”. We visited the land on a preview and the ride isn’t open yet. Check back later where we’ll do a full review of the ride once it opens in December 2019.

Just past the new ride is the first awe-inspiring moment of the new land. Galaxy’s Edge features two full-size ships from the Star Wars universe. The most recognizable is one of the Rebel Alliance’s iconic X-wing fighters. It’s one thing to see the ships in the movies, another to see them in toys, and something entirely different to see one in real life. The other ship is less recognizable than the X-wing but recognizable to Star Wars fans as an A-wing.

Fun Fact: The A-wing is Tyler’s favorite ship in the entire Star Wars Universe. To say he was excited to see one in real life is an understatement. He definitely freaked out, took a bunch of pictures and made sure it was the last thing we saw before leaving the park.

The ships are blocked off so you can’t get too terribly close to them, but there is a Disney PhotoPass photographer in front of each ship. There is quite a bit of space in front of the X-wing making what looks like a stage. We wouldn’t be surprised once Rise of the Resistance opens there’ll be a show there.

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Once you’re past the ships you head into the marketplace — our favorite place in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. It honestly looks like you’re on a movie set because of how real and cool it looks. Each shop sells different types of items and each is its own little hole-in-the-wall. The marketplace is also the main hub of the outpost. From here you can get to the restaurants, the cantina, the Falcon and more.

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As far as unique shops go, you have to check out Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. This circular shop is loaded with Star Wars references and Easter eggs. If you come to Batuu with a fan of the movies, this is the place for them to really geek out. All around the shop are helmets, droids and creatures from the Star Wars Universe.

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We won’t go into too much more detail and spoil everything, but you should always keep your head on a swivel when walking around Batuu. There are more ships and vehicles and droids around the outpost that you need to search for to see. Complete immersion is the latest fad in theme parks and Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge makes you really feel like you’ve entered another world.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Food

When the entire galaxy is at your fingertips there has to be some great food to offer. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a quick snack, a full meal, or something to drink, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge has something for you.

Blue Milk

Ever since Disney announced they would be offering the blue milk Luke drank during A New Hope, fans have wondered exactly how that will work. Will it be milk? How are they making it blue? Will it come from those weird creatures we saw in The Last Jedi? 

We are happy to report the blue milk tastes nothing like milk and is actually very tasty and refreshing. The milk is actually rice-based and has the consistency of a slushie. The taste is hard to describe, but it has a hint of berry associated with it. If you get your milk at the milk stand you have the option of adding rum to it. 

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Blue Milk/berry not your thing? Try the green milk. Created just for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, the green milk is the same consistency as the blue, just a different color and taste. Green milk has a more citrus taste to it. We were split over our favorite. Tyler liked blue the best, whereas Jessica liked the green. However, we both agreed that both were good.

Ronto Roasters

Ronto Roasters is a quick-service restaurant that serves just two things: Ronto Wraps and Turkey Jerky. A Ronto Wrap is a hot dog wrapped in a thin slice of pork with coleslaw and a sauce all wrapped inside a pita. 

A Ronto Wrap is a good thing to eat if you’re a bit hungrier than a snack, but not so hungry for a full meal. The wrap was good, but not spectacular. It’s a good quick-pinch type of meal. There is also a breakfast version for all the early visitors out there.

Kat Saka’s Kettle

Kind of hidden in the marketplace is Kat Seka’s Kettle, the maker of fine candied popcorn. This isn’t your traditional Disney popcorn, but it’s not coated in a rub as you find at Epcot. The popcorn has the consistency of caramel corn but tastes a bit like Froot Loops. If you’re looking for a snack, we recommend this over a Ronto Wrap.

Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo

Docking Bay 7 is Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge’s traditional counter service restaurant. The best thing we can say about Docking Bay 7 is that it reminds us a lot of Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom. Both restaurants offer more unique food than your traditional burger and chicken fingers, and both have a moderately-sized dining room to eat in. 

We split the Yobshrimp noodle salad and the Oi-Oi puff. The shrimp salad was very tasty for how simple the meal is; the only ingredients are shrimp, noodles and vegetables. However, what really makes this meal is the marinade. The meal was a perfect dinner on a hot day. 

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The Oi-Oi puff is a raspberry cream puff with a passion fruit mousse. This light and fruity dessert was absolutely delicious and really reminded us of the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse at Satuli. We aren’t ready to declare Docking Bay 7 our favorite counter service restaurant, but it’s one of Disney’s better efforts.

Oga’s Cantina

What’s food without drinks? Oga’s Cantina is a great place to get out of Batuu’s bright suns and cool down with a drink. The menu is pretty diverse and features both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. 

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Jessica got a Yub Nub which is a fruity rum-based concoction and Tyler got the Fuzzy Tauntaun. The Yub Nub was good, but the Tauntaun is especially unique because of its “Buzz Button Tingling Foam”. The drink is topped with this foam that, as you drink it, slowly makes your lips feel really tingly. It’s a weird sensation that takes some getting used to and lasts for about 10 minutes after you’ve finished the drink.

The interior of the cantina is a fun callback to the Mos Eisley Cantina in the original Star Wars. The best part is an adorable robot DJ who is spinning the latest tunes from around the galaxy. He talks, he dances, he plays the tunes….he does it all.

The biggest negative about the Cantina is its size. It doesn’t take much for the bar to feel cramped and if you do get a seat it’s going to be shared with other parties. We’re glad we drank in the Cantina, and we enjoyed our drinks, but we won’t make it a priority in the future. We’ll be perfectly happy with a spiked blue milk.

Characters and Interactions in Galaxy’s Edge

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge ups the ante on character interactions because instead of waiting in a line and meeting someone, the characters come out to you. Both Stormtroopers and rebel fighters are randomly walking around the outpost and talking with guests. You can even spot Chewbacca and Rey mingling around with the electronics that are scattered about the outpost. 

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However, the best interaction isn’t with an individual character but when the characters see each other. If a pack of Stormtroopers sees one of the rebels, they will chase the rebel around the outpost and try to arrest them. It’s a fun treat to be minding your own business and then suddenly be asked to hide Rey as she’s escaping from Stormtroopers.

Smuggler’s Run

For all the years Tyler spent playing with Star Wars toys growing up, piloting the Millennium Falcon was only something he could do in his imagination. That’s why it’s so amazing that there’s a ride that makes that imagination a reality. 

The best part about Smuggler’s Run is the classic Disney attention to detail. Just outside the ride is a full-scale Millennium Falcon that is a wonder to behold. The ship is absolutely massive and looks EXACTLY like it does in the movies. The queue for the ride is two stories and looking at the Falcon from above is just as cool as seeing it from below.

The details don’t stop at the decorations outside because the ride takes place INSIDE the Falcon and that looks perfect as well. The holo chess board is there, the walls are the right color and the cockpit of the ship is spot-on.

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The ride itself is a little chaotic and, unfortunately, takes a few tries to really get the hang of it. The ride is divided into three parts: Pilot, Gunner and Engineer. The pilot is the most fun, but also the hardest. The gunners are fun, but really just mash a button the whole time. The engineers have the least say in the ride’s outcome, but they have the most variety in the ride. Each position has its challenges and it’s worth trying all three.

The Verdict?

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is the latest step in the next generation of theme parks. Gone are the days of a ride just sporting the name of a movie or character and no longer will just having a cute queue fly. Batuu is a fully-realized land with its own language, look and feel. We were fortunate to be able to experience the park how we did and can’t wait to visit many times in the future.