20 Star Wars Must-Dos at Walt Disney World
If the force is strong in your family, these shows and rides are required at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.
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Rise of the Resistance
Walt Disney World may be the mouse house and home to Cinderella’s castle, but it’s quickly become an iconic destination for Star Wars fans with the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The land’s second and final attraction Rise of the Resistance just opened and is truly out of this world. The ride places guests in the middle of a battle against the First Order and is the most immersive ride ever created at Disney with four separate rides in one attraction. Yes, really. There’s something cinematic about the experience and it feels as if you’re moving through scenes from the Star Wars saga in a very real way. First, you’ll board a resistance ship. Then, walk through a First Order hanger. Next, hop into a droid-driven, First Order Fleet Transport car while you slide through AT-AT legs and dodge blasts from Storm Troopers. And there may or may not be some drop elements, too, so hang on if you don’t like free-falls. It’s one of the longest and thrilling attractions at any Disney park. And it’s also worth a second ride as the story and scenes will slightly change depending on which car you board!
Buy Tickets: Expedia, From $125/day
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Step aboard the famous "bucket of bolts” and fly one of the most infamous ships in the galaxy. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the marquee attraction at Galaxy's Edge and allows guests to step aboard Han Solo's spacecraft and not just ride it, but literally take control. The premise is that Chewbacca has loaned the ship to Hondo, a character kids may recognize from the animated TV series “Star Wars Rebels.” Hondo needs an extra flight crew to smuggle cargo to the resistance and there are three different crew roles on board depending on where you sit. You could be the pilot, the engineer or the gunner. And depending on how your adventure goes, the ship will change appearance when you exit the ride. If you crash a lot, it will show! It’s a great experience for families as the flight crew has to work together the entire time for a successful mission.
Oga’s Cantina
One of the most memorable scenes in the Star Wars franchise is the bustling cantina in A New Hope. And now, you too can step inside a space bar. Oga's Cantina is packed with space decor (and junk), strange creatures in tanks and tons of colorful beverages on draft. And it's designed for the whole family to enjoy. There are cocktails like the Jedi Mind Trick, but the galactic watering hole also has fun mocktails such as the Blue Bantha. And if you're wondering if that John Williams song plays inside, yes, yes it does.
Savi's Workshop
For those strong with the Force, head over to Savi's Workshop to build your own lightsaber. The experience includes choosing your own kyber crystal, the living crystal that channels the Force and is at the heart of every lightsaber. Crystals come in many colors, from Yoda green to Sith red.
Droid Depot
If you want something truly custom and space credits are no object, there’s one experience you can’t miss: the Droid Depot. You can build your very own droid ala R2-D2 or BB-8. There are nearly 280,000 different combinations using the different pieces so you're guaranteed to have a unique astromech droid. And these droids can interact with other droids inside the park!
Milk Stand
If you’ve always wondered what the blue milk first seen in A New Hope tastes like, now you have the chance to try it. And Disney has also created green milk as seen in The Last Jedi. Despite the Bantha dairy origins, both milks are vegan as they’re actually a blend of rice and coconut milk with hints of citrus and tropical fruit flavors. And unlike Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, the milk stand at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has the option to add booze. Yep, boozy space milk.
Ronto Roasters
If you just want a quick bite, head over to the Tatooine-inspired Ronto Roasters for wraps and space jerky. (It’s turkey.) Since Galaxy’s Edge opened, the Ronto Wrap has developed quite the cult following on social media. And soon vegans and vegetarians can join in on the craze as the galactic rotisserie just rolled out a “Ronto-Less” Wrap at Disneyland made with Impossible sausage that is just as delicious as the original if not even better as this wrap features a seriously tasty kimchi slaw. Disney's culinary Flavor Lab confirmed that "cargo" with the non-meat version will arrive on Batuu at Disney World very, very soon.
Magic Shots
After traveling to Batuu at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I have to say Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is slightly better. Why? The magic shots. Magic shots are photos taken by Disney park photographers with fun surprises added digitally. And at Disney World there are several more options than Disneyland. Shots and videos include posing with an adorable porg, appearing on a bounty puck and even a 360-degree camera shot that captures all of Black Spire Outpost. Disney PhotoPass locations are listed on the My Disney Experience app, but the land also has roving photographers, too. They’re dressed just like other cast members on Batuu so you have to work for it to find them!
Black Spire Outpost Marketplace
If you don’t have enough space credits for a lightsaber or a droid, you can shop other (more budget-friendly) souvenirs and toys at the Black Spire Outpost Marketplace. Stalls include plushies like Yoda and adorable little Ewoks as well as galactic animal species like Kowakian Monkey Lizards. Don’t miss the animatronic Loth-cat on display at Bina’s Creature Stall. And if you need a snack, don’t miss the popcorn stall with space popcorn! The bright red and purple mixture is a sweet and spicy blend of popped mushroom corn that tastes like spicy Fruity Pebbles.
Meet Rey
With so many prequels and sequels, not to mention the buzzy new Disney+ show “The Mandalorian,” it can be hard to keep track of the Star Wars universe timeline. But Batuu and the world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set in the most recent trilogy of the Star Wars saga and that means you’ll see several popular characters from the films. In Rise of the Resistance, you’ll see familiar faces such as Finn, Poe and Rey. You’ll also find Rey roaming the land searching for new recruits for the resistance. Unlike other face character meet and greets in the parks where you wait in a line and it’s all very regulated, this character interaction feels more organic like you’re in the story, too.
Docking Bay 7
If the “bright suns” of Central Florida–I mean, Batuu–are getting to your family, take a seat and cool off inside Tugg's Grubb at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. It’s the only sit-down restaurant in the land and is packed with tons of dishes inspired by the Star Wars universe, from fried Endorian Tip-yip to Batuu-bon for dessert. And there are great vegetarian options including the Felucian garden spread inspired by the vegetarian planet of Felucia.
Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities
Jedi masters and padawans should duck into Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities to stock up on Jedi necessities such as kyber crystals and holocrons. The Ithorian's mysterious store is packed with strange props and Easter eggs for Star Wars fans. Don’t miss the wall of space taxidermy. And keep an eye on that galactic aquarium by the jewelry.
Play the Parks App
Did you know there are secret experiences and more of the Star Wars story to unlock on Batuu? It’s hidden to the naked eye, but when you open the Disney Play Parks app inside the land, it transforms your phone into a galactic “datapad” that can trigger some seriously cool hidden gems, from scanning Jedi ruins to translating messages written in Aurebesh to even hacking into droids. You can also choose your side in the app and either pledge allegiance the First Order or fight with the resistance.