--- title: You Know You Want to Go to Disney's Star Wars Land. We Asked Experts How to Make the Most of the Experience description: 'Disneyland opened Star Wars: Galaxy''s Edge in May, and Disney World opens Star Wars Land soon. Here are expert tips to save time and money.' authors: - name: Brad Tuttle role: Senior Editor url: https://money.com/author/brad-tuttle/ bio: Brad Tuttle is a former senior editor at Money with over 10 years’ experience covering a vast number of personal finance topics, including careers, cars, travel, budgeting, investing, insurance, credit cards, consumer psychology, real estate, banking, and shopping and deals. education: Columbia University School of Journalism, MS at_money_since: 2014 articles: 366 covers: - Lifestyle - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology social: - https://twitter.com/bradrtuttle - https://linkedin.com/in/brad-tuttle-834b225 former_staff: true published: '2019-07-26T15:00:24.000Z' modified: '2024-05-17T04:12:50.000Z' section: Lifestyle tags: - Disney - Theme Parks word_count: 1913 canonical: https://money.com/disney-star-wars-land-galaxys-edge-save-money-time/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Disneyland"u2019s Star Wars: Galaxy"u2019s Edge](https://img.money.com/2019/06/gettyimages-1152526984.jpg) *The Millennium Falcon sits outside the "Smugglers Run" ride at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.* Disney or Star Wars: It's hard to say which universe has more obsessive fans. And it's hard to underestimate how pumped people have been for the 2019 opening of Disney's new Star Wars area, Galaxy's Edge. Galaxy's Edge opened this past May in California's Disneyland with only one true ride, "Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run," and Disney reported that by mid-July [one million riders](https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/1-millionth-rider-on-millennium-falcon-smugglers-run-at-star-wars-galaxys-edge-in-disneyland-park/) had already taken the voyage. Hollywood Studios in Florida's Walt Disney World is opening its own [Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/hollywood-studios/star-wars-galaxys-edge/) on August 29, and both theme parks will be launching a second ride, ["Rise of the Resistance,"](https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/timing-for-opening-of-star-wars-rise-of-the-resistance-announced/) in late 2019 or early 2020. Excitement over Disney's new Star Wars attractions will surely be strong in the months ahead, and now that Disney and Star Wars enthusiasts have had some time to [geek out](https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/easter-eggs-star-wars-galaxys-edge-disneyland) while exploring every intricate detail of Galaxy's Edge, we asked some Disney Jedi Masters for their best recommendations on how to save time and money and get the most out of the experience. Here are their top tips for visiting Galaxy's Edge. While most of the advice focuses on Disneyland, many suggestions will also apply to Walt Disney World when its new Star Wars Land opens in August. No matter where you're going or when, may the force be with you! ## Star Wars Land Reservations As of June 24, you don't need reservations to get into Galaxys' Edge at Disneyland. (No reservations will be necessary to get into Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World either, when it opens.) You do, however, need to pay for Disney admission like usual, and before arriving at the park you should make reservations for the popular Star Wars experiences that most interest your group. In particular, you need reservations to hang out at the area's lone watering hole with adult beverages, [Oga's Cantina](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/ogas-cantina/), which features a DJ droid and a huge menu of colorful otherworldly food and drinks (with and without alcohol). Oga's was basically designed as a grungy, bullet-hole-ridden sibling of the famous Mos Eisley Cantina from the original 1977 movie *Star Wars: A New Hope* (you're bound to hear jokes about whether [Han shot first](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Han_shot_first)), and it's quickly become one of the hottest attractions in all of Disneyland. "The bar is not big enough for all the people who want to go in, so there are crowd-management measures in place," explains [Jason Cochran](https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848346-your-visit-to-star-wars-galaxy-s-edge-will-be-much-better-if-you-know-these-things-first), author of the *[Frommer's Easy Guide to Disney World, Universal, and Orlando](https://www.amazon.com/Frommers-EasyGuide-DisneyWorld-Universal-Orlando-ebook/dp/B07BBQHFJK/)*. When Galaxy's Edge first opened, Oga's Cantina reservations could be made only for the day of your visit. Cochran's advice: "Do not delay. Make your reservation" asap. By late July, though, Disneyland expanded the options and now allows Oga's Cantina reservations to be made up to 14 days in advance, and "additional same-day reservations will be made available each day at 7" in the morning, Disney says. ![Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Media Preview At The Disneyland Resort](https://img.money.com/2019/06/gettyimages-1147202470.jpg) *The bar in Oga's Cantina inside Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge area.* To make reservations for Oga's Cantina, you must make a $10 deposit for each person in your party. Link your credit card to the Disney app before making reservations, in order to save time. Initially, deposits were nonrefundable, but now it's possible to get a refund if you cancel at least one day prior to the reservation. There is a two-drink *maximum* at Oga's Cantina, and guests can stay only no longer than 45 minutes. Two other popular Galaxy's Edge experiences generally require reservations: [Savi's Workshop](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/savis-workshop-handbuilt-lightsabers/), where you build your own lightsaber, and [Droid Depot](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/droid-depot/), where you custom design and build a droid. These make-your-own souvenirs are unique and memorable but certainly not cheap: They cost $199 and $99.99, respectively, plus tax. (Bear in mind, before Galaxy's Edge opened Disneyland offered a [build-you-own lightsaber](https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/galactic-offerings-await-you-at-the-star-trader-at-disneyland-resort/) for about $30.) These experiences used to be available only for same-day reservations, with no refunds possible, but they too are now available up to 14 days in advance, with refunds possible if you cancel at least one day in advance. Additional online same-day reservations open at 7 a.m. daily, and you must pay in full in advance, with no refunds or allowed. ## These *Are* the Droids You're Looking for If you aren't made of money and are trying to decide between the build-you-own lightsaber or droid, A.J. Wolfe of the [Disney Food Blog](http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/) recommends the droid. "This seemed, on first glance, like a throwaway experience: plastic droid, way overpriced, who needs it," Wolfe tells Money.com. But building a droid wound up being one of his favorite Galaxy's Edge experience. The droids, which are similar in shape and design to [resemble R2-D2](http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2019/06/01/step-by-step-how-to-build-your-own-droid-in-disneys-star-wars-galaxys-edge/) rather than C-3PO, are "adorable, fun, and worth the money and time to build," he said. The droid experience is also half the price of the lightsaber, and it's generally easier to find a reasonable reservation time available. (Sometimes, reservations aren't even necessary, so a walk-in is not out of the question.) While you have to pay for the builder in both of these experiences, one extra person can tag along to watch, take photos and video, and give unsolicited design advice for free. Of course, kids throughout Disneyland will be waving around their freshly custom-built lightsabers and your child may —check that, WILL — be jealous. If your kid is begging for one but you can't stomach spending another $200, swing by one of the many gift shops and you can buy a basic lightsaber for $30. Or just buy one for [$9 from Walmart](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Star-Wars-lucas-Sw-E8-Rp-Luke-Skywalker-Green-Lightsaber/278018818) or [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRD5T4S/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=money018f-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01MRD5T4S&linkId=a2a0485e08bc6fa465e6ca7e495878ef) and bring it on the trip. ![Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Media Preview At The Disneyland Resort](https://img.money.com/2019/07/disney-star-wars-gift-shop-1152525127.jpg) *A gift shop at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge inside Disneyland.* Probably the coolest shop in Galaxy's Edge is [Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/shops/disneyland/dok-ondars-den-of-antiquities/), whose walls are decorated with Star Wars artifacts like a full-sized [stuffed Wampa](https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/easter-eggs-star-wars-galaxys-edge-disneyland) and the taxidermy heads of arena beasts from *Attack of the Clones*. These adornments are there to add to the feeling that you're truly in a galaxy far, far away, and they aren't for sale. If you're a truly diabolical (or just plain cheap) parent, you can tell your kid that the entire place is a museum where they can look but not buy anything. ## What to Eat and Drink in Galaxy's Edge "Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things," may be one of [Yoda's most famous quotes](https://www.starwars.com/news/the-starwars-com-10-best-yoda-quotes), but even Jedis have to eat. Because food and drink inside Disney parks is super expensive, it's important to not succumb to your every craving. One simple way to save money and sample as much of Disneyland's faux exotic foods as possible is buying things to split. "The delicious wraps from [Ronto Roasters](https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/ronto-roasters/) offer large portions that are easy to share," said Tony S., one of the few dads that's a member of the [Disney Parks Moms Panel](https://disneyparksmomspanel.disney.go.com/meet-the-moms/panelist/tony-s-520/). The [Disney Food Blog's A.J. Wolfe](http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/) is also a fan of these wraps, because they're tasty and efficient: "They’re hand-helds wrapped in pita bread, you can eat them on the go and not miss a beat as you explore the land." The Galaxy Edge [Milk Stand](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/milk-stand/) is another hot spot for grabbing refreshments on the go. It sells blue and green milk for $7.99 each, and "my family and I found that sharing just a few cups worked great," Tony S. said. The blue milk inside Disneyland is actually lactose-free, with a base of coconut and rice milk. "The flavor is slightly sweet with notes of tropical fruits that are hard to identify," the [Daily Meal](https://www.thedailymeal.com/travel/blue-milk-review-star-wars-galaxys-edge-disneyland/053119) wrote in a review. "There are touches of dragon fruit, pineapple, lime and watermelon that are absolutely not what you’d expect." In terms of adult beverages, Oga's Cantina has a [long list of drinks](https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/ogas-cantina/menus/) that'll make you feel like you're on another planet, with names like Bloody Rancor, Jabba Juice, Jedi Mind Trick, and Fuzzy Tauntaun. "The menu errs on the side of bachelorette party, for sure," meaning the drinks are very sweet, colorful, and a bit over-the-top, the [Disney Food Blog's A.J. Wolfe](http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/) says. You're basically paying for the atmosphere inside Oga's, where specialty alcoholic concoctions at Oga's Cantina cost about $15, while beers are $12 and up and non-alcoholic juices are about $7. You can also get an espresso or cappuccino for $4 to $5, but if that's all you want why didn't you just go to Starbucks? ## How to Avoid Crowds and Long Lines at Disneyland It's no surprise that Galaxy's Edge has proved to be a magnet for crowds at Disneyland. But one upside to the new area's popularity is the rest of Disneyland is way less crowded than it used to be — because everybody's hitting the Star Wars attractions and sticking around there for hours. What's more, Disneyland in general seems to be attracting smaller crowds this summer because the company changed its annual pass rules and many local passholders now aren't allowed into the parks during peak summer times. As a result, Disneyland wait times are down compared to last summer for nearly all attractions other than those in Galaxy's Edge, [*Orange County Register*](https://www.ocregister.com/2019/07/02/7-reasons-why-disneyland-feels-less-crowded-this-summer-after-the-opening-of-star-wars-galaxys-edge/) reported. The Disney-obsessed site [TouringPlans.com](https://touringplans.com/blog/2019/07/25/what-we-have-learned-from-disneylands-galaxys-edge-and-its-impact-on-walt-disney-world/) says that while Disneyland has instituted a virtual queue system that will close off Disneyland Galaxy's Edge if it gets too crowded, the park has only had to turn guests away once so far during the summer of 2019. What this all means is that the crowds at Galaxy's Edge may not be as enormous as you'd expect. Also, even if you're visiting Disneyland mostly to experience the Star Wars attractions, it's well worth it to hit other areas of the park. You should be able to hit some rides and grab a meal relatively quickly, without having to elbow through the crowds like you used to. Experts say it's probably best to make the most of Galaxy's Edge as early in the day as possible, and after you've had your fill of Star Wars or the crowds are simply too much to handle you can leisurely take in some other areas of Disneyland. Another approach advises guests to visit Galaxy's Edge much later in the day, around dinnertime or after. A graph at [TouringPlans.com](https://touringplans.com/blog/2019/07/25/what-we-have-learned-from-disneylands-galaxys-edge-and-its-impact-on-walt-disney-world/) shows that the average wait time for the "Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run" ride spikes from 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily, when it peaks at about 100 minutes, before slowly dropping throughout the rest of the day. Average wait times for the ride have generally been 50 minutes or less starting at 6 p.m., though you can check with the Disney app for current wait times on the day you're visiting. Disney FastPass is not available for Smuggler's Run, so you have no choice but to wait in line for your chance to ride. For the shortest wait possible, take note that the singles line moves very quickly. There are six seats on each "Smuggler's Run" ride, and people from the singles line join up with groups that don't fill every spot. ## "Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run": What to See and Where to Sit The good thing about the long wait to ride "Smuggler's Run" is that there's plenty to look at. The queue is one big winding walk through a Star Wars-universe transportation center, and it's flooded with ["Easter eggs"](https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/5/18651009/disneyland-star-wars-land-map-easter-eggs-millennium-falcon-smugglers-run-guide-galaxys-edge) referencing characters and scenes from the movies. People are snapping smartphone photos left and right. Riders get different jobs — pilots, gunners, engineers — and while staffers assign these positions randomly, you can switch before your mission begins. "The pilot on the right gets to pull the lever to send the ship into hyperspace, so that's the coolest yet most demanding spot," says [Jason Cochran of Frommers.com](https://www.frommers.com/slideshows/848346-your-visit-to-star-wars-galaxy-s-edge-will-be-much-better-if-you-know-these-things-first). 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