Attraction Park: Star Wars: Galaxy & # 39; s Edge

You will never find a miserable hive of scum and malice …

The words of Obi Wan come to mind as I cross the tunnel, carrying me from a nostalgic incarnation of the American west to the distant outpost of Batuu. Like many young people, I grew up with the urge to flee with Luke Skywalker to distant galaxies. For a drink in the Mos Eisley Cantina. Climb aboard the Millennium Falcon for unknown adventures. And today, I finally do these things in a very real place.

(All images captured with a Nikon Z7 and zoom NIKKOR Z 24-70mm F2.8.)

welcome to Star Wars: Galaxy's EdgeThe new Walt Disney country is now open to the public at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Yes, technically, we're still waiting for the ride before the opening, and if you're more of a Disney World vacationer, the Florida Galaxy's Edge will not be launched until this fall. But if you're in southern California this summer, you can walk around your favorite galaxy, far, far away.

You can swallow food, swallow drinks and, yes, even fly the Falcon with five of your best friends.

I brought my family earlier this week and wanted to share some first impressions.

(The Batuu Market)

Yes, it's a mall, but …

By foot Frontierland in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge takes me breathtaking. I've been looking forward to visiting it, but staying inside, completely immersed, is something different and special. I do not watch a movie or read a book. I have nothing to imagine. Everything is right … here.

Check out these droids waiting for repairs. Or speeding at the mechanic. Here is a robot that operates a huge barbecue on the local market. The First Order is there too, patrolling the city for the Resistance. Their red and black flags are flamboyant symbols of fascist occupation.

Part of me knows it's nothing more than a (very chic) ​​mall designed to sell clothes and toys, as well as food and beverages – it's all about the show but the art and craftsmanship exhibited are extraordinary. Every square inch of this place is full of history and history (fabricated) and I am a fanatic of it all. Even the bathrooms are beautiful.

This makes me forget that I am a hundred meters from a huge parking lot.

Steal the Falcon (Galaxy's Edge Rides)

Edge of the galaxy will finally have two main attractions. Sadly, Star Wars: Rising Resistance It's only open later this year, but I know it: the Disney Imagineers called it the most epic attraction they ever created. For the context, I would say Avatar: flight of passage is the most beautiful Disney carousel available today, so I'm excited to see if Resistance the encounter or overcomes it.

(Available soon, where will you wait)

For the moment, however, the only Edge of the galaxy the attraction is Millennium Falcon: The smuggler's race. Imagine Star Tours with six riders seated in the cockpit of the Falcon where two act as pilots, two gunners and two engineers. It's true, you do not just roll, you interact while being judged in the process and on the success of your mission.

(Chewie … we are at home.)

In my opinion, like a ride, Smuggling is just okay. I'm not a big fan of Star Tours because it is less immersive than, for example, an IMAX (that's why Flight of passage is so impressive) or even a real roller coaster. That said, I was an engineer, which involves pressing eight buttons as they light; so it may be more fun to play the role of pilot. The pictures were beautiful, of course, and the cockpit was bouncing and bouncing and all those fun things.

(I let the Wookie win)

For me, however, the most emotionally rewarding element was simply being in the Falcon's hallways. It's like entering a favorite dream. Like the city of Batuu, the precision and attention to detail are incredibly good. You can even sit down at the infamous Dejarik table and have your picture taken while you wait for your mission.

Dagobah Drinkin's (Galaxy Food & Drinks' Edge)

From portable food trolleys selling snacks to customized Coca-Cola bottles (see above) to cocktails and desserts, there is plenty to eat and drink in Batuu.

Ronto Roasters sells American-style roast pork and grilled sausages, while a droid watches a huge forge roasting all the delicious meats in space.

(The milk stand)

The milk stand offer at a time New hope blue milk inspired and The last Jedi green milk style. But do not worry, you do not have to milk the sea cows to enjoy one or the other. In fact, they are not milk at all. This is a frozen and fruity blend of coconut milk / rice milk, which looks more like a smoothie.

Kat Saka Kettle sells an Outpost mix made from bright red popcorn.

Docking Bay 7 Food and freight offers a variety of vegetarian and meat-based dishes, from salads and ribs to vegetable bread and roast beef. It's definitely the complete experience of catering in Edge of the galaxy but, alas, you can not have your meal with a beer.

(Oga Cantina Menu)

If you fancy an adult drink, Oga Cantina offers a variety of cocktails, sparkling drinks for children and tea lovers, and a few custom beers made by Blue Point, New Belgium, Ballast Point and Sierra Nevada. Drinks and glassware are as visually interesting as the cantina itself, which is already the most popular attraction in Batuu. Is it worth the long wait? I think so. There are also some snacks, but I would have liked to enjoy my Dagobah Slug Slinger and Gammorean beer with something from Ronto Roasters. Never mind.

(Dagobah Slug Slinger, aka The Space Margarita)

(Oga Cantina)

IMPORTANT ADVICE: The space is limited. If you would like to have a drink at the Oga Cantina, you must register. My advice: find this line as soon as you enter Edge of the galaxy, then walk around waiting for them to send you a text message.

(DJ from Oga Cantina Droid)

Choose your side, your droid and your creature (Galaxy Edge Merch)

Batuu feels like a divided city. It may be a remote outpost on the edge of the galaxy, but the First Order controls most of the city, from the spaceport to the market. But the Resistance is also present, just outside the market of the former outpost, an open space surrounded by walls of canyons and desert plants. There is also a speeder and an X-wing Starfighter.

The fact is that Edge of the galaxy encourages guests to become heroes or villains or both.

(Cargo of the first order)

First class cargo is the perfect place to get your stormtrooper uniforms and your first order engagement posters. The shop is metallic and clean (and a bit fascist).

(Provision of resistance)

Meanwhile, Provision of resistance is the perfect place to get your toys, t-shirts, uniforms and Resistance pilot helmets.

(Droid Depot)

in the Droid Depotyou'll have the chance to build your own robot friend when coins appear on a treadmill reminiscent of modern sushi restaurants. Here too, you have to choose resistance or first order droids, or you can choose a pre-assembled favorite, such as R2D2 or BB8.

In The Savi workshop, you make your own lightsaber (Take this, Harry Potter chopsticks!).

(Dok-Ondar, I presume)

In The Den of Antiquities of Dok-Ondar, your choices between the bright side and the dark side continue. With a more stunning production design including the creature above, you can choose between blue resistance artifacts and red first-class items.

(Creature stall)

And finally, in the marketyou will find several other stores. the Creature stall sells Kowakian lizard monkeys and other animals from the space. Black Spire Outfitters sells legendary Jedi style dresses. There are others, of course, but I started to lose my way.

Apart from exorbitant prices (make a budget and stick to it or deal with the overwhelming debt!), what struck me the most in the goods is quality and variety. At every place you walk, you can buy some great "limited edition" Star wars merchandise and memorable.

Before leaving (some tips)

Reservations are required to enter Edge of the galaxy until June 23, 2019. I marked mine by booking a night in one of the Disneyland Resort hotels. With a confirmed reservation in hand, you must first go to Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrow Land to grab a color bracelet, then you can walk around. Edge of the galaxy. It's a little tedious, but you can go there two hours before your reservation and we have not encountered any queues or waiting during this process. Disney was ready and well organized.

As of June 24, 2019, anyone with a Disneyland ticket can enter Edge of the galaxywhich, I suppose, will lead to more crowds. Unfortunately, you will not be able to access Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge during Extra Magic Hour or Magic Morning. And the country will not have FASTPASS services, which is a disappointment.

Last thoughts

Like every new land created by the talented Disney Imagineers, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a dazzling testimony of building a functional world. My favorite lands remain Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure and Pandora in the animal kingdom of Disney but Edge of the galaxy is right up there. It's an amazing achievement that's as close as we can ever get to get into Star wars.

Heck, they even emit sounds of spaceships taking off or flying over the city. It's so impressive.

Still, I would not come to Disneyland just see this one land. Yes, it contains an infinity of small details and even the stores feel like mini-attractions in themselves. But with a single round (or even two), there is not a full day of activities once you are full of the quality of production.

In this sense, if you do not live in Southern California, it might be best to wait until you Edge of the galaxy have both rides going on and remember to enjoy the rest of the resort at the same time. Or maybe the incarnation in Florida will work best for you.

regardless, Star Wars Galaxy & # 39; s Edge just highly recommended for Star wars fans, Disney nerds and theme park fans of all ages. See for yourself. It's the one you've been waiting to see all your life.