'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge: Here's your guide on how to visit the newest Disneyland realm
With the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at California’s Disneyland Resort on May 31, George Lucas’s far, far away galaxy is finally accessible right here in our good ol’ Milky Way corner of the universe. (A Florida branch is scheduled to open on Aug. 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.) But getting into Disneyland’s newest realm does require more pre-planning than Luke and Han’s impromptu Death Star-boarding antics in the 1977 classic that started it all.
Here are some tips for how to ensure you’ll be able to spend some quality time poking around the all-new world of Batuu — where you can tour the Millennium Falcon and sample such delicacies as green milk and Endorian Tip-Yip — and not be left out in the cold like some scruffy nerf-herder.
Don’t expect to gatecrash
Whether you’re a moisture farmer or an emperor, everyone who wants to visit Galaxy’s Edge between May 31 and June 23 must arrive at Disneyland armed with both valid theme park admission as well as a Galaxy’s Edge-specific reservation. There’s no standby line, so turning up at the entrance without an advanced booking will just get you turned away. Here’s the bad news: Separate reservations are no longer available for that three-week window. But here’s something to feel good about: You can still secure your spot by booking a room at one of three Disneyland Resort hotels anytime between May 31 and June 23. Every registered guest with valid theme park admission also gets a designated Galaxy’s Edge reservation. Be warned: If you cancel your hotel stay, you won’t lose an arm or a hand... but you will lose your Galaxy’s Edge access.
After June 23, visit freely you may
To be clear, Galaxy’s Edge is never entirely free: You still gotta pay the Disneyland admission fee. That said, after the 23rd of June, advanced reservations will no longer be required. Nevertheless, once the land is at capacity — and it will be at capacity — visitors might face lengthy wait times in the standby line. Avoid that hassle by downloading the Disneyland app, which will have a dedicated Galaxy’s Edge module where you can request a boarding time upon entering the park. Those without the app can find boarding group sign-up stations at other select Disneyland locations. Something to keep in mind: An assigned boarding group is no guarantee of admission as that remains subject to capacity. Monitor your group status via the app while taking a spin on Pirates of the Caribbean or Space Mountain.
PHOTOS: Everything you can eat and drink at 'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge
More apps, more fun
Beyond boarding groups, the Galaxy’s Edge module of that handy Disneyland app also lets you find out where you can have one-on-one encounters with the many characters that populate and even order food ahead of time at select dining locations. It’s also a good idea to have the Play Disney Parks app ready and waiting on your mobile device. That’s your gateway to such unique Batuu experiences as chatting with droids and scanning cargo crates to see what secrets lurk within. The Play Disney Parks app will also keep you entertained while waiting to experience the land’s signature ride, Smuggler’s Run, with in-queue games and snack orders.
PHOTOS: Peek inside Disney's new 'Star Wars': Galaxy's Edge land before it opens May 31
Dress (age) appropriately
Maybe you’re able to dress the part of a stormtrooper or a Jedi Master when you’re at Comic-Con. But at Galaxy’s Edge, elaborate costumes are strictly for those under the age of 14, as per Disneyland park policy. That means any and all adult-sized Darth Vaders and Ewoks will be banished to Hoth. On the other hand, the dress code does permit teenagers and grown-ups to wear character-inspired fashions, as well as themed T-shirts and headwear that doesn’t cover your face. You can even carry a lightsaber... provided that it’s of the plastic variety.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be accessible at Disneyland Resort on May 31.
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