Galaxy's Edge Turns One Year Old
Wow! I can't believe that it has been a full year already since the opening of Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland CA. I want to take a moment and just reflect on the land a bit, it's offerings and my feelings of it.
I can still remember the excite of then CEO, Bob Igor announcing that Disneyland and Walt Disney World would be creating a themed land that was dedicated to the galaxy far, far away. It sent chills up my spine and an overwhelming rush of excitement washed over me.
Fast forward from Igor's announcement to weeks prior to the grand opening here in California. Marzz and I were excited to say the least. We had purchased some clothes to Star Wars bound, meaning we wanted to dress as if we were apart of the Star Wars universe but not look like a specific character. (see photos below)
Together Marzz and I had anxiously waited online as we queued to get "boarding groups" for the opening day. For those that may not remember or not have known, Disney decided to curb attendance to the new land by making it essentially a reservation only land for the first few weeks. In order to do this, you had to go to Disney's website, log in and then select your date and time slot on which you would be able to access the land. The time slots were daily, starting May 31 and consisted of 4-hour time blocks. For example, you could register for a given day, from 8:00AM - 12:00PM and if you received confirmation of that, then that was the time you would be allowed to be in Galaxy's Edge for that day. Once your time had expired, it was more or less on the honor system to leave, however, you were also given a wristband stating your date and time which they checked upon entry; and each wristband was a different color in addition to the printed information on it. So, it meant that if a cast member spotted a color wristband that had expired, they would kindly as you to exit the land. The only exceptions seemed to be if you were already queued to purchase food or merchandise.
Overall I believe this system worked well, it was executed well by the cast members and without being too overbearing on guest, was probably the best system that they could implement at the time. We certainly enjoyed ourselves and were very fortunate to attend on the first official day of operations to the general public AND at the first time slot of the day, at 8:00AM. Quickly after receiving confirmation that I had secured that coveted opening day time slot, I logged out and logged back in using Marzz's Disney login information so we could attempt to secure a second reservation. This time I purposely sought after a time slot at night so we could experience the new land in its contrasting environment. The force was strong with me this day and my luck held out. I was able to secure a time slot for the following day from 8:00PM to 12:00AM.
Now we were beyond excited. We had completed the task of securing our reservations, which turned out to be quite stressful for us. We had our outfits for each day and for opening day, even secured an additional spot for our friend to join us. So we would be a party of three on opening day, then a party of two for the second visit the following evening.
I remember arriving early in the morning on opening day, there was a long queue that stretched far into the esplanade area between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park. I recall there being some confusion on what time they would actually let us into the park, how and where we would enter Galaxy's Edge and again, what time this would all take place.
We have so many wonderful memories from this weekend. As most of you know, Marzz and I first met each other while working at Disneyland park. If you want to know, check out our "about us" section on this site. So combing our love for Star Wars, reuniting us so to speak with our home away from home and the added bonus of getting to be a part of the very first group into the new land made this entire experience all the more memorable for us.
Walking through the entrance from Adventureland for the first gave us goosebumps and then the transition of the music changing to Batuu was something we'll never forget. We really felt like kids, turning our gaze from here to there around each corner. Pointing to items and architecture that stood out to us.
It's safe to say that we instantly felt at home. This was made for fans and fans couldn't help but fell immersed in it. The theming seemed to hold no bound. From the design and music from the "refreshers" (aka restrooms) to the food, buildings that made up the aesthetic and even the cast members did a great job of using the verbiage created specially for Batuu. It was truly a magical day for us and we thank all of the people who helped create it, the cast members who operate it and bring it to life, and those who continue to oversee its success and long-term sustainability.
Now a brief review on the land one year later.
We still love it, but it has changed. For example, the metal sporks that once accompanied your meal at Docking Bay 7, are now available for purchase because too many people stole them. The same can be said for the menus and glassware at Oga's Cantina, they are much more guarded now because too many guests were stealing them. In fact, some people were stealing items off the walls in the attraction queues or just around the land. Obviously this sullied the name of Star Wars fans every where and Disney was forced to make changes.
Speaking of Oga's Cantina, they had a very interesting, but very Star Wars themed way to get into their queue when they first opened. It went something like this. Although I was never there first thing of the day, I assume it operated the same all day. There would be a cast member who walk around near the entrance holding a staff (stick). That staff had a green cloth tied to one end and a red cloth tied to the other. They would come out holding the staff vertically, so the red cloth was on top, It was essentially playing "red light, green light", for those of you who may recall that game from your childhood, or with our own children. At a random time, or at least perceived randomness to the guests, that cast member would flip the staff over vertically, so now the green cloth was on top and that signaled the queue was open! There would be a mad rush for the queue, and aside from perhaps the very first group of the day, there was already a queue formed outside, so at least you knew where to go, but because there were and still are no ropes or stanchions, it was just a mob of people running to form their own section of line. It's no wonder they changed this system and now have it setup just like a restaurant where you need to book a reservation online or via the Disneyland app and choose a date and time slot to enter. True this is much more efficient and probably less dangerous. I have to say, the fact that Disney was daring enough to try this queue system to being with was great and in my opinion, was their way to make sure they had themed every aspect to feel like you were in the Star Wars universe. I commend them for it, I wish it was still operating like that, but I do understand why they decided to change it.
Doc Ondar's Den of Antiquities is another very cool and very themed store located in Blackspire Outpost in Galaxy's Edge. When they first opened, one the most popular items were the Kyber Crystals. For that don't know, in the Star Wars universe/lore, a mineral rock known as a Kyber crystal is what powers a lightsaber and gives it its color. The Kyber crystals that were available for purchase came in a small vile and were the transparent color of the corresponding crystal color inside. Accompanying them were Holocrons, a device that could unlock the Kyber crystal, allowing you to hear recorded messages that were embedded inside them. So the idea was you purchased a crystal for $12.99 at the time and a Holocron for $49.99 and then you could use them together. Without the Holocron, the only other way that crystal was of any real use was if you visit Savi's Workshop located just around the corner from Doc Ondar's and paid $199.99 to build you own lightsaber in a guided experience. Side note, this is something we have yet to do, but we do think it seems cool and we hope to participate in it one day. But again, those were really the only two options for using the Kyber crystals. They had 6 colors: red, blue, yellow, green, purple, white. Or so we thought. Quickly word leaked that in the inside random "red" viles, would not be a red crystal, but a rare and powerful black crystal. That's all it took, you took a Disney product, that is a Star Wars product, and told people it was rare and limited. It was a frenzy. People were mobbing the crystal display shelves, using their cell phones flashlight to back light the red viles in an attempt to suss out the black crystals from the red ones. I will admit, I was guilty of this as well, using my phone's light to search for them, but I was unsuccessful. Just like the original queue for Oga's, I'm not sure if it was good or bad to sell these in this manner; or if people ruined it? I do know that it is no longer this way, you cannot search through the crystals because now they reside behind the counter and a cast member will randomly choose one for you.
There is one other item in Doc's that changed location, from opening weekend to now; and that is Emperor Palpantine's cane is now behind the counter as well. Too many guests were playing with them and scratching them up, rendering them unsellable.
I would argue that most of these changes were made by Disneyland because people could not follow the rules, treat others and the products with respect and care, and with Oga's queue, probably saw the potential of someone being trampled upon the mad rush to enter the queue when the staff was flipped over. So in conclusion to these changes, I think people brought them upon themselves and the reckless actions of a few, ruined it for the many. Note: I mentioned that I was a person using their phone's flashlight to seek the black crystals, this action was not the sole reason they moved the crystals. The other was that due to the small size, they were being stolen.
So, after one year, do I have a good feeling about this? or do I, have a bad feeling about this?
There is still good in you Galaxy's Edge, there always has been.
No, I'm very much on board with what they're doing in Galaxy's Edge and the theming of the land, the atmosphere and the feeling that you get just walking around in there. I love both attractions, each has it's own pros and cons but they are fun and for me, the most important part is that they're very Star Wars themed! I waited my whole life to fly the Millenium Falcon or board a Star Destroyer. Rise of the Resistance is amazing by the way, but since it did not open when the land did, I felt best to omit it from my review.
Galaxy's Edge is a place where all can come and enjoy. It is definitely geared to Star Wars fans more than anything, but I thought that was obvious? You can have only seen the newest films, or watched the cartoon series, or you can have seen every film, cartoon and tv series ever and read every book etc, and all parties across that spectrum of fandom will appreciate this land. Enjoy themselves immersed in a galaxy far, far away. I do think that only Disney could have brought this land to life the way they did. And there will always be nay sayers or critics, but I believe they captured the spirit of Star Wars, appeased the highest majority of fans that they could and as they continue into the future, I have no doubt that they will continue to expand and create more new and exciting elements for Galaxy's Edge. We already know that in Florida at Walt Disney World there will be a Star Wars themed hotel that will be an immersive experience of its own and have its own private entrance into Galaxy's Edge that will allow you to feel like you live on a starship and take transport down to Batuu to enter the land. Amazing.
For anyone who has not experienced Galaxy's Edge just yet, I encourage you to do so once the parks reopen. It is fun and magical and something you will never forget; and if you're a Star Wars fan, it will feel like a right of passage for you.
May the Force be with You!
