This afternoon as a very exciting day, as my friends managed to get reservations to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and invited me as a plus one. I was beyond excited to have the opportunity and privilege to be able to experience the land before any guests could.
Our reservation window was 5pm-9pm. So we made our way to Hollywood Studios a little earlier and arrived just before our reservation period. Thankfully we did as we had some issues getting into the park but the lovely cast members at Park Greeter were super helpful and assisted us so we could all get in the proper way. And before long we were in the park.
The next step was to very anxiously make our way down to Grand Avenue where the next lot of check in podiums were. The cast members there were super friendly and made the last final hurdle go as quickly and efficiently as possible, knowing that all we wanted to do is run behind them into the land.
Walking in you are immediately taken away from Florida and from Disney and truely feel like you have been transported to a different planet. The theming is definitely taken to the next level and it is obvious that Disney spared no expense to make sure that guests are completely immersed in the story that Disney are trying to tell.
There is so much to see and do that in a way it is overwhelming. Even those that haven’t seen the films will still appreciate just how great this new land is and the amount of detail that the imagineers put in. Everywhere you turn there is something that catches your eye.
We honestly didn’t know what to do as there was just too much that was new to us and we wanted to see, do and explore, while also having a couple of things we wanted to check out and experience. So we kinda had to slow down and take it all in before we could continue on.
After some photos and exploring we turned the corner to the focal piece of the land, the number one photo spot and what everyone wants to see. The millennium falcon. It was huge and really incredible. And yes we did go and get photos out in front of it first. Then it was time to do what we had all been waiting for, join the queue for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
The queue was honestly great with lots to see. We did brush past most of it but that was only due to the extremely low crowds in the land (as we had one of the last days for cast previews). Before we knew it we were in the pre show area and boy is that a treat. There is the worlds most advanced ever animatronic in the pre show area that gives the spiel about the ride. It is so real and life like that my friends honestly believed that it was a character performer and were blown away upon realising that it was an animatronic.
The next section was where you received your roles and boarding colour. You then wait in this awesome room that because I haven’t seen the movies I can’t really describe what it is. Then your group is called and they line you up by role, take away your boarding pass and send you to the final pre show room. From there the doors open and you get to actually ride in the millennium falcon, either as a pilot, gunner or engineer.
After we got off the ride we all agreed that it was truely incredible. From there we kinda split off, one group went and built their own lightsaber, while me and a friend went to check out droid depot. Let me tell you that place is truely amazing and actually convinced me to spend the money to build my own droid. Not just me but also my friends once they finished building their lightsaber.
After I finished building my droid, we had to wait for our friends, so we went and sat down outside and chilled for a little bit before going and getting the exclusive coke bottles and doing a bit of a mini photo shoot. The bottles can only be purchased on the planet of Batuu, and also why not take photos with them while visiting the planet.
After the friends built their droids we went over to check out the milk stand. The signature drinks for the land are straight out of the films, green and blue milk. We tried them because we had too. I wasn’t the biggest fan of either flavour but have to give a slight edge to the blue milk, however I don’t think I’ll be rushing back to get another on my own again. While sitting down and enjoy our milk we had a group of storm troopers walk over and talk with us, telling one of us to change our attitude and that we needed to leave.
Then it was off to explore the first order side of the planet. We took some photos and explored the gift shop for a little bit. Then as we were leaving the storm troopers came back and surrounded us, drawing their guns on us. Turns out it was me they were talking to earlier about having an attitude problem and wanting to leave. We managed to convince them that we were in fact on our way out and that they wouldn’t see us again. The level of theming and interaction in this new land is truely unparalleled by anything else.
After another ride,and some photos it was time for some dinner. We chose docking bay 7 and let me tell you that the food was really fantastic, maybe even on par with table service quality for a quick service location. I will definitely be going back there again when I travel back to Batuu.
Our night concluded with a final ride, and some last lots of exploring before sadly our reservation window closed and so did the park. So we said farewell to the planet of Batuu and traveled back to Earth, arriving back in Disney’s Hollywood studios with our extra cargo in hand, a bit saddened and for some a lot poorer. Getting to visit the planet of Batuu was truely amazing and a wonderful privilege.
Jesse's Adventure In Disney 