Are you planning a visit to Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s Star Wars Land? Then check out my Galaxy’s Edge tips to make the most of your 4 hour reservation.
Disneyland Galaxy’s Edge Tips
This past weekend, we spent the night at Disneyland Hotel Anaheim so that we could get a reservation to Disneyland Galaxy’s Edge. Hotel guests get one 4 hour reservation window and we wanted to check it out before the bigger crowds come.
Once you snag your reservation I suggest you come up with your action plan.
If you prefer watching it as a video, I have these two video’s that include Vlogs on my YouTube Channel.. although the information contained is different. I’d suggest you watch both. You can find my Disney playlist here and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel too.
Part 1:
You will be checking in at Disneyland’s Star Wars Launch Bay. You can do this 2 hours before your reservation time. They will then give you a band to wear.
Tip 1: Get in line as soon as they allow you to. Yes, this may be before the time on your reservation. I got in line at 10AM for an 11AM reservation. We tried lining up from 9AM but they were being really strict about coming later.
Why wait in line early? Because the Cantina and Savi’s Workshop (the handbuilt lightsaber experience) requires reservations. They happen on a first come first serve basis. Reservations are limited. That means that those at the front of the line to enter the land will have the highest chance of getting one of these reservations.
Tip 2: Have a plan of action and split up your party while you go for reservations. I knew I wanted to see EVERYTHING. So I made a plan with my husband, son, daughter and myself. My daughter and I would immediately go to the Cantina for the reservation. My son and husband would go to Savi’s workshop to try and get a reservation. (Please note you will need to pay for your lightsaber experience as soon as you get there. A child will need an adult for this.) We were at the front of the line. There was a lot of pushing and shoving when they allowed us in … and if my daughter was younger, there’s a high likelihood she could have gotten lost. I made sure she had a cell phone before they let us in.. just in case. To check in for the Cantina, only one member of your party has to be there. My husband had the stroller with him and he definitely got pushed back once they allowed people in. People started jumping over him and the stroller.. it was chaotic. If you can park your stroller somewhere before you get into the land.. it’s definitely recommended.. unless you need it.
It’s important to know which reservations you want to make before you go. The Droid Depot doesn’t require a reservation but it’s important to factor this in to your timing.
Tip 3: Do the Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run ride during the middle of your 4 hour reservation. The line when your reservation gets in is likely the time when it will be longest. Each reservation gets 4 hours in the land and you will overlap with the reservation before you in your first hour and the reservation after you in the last hour. That means that your middle two hours is when Galaxy’s Edge will be least busy. I have heard that during the middle two hours Smugglers Run had a 15 minute waiting period.
Tip 4: Do Single Rider for Smuggler’s Run if the wait is busy- You can be any position in Smugglers Run and you’ll have a very short wait. Please note that you will have to be over 14 years old to be a single rider.
Tip 5: Study the map before you get there – Because all cast members are in character so they will not be guiding you to the places you want to go to. For example Savi’s Workshop is referred to as a scrap yard. If you ask someone about Savi’s workshop or the lightsaber experience, they will not tell you where it is because it’s a secret from the First Order.
Tip 6: Make a reservation at a Disneyland Hotel. Want to get into Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge before the crowd gets in on June 24th? Then make a reservation at one of the Disneyland Hotel’s. That’s what we did. Check out my Disneyland Hotel Anaheim review. The hotels come with a one slot 4 hour reservation into Galaxy’s Edge. (It doesn’t matter how many days you are staying at the hotel for. One night and even 4 nights still gets a one time access into Galaxy’s Edge. ) We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel for one night, on a Friday, and got into Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge on Saturday between 11am to 3pm.
Tip 7: If you have a young child coming with you, I’d suggest you have them be a gunner in Smugglers Run – The Star Wars Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run ride gives each person a job. There are 2 pilots, 2 gunners and 2 engineers. I feel like the engineer job would be a little tough for a short child who would need to be buckled in and pressing buttons above them. The pilot job is tough too because it can be a bit rowdy and the pilots are actually controlling the Millenium Falcon. It can make for a stressful and bumpy situation for a young child. The gunner job is the best for young children who would still feel a part of the action by actively helping.
Tip 8: Use your Disney Play app to interact with your environment.
Tip 9: Look around for Disney Photopass photographers and utilize this feature, especially if you have MaxPass. The below picture was taken by a PhotoPass photographer.
Have you been to Galaxy’s Edge? Do you have any tips you’d like to add?
