At the edge of the galaxy

So far away

Black was the spire

That called me to stay.

A beacon for drifters

Forgotten and lost

The spires summoned those

Broken and tossed.

Come stay here forever

Or just pass on through.

The spirit of Black Spire

Will forever change you.

– Delilah S. Dawson

Bright suns, everyone!

Star Wars, a fandom that has brought us numerous films, dozens of television shows, toys, video games, books and comics. We were introduced to iconic characters, memorable storylines, and unique locations. It is a world that still continues to do so. Most importantly, it is a fandom that had brought families, friends and even strangers together, Star Wars has always been something that me and my father bonded over. When Walt Disney World used to host Star Wars Weekends, we always went together.

All of the memories that I have accumulated throughout my life had led to my excitement of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I was finally getting an opportunity to step into the world of Star Wars. The best part about Galaxy’s Edge is the fact that this new land was indeed that – new! Now, if you have not visited Batuu at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World, I recommend that you pick up Delilah S. Dawson’s newest book, Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire. This novel lets you dive into the world of Batuu. The story lets you walk the ancient streets, meet colorful characters and uncover the history of Galaxy’s Edge. You can get your own copy below: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609081/galaxys-edge-black-spire-star-wars-by-delilah-s-dawson/

Now lets dive into Batuu and everything that it has to offer! Since I live in Orlando, I will be talking specifically about the land in Hollywood Studios. That being said, the transition into Batuu is flawless. It truly feels that you are exiting Hollywood Studios and entering a new world all together. What you will notice is all of the trees, the rock formations, the ships…you do not even see the rest of the park. You will find yourself asking “wait, am I even in Hollywood Studios?”. The unique characters of this world, like Rey, Chewbacca, Storm Troopers, Kylo, members of the First Order and Vi Moradi (if you read the book I mentioned about, you will learn about her!), are all walking around. Remember, you have entered their world. Members of the Resistance do their best to not cross paths with the First Order.

The Outpost Marketplace is a galactic adventure in itself. It serves as a remote trading port for smugglers, traders, and adventurers traveling the Outer Rim and Wild Space. You may even see some mysterious creatures by the water fountains. Each shop throughout the marketplace sells different things that you may need for your travels. Want a Porg? This is your stop! Need the perfect space travel attire? The Outpost has it! Here you will find the Outpost Mix Popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle. It is described as a “colorful blend of sweet and spicy flavors”‘ and it is 6.49 credits. You have the option to get the mix in a Repair Droid Popcorn Vessel for 19.99 credits. I surprisingly was a fan of the mix. Is it an intense flavor? Not at all. To me, it tastes like Trix cereal. If you’re looking for a light snack, this is where you should go. serves as a remote trading port for smugglers, traders, and adventurers traveling the Outer Rim and Wild SpaceThe Outpost Marketplace is a galactic adventure in itself. You may see some mysterious creatures by the water fountains. Each shop throughout the marketplace sells different things that you may need for your travels. Want a Porg? This is your stop! Need the perfect space travel attire? The Outpost has it! Here you will find the Outpost Mix Popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle. It is described as a “colorful blend of sweet and spicy flavors”‘ and it is 6.49 credits. You have the option to get the mix in a Repair Droid Popcorn Vessel for 19.99 credits. I surprisingly was a fan of the mix. Is it an intense flavor? Not at all. To me, it tastes like Trix cereal. If you’re looking for a light snack, this is where you should go.

If you keep on going, you will see Ronto Roasters. This is where the delicious Ronto Wrap, which is roasted pork and grilled sausage with peppercorn sauce and tangy slaw wrapped in pita. Another food option is the Nuna Turkey Jerky. You have the choice to get it sweet or spicy. There are some speciality drink options here as well like Tatooine Sunset (Gold Peak Unsweetened Tea, Odwalla Lemonade, melon, and blueberry), Sour Sarlacc (Minute Maid Limeade, raspberry, and spicy mango), and Meiloorun Juice (pineapple, Simply Lemonade with blueberry, white cranberry juice, lemon juice, and desert pear). Of course, Blue and Green Milk are offered here but we talk about that a little later.

Another quick service location is Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo. This location has a bigger variety of entrees and desserts than Ronto Roasters. If you cannot get into Oga’s Cantina, this is the next best place. Oga’s Cantina is like the Trader Sams of the Star Wars World and you can make reservations online or through My Disney Experience.. DJ R-3X has reinvented himself from the Starspeeder 3000 pilot droid from Star Tours as the energetic DJ of the cantina. Here you will find both alcohol and non=alcoholic drinks. You will find yourself trying new beverages and dancing the day away!

Then there is the milk stand…this is where you get your Blue Milk and Green Milk only. At Walt Disney World, you can also get your milks with alcohol. Let me start off by saying, it is NOT dairy based milk. It is actually a frozen plant-based of coconut and rice milks. They are each 7.99 credits. These iconic Star Wars beverages have sparked the debate of which flavor is better. The Blue Milk is described to have a ‘alluring fruity characteristics” and the Green Milk is described to have “zippy citrus and tropical characteristics”. At both priced at 14.00 credits, both beverages can contain alcohol. Bacardi Rum is added to Blue Milk and Corazon Blanco Tequila is added to Green Milk. Personally, I have only tried the non-alcoholic versions and prefer Blue over Green. I do like both but prefer one over the other. To me, Green Milk tastes like I am biting into a Basin bath bomb.

Have you ever wanted to board the Millennium Falcon? How about flying the hunk of junk?! NOW YOU CAN! You read that correctly! Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is an interactive smuggling ride that assigns you different positions or jobs as you board the cockpit. You can either be the pilot, Gunner or Engineer. It is important to listen to Hondo’s instructions because how well you do determines the condition of the Falcon in the end.

Savi’s Workshop is an experience in itself. This is a reservation only experience where you can hand build your own lightsaber. You are met with The Gatherers as they guide you in building your own saber. This experience requires you to purchase your lightsaber. What is unique about this experience is that you truly feel like you are creating your own story and it all begins with you choosing your kyber crystal. Which crystal would you choose – blue, green, violet or red? This experience is 199.99 credits per lightsaber plus tax. If you cannot get a reservation and would like to build a saber still, there is a location in Batuu where you can do so, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. In this location, you can find more items to customize your saber even more. This location is considered the Den of Secrets. Here you will find kyber crystals, collectibles and Dok-Ondar himself. Don’t forget to look up, down, and all around.

We are finally going to dive into my favorite spot in Batuu, Droid Depot. You can also make reservations for this opportunity on My Disney Experience and online (which is recommended). R2-D2 and BB-8 are my favorite characters in this fandom. They both have so much spunk and character. How could you not love them? This workshop is stocked with parts, chips and all the other items you would need in order to build your own droid. YUP! You get the chance to build your very own Astromech Unit! You have the option to build a droid from the BB series or the R series. You will pay for your droid first, which is 99.99 credits per droid unit plus tax. You will first make your way to the Parts station to get all of the parts and pieces that you will need to build your new droid. You will then be taken to the Build station to put everything together and activate your droid. You will get a remote control that will be paired to the droid you have created. There are various personality chips and other accessories that are available for additional credits. The best apart about your custom droid is that as you carry it around with you, it will interact and react to its surroundings and other droids.

Thank you for giving this a read! If you have any questions or things you’d like to see in the future, please leave me a comment!

Rising moons and til the Spire!