It’s been three years since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, and even though it didn’t debut in its complete form, the newest “land” to grace us with its presence has now settled in quite nicely. On a drive to the office this week, I found myself thinking about the SWGE launch, how disjointed it felt, and yet such a landmark occasion in making Star Wars a focal point in the parks outside of the good ‘ole Star Tours.
For those of you that followed the opening, you might remember the Disneyland version requiring a timed booking and resort reservation to be able to enter. Three months later, on Aug. 29, 2019, the out-of-this-world extravaganza opened on the East Coast without half of its main attraction lineup.
Several months later, in early 2020, the second attraction, Rise of the Resistance, debuted in Walt Disney World, sporting a highly-coveted Boarding Group system that left many fans disappointed. The system stayed in place throughout the pandemic until it was paused in late 2021; subsequently, the standby line became operational for the first time since opening.
At the time, the hype surrounding this new era of Disney was more significant than anything we had seen before, bringing in a whole new market of Disney fans to the parks. Three years on, I’m wondering how the Dis Community feels about the extension as a whole and if it has held up outside of the honeymoon period.
The two attractions within the land are consistently praised for joining the latest ride technology together with a captivating storyline and impressive execution. The authentic and rugged environment created for the functional planet Batuu brings the guest directly into the galactic world of their favorite characters for a completely new and unique experience. However, I can’t help but wonder how fans feel about the repeatability of enjoying this distinctive world.
Does this land continue to pull you in, time after time, the same way that the classics like Fantasyland and Tomorrowland do? I’ve noticed that through the years, tweaks have been made to the dining options available in SWGE, taking baby Yoda steps backward away from the more eccentric-sounding food items. The Droid and Lightsaber workshops are pretty incredible, though not something that I imagine would draw much in the way of repeat guests. Does this whole land add up to a very impressive yet of limited value one-hit wonder?
I’m not sure where I stand on this one, so I am looking for input from some of you with a bit more experience in enjoying this part of the park for a second or third time. Does the excitement stick? Or does the one-and-done vibe breakthrough for even the most die-hard of fans? How many Lightsabers can one build? Does the new addition of the Mandalorian and Grogu in Disneyland excite you enough to return? Let me know.