Well it’s 2021, and it seems that restrictions are lifting in California. Orange County hit the fabled Yellow Tier a week ago and now Disneyland is up to 35% capacity. Things are getting better – indoor dining is happening (though apparently not at McDonalds) and people are going to the movies again. And most importantly Disneyland reopened. So like Julian Edelman and Malcom Butler, I decided to go to Disneyland (yeah these were the only clips on youtube I could find of someone saying Disneyland and not Disneyworld).
Now I wanted to go for a few reasons: to eat at the River Belle Terrace, the new Incredicoaster, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind Ride, new Snow White ride – but there was one huge reason: Star Wars – Galaxy’s Edge. Now I did not go when it opened way back in 2019. I wanted to wait till Rise of The Resistance opened. But it was only open for about 3 months till Disneyland shut down entirely. Last winter I toyed with the idea of going to Florida to visit and ride but decided to wait. Instead I went this past weekend as a way to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Galaxy’s Edge which opened back on May 30, 2019. So I’ll be upfront, I was completely enthralled in this world. I love Hogsmeade, I respect Radiator Springs – but neither, in my opinion, comes close to the atmosphere and amazing work in Black Spire aka Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. Now that isn’t to say it is a slam dunk for everyone – but more on that later in my thoughts.
How to start the day at Galaxy’s Edge
For me, I arrived early and got through the Disneyland gates at 8:40AM, a full 20 minutes before the park “officially” opened. I decided to start at the classic Star Wars attraction, Star Tours – and not at Galaxy’s Edge. Here’s why: 1.) It had a 10 minute wait, 2.) it is on the way to Galaxy’s Edge, and 3.) If you get lucky you will get the Rise of Skywalker program on the ride – which takes you from the Endor moon and the remnants of the Death Star to, eventually, Batuu – aka the planet where Black Spire is located aka Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
It also gave me a chance to stop at the adjoining shop Star Trader’s where I picked up my THE BAD BATCH cap – which I had seen before and knew before I even stepped inside Disneyland that I wanted one.
Let’s back up a second… and talk about the Rise of The Resistance Boarding Groups…
Part of your day journeying to Black Spire will begin before many people even get in their car or leave their hotel room to go to Disneyland. That’s because one of the biggest things about going to Galaxy’s Edge – if not THE biggest thing – is the aforementioned E+ ticket Rise of The Resistance… but getting onto the ride is also one of the trickiest things.
The only way to get on RISE OF THE RESISTANCE boarding group is to sign up (via the Disneyland app) at 7AM and 12PM each day of your trip to Disneyland. The boarding groups are filled within seconds – anywhere from 5-15 seconds, though lately it has been way closer to 5. So at 7AM I logged in. And guess what I didn’t get one. Man I was bummed. But I knew I’d have another chance at noon. So I put on my best face and made my way to Disneyland.
And so after going on Star Tours and walking through Fantasyland, I in the tunnel and arriving at Black Spire. I was immediately stunned. There to my right was Kylo Ren’s ship. Now before you read any further you should know I am a Star Wars lunatic. I love the OT but PHANTOM MENACE and RISE OF SKYWALKER are two of my personal top five favorite Star Wars films. In fact, I think I’ve seen The Phantom Menace more than any other film in the Star Wars canon. All this is to say when I saw Kylo’s hip – I flipped. I would have flipped the same if it was Ric Olie’s Naboo Starfighter or one of the Twin Pod Cloud Cars.
Smuggler’s Run is a hidden gem – or as much any ride at Black Spire can be
My first ride was Smuggler’s Run – aka the ride where you pilot the Millenium Falcon. I had heard mixed reviews. But I wasn’t getting on Rise of The Resistance anytime soon, so I lined up – and luckily the line was only a 20 minute projected wait. By the time I got into the cockpit of the Falcon, it was closer to a 10 minute wait.
The theme was amazing. Yes there is a full scale replica of the Falcon outside of the ride. BUT there is also a replica of the inner Falcon INSIDE. As someone who LOVED SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, I kept thinking about Ron Howard’s tracking shot through the inside of a pre-worn Falcon as I walked through the tunnels and hallways of the ship. You see everything: the chess set, the booth around the chess set, Luke’s blaster shield helmet, the lightsaber training ball. And even the entrance to the cockpit even feels exactly the same.
When you get inside, you get a chance to play one of three positions (6 people total as each “position” is split into two responsibilities). But this is still technically times of a pandemic and only households that know each other were allowed to fly together. Now here’s something I will admit – and if you’ve read this far, I know I can trust you so… I did this Disneyland trip solo. So I didn’t have to go on my Falcon flight with anyone but me. I felt just like Rey in THE FORCE AWAKENS when she pilots the Falcon for the first time. And I won’t go into detail on the nature of the trip but it was absolutely awesome and there is NOTHING like being able to pull that lever and throw the Falcon into hyperspace. BEAUTIFUL. I loved this ride. I ended up going on it three times. I don’t think there is a ride at Disneyland or even the world that gives me as much joy as this ride currently does.
The Marketplace and Ronto Roasters – The Heart of Black Spire
Now that I had one ride at Black Spire out of the way, I decided to really take in the atmosphere – and this is where Black Spire excels. I could spend all day here going in and out of shops or just sitting on a bench and watching the storm troopers and droids walk by. The marketplace specifically was really something else, all kinds of Star Wars curios and clothing that you cannot find anywhere in the world – online or otherwise and shopkeepers who talk to you the same way someone who is a shopkeeper in the Star Wars universe might talk to Rey or Luke. They’ll make conversation, show their wares, tell you little tips about Black Spire, it’s an amazing experience.
One of the coolest shops there sold Jedi robes and other Star Wars universe centric apparel. One of the most awesome was Rey’s vest from Ahch-To. I really wanted to buy this for me because I am such a Rey stan but I did not have the guts to fork over the credits. I wish I would have and when I go back I think I definitely will.
Then I went and got a quick breakfast at Ronto Roasters – currently the only establishment serving food at Black Spire. In pre-pandemic times there was also Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7 – but both are still closed due to what I can only assume are Disney’s own indoor dining hesitancies. Still Ronto Roasters was a great and yummy option and I opted for the Ronto-Less wrap and a glass of Meiloorun Juice. The juice is awesome. I came back and had another later in the day. I wish I could have it more often but I will always look forward to it when I return to Black Spire.
There are four other shops. One is Dok Ondar’s – which sells lightsaber replicas and higher end keepsakes. A second is the Droid Depot, where you can assemble your own droid.
The third shop is the Rebel Outpost which can be found outside of Rise of The Resistance. And the fourth is the First Order Supply Store which is next to Kylo Ren’s ship. I loved this First Order store – and I even bought a backpack there. The shopkeeper was dressed in a First Order uniform and made sure to tell me to wait for Kylo and the stormtroopers so I could enlist!
All four of these stores are really great but I was honestly most in love with the marketplace shops – largely because it was so unlike any other theme park shopping experience and just so well created – it really felt right out of a Star Wars movie.
Blue Milk – A MUST
You have to go to the milk stand. One of the best and most cost effective keepsakes from Black Spire is the milk jug that you can order with your blue or green milk. I chose blue and judging from Youtube reviews, I think I chose wisely.
It was delicious and the little jug that lights up that comes with it (if you spend an extra 15 credits) is quite fun and you can also wear it around your head like a necklace. Which is also cool and funny.
Characters Meet and Greets In Black Spire
As previously mentioned there are droids and troopers throughout the land but intermittently characters (Kylo Ren, Chewbacca and Rey) all come out to meet (socially distanced – again we are still in a pandemic) fans and interact with them.
They were all really top of the line experiences. I’m a huge Star Wars fans and this was just a thrilling once in a lifetime type opportunity. And one of the things I liked best is that they all seemed to have different energy levels and styles for their meets – they really felt like the characters. Kylo Ren exits his ship with much fanfare and is immediately on a stage, flanked by stormtroopers on either side. He exhorts and those who come and stand in front of him, toying with them, making fun of them, challenging them to join the First Order – its funny, if a little intimidating – especially if you are a more quiet conscripted First Order fan like myself.
Chewbacca just came out to a plank and yelled his Chewie yell and people would cheer and he would get more excited and jump up and down. If this sound a little basic – well it might be – but it REALLY REALLY worked. I had previously met Chewie at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood during the premiere of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY so we were old friends.
And then there was Rey. Man I am such a fan of this character. I know some people like to be haters but we’re going to ignore them. Rey was my favorite that day and has always been my favorite. Now if you follow me on twitter (@sideshadow99) you know I am a huge Rey fan. And when Rey came out I was genuinely nervous. At first I did not even realize it was her. That’s because unlike Chewie or Kylo, Rey just kind of fades into the background working on a group of junkers in her workshop. When you see her, it’s almost a shock. If you walk by, you might even not realize who it is. And she will also sidle up to the popcorn stand that adjoins the workshop and talk to the workers at the stand.
They you realize THAT’S REY. And you might even say it. When I said “It’s Rey”, I’m sure it was very embarrassing: for me, for her, for the people watching this whole interaction. But she was very nice and smiled when I asked if I could take her picture with my data pad. Rey just felt like Rey. Kind, unassuming, someone who blends into the background but has the heart of a warrior if needed. As Snoke once said, she has the spirit of A TRUE JEDI! Rey is just the best and this was THE highlight of my trip to Black Spire.
Rise of The Resistance is stressful AF to get on – but boy is it worth it
At 12 PM I tried for a Rise of The Resistance boarding group again and this time I got on. But my wait was 6 hours away – luckily the park did not close for 9 hours so I thought I was doing ok. I thought…
Because after I returned to Disneyland around 5PM after an afternoon at Disney’s California Adventure, I noticed that my time was no longer shrinking, it was increasing. And that is because Rise of The Resistance was down! I had heard stories of the ride going down for periods before but now that my ride time was edging closer and closer to closing time, I was starting to get genuinely nervous.
Eventually the ride started again – after about 75 minutes of stress – and about an hour later my boarding group was called at around 7:45PM. I eventually got on the ride at a little after 8PM and wow was it something. I almost don’t want to talk about it – just know that you will not even really know once you are on the ride, it is that seamless. I really think this experience – even calling it a “ride” seems like a downgrade – is about as close as we will get to WESTWORLD for a while. The experience is arguably 4-5 rides in one and its truly something amazing from a technical, dramatic, and general imagineering perspective. It is the #1 theme park ride in the world – bar none, even better than Harry Potter – Forbidden Journey.
Overall – I just wanted to spend more time here
I think that is the biggest and best thing I can say about Black Spire/Galaxy’s Edge and the biggest testament to its success. I probably spent about 5 of my 12 hours at Disneyland here. And I wish I had even more time to spend here. If I lived in the LA area and had an annual passport (which currently does not exist) I would happily be here at least once a month if not more.
Now I felt the same way about Hogsmeade at Universal and I still think Hogsmeade is awesome but Black Spire is just so much more expansive and interactive. It’s just on another level – which is really saying something. And maybe I’m just more of a Star Wars fan than a Harry Potter fan – something I never thought I would admit to – but here we are.
I can’t wait to go back to Black Spire again soon – and Rey – I promise I will be more cool next time (but I probably won’t be).
No Scoops Club 