The Best Disneyland Star Wars Rides (15 Things To Do At Galaxy’s Edge)
Headed to Star Wars Galaxy Edge at Disneyland? Star Wars Land is amazing! Want to ride the Star Wars rides at Disneyland and check out all the fun Disneyland Star Wars attractions?!
You are in the right spot! I am a huge Star Wars fan! I have been to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Disneyland many times. I am excited to share with you the best Disney Land Star Wars rides!
In this post, we will focus on the new Star Wars Disneyland rides as well as the older Disneyland Star Wars rides. The new Smugglers Run Disneyland ride and the Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride are both amazing! Disneyland Star Tours and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain are classics.
We will also list a bunch of fun things to do at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Disneyland. This includes trying the Star Wars blue milk, shopping on Batuu, special Star Wars character meet and greets, building a droid at Disneyland, and trying out the fun restaurants on Batuu.
Let’s check out the Disneyland Star Wars Land rides and all the fun things to do at the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge California section of Disneyland.
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Disneyland in May (Star Wars Month)
If you are a big Star Wars fan Disneyland in May is the best time to go! There are special events that happen all month in honor of “May the 4th be with you.”
Get your Tickets and Accommodations
When you plan your trip to Disneyland you will need to get Disneyland tickets and book accommodations. You can get your tickets on the Disney website but you may be able to find better deals by booking through Viator, TripAdvisor, Sams Club, or a travel agency such as GetAwayToday.
If you book a hotel/ticket package on GetAwayToday, I have a coupon code you can use to get an additional discount – PlanAway10
If you are looking for the best resorts near Disneyland, look into David’s Vacation Club. This site will save you so much money if you want to stay at one of the Disney Resorts. (We used this for our Disney Aulani trip and it saved us $1000 for 1 night!)
Is Star Wars in Disneyland or California Adventure?
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is in Disneyland.
Where is Star Wars Land at Disneyland?
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is located at the back of the park. There are three entrances: Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Critter Country.
Star Wars: Glaxaxy Edge Disneyland in May
- Hyperspace Mountain
- Darth Vader Character Sightings
- Star Wars Themed Food and Beverages
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite
Certain nights during Disneyland in May there is an after-hours Star Wars dance party. This party typically costs $149 – $169. It allows you into the park at 6:00 pm until close.
- Star Wars Fireworks Show – Music from Star Wars
- Galactic Dance Party
- Special Star Wars Meet and Greet
- Themed Eats
- Themed Merchandise
- Access to all the Disneyland Star Wars Rides
Disney's Genie+ and Lightening Lane
I know you want to experience all of the Disneyland Star Wars rides. There are a few ways to avoid lines. The best option is Disney Genie+. It is amazing!
You do have to pay extra to get it, but 100% wouldn’t visit Disneyland and not get it. Totally worth the extra money.
Disney Genie + allows you to use the lightning lane. The lightning lane is a fast lane where you get to skip the line. It is awesome! You can use the Disney Genie + on almost all of the Disneyland Star Wars rides.
Rise of The Resistance Disneyland Ride
The Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride is the only Disneyland Star Wars ride where they charge you more than Genie+ to ride. It is such a popular ride that they can actually charge $25 to skip the line. That price is only good for 1 ride.
I would consider it if the line was over 90 minutes and I knew this was the only opportunity I was going to have to ride it.
How Many Star Wars Rides are at Disneyland?
There are four rides but lots of other fun things to do in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Let’s dive into all the best Disney Star Wars Land rides and fun Star Wars things to do at Disneyland!
1. Rise of the Resistance Disneyland Ride
Height Requirement: 40 inches or Taller
Lightening Lane: $25
Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride is unlike any ride you have ever experienced. I am not going to give away all the secrets of the ride! Just know that this ride is intense, loud, and entertaining the entire time.
Is Rise of the Resistance Scary?
The ride starts by helping the resistance find special recruits for a secret mission. The First Order is all around and on your trail the entire ride. You might be captured by the First Order which could be scary to a small child. I didn’t think the ride was scary.
How to Ride Rise of the Resistance
In the past, there was a Rise of the Resistance virtual queue you could enter on the Disney app. This would put you into the Rise of the Resistance boarding group. Your app was the Rise of the Resistance boarding pass. This is how we were able to go on the Rise of the Resistance ride the first time.
Now you have two options. You can wait in the stand-by line or you can purchase a Lightening Lane Pass.
Lightening Lane
If you want to skip the line, Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride does have a Lightening Lane option. Because this ride is one of the most popular in the entire park it is expensive!
It is not included in the Disney Genie+ but has to be purchased separately. One ride in the lightning lane will cost $25.
Best Time to Ride Rise of the Resistance
Unless you are really lucky, the line tends to be 40+ minutes most of the day. It is not uncommon for the Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride to break down. This will add wait time as well.
The best time to ride the Rise of the Resistance Disneyland ride is first thing in the morning. Get there at rope drop and run to Star Wars Galaxy Edge. Around lunch is another good time to check wait times.
If you are in a hurry and you don’t mind the cost, the Lightening Lane might be the way to go.
The Rise of the Resistance ride is awesome and should be at the top of your Star Wars Disneyland ride picks!
2. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Disneyland Ride
Height Requirement: 38 inches or Taller
Disney Genie +: Included
Smugglers Run Disneyland Ride is a must! This ride gets you on board of the Millennium Falcon. You will have the opportunity to be a pilot, engineer, or gunner.
Disneyland Millennium Falcon
You virtually get to fly the Millennium Falcon. The pilot has full control unless the pilot isn’t doing their job and then it will automate. At certain times during the ride, the engineers will fix problems, and the gunners will attack enemy ships.
Single Rider Lane
The fastest way to ride Smuggler’s Run is to jump into the single-rider lane. My son and I rode 3-4 times in a row! We maybe waited 5-10 minutes each time. Most of the time we were still on the same ship. You are not guaranteed to be put together but luck was on our side.
Riding Smuggler’s Run is about the best Millennium Falcon Disney experience you can have. It is awesome for a Star Wars fan!
3. Star Tours The Adventure Continues
Height Requirement: 40 inches or Taller
Disney Genie+: Included
One of the best Star Wars Disneyland rides has been around for a long time. In fact, it was first brought to Disneyland in 1987 by George Lucas himself.
The Star Tours Disneyland ride is not located in Galaxy’s Edge. It is in Tomorrowland.
Disneyland Star Wars Rides
This is my favorite Disneyland Star Wars ride. There are 700 different ride scenarios. I like to ride this ride about 3 times every time I go to Disneyland. I love watching the different segments! Every time it is a new adventure!
Everything about this Disneyland Star Wars ride makes me happy! I love how themed it is. It is such a classic!
4. Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Height Requirement: 40 Inches or Taller
Disney Genie +: Included
Space Mountain is located in Tomorrowland. It has been around since 1977. It is the best ride at Disneyland! I absolutely love it!
Disneyland in May is the best time to experience Hyper Space Mountain. Hyper Space Mountain is only open for limited times of the year. Typically around May the 4th be with you! Usually the month of May and into June.
During Hyper Space Mountain you will jump into hyperspace and fly into a Star Wars adventure. It is action-packed!
Is Hyperspace Mountain Scary?
If you love roller coasters, this is one of the best. If you are afraid of the dark, you might think Hyperspace Mountain is scary. But I think most will find it more exciting to jump into hyperspace and zip through the galaxy than scary.
Disneyland Star Wars Rides
These top 4 Disneyland Star Wars rides are amazing, but there is actually a lot more to do in Star Wars Land! We are going to jump into all the other fun things to do at Star Wars Galaxy Edge.
5. Disneyland Star Wars Character Meet and Greet
Disneyland character meet and greets at Disneyland are so fun! At Disneyland Star Wars Galaxy Edge you will find your favorite characters.
The Star Wars characters will be walking around Batuu. They will usually stop and a line can be formed to get a picture with them.
Most Common Star Wars Disneyland Characters
- Fennec Shand
- First Order Storm Troopers
- Kylo Ren
- R2-D2
- Rey
- Vi Moradi
- Chewbacca
You may even see the Mandalorian and Grogu in Batuu.
Darth Vader Disneyland Sightings
Darth Vader does not always make an appearance. During Disneyland in May (Star Wars Month) you will be able to find him in Tomorrowland.
6. Star Wars Photo Opportunities
Star Wars Galaxy Edge is so detailed! It really feels like you have jumped onto another planet.
Needless to say, you can get some great photos. There are droids, spaceships, and Instagramable photos throughout the entire Disneyland Star Wars Land.
Strike a Pose
Remember to take pictures! Holy Cow. the detail in Star Wars Land is incredible!
7. Build a Droid at Disneyland
You can build a Droid at Disneyland at the Black Spire Outpost industrial depot. This experience is pretty cool! You can choose between a BB series, an R-Series, or a C series.
There is a conveyer belt where you can pick up the different parts of your droid. You will then be brought to a place where you can assemble the droid. It only takes about 15 minutes to complete the droid experience.
How Much is a Droid at Disneyland?
$99 +tax is the cost of a droid at Disneyland. You can also purchase additional accessories for your droid.
Do I Need to Book Reservations for the Droid Depot?
There are some walk-in spots available, but booking a reservation is the best way to go if you know this is something you really want to do.
8. Savi's Handbuilt Light Saber Workshop
Savi’s Workshop hand built Lightsaber is located at Black Spire Outpost. This secret workshop is hidden from the First Order.
If you want to have an authentic Star Wars Galaxy Edge lightsaber experience, Savi’s is the place. You will be able to choose your color of light saber and assemble it. This Star Wars experience will take you about 20-30 minutes to complete.
Is a Reservation Needed for Savi’s Disneyland Lightsaber Experience?
Yes, You can make a reservation up to 60 days before your trip. If you do not get a reservation you will have the option to purchase light sabers throughout Star Wars Land.
9. Download the Play Disney App
The Disney Play App is awesome! Once you enter Galaxy’s Edge and land on the planet of Batuu, the Disney Play app becomes a Star Wars Datapad. You can use it to do a variety of things.
- Translate Galactic Languages
- Tune into Secret Transmission
- Hack into Droids
- Scan Encrypted Cargo
- Discover Hidden Items
With the data pad, you can take on jobs. You can choose to help the resistance or the First Order. As you wait in line for the Star Wars Disneyland rides. You can do tasks for whichever side your choose to help.
Our Experience
We always use the app while waiting in lines. In Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, we scanned different QR codes as we waited. My kids loved doing the task and it helped make the wait go so much faster.
10. Oga's Cantina
Disneyland Oga’s Cantina is one of the most popular places in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. If you want to experience it, you will need to make a reservation 60 day in advance. These reservations go fast!
Oga serves primarily drinks. There are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. There are a few snacks served. One of the main highlights is the Droid DJ playing some awesome music.
If you can get a reservation, this is a fun place to visit at Star Wars Galaxy Edge at Disneyland! I have read that there are a limited amount spots for those who did not get a reservation. You can always ask!
11. Docking Bay 7
Docking Bay 7 is a quick-service restaurant in Galaxy’s Edge. You can easily pull up your app and Mobile Order. It is awesome.
Docking Bay 7 has a limited menu but offers some staples for Star Wars Land.
12. Ronto Roasters
If you want some exotic meat this is your place. You can get grilled sausage or a meat wrap. The Ronto Wrap is the most popular item to grab.
Ronto Roasters also has mobile ordering available.
13. Try Green or Blue Milk at the Milk Stand
Luke Skywalker was seen in Episode IV A New Hope enjoying Blue Milk and in episode VIII enjoying green milk.
The Milk Stand on Batuu gives you the opportunity to give it a try. To be clear, this drink does not contain milk at all! It is a fruity smoothie.
My Experience
I had heard that the blue milk was better than the green milk. I really wasn’t a fan however, it is a right of passage when you visit Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. You will want to try it out when you visit!
14. Shop on Batuu
Batuu is filled with stores with awesome Star Wars merchandise.
First Order Cargo
If you like the dark side the First Order Cargo Store is where you will want to find your appeal and Disneyland souvenirs. This is also the place where you can join the First Order.
Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiques
If you are looking for the Galaxy’s rarest treasure, Dok Ondar’s is your place. There are lots of rare and valuable goods. As well as lightsabers, plush characters, and apparel.
Other Stores on Batuu
- Black Spire Outfitters
- Resistance Supply
- Creature Stall
- Toydarian Toymaker
15. Head to Downtown Disney
I am so excited to tell you about Downtown Disney. You do not need a park ticket to enjoy the Star Wars Trading Post in Downtown Disney. It is located outside of the Disney Parks.
This fun-themed store is awesome to check out! There are lots of Star Wars merchandise and even authentic lightsabers.
This is a great place to have a Disneyland Star Wars experience.
Ready to Experience Disneyland Star Wars Rides?
What a great list of Disneyland Rides Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! Are you ready to have an amazing Disneyland Star Wars Land experience?! I hope you get to ride all of the new Disneyland rides Starwars attractions!
Which Star Wars Disneyland Ride is Better?
The Disneyland Star Wars rides are awesome! This is a total opinion. They are all fun but my favorite is Star Tours! But out of the new rides, I think Rise of the Resistance is better than Smugglers Run.
As you plan your Disneyland itinerary make sure to allow enough time to enjoy Galaxy’s Edge!
Galaxy’s Edge is a Star Wars fan dream trip!
Facebook Group
If you have any questions about upcoming trips, come join me in my private Facebook Group. This group is a place where you can ask any question about your upcoming trip and help others plan their trips. It is also a place where I put travel deals.
Such a great overview of the Disney Star Wars set up! Makes me want to go right now!! I haven’t been back to Disney since before all of this, but it really looks even better than I imagined. I wanted to step through your pictures. We have some big Star Wars fans in this house! 🙂
It is so detailed!I loved walking around!
So many fun things to do at Galaxy’s Edge. And love all the Star Wars rides at Disneyland.
They are so fun!
The Star War Rides at Disneyland look so cool. I pretty sure I would be terrified if I met up with a platoon of Stormtroopers!
NO kidding! When I met Kylo Ren I was scared!
Reading about Disneyland’s Star Wars rides and attractions makes me want to go back! It’s been years since I e been to Disneyland.
I love Disneland!
Disneyland Star Wars rides look so amazing. Seeing the paratroopers would be frightening and exciting!
It totally is!
Wow! The Disneyland Star Wars looks insanely detailed. I can see how it feels like you are on a totally different planet. I find it amazing how they can create a true life-like experience. My husband would love to go to this – he’s a Star Wars fan. I can only imagine what the rides must feel like!
I love how interactive it is!