Why Galaxy’s Edge will be more popular at Walt Disney World

in Disneyland Resort, Star Wars, Walt Disney World

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Credit: Disney

It’s safe to say there’s been a lot of conversation happening about what’s been going on in Disneyland since the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge back at the end of May. There have been reports of low attendance, cast member hours being cut, and a few fans being a bit disappointed with Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

That being said, the majority of fans have fallen in love with the new land and with less than a month to go before Galaxy’s Edge opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios we thought it would be fun to share a few reasons why we think the land will be popular at Walt Disney World.

More people visit Walt Disney World

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge
Credit: Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks

As much as all of us have fallen in love with Walt Disney’s original theme park, Walt Disney World attracts far more visitors than Disneyland. Also consider how many tourists, particularly from Europe, will travel to the Walt Disney World Resort ahead of Disneyland simply because of the size difference and close proximity to European countries.

Many of you will know I am from the UK, and over here Disney very rarely even advertises that they have a park in California! I know, I really need to contact them about improving that…

Even with a reduced number of attractions in the theme park last year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios alone received around 11.2 million visitors in 2018. Expect this number to rise even further when Galaxy’s Edge opens.

We should emphasize again, do not underestimate just how big the tourist draw to the Walt Disney World Resort is!

The hotel benefits

Though Disneyland had a pretty strong offering by allowing guests who booked into onsite hotels a chance at getting an entry slot into Galaxy’s Edge, Walt Disney World is improving things even more for onsite guests. Every day from September 1 through November 2 guests staying at any of the hotels on the property will be able to access Galaxy’s Edge before anyone else with Extra Magic Hours (EMH), or as it’s considered for this time period, Extra, Extra Magic Hours.

EMH for Galaxy’s Edge isn’t just the normal hour morning slot that is usually provided, the park will be opening at 6 a.m. with hotel guests getting exclusive access to Galaxy’s Edge until 9 a.m. Again, this is every single day until November 2.

Also, consider this: the Disneyland Resort has around 2,200 hotel rooms on property. Walt Disney World has over 30,000!

Let’s also remember that Disney is currently hard at work on building a “Star Wars” hotel that will have some form of Galaxy’s Edge immersion built into it.

Star Wars Hotel aerial construction photo
Credit: Twitter User – @Bioreconstruct

WDW gets the complete experience first

Arguably one of the most anticipated attractions to open at a Disney theme park is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and fans on the East Coast were treated with the knowledge that it would be opening first in Orlando. This effectively means that Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be complete before the counterpart in Disneyland. Many fans are certainly holding back on booking big vacations to Disneyland and Walt Disney World until the land is finalized, but it’s in Walt Disney World’s favor for the second attraction to open over one month sooner than its counterpart at Disneyland.

As a reminder, Rise of the Resistance opens on December 5 in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and January 17, 2020 in Disneyland.

It’s all in the milk

blue milk
Credit: Disney

While this one is only half-serious, Disney has announced extra drink offerings will be available at Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

In Disneyland, Oga’s Cantina controversially became the first location in the history of the park to sell alcohol to the public. Walt Disney World has happily been serving alcohol in all of its parks for a number of years now (limited availability at the Magic Kingdom) so Disney is pushing for a bit more variation in drink selection at Galaxy’s Edge in Orlando.

Not only will guests be able to get alcohol at Oga’s Cantina, but it will also be available at Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo, Ronto Roasters, and even the Milk Stand where alcoholic versions of the blue and green milk will be on sale.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge crowds
Credit: Richard Harbaugh/Disney Parks

Ready to plan a trip to see Galaxy’s Edge Walt Disney World? Contact our friends at Academy Travel for a free no-obligation quote. The team of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Academy Travel can help answer all your questions and plan your trip so you can focus on having a magical Disney vacation without any stress. Click here to contact them and begin planning your family’s first Disney vacation!

As a reminder, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens on August 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Do you think Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World is going to be a hit or a Stormtrooper misfire? Let us know in the comments below!

in Disneyland Resort, Star Wars, Walt Disney World

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