Reservations NOW AVAILABLE for Star Wars Land Experiences at Disney World
Walt Disney World has opened Advance Dining Reservations and other booking opportunities for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. At present, guests can book Oga’s Cantina, Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers, and Droid Depot. In this post, we’ll cover what you need to know and offer some recommendations. (Last updated August 8, 2019.)
August 8, 2019 Update: Many dates sold out quickly for all three experiences when reservations went live yesterday. However, we’ve noticed that a new wave of available times has been released today, and we’d expect this to continue to occur. If you can’t find what you want, check back each morning. Failing that, look for cancelled reservations the day before you wish to visit, as many people will cancel just before the deadline.
Finally, many of you reported issues getting DisneyWorld.com or My Disney Experience to work. This always happens on high-traffic days (e.g. promotion releases, ride FastPass+ debut, etc.) and our #1 solution is always to use private browsing or incognito mode on your desktop to access DisneyWorld.com. This won’t always resolve your problem, but often it will–it’s at least worth a shot…
The release of reservations for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experiences should come as a huge relief for anyone who is a Walt Disney World planner. There have been a lot of complaints about Walt Disney World’s lack of reservation slots for on-site hotels guests, or even a priority boarding pass system like Disneyland introduced (but to my knowledge has only used a couple of times).
While these Advance Dining & Experience Reservations (so…ADXRs?) are not akin to a boarding pass system, their availability should make it significantly easier to devise a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge touring plan. Moreover, they ensure that you will not have to rope drop Disney’s Hollywood Studios during multiple mornings of Extra, Extra Magic Hours to get everything done. In fact, thanks to these reservations, most guests will now be able to “complete” Star Wars Land in 4 hours or so…
Before booking ADXRs for these Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge experiences, we’d suggest reading our reviews of each–as we’ve done all three already. None of these things are inexpensive, and even though you might be tempted to do them all if there’s availability, we’d encourage you to pick two (at most).
Here are our reviews:
- Read our full Oga’s Cantina Review to see drink and interior photos, and more!
- Read our full Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers Review to find out whether this is worth the money
- Read our full Droid Depot Build-A-Droid Review to determine whether it’s worth the money
Without question, you want to make an ADR for Oga’s Cantina. Even if you don’t or won’t drink, it’s worth it to see the inside, and this could be the only way to do that. Nothing says you can’t make an ADR, check-in, walk inside and wander around, and then leave without ordering.
Our second ADXR recommendation would be Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers. As you can read in our review above (stop before the spoilers), we absolutely loved this experience. The price is very steep, but it’s incredible. If you’re on the fence right now, we’d recommend making the reservation and deciding later. So long as you cancel at least one day in advance, there’s no penalty. If you don’t make a reservation ASAP, you’re unlikely to get one.
A lot of other people loved Droid Depot, but it’s our lowest priority ADXR of the three. Personally, I’d put the money towards Savi’s Workshop instead (or the awesome DJ R3X for sale in the same shop). You can still peak inside Droid Depot from the other half of the gift shop if you want to see what it’s like. (This is also the experience that’s least likely to run out of reservations.)
Here are the links for making Advance Dining & Experience Reservations in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge:
- Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers Reservations via DisneyWorld.com
- Oga’s Cantina Reservations via DisneyWorld.com
- Droid Depot Reservations via DisneyWorld.com
Reservations are now available for dates beginning August 29, 2019 and are highly recommended (but not required). Walk-ups for all three experiences will be accepted if there’s availability. Walt Disney World indicates that reservations are available 180 days in advance. (In other words, exactly like ADRs–hence our ADXR moniker.)
For Oga’s Cantina, ADRs are available from opening day through February 3, 2020. (To start with–obviously the latter date will continue to expand.) You are limited to 2 drinks per person, the experience is mostly standing room only with no guarantees as to seating, and you’re limited to 45 minutes inside Oga’s Cantina.
For all three experiences, your credit card is used to guarantee the reservation. It will only be charged in the event that your party does not arrive as scheduled. To keep from being charged, cancel one day prior to your reservation. In the event that you no-show or fail to cancel at Oga’s Cantina, you’re charged $10 per person.
No shows at Savi’s Workshop or Droid Depot will incur the full charge of the experience: $200 charge for Savi’s Workshop and $100 for Droid Depot. Note that for Savi’s Workshop you need to arrive 15 minutes in advance, whereas for Droid Depot you will need to arrive 60 minutes in advance per DisneyWorld.com. (That arrival time for Droid Depot can’t be right!)
One interesting thing we noted in the Droid Depot terms and conditions is that “you may use or play with your droid only in the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge land.” (Obviously, you’re also allowed to use or play with it at home…or so we think!) This is a change from the official Disneyland rules, which did not allow playing with droids in Star Wars Land.
That rule along with the prohibitions on costumes and playing with lightsabers in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge have not been enforced at Disneyland (at least, from what we’ve observed), and the Star Wars Land experience is all the better for it.
Droid melees in the courtyard outside Droid Depot are fun and hilarious to watch, and lightsaber battles in the PhotoPass area in front of Millennium Falcon are likewise really amusing. It’s nice to see Walt Disney World allowing this, as we felt guests getting into the fun of the Star Wars experience really added a lot to the land.
In terms of strategy for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, these reservations make things easier. The only things that will now require waiting in line are Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and, depending upon crowds, the various shops.
We’d recommend making your Advance Dining & Experience Reservations for the middle of the day, if at all possible. As of right now, our tentative touring plan for Disney’s Hollywood Studios is either rope dropping Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and doing Smugglers Run then exploring the land and shops followed by using FastPass+ at other attractions, or saving Star Wars Land until the end of the day.
Right now, we’re on the fence about whether to recommend Galaxy’s Edge right away or zigging while others zag, and enjoying what should be a virtually empty (rest of) Disney’s Hollywood Studios for that first hour or so. At Disneyland, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run wait times are peaking in the morning, so we’re inclined to go with the counter-intuitive strategy, but haven’t decided on that for sure. Either way, we will have an actual, complete 1-Day Disney’s Hollywood Studios Itinerary posted here before August 29, 2019.
If you’re planning on visiting the new land, you’ll also want to read our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide. This covers a range of topics from basics about the land and its location, to strategically choosing a hotel for your stay, recommended strategy for the land, and how to beat the crowds. It’s a good primer for this huge addition. As for planning the rest of your trip, we have a thorough Walt Disney World Planning Guide.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Were you able to book ADXRs for anything in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World? Which one of these experiences is your top priority for Star Wars Land? If you have any questions, please read the stories of others and try to troubleshoot on your own before asking! Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you so much for this information! I was able to get an ADR in the late evening for the cantina for our October trip! We don’t plan on eating but at least we’re guaranteed to see it and possibly have a cocktail!
We tried all afternoon yesterday to get reservations to Oga’s to no avail. I tried again this morning around 8:00 am and got right on and got a reservation for 12/22 for our party of 9 no problem! I am so relieved as we really wanted to be able to experience this all together with our extended family.
Made ours yesterday (after some technical glitches) and we’ll be there 9/3. So excited! My advice to anyone having issues, especially with the page crashing, is simply clear your cache. I would wait to get in, be told to sign in then get kicked out. Once I cleared it I got in. Good luck all!
I will be there with my son Sept 10-13 and tried on the 11th. Only thing open was dinner, but all that was listed was drinks with or without alcohol or one snack. Some bite with a dip. That is not dinner. So this experience will wait a while for me. I am not making an ADR just for a drink.
If anyone couldn’t get one yesterday, I’d try again today.
We aren’t sure which day we will be in HS (basing it on FastPass availability, and we are still more than 60 out). I was only able to get one of our potential days yesterday for the cantina. I checked again this morning for the other day and it had lots of slots. Reserved using the app with no problems.
Can’t speak to the other experiences…200 dollar toy building is too rich for my blood :-).
Is anyone having problems reserving?
Every time I try (savi’s) and click reserve it says something went wrong and try again…
yet the preauthorisation fee is taken out…but no confirmation of booking…. very frustrating!!
Does the reservation show in your My Disney Experience plans on the website or app? I got an email for Savi’s but not for Oga’s, however they’re both showing in “My Plans”.
No
Even with all the preauthorisation fees.
It did this with me. I updated the cell phone number to add the UK country code +44 and it went through. When I make ADR’s it reminds me to update it but on the Star Wars stuff it didn’t tell me what the error was. So double check for errors would be my advice.
Thank you so much for the advice. I tried this but it still didn’t work though…
Thanks for the info Tom! After seeing the Millennium Falcon all day yesterday I tried one last time last night and got the only slot left in the day we had already planned to be in HS. This morning I checked and there are at least 20 open slots now for the same day. If anyone tried yesterday and were not successful, I would try again now.
Also, I am curious about the 1st comment on here. Do they fit in luggage or will we have to ship them home? And will they send them to your hotel like other purchases or do you have to carry them with you all day?
Between 8:30 -12:00 last night (8/7/19) there were no reservations available for Savi’s or Oga’s during my trip at the start of October. This morning (8/8/19) there are TONS of available times. I think the site must have been crazy overloaded last night. If you didn’t have luck, try again!
THANK YOU for posting this. I tried for three hours yesterday for Oga’s. I just went on (9:20am est) and got a reservation! So happy!!
Yay! The system just needed a good night’s sleep. haha
If you couldn’t get Oga reservations yesterday, try again now. Last night there was zero availability the week I am there even for even a party of 1. This morning I easily booked a party of 5 for my preferred date and time!
Yep! Got up for work at 230 am central time and was able to get my Ogas reservations for October! It did take a bit for it to load, but all set now!
Thanks for the heads up! This may be a silly question, but can the light saber fit in a carry on bag for the flight home? Is it collapsible? Thanks again!
Just a heads up for anyone that missed out this morning. I spent over an hour on the site trying to book Oga’s I just went back on the evening (Australia time) and was able to get the reservation times I wanted.
Tom as always thanks for the advice!
Four hours? After 90 minutes in Galaxy’s Edge at DL, including the 40-minute wait for Smuggler’s Run, I was bored. Then again, I think $200 for a lightsaber and $100 for a droid toy are ridiculous prices, and did not have interest in the cantina. Other than looking in stores with Star Wars trinkets, there really wasn’t much to do. I was not very impressed. I hope WDW is somehow better.
The website has adjusted arrival time for Droid Depot back to 15 minutes before the appointment time.
do we think things like droid depot will be open during EEMH? i made a droid depot reservation, but the earliest time was 7:05pm. i’d prefer to get it done in the morning, but i’m unsure if those will be open, as on any day i checked, 9:30am was the earliest listing. but then, you have to cancel a reservation at least a day in advance or be charged, so if they do open in the morning, i wouldn’t be able to cancel the evening reservation at that point, would i? or would it be better to just keep the evening reservation and not carry the thing around all day? would doing a droid build at that point leave enough time to get over to fantasmic for an 8:30 show? i really think my 5 year old will love the build, i know it’s gotten mixed reviews. i’m also kind of hoping they let both parents in with her, because i think we’d both get a kick out of helping her, but i know they might be strict on that policy (though weren’t they letting that slide in disneyland i thought i read?)
The Droids also interact with the area and other droids so we are going with a morning slot so we can have fun with it all day – hopefully!!!!
i was trying for that but 7:05pm was the earliest available for the one day we’re going to be there.
I attempted to make reservations for the 29-31 of August after reading a reader’s comment that reservations had been released in your skyliner update at around 1:45. Savi’s and Oga’s were fully booked until September 2nd at that point. What are the chances of anything being available at rope drop those days? Or will they likely only be accepting people with advance reservations? Our family of 5 are all huge fans of Star Wars, but booked this trip before Galaxy’s Edge opening date had been released. Wondering if we should just not even try to get in at this point. Especially if we will all need to arrive by 4:30 am with two teens and an 8 year old, only to discover we can’t experience anything in the land anyways? Also, we had ADR’s for dinner at 50’s diner and we’re concerned if we don’t arrive early enough the park could hit capacity and we’d be dinged with a fee for not being able to make our reservation.
We tried for the same dates… nothing available. We too have ADR and wonder if we will have issues getting into the park for them. Really disappointed with how this was handled today. 🙁
Keep checking first thing in the morning, I had some disappointment last night, and this morning checked, happy to find openings for day I wanted, whereas last night it showed booked solid for the entire week and beyond.
” Our family of 5 are all huge fans of Star Wars, but booked this trip before Galaxy’s Edge opening date had been released.” — that’s our family of 4, too, and I was hoping to get a reservation for Sept 29 or 30th. I did manage to get a droid booking for each of my kids on the 30th, but only one of them really wants to do it. So for now arriving at 4:30am on the 29th is the plan, with the 30th as a backup.
Thank you so much for the heads up on open reservations! I got time slots for Oga’s Cantina and Savi’s Workshop on September 3rd! I definitely would’ve missed this opportunity without your email as both are booked completely now.
What do you think the odds Ronto’s or Docking Bay offering reservations close to the land opening?
How ironic this experience reservation system launched today – considering Disney just had a Q2 earnings call with lower than expected results. I checked off and on throughout the day after seeing Tom’s email, I received multiple website errors, and I watched the flying Millennium Falcon too many times to count, but… I was able to get ADXR’s for all 3 experiences in early Jan. I can’t wait to see what Disney’s plan will be for the 2 rides!
The timing feels more strategic than ironic, to me.
Right after I read your email, I was able to book 6 reservations for early November for Oga’s. Really enjoy reading all your articles and love looking at the pictures you take. My ultimate dream will be to run into you and your wife on one of my trips to WDW!
Thanks for the heads up! I was able to get Oga’s for 6 of us mid-afternoon in early Oct. I was thrilled! Are you still thinking there will be no reservation for Millennial Falcon?
Thank you for the email last night Tom. I jumped straight on and got reservations for all three in October.
Thank you so much for the heads up! As always, you guys are on top of everything. I told all my friends and family to subscribe to your blog. It’s fantastic!
FYI folks, it looks like more spots are opening up! I booked resies this morning for dates that weren’t available yesterday.