Let’s be real: planning a Disney vacation in 2025 can feel like a part-time job, but if you have a Star Wars fan in the family (whether they’re a tiny Padawan just learning to use the Force or a cynical teen who thinks they know more than the Jedi Council), you need a specific strategy.
We have been traveling to Walt Disney World since 2009, when the Disney Star Wars fans options were limited to Star Tours and character meet-and-greets at Hollywood Studios. We’ve watched this corner of the Disney empire transform from a single motion-simulator ride into an entire immersive land, an experience at sea, and a multi-year planning consideration for serious fans.
Things have changed. The galaxy has expanded. And honestly? It’s more complicated than ever. From the operational realities of Rise of the Resistance breakdowns to the confusion over which cruise ship actually has the “Star Wars bar,” here is your smart, low-stress guide to making the most of Star Wars at Disney in late 2025.
Disney Cruise Line: Do Not Book the Wrong Ship
I’m putting this section first because it’s the most expensive mistake you can make. As a travel consultant, I get this question constantly from adult Star Wars fans: “I want to sit in that cool Star Wars bar I saw on Instagram. Which ship do I book?”
The answer is simple: you must book the Disney Wish.
There’s a huge misconception that because the Disney Treasure (2024) and Disney Destiny (late 2025) are newer, they have “better” Star Wars experiences. This is absolutely false, and it could lead to disappointed adult travelers if they’re not given the right advice.
The Disney Wish: The Only Choice for Adult Disney Star Wars Fans
The Disney Wish is home to the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge, and this is where your adult Star Wars experience lives. This is where you can sip a cocktail (ranging from mocktails to premium spirits) while looking out a “viewport” that shifts between different planets: Tatooine with its twin sunsets, the industrial cityscape of Coruscant, or the fiery landscapes of Mustafar. The lounge serves specialty drinks in creative glassware, some with dramatic smoking effects that look like they came straight from a cantina on Canto Bight. It functions as a coffee and mocktail bar during the day for families, then transforms into an adults-only lounge at night. For fans who want to experience Star Wars immersion without a theme park, this is a genuine escape.
The Disney Destiny and Disney Treasure: Not What You Think
Here’s where the confusion happens:
The Disney Treasure replaced the Hyperspace Lounge with the Haunted Mansion Parlor (which is excellent, but it’s decidedly not Star Wars). Newer doesn’t mean more Star Wars.
The Disney Destiny, which launched in late 2025, replaced the Star Wars lounge space with The Sanctum (Doctor Strange-themed) and Saga (Black Panther/Wakanda-themed). Don’t let the name “Saga” fool you (it’s a Marvel venue, not a Skywalker Saga venue). The Disney Destiny is pivoting its focus toward Heroes and Villains across Marvel and Disney properties, which is fantastic if you’re a Marvel fan, but it’s not ideal if you specifically want to drink in a galaxy far, far away.
If you’re traveling with kids, though, the good news is that all three ships (Wish, Treasure, and Destiny) feature the Star Wars: Cargo Bay in the Oceaneer Club. This is a fully immersive play area where kids act as “creature handlers” for exotic aliens like Porgs and Loth-cats being transported across the galaxy. The experience includes interactive animatronics and screens, and characters like Rey and Chewbacca make appearances during secure programming to help the kids on their “mission.” The Millennium Falcon also appears in the kids’ club on the Dream and Fantasy, where children can pilot it through hyperspace in a simulator, but that’s a separate experience from the newer ships’ Cargo Bay.
If you want to understand how Disney’s cruise experience fits into the broader landscape of cruise vacations, our guide on cruise line tiers and military discounts breaks down what each line offers, helping you decide if a Disney cruise fits your family’s travel style.
Walt Disney World: Galaxy’s Edge and Beyond
If you’re heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’re likely bee-lining for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. You should (it’s gorgeous, immersive, and completely transporting). But for a family, it can also feel overwhelming without a plan.
The Rides: Rise, Falcon, and Star Tours
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is the centerpiece of Galaxy’s Edge. This is a cooperative attraction where six guests work together to pilot the Millennium Falcon through an obstacle course of asteroid fields and Star Destroyer encounters. Here’s the honest truth: it’s not a motion simulator in the traditional sense. You’re not hurtling through space with extreme G-forces or violent camera cuts. Instead, you’re actively piloting the ship, with motion that responds to your control inputs. This makes it significantly less likely to trigger motion sickness compared to attractions like Star Tours. For families where someone struggles with motion simulation, Smugglers Run is usually tolerable because the motion feels deliberate rather than disorienting.
Rise of the Resistance, located in the First Order sector, is the second ride in the land. It’s a multi-system attraction combining ride systems, projection, and practical effects. And here’s what no marketing material tells you: it breaks down. Frequently. We’ve experienced this ourselves, and when it happened, Disney’s solution was a Multiple Experience Pass (which allows you to return to that attraction, or select other attractions depending on how Disney configures it, at any time that day or sometimes through the end of your trip). When you encounter a prolonged breakdown, Cast Members can scan your MagicBand at the exit or automatically add the pass to your My Disney Experience app. This pass is an official recovery mechanism, and if you’re visiting during a period when Rise is experiencing frequent technical issues (which is fairly common, especially on opening day or peak seasons), it’s worth asking a Cast Member about the current status.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, the original Star Wars attraction, is still here in Echo Lake outside of Galaxy’s Edge proper. It’s a motion-simulator ride with randomized scenes, so no two experiences are exactly identical. Now here’s something important: Star Tours will make you motion sick if you’re susceptible. We learned this the hard way. The attraction uses rapid camera pans, simulated acceleration and deceleration, and quick scene cuts (all the hallmarks of motion-simulator rides that trigger symptoms in people prone to dizziness). If someone in your family struggles with motion sickness, I recommend taking a low-dose antihistamine like Dramamine or Bonine the night before visiting a park with multiple simulator attractions. Taking it the evening before helps reduce the drowsiness that comes with the medication while still providing coverage for the next day’s rides.
For families planning a Star Wars day at Hollywood Studios, the strategy depends on who’s in your group. If everyone can handle motion simulators comfortably, hit Smugglers Run first thing at rope drop, then move to Rise of the Resistance. If someone in your family is motion-sensitive, lead with Smugglers Run (the gentler simulation), consider skipping Star Tours, and use that time for shopping, dining, or the Cantina experience instead.
Star Wars Shopping: From Blue Milk to Lightsabers
Galaxy’s Edge has transformed Star Wars shopping from a simple merchandise grab into an experience.
Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers is where guests can build their own lightsaber with the help of a “Master” in a fully immersive workshop environment. The experience costs around $275 and takes about 20 minutes. You choose your hilt design from various styles (Jedi, Sith, smuggler-inspired, etc.), select kyber crystal colors, and then assemble your weapon under guidance. The result is a fully functional lightsaber that lights up and makes authentic sounds. Is it worth $275? For a serious fan or a multigenerational experience where multiple people share the cost, absolutely. For a casual visit or a young child who might outgrow the interest in six months, you might reconsider. Pro tip: mobile order a time slot through the app to avoid a 90-minute wait at the workshop counter.
Droid Depot offers a similar build-your-own experience for customizable droids (R-series or BB-series). These droids respond to remote controls and can follow you around the park. The price point is comparable, and the same consideration applies: it’s a memorable experience if you’re committed to the Star Wars investment, but less essential if you’re looking to save money.
Beyond these premium experiences, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities carries higher-end Star Wars collectibles and replicas, while the general merchandise carts throughout Galaxy’s Edge offer everything from lightsaber-inspired apparel to unique accessories. The shopping here is deliberately curated (you won’t find generic Mickey apparel). Everything is Star Wars-specific or galaxy-themed.
Outside Galaxy’s Edge, visit the Star Wars Galactic Outpost at Disney Springs (West Side) for a broader selection of apparel, toys, and collectibles. There’s also the Star Wars Trading Post in the Marketplace at Disney Springs, though it’s frequently listed as closed or under refurbishment, so check the app before planning your trip.
Star Wars Dining: Oga’s Cantina, Ronto Roasters and the Milk Stand
Food and drink are where multigenerational families really connect at Galaxy’s Edge. This isn’t just about sustenance (it’s about the experience of eating like you’re somewhere else).
Oga’s Cantina is the destination for signature drinks. Our favorite nonalcoholic drinks are Carbon Freeze, Blurrgfire, Jabba Juice, and Oga’s Obsession. Oga’s also serves alcoholic cocktails for adults too. The Cantina’s atmosphere (with its dim lighting, cantina-band aesthetic, and alien-inspired decor) makes ordering a drink feel like a genuine experience rather than just a beverage transaction.
Ronto Roasters is the land’s primary quick-service dining location, offering massive handheld wraps filled with grilled meats and flavorful sauces. The portions are generous, and unlike typical theme park counter service, the food actually tastes intentional. It’s easy to eat while walking and exploring, which fits the pace of a park day.
The dining strategy that works best for families is to hit Ronto Roasters at a strategic time (early lunch before peak crowds, or late lunch around 3 PM when most families are elsewhere in the park) and balance it with snack experiences like the signature drinks at Oga’s or the Milk Stand, where the blue and green milk options are the most Instagram-famous: these are sweet, creamy beverages that come in two distinct flavors. Blue Milk is lighter and more delicate, while Green Milk has a more tropical flavor profile. Both are non-alcoholic, making them accessible for families with kids. This way, you’re getting actual meals without spending 45 minutes in line.
Beyond Galaxy’s Edge: Star Wars in the Rest of Hollywood Studios
If you’re thinking that Galaxy’s Edge is the only place for Star Wars, you’re missing some older gems.
Star Tours remains in Echo Lake and is worth experiencing if you haven’t ridden it in the last 5 to 10 years. The ride system is dated by modern standards, but the spirit of what made it iconic (boarding a ship, flying through the Star Wars universe) is still there. Manage expectations on the motion-sickness front, especially if you’re riding multiple simulators in one day.
Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios has permanently closed (as of September 2025), so if you remember the photo-op opportunities with Darth Vader and Chewbacca, those experiences are no longer available there. However, character meet-and-greets do rotate throughout the park, so check the entertainment schedule when you visit.
At Disneyland, Star Tours sits in Tomorrowland, and during special events like the “Season of the Force” in spring, Space Mountain gets temporarily overlaid with Star Wars music and projections to become Hyperspace Mountain (a special seasonal experience worth timing your visit around if you can).
Planning Your Star Wars Day: Strategy and Logistics
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about any specialized Disney day: it requires actual planning. You can’t wing a Star Wars family vacation and expect magic to happen automatically.
What matters most to you. Is it the rides? The shopping? The dining? The Hyperspace Lounge experience? Once you know that, structure your day around it.
For Hollywood Studios Star Wars Focus:
- Arrive at rope drop or use Early Theme Park Entry if you’re staying at a Disney resort
- Head directly to Galaxy’s Edge and hit either Smugglers Run or Rise of the Resistance first (depending on motion sensitivity)
- Use Individual Lightning Lane for the ride that’s most important to your group; use Lightning Lane Multi Pass for other park attractions
- Plan a midday meal at Ronto Wrap (not during peak lunch times)
- Spend 1 to 2 hours exploring, shopping, and trying the blue milk at Oga’s
- Return to Galaxy’s Edge near park close when crowds thin and the land looks magical lit up at night
For Motion Sickness Management:
- Take Dramamine or Bonine the night before a park day with multiple simulator rides
- Start with the gentlest simulator first (Smugglers Run before Star Tours)
- Take breaks in shaded areas between simulator attractions
- Stay hydrated and eat something substantial before riding
- Give yourself permission to skip a ride if you’re already feeling woozy
For Cruise Experiences:
- Book the Disney Wish specifically if an adult Star Wars lounge experience matters to your trip
- Plan kids’ Oceaneer Club time separately if you have children
- Make reservations for the Hyperspace Lounge through your cruise app; it books up even on sailings with lower occupancy
Putting It All Together: Your Star Wars Vacation Strategy
The galaxy has expanded since we started traveling to Disney in 2009. What was once a single ride in the parking lot is now a multi-property, multi-year planning consideration. But that expansion also means there’s something for every type of Star Wars fan in your family.
Whether you’re prioritizing the Hyperspace Lounge on a Disney cruise, building a Hollywood Studios day around Galaxy’s Edge, managing motion sickness on simulator rides, or looking for the “right” lightsaber experience (this guide is designed to help you make intentional choices instead of default ones). Our broader Disney World family vacation planning guide walks through the entire property strategy if you want context for how a Star Wars focus fits into a bigger multi-day itinerary, or you can work with a travel advisor who knows these details and visits Disney regularly, like we do at Mouse One Travel, to help with the complexity.
The goal isn’t to ride everything or see everything. The goal is to have your family’s actual best Star Wars experience at Disney (the one that makes sense for your version of fandom, not someone else’s).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Disney ship has the Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge?
The Disney Wish is the only Disney cruise ship currently offering the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge. The Disney Treasure has Haunted Mansion theming instead, and the Disney Destiny features Marvel venues. If the lounge is a must-have for your trip, book the Wish specifically.
Is Smugglers Run less motion-inducing than Star Tours?
Yes, generally speaking. Smugglers Run is a ride system where you’re actively piloting, so the motion feels responsive rather than disorienting. Star Tours is a traditional motion simulator with rapid camera cuts and quick scene changes, which is more likely to trigger motion sickness in susceptible guests. If motion sensitivity is a concern, Smugglers Run is the better choice.
What should I do if Rise of the Resistance breaks down during my visit?
Ask a Cast Member about a Multiple Experience Pass, which allows you to return to that attraction (or select other attractions) at any time that day or sometimes through the end of your trip. This is an official Disney recovery mechanism for technical breakdowns on complex attractions like Rise.
Is building a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop worth $275?
For serious fans or multigenerational experiences where the cost is shared, yes. You get a fully functional, official lightsaber with authentic sounds and lights. For younger kids who might lose interest in six months or casual visitors on a budget, the experience might not justify the cost. Mobile order a time slot through the app to avoid lengthy waits.
What’s the difference between blue milk and green milk?
Both are sweet, creamy beverages served at Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge. Blue Milk has a lighter, more delicate flavor, while Green Milk has a more tropical taste profile. Both are non-alcoholic and worth trying (they’ve become iconic Galaxy’s Edge photo moments).
Can I visit Galaxy’s Edge if I’m not going on the rides?
Absolutely. You can explore the land, shop, eat at Ronto Wrap, and enjoy the Cantina experience without riding Smugglers Run or Rise of the Resistance. The immersive theming of the land itself is substantial, and many families spend 2 to 3 hours there without stepping onto a ride.
What do you recommend for ride-induced motion sickness?
Take Dramamine or Bonine the night before a park day with multiple simulator rides. We recommend starting with the gentlest simulator first (in the case of Stars Wars Rides, Smugglers Run before Star Tours). Give yourself some time between simulator attractions. Be sure to stay hydrated and eat something substantial before riding simulator rides. Finally, give yourself permission to skip a ride if you’re already feeling woozy, or if you’ve had a bad experience in the past.
How should I plan my visit if I have kids of different ages?
This is where personalized planning matters most. Younger kids can enjoy Oga’s Cantina,or the Milk Stand for drinks, Ronto Roasters for food, and the immersive exploration of Galaxy’s Edge without riding. Older kids can tackle both attractions. Adults might focus on the Cantina experience and shopping. Our vacation planning guide breaks down multi-age family strategies in more detail, and a travel advisor can help you build a specific itinerary.
