Everyone and their intergalactic mama is looking to visit Galaxy’s Edge. With the “Star Wars Land” open in Disneyland, and opening in Walt Disney World this August, we have been asked how to visit Galaxy’s Edge on a budget and still enjoy yourself.
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Since this website focuses on living a full life on less, and we’re huge Star Wars fans, this topic and post is top priority for us. Below, are key tips to enjoying Galaxy’s Edge on a budget, and not feeling deprived when visiting Batuu.
Purchase Strategically
When I attended the media opening for Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge, I made a point of searching out which indulgences were worth the money, and how you could stretch every dollar.
One of my favorite tips was the buy the water bottles. Yes, these Dasani bottles, which have Aurebesh on them, are 4.25 each at the time. Ouch. But is it really?
Buy a water bottle for each family member, and once the water is gone, use the water refill stations around Galaxy’s Edge to fill them back up. Bonus: each family member can take your empty water bottle home with you as a souvenir.
Watch The Prices
The Marketplace was one of my favorite parts of the land, because of the amazing window shopping you get to do. Official Jedi robes were $100+, the Toydarian Toymaker had dolls and instruments aplenty, You can find hats, mugs, key chains and t-shirts all over. But, when it came to pricing, I found some of the best deals in other parts of the land.
Be sure to check the gift shop areas in Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and the Droid Depot. I found a lovely BB-8 rose gold necklace in the Droid Depot gift shop area for under $20, as well as affordable mugs to take home as souvenirs (I bought 4 because I’m an animal).
There are small carts and kiosks in the land that sell exclusive trinkets, as well. Set a price for yourself, and check the bottom or backs of every single item before you purchase.
Related: Galaxy’s Edge With Kids – A Guide
Give The Kids A Gift Card
We’ve been very fortunate to take our own children to Disney Parks, and this is a tip we’ve used as soon as they were old enough to understand how money works.
Before you enter the parks, and Galaxy’s Edge, purchase a gift card for each of your children. We give our older two $25 each, and soon our almost 5 year old will get the same amount.
This will help them use the tip above about price tags, while still giving them the experience of buying their own personal souvenir from Batuu. It also helps battle that “Mom, I want that thing” conversation. Once the money on the card is used up, that’s that.
Cheap Galaxy’s Edge Items Kids Will Love
Like I mentioned above, there are some pretty cool items located in the park that don’t break the bank. Here’s a quick list of items your kids may want to use their gift cards to purchase:
- Jedi or Sith Wisdom Tokens from Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities (3.99)
- Specialty Coke or Water Bottles (3.50 to 5.50)
- Chance cubes at Toydarian Toymaker (7.99)
- Pins and patches – located all over the land (9.99)
- Coasters from Oga’s Cantina (technically free after you order a drink)
Want a full list of FREE items you can get at Galaxy’s Edge? My friend Patty from No-Guilt Life put together an awesome list: What’s Free In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?
Pick ONE Experience
Look. I know we all want to do ALL THE THINGS in Galaxy’s Edge, but when you visit on a budget, you have to keep your blinders on. The two big experiences currently are building a lightsaber in Savi’s Workshop, or building a droid in the Droid Depot.
Both experiences can be shared, although I’ve heard that it can get a bit crowded in Savi’s if more than two people are building a lightsaber together.
I was able to build a droid, and immediately knew this was the experience our kids will do together when we visit Galaxy’s Edge as a family this fall.
Before you even get into Galaxy’s Edge, decide which of these two experiences your family will enjoy together. Savi’s Workshop has a $199 starting price point, and Droid Depot has a $99.99 starting price point. Both are paid before you start building, so please keep that in mind.
Share Big Food Portions
Food is a big deal when visiting any Disney Park, but Galaxy’s Edge takes it to another level. There are some meals and snacks that are perfect for sharing, and these are the items you should focus on when eating in the land.
A good amount of sharable meals were located in Docking Bay 7, Galaxy’s Edge quick service restaurant. There were even a few kids meals your kids can share and be more than satisfied, like the chicken with mac and cheese. Kat Saka’s Kettle outpost mix is a great snack to share.
When trying the blue milk and green milk for the first time, you’ll want to purchase both. While they look small, they are definitely shareable. Plus, some of your family members may like one over the other, so investing that initial $16 makes sense.
Get A Deal When Booking Your Vacation
This is my biggest tip: please take the time to book the best deal for your Disneyland vacation. The better the deal on hotel and park tickets, the more monetary leeway you’ll have when exploring Galaxy’s Edge.
There are so many vacation packages that are great deals for families on a budget, and most of them live on Get Away Today. I love their hotel and ticket bundles, and that the hotels are ranked right on their site. This is such a great resource for families who want to travel on a tight budget.
