What Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge looks like with physical distancing
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was designed to be an immersive experience. A place where you go and feel like you are another planet. The coronavirus and the measures being taken by Walt Disney World to keep all safe does indeed make it seem like you are on another planet.
Let’s explore this land. As you enter from the Grand Avenue tunnel into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge the rock transformation to Batuu includes a physical distancing sign in the same font you will find on Batuu, but this one is in English for all to easily understand.
The vibrant sounds of ships flying overhead and the background tracks are still there, helping to put you on to the planet. The garbage receptacles flaps are left open, so you don’t have to push your hand against the flap to drop your trash. Even the gray handwashing stations that have been deployed fit in perfectly in this environment,
As you pass by the entrance to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance there are social markers all on the ground to keep people separated as they enter. The ride is using a modified virtual queue that fills up within minutes of them being available. And, yes, the ride is still breaking down frequently. The pre-shows exist with fewer people allowed into the areas. Plexiglass is used to help breakup lines that are normally next to each other.
The A-wing and X-wing star fighters are still available for photos. We then move toward the shopping area, but before heading there you will find Relaxation Station. This area allows people to sit down, in a social distancing setting and remove their masks for a few moments. There are cast members at the entrance to monitor the flow and make sure people remain physically distant.
So, now let’s do some shopping. But it is going to go slow. If you are used to just walking through the area for some quick shopping, that is not going to happen. There is a limit to the number of people being allowed into the area. Once you are greeting by the cast member you are going to be asked to use the hand sanitizer. Then the rule is only one group inside each of the shopping stalls at a time and you are asked to stand outside the stall until a group leaves. When you are done, you then exit to the right, just before you get to Ronto Roasters.
If you are looking for something to eat, whether it is Ronto Roasters or Docking Bay 7 you are going to be asked to mobile order your food. Once the food is complete you will be altered to pick it up and then head to table to eat.
Now, a quick trip to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquties. The experience is similar to the past, where you are held outside if the room is over its occupancy. The occupancy is more limited.
The second ride, in the land, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, also has plexiglass, social markers and and limited capacity in the pre-show. In addition, it is one family per capsule and the cards letting you know your assignments are no longer handed out.
Savi’s Workshop, which was a build your own lightsaber experience is not be offered due to physical distancing requirements. However, it is selling Legacy Lightsabers.
The other big change is that characters are no longer walking around the land as they did before. You can now find Strormtroopers at the Tie Fighter and also characters at the Landspeeder garage.
