4. Costumes aren’t just welcomed—they’re encouraged

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

There are few things sadder than a Renaissance Faire where no visitors dress up. Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence. Renaissance festivals have a passionate fan-base of regulars who maintain elaborate costumes complete with character backgrounds. Even casual visitors are encouraged to join in the fun by renting costumes or purchasing costume pieces inside the village.

It’s no secret that Star Wars fans are also an extremely dedicated group. Movie premiere camp-outs are a longstanding tradition for many fans as is dressing up for the films, conventions, and special events. There is even an organization for ultra-accurate Star Wars cosplay: the 501st Legion, whose members often use their Star Wars costumes to help non-profits.

At Galaxy’s Edge, Disney put some boundaries on costuming for guests over the age of 14—after all, there are some legit dangers that come with guests who look too much like cast members. Screen-accurate costumes, masks and armor, replica blasters, and long robes that drag on the ground are banned. However, Disneybounding is allowed, and Disney’s policy for this practice is pretty generous.

Disneybounding is the popular practice of taking modern or vintage clothing items and pairing them together to create looks that act as tributes to Disney characters. We saw so many Rey Disneybounders on opening day that we started to joke that they must be her handmaidens sent to deter assassins. A quick search on Instagram will lead you to dozens of great examples of Star Wars Disneybounds, including tributes to Kylo Ren, Padme Amidala, and Princess Leia.

Image: Disney

Not only is Disneybounding allowed in Galaxy’s Edge—a unique version of it (Batuu-bounding?) is also encouraged. Guests can dress like locals or travelers visiting Batuu by wearing vests, belts, and layered clothes with natural fabrics and muted colors. It’s really a fun opportunity to come up with your own character within the Star Wars universe. My husband and I usually Disneybound as smugglers (he’s still on the hunt for a good Cad Bane-style hat), and we’ve seen people come up with all sorts of creative ensembles, from colorful tunics and short capes to layered outfits in earthen tones similar to Rey or Luke’s clothing.

Disneybounding really adds a fun element to the fan culture at Galaxy’s Edge because like in a Ren-faire, you become part of the atmosphere. On top of this, the cast and characters usually respond well to guests who participate in the fun (the folks at Docking Bay 7 are especially nice to Disneybounders in our experience)!

5. Food and drink from a different context

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega

Both Galaxy’s Edge and Renaissance Festivals have something else in common: if you’re looking for burgers and fries, you’ve come to the wrong place. The food becomes part of the adventure.

Ren-faires usually can at least pull from some semi-familiar foods like ribs, baked potatoes, and turkey legs. The food at the Black Spire Outpost is a totally different story. Particularly if you’ll be visiting Docking Bay 7, be prepared to take a few minutes looking over the menu and asking questions. Friends we’ve brought to Galaxy’s Edge are often left baffled trying to categorize the menu: is it Asian? Is it comfort food? What the heck is this stuff?

A trip to Batuu is supposed to feel like a trip to another world, and that’s exactly what a visit to Docking Bay 7, Ronto Roasters, or Oga’s Cantina feels like. Even the park’s famous blue and green milk are drinks that defy categorization (I still like the green!). Like everything else in Galaxy’s Edge, the food is part of the experience of immersion, and we love that this has brought some much-needed personality to the food selections at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Speaking for myself, when I’m paying Disney prices, I don’t want to eat anything I can get at Red Robin or Carrabba’s. Don’t freeze up and go running for the burger stand when you see the menus in Galaxy’s Edge—all the of the food is simply creative takes on familiar ingredients. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the front doors to get some recommendations. We especially love the Felucian Garden Spread for something both delicious and adventurous.

6. “Hand-crafted” wares

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)

Never go to a Renaissance Festival without a budget—you’ll come out broke. One of the best parts of a Ren-faire is the wide range of handcrafted wares available, including clothing, weaponry, decorations, foods, and glassware. The artisans who make the items are often present at the faires, and some items can even be custom-made while you enjoy your day!

Galaxy’s Edge doesn’t exactly have “hand-crafted” items—but they sure do go out of their way to give the impression they do. You won’t find mugs, t-shirts, and action figures with giant Star Wars labels inside the Black Spire Outpost. Instead, everything you purchase in Galaxy’s Edge is designed to look like it belongs in-world. Even t-shirts are made with different seams and shapes to make them feel slightly otherworldly.

Both the Resistance and the First Order have specialized shops where guests can purchase patriotic gear of impressive quality, and an entire section of the Black Spire Outpost is dedicated to local wares, including a creature vendor, a toymaker, a tailor (who sells extremely high-quality costumes), and even a Kowakian Monkey Lizard wrangler. The most popular shop in the outpost is Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, a mysterious emporium where guests can purchase unique artifacts from throughout Star Wars history, including holocrons, jewelry, artwork, and legacy lightsabers. This shop is an absolute must-visit, as is the Droid Depot, a massive store where guests can purchase droid-related merchandise and even build their own droid that will interact with elements throughout Galaxy’s Edge.