During our family's most recent visit to Walt Disney World, my son arrived a boy and returned home a Jedi. He had an out of this world experience handbuilding his own lightsaber at the Magic Kingdom's Star Wars Land. This lightsaber experience at Disney Theme Parks' Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge provided a wonderful memorable moment and a great souvenir from our family vacation.
My wife and I were torn about letting him participate in the Walt Disney World lightsaber experience because it added another $200+ to the family budget for an already expensive vacation. I would have been ecstatic as a kid to have been able to build a replica lightsaber at a Star Wars Land at Disney World so in the end there really wasn't a doubt that my eleven year old son would get to participate in this Galaxy's Edge experience. We were able to get the last slot on our last night at Disney World for an appointment at Savi's Workshop to construct a custom lightsaber and to say my son was excited would be an understatement.
While this may seem to be a pricey souvenir there are two things to consider when determining if you want to craft your own lightsaber at Disney's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. These Disney World build your own variety are of the same quality as the movie replica Force FX Lightsabers from Hasbro which typically run in the $150 to $300 price range while also allowing participants to personalize their creation. Also by making a lightsaber at Savi's Workshop you become part of a Disney theatrical performance which immerses participants within the fantasy that is Star Wars. Keep in mind you are buying an experience not just a lightsaber.
Most people at the Black Spire Outpost on the remote planet of Batuu near the galaxy's outer edge know Savi as a simple merchant who has a salvage shop full of unusual and whimsical items. Unbeknowst to most of the population of Batuu and the First Order stormtroopers who patrol there, Savi is the leader of a group called the "Gatherers" who collect the remnants of Jedi technology from across the galaxy and bring it here to train Force-sensitive beings in its use. If you want to gain a lightsaber and be a spark of resistance versus Kylo Ren and The First Order this is the place to be.
In order to gain access, visitors must meet one of Savi's Gatherers outside the workshop and covertly make arrangements to assemble your lightsaber. Pay the fee, select an available time slot, and pick one of four hilt themes available for crafting together a lightsaber. This can be done at the site of Savi's Workshop or online in advance of your visit to Batuu.
Note that you can't just sit in and watch the presentation, people have to purchase a lightsaber to gain entry. No refunds to avoid people just joining in the experience than returning the lightsaber for a refund. It is all in or out when it comes to the Walt Disney World Lightsaber Experience with its two hundred dollar price tag.
The four themes that can be chosen from are:
Peace and Justice
Salvaged scraps from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in these Republic-era designs honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
Power and Control
Originally forged by dark side warriors, this style features rumored remnants from the Sith homeworld and abandoned temples.
Elemental Nature
This theme embodies the Force—an energy created by all living things, like Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones and Rancor teeth.
Protection and Defense
Hilt materials bear mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect users with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
When arriving to build your lightsaber, the first thing the Gatherers do is have you choose, or it choose you, a Kyber Crystal to power your device (plus it runs on 3 AAA batteries that are included). You can choose from red, blue, green or violet. My son went with green to go with his Peace & Justice hilt.
Next based upon which of the four hilt themes you selected a tray will be placed on your work station. full of parts. There is one hilt but a variety of other sections to the lightsaber to choose from in customizing it. Note though that most of the parts are a choice of picking one or another so the customization is somewhat limited beyond the hilt theme and blade color. The parts on a tray include in addition to the hilt, four sleeves (pick 2) two emitters (pick 1) two pommel caps (pick 1) and two sets of activation plates and switches (pick 1 set). Just enough parts to provide a sense of personalization as the lightsaber is assembled.
The experience concludes with an activation ceremony. The new Jedi raise their lightsabers and activate their colored beams. Then they are off to explore Black Spire Outpost lightsabers in hand. A nice carrying case that can be slung over your shoulder is included and given out as you leave to keep the lightsaber safe while traversing around the Disney World amusement parks.
My son was so GEEKED to be able to participate in the Walt Disney World lightsaber experience at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. The thrill of the moment made him very happy. That excitement absolutely made this a worth while experience. I'm so glad we didn't skip out on doing this because it really was a very special moment that brought a sense of Disney magic to our family.
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