We visited Batuu for the first time today, from 3pm to 7:30pm. It is incredible. I forgot that we were in Hollywood Studios sometimes. We went to Oga’s Cantina and did MFSR once. Posted wait was 105 and actual wait was 75 mins to Hondo. We were out exactly after 105 mins. The line started past Oga’s Cantina, but it moved pretty quickly.
Spoilers ahead.
The queue is nicely themed, but it’s so static. You go through this workshop for quite a while, where there is an engine being worked on, but there is no movement. No droids, no screens, nothing. There is only a voice and some lights flicker every now and then. In the Star Tours queue you have large screens and several moving droids, things to listen to. I really missed that. The sounds of the ships is very cool (we stood behind the MF when they were trying to start it up, and the sound was so loud! The floor trembled, it was impressive), but no music or movements makes the queue boring. They don’t have to play the movie scores, but for instance a radio playing in the workshop with a local radio station would be fun.
The pre-show and walking through the Falcon is fantastic. My wife liked the ride, but I didn’t so much. It was alright. It was hard to see what was going on and not much looked recognizable to me. We were gunners, which was easy. Just kept hitting the button to shoot. In Star Tours the scenes show large vistas of mountains or whatever, and you always know where you’re heading, but this ride was chaotic. The thing with the train is way too convoluted. They need to simplify it and bring in more recognizable elements from the Star Wars universe. It felt like a random video game.
Oga’s Cantina was awesome. We had standing places at the bar (I don’t understand why there weren’t barstools; there was space) and we had so much fun watching DJ Rex and seeing the bartenders sing along.
There were many PhotoPass people, which was great. We got some nice photos. They are everywhere and the lines were short. We ate at Docking Bay 7, which had no line and easy to find a table. Beautiful theming inside, as everywhere.
The land looks AMAZING. I love all the details. I want to go back and spend a few more hours looking around. The theming of the inside of the Den of Antiquities is incredible; so many things on the walls. I had seen so many videos and pictures before going, but I was blown away by the theming. The land was also bigger than I thought. But again, it’s so static and can use some movement. There should be moving droids near the parked ships, some local music playing in the bazaar, etc.
We had a great time and I look forward to going back. Saw some kids using the app to scan codes and that seemed fun. There is a lot to do in the land and I can’t wait for Rise of the Resistance.
