Mind you, I haven't been to Galaxy's Edge yet, but after following this thread since before it opened in Disneyland and seeing videos and the reviews of people who HAVE been there...I thought this was pertinent.
I usually avoid the city like the plague, but I just visited some of the new green spaces and areas of Boston that were re-done after the big dig removed the elevated highway. YES, it's been many moons since I've visited these areas, but they feel so ALIVE compared to what they used to feel like! People walking and chit-chatting as they saw the sights (very few faces buried in phones), boats full of people returning from whale watches and fishing excursions while others got ready for booze cruises, music from Quincy Market and a couple of the open-air seating areas for restaurants, as well as a couple of random live performers, tons of kids playing on two splash-pads and in the outdoor area beside the Market as well as one of the large green spaces that was loaded with benches, horse-drawn carriages, people walking or playing with their dogs - there was even a small park with a dozen or so corn-hole games set up that was full of people having fun. This wasn't even on a weekend - it was early evening in the middle of the week. I couldn't help but think of Galaxy's Edge and all the complaints about the lack of activity and life, because the last time I'd been to these areas, the feeling was NOTHING like the vibrant area I was experiencing (aside from the Market). Sure there were people around in the long ago when I was there, but they just seemed to be on their way to something else...this time they WANTED to be there, and it showed.
The music was a big contributor to the atmosphere of the area, too. While I don't think constant music in Galaxy's Edge would be a good idea (it would feel fake - and this is the opposite of what my opinion was prior to my city visit), as
@WDWFANSINCE81 said, having music come from a strategically chosen window or two (especially the dining locations) and certainly having a live performer here and there would make a world of difference. There needs to be activity - and not just from the "tourists". Locals milling about, droids, etc. would make a huge difference. And as I'm typing this, the Renaissance Faire that comes once a year comes to mind, too. They have performers roaming the streets who draw visitors into the show and make them part of the fantasy - THAT would be a huge improvement as well. (And I'm not talking about Kylo Ren randomly asking people if they know where the Resistance is based...these "shows" are much more thought out and feel more natural than that, tying into whatever the "story" for that year is.)
