Galaxy’s Edge differentiates itself from the rest of Disneyland by being the first immersive land in the park. Meaning, cast members are in character, signs are in the local language, and payments are done with “credits”, not dollars. So of course, a fully immersive planet needs a guide. After all, we’re traveling to the edge of the galaxy.
Source: Amazon
PREMISE
The Traveler’s Guide to Batuu treats Galaxy’s Edge as your next vacation destination. Like any other trustworthy guide, you’ll find little maps, dining recommendations, and local cultural anecdotes. You’ll also find illustrations explaining some of the flags and emblems you’ll see throughout Black Spire Outpost, so you’ll always know if you’re in First Order territory and need to keep your eye out for Stormtroopers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From the publisher:
Cole Horton is an author, historian, and games industry professional. He is the author of multiple Star Wars books, including Star Wars Absolutely Everything You Need to Know and LEGO Star Wars: Chronicles of the Force.
MY REVIEW
You definitely don’t need to buy this book in order to “get” Galaxy’s Edge. But if you’re a Star Wars nerd (or just into lore in general) you’ll get a kick out of the Traveler’s Guide to Batuu. I particularly enjoyed the background on different areas within Black Spire Outpost. Not all of the “sections” are super noticeable, like the service yard and ancient public baths. And once you have that backstory, Galaxy’s Edge just gets that much more realistic and exciting.
This guide also really goes for realism; it reminded me of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book from the Harry Potter universe. You’ll find a recommended packing list, a landing permit for your space ship, and a map of the galaxy so you can find Batuu. You can even remove the “Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge” banner at the bottom of the cover so there’s no branding visible.
Only criticism – there’s no map of all of Black Spire Outpost. The maps only depict specific buildings and streets, which does make sense considering the layouts in Disneyland and Disney World differ slightly. But still, it seems a little odd to have a traveler’s guide without an overall map.
Map issue aside, this book is a wonderful collectible for Star Wars fans, and reading it will definitely teach you a little more about Galaxy’s Edge.