You’re probably hearing about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at every turn these days, with Walt Disney World’s land opening August 29 and Disneyland’s version just a few months old. BUT – you haven’t heard a first-person account from your very own ConciEAR, so sit back and enjoy!

I took my two boys, ages 9 and 6, to Disneyland on July 19 and seeing Galaxy’s Edge was high on our priority list. My boys have been Star Wars fans for years (and they’re used to hearing their mom talk about all the theme park developments 😉 so this new land did not disappoint!

Here are 4 things we learned that might be helpful for other families visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge this year.

Pay attention. Literally – be extra aware, not just of all the intricate details surrounding you in Batuu, but also of where you are on the map. At Disneyland (and also in Hollywood Studios, where you’ll find Disney World’s version), there aren’t any signs or marquees alerting you to where exactly Galaxy’s Edge begins – just another Imagineering trick to make this land extra authentic. Once you’re in the land, don’t expect to see much English either – instead, you’ll see Aurebesh, one of the Star Wars languages. Don’t worry, the Play Disney Parks app will decode things for you (see below) – and I DID see English on menus, restrooms and on Oga’s Cantina…so you know the most important things will be easy to find.

Download (or update) the app. Make sure your phone is ready with the most recent update of Play Disney Parks, because you’ll use it a LOT in Batuu. You can decode Aurebesh as mentioned, but also interact with different elements of the land, listen in on rogue radio transmissions, and hack into control panels. I’d had the app on my phone already but it wasn’t updated and we couldn’t play along with everything, so make sure you update yours before you leave home.

The FOOD! My boys were dying to try the Blue Milk, which was delicious and fruity and very refreshing on a hot summer day. We also tried Ronto Roasters – the Ronto Wrap is perfect for a quick & easy meal. Be sure to mobile order your food on the Disneyland or My Disney Experience app to save time. We didn’t head to Oga’s Cantina (kids are welcome, but I’ve heard space is tight and my boys preferred riding the Falcon anyway) but at Disney World, you can make a reservation there up to 180 days in advance.

The RIDE. Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is the only attraction open in Galaxy’s Edge, but it’s a good one. (SPOILER ALERT) I was a little worried about how my kids would take it since they sometimes get nervous on intense rides, but they LOVED it. We were assigned as Pilots and Gunners on our first round, which meant one boy was driving (and taking us into hyperdrive!) and the other was pounding buttons all over the place. This ride reminds me of Star Tours combined with a video game – the interactive element is super fun and definitely inviting for kids. FYI – this ride has a 38” height requirement and lines can be long, but (at Disneyland at least!) the queue area is shaded and they even sell cold beverages along the way.

Other fun things to see and do in Galaxy’s Edge: build a droid at the Droid Depot or a lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. (At Disney World, you can also make advance reservations for Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop; standby lines may be available. At Disneyland, you can make a reservation for Savi’s up to two weeks in advance.) We skipped those this round, but we did love browsing the shops like the Toydarian Toymaker and the Creature Stall. Also, keep an eye out for characters – Chewbacca, Rey, Kylo Ren, Vi Modari, and Stormtroopers – roaming around the land.

That’s our take on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! If you want to check out this wild new land in person, be sure to chat with me so we can start planning your trip. I’ve got tons of other tips just like these for every land in Disneyland and Walt Disney World! ?