Erica’s Nerdy and Girly Adventure to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
There I was, sipping blue milk in front of a First Order ship, watching two Stormtroopers argue over how to use their guns—exactly how I'd always imagined spending my Spring Break!
My family and I spent our Spring Break in Florida this year, which included a few days at Disney World, Universal Studios, and Daytona Beach. Spending a day at the beach, with the sand between my toes and waves tickling my ankles, provided some much needed grounding. But journeying to Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios filled my nerdy and girly heart.
The Force Was Strong in My Childhood
Science fiction and fantasy were fairly common in our home as my parents were big fans of Star Trek and the Dune book series, so watching the original Star Wars trilogy as a kid seemed natural. (It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I learned I had friends who had never watched a single Star Wars movie.)
In 2005, my now husband and I sat in line for hours after school to be some of the first to watch Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. We brought a chess set to keep us entertained while we sat on the sidewalk (because it was 2005 and I could only use my Nokia cell phone to make calls or play that Snake game). Our local newspaper, the Missourian, captured the two of us playing while waiting, and even published it on the front page, formally documenting my nerdiness.
Bringing Our Own Tiny Jedis to Galaxy's Edge
20 years after waiting in line to watch Episode III, my husband and I got to take our two kiddos to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World! We allocated the entire afternoon to walk around because we didn’t want to miss anything. Here’s a quick highlight of what we did together:
- We were questioned by Darth Vader and again by the First Order for being spies. (I blame my husband’s Millennium Falcon t-shirt.)
- We took photos with The Mandalorian and Grogu - twice!
- We went on the rides Smuggler’s Run and Rise of the Resistance.
- We drank blue milk! (Imagine a blueberry milkshake made with rice milk, and combined with coconut. No, I promise it really was delicious!)
- We built droids. (More on that below!)
One thing we did not do was the Batuu Bounty Hunters mission! Unfortunately, we learned about it two days after our trip… So I’m hoping someone I know has done it and can share their experience so I can live vicariously.
This Geek's Guide to Droid Building
The four of us walked into what felt like a true Droid Depot on Tattooine. Overhead, droid parts glided along tracks as if it were a dry cleaner’s. In the background, we could hear the distinct “zzzzt” sound of automatic screwdrivers connecting parts, and lots of electrical beeps as droids were activated.
After checking in for our reservation, we faced our first engineering decision: voice modules. Did we want our droids to sound standard issue or something with a little more... personality? Obviously, I opted for the special module.
We shuffled over to the conveyor belt of bodies and parts next. My daughter and I gravitated toward the spherical BB series, while my husband selected a C1, and my son went classic with an R2 unit. (I realize this is the equivalent of saying "some of us chose Gryffindor while others chose Hufflepuff" to non-Star Wars fans, but you get the idea! 😆)
Then we went to the builder bar and started putting our lil guys together, which felt like a cross between an engineering lab and a Build-A-Bear Workshop. My daughter was determined to build hers independently. Her tiny fingers gripped each component with fierce concentration, only accepting my help with the screws. When it came time for activation, I insisted she press the big red button herself. The look on her face when her droid lit up and beeped its first “boop” was worth every credit we spent.
I've named my droid "BBlue Raspberry" because it's adorable, sings harmonies with other droids, and frankly, it just looks like it would taste like candy. The other members of my family are too cool to name theirs. 🙄
Inspiring the Next Generation of Star Wars Nerds
Watching my daughter's excitement while building her BB droid reminded me why introducing girls to sci-fi, technology, and engineering experiences matters so much. These moments spark curiosity and show our children that being passionate about "nerdy" things like Star Wars isn't just for boys—it's for anyone with imagination and a sense of wonder. Lightsabers and lip gloss absolutely go hand in hand.