Droid Depot is a construct your individual droid store in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and at Disneyland. On this evaluation, we’ll element the expertise, whether or not it’s definitely worth the cash, and the way it compares to even pricier lightsaber expertise in Star Wars Land. (Up to date February 9, 2025.)
As a little bit of background, Droid Depot is a break up retail house, with one half of the shop having regular off-the-shelf Star Wars gadgets you should buy (together with the Batuuan Spira Credit score Medallion, the most effective stored secrets and techniques in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge), whereas the opposite half is a workshop with stations for droid customization and buy.
Droid Depot’s constructing space is stocked with elements, chips, manuals visitors can gather to customise, assemble–and buy, after all!–droids. After you’re finished, you possibly can take the droid you’ve constructed to discover the remainder of Black Spire Outpost and Batuu, even ‘test-driving’ them within the droid playground.
Over a yr in the past, Disney elevated the value of the construct your individual droid expertise in Black Spire Outpost, from $99 to $119.99 per astromech droid, plus tax, at Walt Disney World. This was the primary time the fee has gone up because the opening of Droid Depot. There was no such improve at Disneyland, which continues to be priced at $99 per builder.
This follows two value will increase at Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers, with the price of that transferring from $200 at opening to $250 presently. Regardless of the differential, Savi’s Workshop stays far more common than Droid Depot. In equity, the lightsaber constructing workshop has a a lot decrease capability, which contributes to creating reservations harder to attain.
February 9, 2025 Replace: Disney has introduced that, beginning March 17, 2025, Droid Depot will now not provide reservations at Disneyland, and can solely settle for walk-ups for the droid constructing expertise. Presently, there are not any adjustments for Droid Depot at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The disparities in pricing and insurance policies for Droid Depot between Walt Disney World and Disneyland is probably going as a consequence of demographics. Disneyland continues to be disproportionately a locals’ park, and the majority of Californian Star Wars followers who wished to construct a droid, have constructed a droid. Against this, Walt Disney World caters to vacationers, so there’s a theoretical by no means ending stream of first-timers.
Even so, we’ve seen a precipitous decline in demand for Droid Depot on each coasts. Despite the fact that Walt Disney World nonetheless gives reservations, they’re actually not required. Most days, there’s ample availability all day lengthy, for each single reservation time slot. Stroll-ins often haven’t any wait on both coast, and there are many empty droid-building slots more often than not.
We’re nonetheless questioning what the entire dropping of reservations will accomplish. It doesn’t seem to be Droid Depot is missing in demand as a result of reservations, with individuals shying away from doing walkups as a result of they suppose they received’t be accommodated. If something, I’d suppose the other is true–that providing reservations will get individuals to commit once they in any other case may not. However what do I do know.
Both approach, there’s gotta be a greater long run plan. Whether or not that’s decreasing the value, operating particular gives or aggressive reductions, including new droids, or reimagining the house solely.
Despite the fact that Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers has additionally seen its recognition drop, it nonetheless has sky-high demand comparatively. That’s as a consequence of a combination of decrease capability and Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers being significantly better within the first place.
Now let’s flip to how the droid constructing course of works at Droid Depot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
After selecting a BB-series unit or R-series unit, you’re given a basket and blueprint for elements. From there, you head to the elements station in the back of Droid Depot, which is actually a conveyor belt from which you pull gadgets as they move by. That is cool, and provides Droid Depot a sure authenticity. Plus, it’s enjoyable to see and snag items as they move you.
From there, it’s on to the construct station, the place you are taking the 4 elements (dome, connection plate, physique sphere, and motivator for the BB-series or dome, physique, and two units of legs for the R-series) to observe placemat directions. Assemble the droid its the correct sequence earlier than the activation course of begins.
Setting up your individual personalized droid at this unimaginable industrial workshop in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is fairly easy and fast. All instructed, the complete Droid Depot expertise takes beneath quarter-hour from begin to end (plus no matter time it’s a must to wait in line to start out constructing a droid, if any).
As soon as completed, you should buy extra equipment, together with a character chip or carrying backpack. If you would like your droid to work together with components in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or different droids visitors have constructed, the backpack is your only option.
It appears awkward to simply carry them round, so I assume the opposite possibility is getting a kind of child slings. Joking apart, it’s amusing to listen to the droids beeping at each other once in a while as you wander Black Spire Outpost.
I feel it’s price discussing how Droid Depot compares with the $250 Handbuilt Lightsaber Expertise at Savi’s Workshop, which we lavished with reward. Whereas Star Wars Land has quite a few outlets and retail stalls, these are the 2 with a ‘pay-to-play’ present part. The remaining might be loved in full with out spending a dime.
Fairly merely, I don’t suppose Droid Depot stacks as much as Savi’s Workshop within the least. Until you actually need one among these droids, you’re completely higher off doing Savi’s Workshop–though it’s double the fee. It’s a subsequent degree expertise; Droid Depot is cool, however not on that degree.
Don’t get me unsuitable, constructing an R2 unit at Droid Depot was neat, and the completed droids are cute and enjoyable. Nonetheless, there’s no emotional resonance to it.
Savi’s Workshop is that this communal expertise of making one thing by hand. Savi’s has a robust present part that’s steeped in lore, custom, and makes you are feeling linked to one thing greater. Yeah, it’s theme park retail, however it’s nonetheless highly effective stuff.
Against this, Droid Depot feels virtually just like the anthesis of that. The setting is cool (as is actually in every single place in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge), but in addition vaguely harking back to an vehicle meeting plant.
As you seize elements from the conveyor constructed and take them to your workstation, there’s a sure coldness to the expertise.
The setting can be loud and discordant, with a circulation of visitors ready in line, getting into, and leaving their very own workstations. The creation course of is interactive and interesting, however it’s about as communal as an meeting line, and there’s no present part that’s akin to Savi’s.
Whereas the lightsaber expertise makes you are feeling linked to one thing greater, Droid Depot is actually disconnected.
The one exception to that is when the droid is first positioned into its activation slot, paired with a distant, and powered up for the primary time.
There’s a flurry of blinking lights and sounds, and also you witness the droid come alive. Arguably, the coldness of the primary half of the expertise is such a pointy distinction with this second that it makes the droid “being born” extra poignant.
Ultimately, that second was fleeting, and the general Droid Depot expertise didn’t actually follow me. It’s straightforward sufficient to peek into the customized droid constructing aspect of the store and see what it’s all about, and I feel that’s a adequate model of this ‘expertise’ for those who don’t wish to drop $120 on a droid.
Value noting right here is that whereas I constructed my very own droid, I did Droid Depot as a part of the media occasion and was unable to maintain my completed droid. Maybe I’d really feel otherwise if I had an ’emotional bond’ with my creation and needed to care and supply for the droid as soon as I obtained it house. I’m guessing not, as I don’t actually really feel a bond with the lightsaber I purchased and constructed.
After Sarah noticed numerous pals with very cute droids, we debated going again and doing Droid Depot. Nonetheless, we additionally noticed a number of falling aside whereas roaming round Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (technically not allowed, however we actually by no means noticed this enforced) and the construct high quality felt low-cost.
You would purchase each the superb Sphero R2-D2 and BB-8 app-enabled droids for only a bit extra money than one creation from Droid Depot. Not precisely an apples to apples comparability, however I’d slightly have the Sphero merchandise. (Or, you possibly can purchase the DJ Rex non-customizable droid from Droid Depot.)
In the end, Droid Depot is a neat expertise that I actually loved and possibly would’ve reviewed far more enthusiastically had I not additionally finished Savi’s Workshop. Despite the fact that it feels a bit such as you’re churned by means of a manufacturing facility, there’s sufficient coronary heart and substance to make it one thing particular. Nonetheless, when put next aspect by aspect to the lightsaber constructing expertise, there’s a stark distinction, and Droid Depot leaves you wanting extra.
For those who’re planning on visiting the brand new land, you’ll additionally wish to learn our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Information. This covers a variety of matters from fundamentals concerning the land and its location, to strategically selecting a lodge in your keep, really useful technique for the land, and the way to beat the crowds. It’s a great primer for this big addition. As for planning the remainder of your journey, we now have a complete Disneyland Trip Planning Information in addition to an intensive Walt Disney World Planning Information.
Your Ideas
Have you ever constructed a personalized droid at Droid Depot? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? For those who finished each Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop, which did you favor? For those who’ve finished neither, which is extra interesting to you? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
