Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is such a special place at Hollywood Studios. It truly is your chance to step inside the Star Wars saga and play out your own tale. You can get behind the wheel of the Millenium Falcon on Smugglers Run and you can construct your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop.
For those of you unfamiliar a lightsaber is the signature weapon choice of Jedi and the Sith. And for a mental picture, it’s that giant light blade sword you see them swinging about in the commercials.
What is Savi’s Workshop?
A group known as the Gatherers have set up shop here on Batuu. They have set up a front that they are just collectors of scrap metal pieces. But really they are on a quest to bring balance between light and dark sides of the force. Here you can secretly get to build your own lightsaber under the guidance of the Gatherers.
If you chose to stop in here you will be ushered into a covert workshop packed with unusual parts and whimsical pieces collected from the far reaches of the galaxy. During this twenty-minute experience, under the Gatherers’ guidance, you will construct a one-of-a-kind lightsaber and bring them to life through the power of kyber crystals.
Savi’s Workshop Pricing
Building a lightsaber is definitely a premium experience with the cost coming in at $199.99, plus tax. There are four different types of lightsabers you can build at Savi’s and all cost the same amount each. Kids cost the same amount. It is recommended that you are at least 5 years of age and one member of the party must be over 14 years old.
You may be wondering why the steep price tag here. First off these lightsabers are by no means a toy they are much more classified under the category of a collector’s item. Each lightsaber hilt is constructed with heavy metal parts, I myself was shocked at how well made this item is.
Making a Reservation for Savi’s Workshop
If you are looking to take a stab at building a lightsaber of your own we highly recommend making your reservations to do so well in advance of your trip. The reservation system is all handled through the My Disney Experience site. Just like your dining reservations, you can book up to 180 days in advance. There are a small number of walk-up reservations that they open up daily. I would recommend if this is your plan to check at the desk early to try and grab a same day spot.
Also, an important Disney disclaimer to note:
A valid, accepted credit card number is required at the time of booking. You must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation to avoid a per builder cancellation fee. If you fail to timely cancel and are a no-show, the credit card provided at the time of reservation will be charged $199.99 per builder.
Where to Check-In for Savi’s Workshop
You will know you have found Savi’s when you find the scrapyard. This scrapyard is located in between Dok-Ondar’ Antiquities and the Droid Depot. There is a cart where you can check in right outside of Savi’s Workshop. Be prepared to pick out exactly which the four lightsaber options you want and to pay.
Arrival is recommended no more than 15 minutes prior to your reservation. Please make sure your entire party is present before you check in to Savi’s Workshop. Once we checked in I would say it was about 5 to 10 minutes before we entered into the room.
Once you have paid you will get your pin and card and be asked to wait in the holding pen. Here you can browse the drawer that contains the options you will have to build your hilt. If you already have that figured out you can translate your card you were given at checking. The writing is in Aurebesh and you can use the Disney Play app to help you translate it.
Lightsaber Options to Build
When you meet with Savi’s Gatherers outside his workshop, you’ll choose one of 4 available hilt themes and receive a cloisonné pin to identify your selection. Be sure to keep the pin you receive out, they need it to identify you once you get inside.
Peace and Justice
Utilize salvaged scraps of fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships in Republic-era lightsaber designs that honor the galaxy’s former guardians.
Power and Control
Originally forged by warriors from the dark side. Objects used in this lightsaber style are rumored remnants from the Sith homeworld and abandoned temples.
Elemental Nature
Craft a lightsaber from special components born from the Force. These pieces include Brylark trees, Cartusion whale bones or Rancor teeth.
Protection and Defense
Incorporate hilt materials bearing mysterious motifs and inscriptions that reconnect a lightsaber’s wielder with the ancient wellspring of the Force.
Experience Putting your Lightsaber Together
Now it’s time to head into the shop and put your new lightsaber together. When your group is ready they will call you and lead you in. There will be no more than 14 builders per group. Each builder may bring in one person to observe. The room is pretty tight so I get why they put restrictions on it.
Once you are all placed around your individual building stations. Your storyteller will explain the backstory of lightsabers. Then we get to jump into the story behind the centerpiece of your lightsaber, the kyber crystal.
The Gatherers will now help you select the heart of your lightsaber, the kyber crystal, which is available in red, blue, green or violet. The blue crystal is the same as Luke Skywalker and Obi-wan. Green, of course, is everyone’s favorite Yoda. We went for the very rare purple like Mace Windu. Or you could go to the dark power of red.
Next, you will get a short amount of time to begin assembling your hilt. The parts you receive will be provided based on your theme and cloisonné pin. Each box of parts includes:
- 1 hilt
- 4 sleeves (pick 2)
- 2 emitters (pick 1)
- 2 pommel caps (pick 1)
- 2 sets of activation plates and switches (pick 1 set)
Upon hilt completion, the unused parts will be collected by the Gatherers and returned to Savi’s inventory. It’s a bummer because it would have been super cool to take these home and change them out as you wish. Unfortunately, though, these are not included with your lightsaber package.
Finally, the Gatherers will masterfully connect your hilt to a 31” lightsaber blade so you’re ready for anything the galaxy puts in your path! I must say this is the coolest part of the whole experience. On your way out don’t forget to pick up your included carrying case. Super helpful for protecting your hefty investment when traveling around the parks.
Full Video of the Savi’s Workshop Experience
Check out the video above for our experience at Savi’s Workshop and to see the lightsaber we picked out!
Overall Thoughts on Savi’s Workshop
I thought it was well worth the money to get to build your own lightsaber. The quality of the pieces is there and you end up with a really well built finished product. And if you too are a big Star Wars fan and on the fence, I would say to go ahead and do it.
My one wish is they had an option for those of us who have already been through the experience once to be able to do it again at a lower cost. Even if that means you could pick up the parks and construct your own second hilt.
For more on enjoying your day on Batuu read The Big Guide to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.
Bonus Lightsaber Accessories
If you want to get some extras for your lightsaber be sure to head over to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. This shop isn’t just for mysterious and unique galactic artifacts collected by Dok-Ondar, a legendary antiquities dealer who is as mysterious as many of the objects he collects. The Ithorian’s den is packed with racks and crates of items with their own stories to tell:
Legacy Lightsabers – This elegant weapon from a more civilized age is most commonly associated with the Jedi and Sith. Dok-Ondar has collected replicas of some of the most famous – or infamous – warriors in the galaxy’s history, including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul.
Lightsaber Accessories – Lightsaber clips, carrier bags, and display stands are used to carry or display a lightsaber when not in use.
Kyber Crystals – At the heart of every lightsaber is a kyber crystal. This crystal is attuned to the Force. Colors include blue, green, purple, red, yellow and white.
Holocrons – The Jedi and Sith have curated enormous amounts of information about the galaxy and the Force. Holocrons store this valuable data, which when paired with kyber crystals can be unlocked and accessed by the owner of these rare artifacts.
I have been visiting the parks annually since my parents first brought me at just a year old. Recently I was able to fulfill my life long dream of being a Florida local and moved from the wintery Northeast to the sunshine and fun of central Florida. Now I am hoping to share my Disney knowledge with you so you can have the best vacation possible!
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