Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers is likely one of the hottest issues in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This evaluate presents pictures & video from this build-your-own lightsaber store, reservation particulars, spoiler-free information, and whether or not it’s definitely worth the excessive worth. (Updated January 27, 2023.)
Savi’s Workshop is an unassuming storefront situated in the midst of Black Spire Outpost subsequent to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and Droid Depot. Under the steerage of the Gatherers, friends are ushered right into a covert workshop the place they’re utilizing uncommon components to construct lightsabers amidst the First Order.
Originally, we deliberate on skipping Savi’s Workshop. To be sincere, I laughed on the concept of a $200+ lightsaber, and may have used the phrase “sucker” to explain our good friend who needed to do it. This is not any knock at Star Wars followers (effectively, I suppose it’s), however I spend cash on loads of issues others would think about foolish or frivolous, so to every their very own. Since you’re seeing this evaluate, we did find yourself doing Savi’s Workshop, so there’s additionally that.
January 27, 2023 Update: It seems that the worth of Savi’s Workshop has decreased at Disneyland, falling from $249.99 again right down to $219.99. When it involves Disney, any drop is an enormous one, as costs usually solely go in a single path–up. This $30 discount is an particularly steep drop, however was exactly the associated fee earlier than the rise final yr on October 11. That’s nonetheless up from the $200 price ticket on the Savi’s Workshop lightsaber constructing expertise when it first debuted, however just about every part at Disneyland is costlier than it was 3+ years in the past.
As for the explanation for the lower, there are a few potentialities. The first is that demand dropped for the Disneyland model of Savi’s Workshop after the worth improve, and this can be a means of fixing that. The second is that it’s an internet site error–a reversion may’ve been unintentionally made to an previous model of the location. I’m skeptical that’s the case, as the worth of Droid Depot additionally dropped to its pre-increase worth at Disneyland, and people are completely different pages. Two separate web site errors appears unlikely.
At current, no adjustments have been made to pricing at Walt Disney World–Savi’s Workshop there may be nonetheless listed as costing $249.99 per lightsaber, plus tax on the official web site. Same goes for Droid Depot at Walt DIsney World–it’s nonetheless exhibiting the upper worth that took impact final fall.
Honestly, this isn’t an enormous shock. Savi’s Workshop remains to be a sizzling reservation, which is unlikely to alter anytime quickly at Walt Disney World due to a gradual stream of latest vacationers. By distinction, Disneyland is extra dependent upon an area fanbase. It’s thus possible that the California park has largely exhausted demand for lightsaber constructing amongst locals, and is now reliant on the smaller slice of vacationers that go to Disneyland.
With the 2023 worth lower at Disneyland addressed, let’s flip to the conventional one and begin with the titular query. Despite that title, this actually isn’t expressly about whether or not the lightsaber itself is price $220 and even $250. I can’t envision a single situation through which I’d view a lightsaber as holding that quantity of worth.
Perhaps as soon as the expertise will get to the purpose that it’s an precise device I can use to carve a Thanksgiving turkey or defend myself towards the First Order, however even then, it’d be a tricky promote. To somebody, I’m positive a lightsaber might be price greater than $200. I’m not that individual, although.
With that stated, the lightsaber itself has heft to it, is substantial, and feels actually good within the hand. Then once more, I’ve by no means wielded a high-end lightsaber, and am evaluating this (no joke) to the commercial design of my DSLR digital camera lenses. For all I do know, this might be on the low finish of replica-caliber lightsabers. I do know that it’s considerably nicer than something I’ve ever seen in Walt Disney World or Disneyland.
For me, the query about whether or not that is “worth it” comes right down to the hand-built lightsaber itself plus the overarching expertise at Savi’s Workshop. As you’ll learn within the evaluate that follows, we had been completely blown away by the present element of Savi’s Workshop and have zero regrets that we did it. The workshop itself together with having a nighttime lightsaber battle under the Millennium Falcon rank extremely among the many issues we did in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
However, worth is within the eye of the beholder and it’s very a lot a your mileage could differ kind of factor. Ultimately, you’re a 25 minute expertise plus a lightsaber for $250, plus the trouble of snagging a reservation or ready in line to do Savi’s Workshop.
This brings us to the capability of Savi’s Workshop, which is abysmal. There’s quite a bit to be stated for the intimate surroundings of the workshop, which positively enhances the present. Nevertheless, the choice to make this a single room (quite than modeling it after multi-room meet & greets) is a puzzling one. The result’s a store with an hourly capability of beneath 50 lightsabers.
Scarcity is the opposite purpose why the query of worth is sort of irrelevant. With such a low variety of every day time slots for Savi’s and such a excessive variety of Star Wars followers with surplus disposable earnings (or keen to avoid wasting and splurge for one thing particular), Savi’s may cost double its present costs and by no means have an issue filling up. (Not to present Disney any concepts…)
When we did Savi’s Workshop, it didn’t provide reservations. This imply {that a} line fashioned every morning and also you needed to wait to enroll, then return and have your group referred to as to enter Savi’s Workshop took loads of time. (Sort of like how Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance works now.) Consequently, we had almost 2 hours of “lost time” on account of the system.
The excellent news is that Savi’s Workshop now presents advance reservations on-line and by way of each the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps. At each Walt Disney World and Disneyland, reservations can be found 60 days prematurely. For each, we extremely suggest making reservations ASAP earlier than your journey dates.
This system streamlines the entire course of, however the draw back to that’s it means you may get shut out completely for those who don’t assume to make reservations effectively prematurely of your trip. Typically, reservations usually replenish sooner at Walt Disney World than at Disneyland. If you aren’t in a position to rating your required slot early, hold checking the system–particularly the day earlier than, as cancellations do happen.
If you’ve already determined you wish to do Savi’s Workshop and are solely not going to do it within the occasion that one thing discourages you, cease studying now. This isn’t going to be that “something.” We beloved the expertise, would do it once more if cash had been no problem, and would extremely suggest entering into with out having something about it spoiled for you…
Again, to keep away from spoilers, cease studying/scrolling now.
Seriously. Don’t damage this for your self for those who plan or wish to do it.
For now, Savi’s Workshop really is a ‘covert’ location: there’s no discernible signage, and save for the lengthy line, crowds, and money registers exterior, it doesn’t even seem like a storefront in step with the design-style of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Prior to paying, you’ll choose one of many 4 themes. These are Peace and Justice (with salvaged scraps from fallen Jedi temples and starships in Republic-era designs), Power and Control (cast by darkish aspect warriors, utilizing remnants from the Sith homeworld), Elemental Nature (embodying the Force and comprised of dwelling issues, like Brylark bushes, Cartusion whale bones, Rancor enamel, and so on.) and Protection & Defense (mysterious supplies that reconnect customers with the traditional wellspring of the Force).
These are a place to begin, with the precise items chosen and assembled inside the workshop. Pictured under is a full set from Elemental Nature:
After paying, you can be given your pin and a credential that may function your group quantity. The pin is your key to enter the secretive workshop and it additionally identifies which of the 4 lightsaber designs you’ve chosen.
Naturally, we selected Elemental Nature as a result of one of many choices for that may be a Rancor tooth. We felt that’d give us probably the most avenue cred in intimidating the neighbor’s canine. (As we all know from firsthand publicity, dachshunds are ferocious.)
Once your group is among the many subsequent to enter the store, you’ll be allowed to enter a courtyard the place you’ll wait to be allowed entrance by one of many Gatherers.
Here’s a short video providing a snippet of the opening act inside Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers:
As you may see, inside Savi’s Workshop, introductions are made and a solemn tone is established for the ceremony of crafting a lightsaber.
The Gatherers go over Jedi historical past, lightsaber lore, and the facility of the Force. It’s a very good preface, and successfully units the temper.
Following that, you select a kyber crystal, which can give your lightsaber its shade. The choices are purple, blue, inexperienced, or (for the Samuel L. Jackson followers on the market) purple.
At “only” $13 every, kyber crystals are in all probability among the finest items of merchandise in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge; each adjustments the colour of your lightsaber blade.
You’ll additionally obtain a hilt equipment with the required components to select from to assemble your hilt. Each field of components contains 1 hilt, 4 sleeves (choose 2), 2 emitters (choose 1), 2 pommel caps (choose 1), 2 units of activation plates, and switches (choose 1 set).
Gatherers flow into to help on this course of, which takes a number of minutes.
We’d suggest ending rapidly to present your self a couple of minutes to understand the themed design of the workshop.
As with every part in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the design of Savi’s Workshop is good and moody. Savor it, since you’ll in all probability solely ever be in right here as soon as.
Once everyone seems to be completed assembling their hilts, Gatherers assist connect the hilts into meeting pods at every constructing bay. This is when the bonding ceremony begins, which is the spotlight and wow second of the entire expertise at Savi’s Workshop.
At the conclusion of this, the blade of the lightsaber is ‘magically’ connected and everybody raises and prompts their lightsabers in unison because the voice of Yoda enters the chamber.
I had the Yoda portion of this spoiled for me previous to this (as I by no means thought I’d do it), and my preliminary response was disappointment that it wasn’t a hologram of Yoda making an look.
While that might’ve undoubtedly been cooler, it’s unimaginable to place into phrases simply how cool the end result of this ceremony is.
Savi’s Workshop hits all the proper emotional notes; there’s a way of urgency, solemnity, and pleasure upon completion. Yeah, you’re simply assembling a glorified toy lightsaber, nevertheless it seems like a lot extra.
We each agreed that this was a extremely highly effective expertise, and we are saying this as people who find themselves not closely invested in Star Wars. I can solely think about how transferring it could be for somebody who grew up on Star Wars, and has a robust nostalgic bond.
Ultimately, we’ve zero regrets dropping $200+ to do Savi’s Workshop. I’m truly glad we didn’t go together with the unique plan of solely me coming into (free of charge) to look at our good friend construct his lightsaber, as a result of my response to Sarah upon exiting would’ve been, “you have to see that.” In truth, Sarah’s response upon exiting Savi’s Workshop was, “we have to do that again and get another lightsaber so we each have one.”
To be clear, we positively should not going to do this–it was merely Sarah’s response within the warmth of the second. The level right here is that our first impressions–whilst frugal individuals who aren’t hardcore Star Wars followers–had been so satisfying and the tip consequence so cool that we had been wonderful having dropped over $200 on it.
However, Savi’s Workshop now prices $50 greater than after we did it. While I’m glad we bought the possibility to do it as soon as and located the expertise to be extremely memorable, it’s robust to say the already-high worth we paid could be price $250 to us. It’s a detailed name, however I’d in all probability do it for the primary time even at $250. Again, worth is within the eye of the beholder–and what you’re getting right here is not only a flowery lightsaber.
Even on the $250 price-point, Savi’s Workshop is actually one thing particular–an expertise to be savored and remembered lengthy after the lightsaber breaks or dies. This is likely one of the hottest Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge choices at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and for good purpose. It’s not going to be one thing that everybody can afford to do when it comes to time or cash, nevertheless it’s one thing we suggest as a splurge for many who can do it. You gained’t remorse it.
If you’re planning on visiting the brand new land, you’ll additionally wish to learn our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide. This covers a spread of matters from fundamentals concerning the land and its location, to strategically selecting a lodge to your keep, really useful technique for the land, and the way early to reach to beat the crowds. It’s a very good primer for this big addition.
Your Thoughts
Have you stepped inside Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers? Is it one thing you’d love to do, or is the $250 price ticket a non-starter for you? If you’ve completed it, do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Think it was (or might be) definitely worth the time and money dedication? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!