Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers is without doubt one of the hottest issues in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This overview presents pictures & video from this build-your-own lightsaber store, reservation particulars, spoiler-free data, and whether or not it’s definitely worth the excessive worth. (Updated January 27, 2023.)
Savi’s Workshop is an unassuming storefront positioned in the midst of Black Spire Outpost subsequent to Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and Droid Depot. Under the steering 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 isn’t any knock at Star Wars followers (properly, 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 overview, 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 a giant one, as costs sometimes solely go in a single path–up. This $30 discount is an particularly steep drop, however was exactly the 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 enhance, and it is a manner of fixing that. The second is that it’s an internet site error–a reversion might’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 scorching reservation, which is unlikely to alter anytime quickly at Walt Disney World due to a gentle stream of latest vacationers. By distinction, Disneyland is extra dependent upon a neighborhood fanbase. It’s thus probably 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 traditional one and begin with the titular query. Despite that title, this actually isn’t expressly about whether or not the lightsaber itself is value $220 and even $250. I can not envision a single state of affairs by which I’d view a lightsaber as holding that quantity of worth.
Perhaps as soon as the know-how 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 certain a lightsaber might be value greater than $200. I’m not that particular person, although.
With that mentioned, 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 economic design of my DSLR digicam 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 overview that follows, we have been completely blown away by the present part of Savi’s Workshop and have zero regrets that we did it. The workshop itself together with having a nighttime lightsaber battle beneath 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 might fluctuate kind of factor. Ultimately, you’re taking a look at a 25 minute expertise plus a lightsaber for $250, plus the hassle 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 mentioned for the intimate setting of the workshop, which undoubtedly enhances the present. Nevertheless, the choice to make this a single room (relatively 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 cause why the query of worth is sort of irrelevant. With such a low variety of day by day time slots for Savi’s and such a excessive variety of Star Wars followers with surplus disposable earnings (or prepared to save lots of and splurge for one thing particular), Savi’s might 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 shaped every morning and also you needed to wait to enroll, then return and have your group known as to enter Savi’s Workshop took a variety of time. (Sort of like how Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance works now.) Consequently, we had practically 2 hours of “lost time” because 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 upfront. For each, we extremely advocate 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 will get shut out solely in case you don’t suppose to make reservations properly upfront of your trip. Typically, reservations sometimes replenish quicker 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 shouldn’t be going to be that “something.” We cherished the expertise, would do it once more if cash have been no concern, and would extremely advocate stepping into with out having something about it spoiled for you…
Again, to keep away from spoilers, cease studying/scrolling now.
Seriously. Don’t spoil this for your self in case you plan or wish to do it.
For now, Savi’s Workshop actually 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 line 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 (solid by darkish facet warriors, utilizing remnants from the Sith homeworld), Elemental Nature (embodying the Force and comprised of residing 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 beneath is a full set from Elemental Nature:
After paying, you may 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 could be a Rancor tooth. We felt that’d give us essentially 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 possibly can 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 ability of the Force. It’s a great preface, and successfully units the temper.
Following that, you select a kyber crystal, which is able to give your lightsaber its shade. The choices are crimson, blue, inexperienced, or (for the Samuel L. Jackson followers on the market) purple.
At “only” $13 every, kyber crystals are most likely 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 package with the required components to select from to assemble your hilt. Each field of components consists of 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 advocate ending shortly 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 sensible and moody. Savor it, since you’ll most likely 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’ hooked up 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 fruits 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, but it surely appears like a lot extra.
We each agreed that this was a very 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 shifting it might be for somebody who grew up on Star Wars, and has a robust nostalgic bond.
Ultimately, we’ve got zero regrets dropping $200+ to do Savi’s Workshop. I’m really 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 undoubtedly aren’t going to try 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–have been so satisfying and the top end result so cool that we have been positive having dropped over $200 on it.
However, Savi’s Workshop now prices $50 greater than once we did it. While I’m glad we bought the prospect to do it as soon as and located the expertise to be extremely memorable, it’s powerful to say the already-high worth we paid could be value $250 to us. It’s a detailed name, however I’d most likely 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 elaborate 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 without doubt one of the hottest Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge choices at each Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and for good cause. It’s not going to be one thing that everybody can afford to do by way of time or cash, but it surely’s one thing we advocate 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 variety of subjects from fundamentals in regards to the land and its location, to strategically selecting a lodge in your keep, beneficial technique for the land, and the way early to reach to beat the crowds. It’s a great primer for this enormous 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 accomplished it, do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Think it was (or will likely be) definitely worth the time and cash dedication? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!