Droid Depot: Build Your Own Droid in Galaxy’s Edge!

This week, we’re covering everything you need to know about Droid Depot at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge!

Galaxy’s Edge is the immersive world of Star Wars located in Hollywood Studios. This bustling outpost offers lively markets, otherworldly food and beverages, and two high-flying attractions.

But guests seeking to further immerse themselves in the world of Star Wars can take part in two unique build experiences – Savi’s Workshop and Droid Depot. At Savi’s, guests craft their very own custom lightsabers. This is the premiere Star Wars experience, so I’ve heard, which I’m saving for when my son is a little older. So, this trip, we booked a reservation for the Droid Depot so he could build his very own astromech droid!

At the Droid Depot, you’ll find an energetic workshop stocked with parts, chips, and other useful tech for building your droid. As a massive Star Wars fan, the chance to build a droid was very high on my Disney to-do list!

Droids are an integral part of the Star Wars universe. They are loyal companions with unique personalities, each designed to offer high-tech solutions for a variety of purposes. Oftentimes, droids end up being the real heroes of Star Wars stories! The galaxy wouldn’t be the same without brave and indispensable companions like R2-D2 and BB-8.

Building a droid is truly a can’t-miss experience for Star Wars fans. And, lucky for me, I was with one of the biggest Star Wars fans I know (after myself, of course).

Advance Reservations

Disney recommends making advance reservations to secure a spot at Droid Depot. These reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance. To learn all about securing advance reservations, check out our guide HERE!

If you don’t secure a reservation, there is still a chance you may be accommodated as a walk-in, but openings are subject to availability. If Droid Depot is a must-do for your party, it’s best to secure your reservations early!

The cost to build your droid is $129.99 plus tax, and includes the build experience, all droid parts, carrying box, instructions, and remote control. You will need a credit card on file for the reservation, but you will not be charged until you’re building.

This experience allows for one builder and one guest, and at least one party member must be at least 14-years-old.

Check-In

If the signs in Aurebesh make it tricky to locate Droid Depot, you’ll be able to recognize the shop by the droids lined up outside.

Guests can check in up to 15 minutes prior to their reservation at the stand outside of Droid Depot. Make sure each member of your party is present, and don’t be late! Tardy arrivals may not be accommodated and potentially face late cancellation fees.

During check-in, be ready to present your reservation confirmation number, booking credit card, and photo ID.

Droid Types

Once you’re checked in, you will register your choice of droid you’d like to build. Droid Depot offers BB-series and R-series units. Think BB-8 (which will spin around on a ball) or R2-D2 (which will roll around on legs).

I’ve heard the BB-series tend to have issues with their heads falling off as they roll, so we decided to go with the R-series.

Once you’ve chosen which unit you’d like to build, the clerk will provide a basket and blueprint for the parts you’ll need.

Add-Ons

Before you begin building, you may also purchase additional accessories for your droid, such as personality-affiliation chips or the droid backpack.

I was intrigued by the personality chips, which are interchangeable accessories that modify the droid’s intonations and behaviors. Personality chips are categorized by the following:

• Resistance – friendly and happy sounds, scared of the First Order
• First Order – low-pitched and angry sounds, loyal to the First Order
• Scoundrel – neutral and sassy sounds, nervous of the First Order

Before selecting your personality chip, the clerk can help you test each one to see if it’s the right fit. My son’s go-to shade is black, so we tested the black chip first. But the First Order noises were far too grumpy for his liking. So, we tested the cheerful blue chip instead, and it was a winner!

Building Your Droid

Now, the fun begins as you work through the build stations to assemble your droid!

Parts Station

At the Parts Station, you’ll select the necessary components to assemble your droid as they roll past on the shop’s conveyor belt.

These come in a variety of colors and styles you can mix and match. So, take your time to assess what’s available before you start collecting!

These are the parts you’ll need for each droid series:

BB-Series
• Dome
• Dome Connection Plate
• Body Sphere
• Motivator

R-Series
• Dome
• Body
• Center Leg
• Set of Side Legs

As I mentioned before, my son is all about black. So, he made sure to pick out all black parts for his droid. It made for some very nervous glances from Resistance members throughout Galaxy’s Edge, but we assured them our droid was good and in disguise to spy on the First Order 😉

Build Station

Once you have all your parts, you’ll head to the Build Station where a cast member will assist with assembly. Instructions are available on your placemat and digital displays to ensure you connect your droid parts in the right order.

Once assembled, your droid will be activated and come to life! This was such a cool moment of the build experience. My son was so excited!

Your activated droid will be paired with a remote that controls it’s movements and sounds.

The remote also has an extra button that activates some of the add-on accessories. We didn’t purchase any of those accessories, so at the time that button did nothing. But, on a return visit, I picked up some thrusters which are interchangeable with the droid’s outer leg panels. Now, when my son activates that button, the thrusters light up and make sounds!

Interacting With Galaxy’s Edge

Guests are not allowed to operate their droids on the ground while at the theme parks – can you image all the bumps and trips over the poor little guys? However, there is a designated practicing pad right outside Droid Depot where builders can practice maneuvering, and droids can stretch their legs.

Even though the droids must stay off the ground, that doesn’t mean they have to power down just yet. The droids use Bluetooth technology to interact with specific areas and other astromech droids located throughout Galaxy’s Edge.

This is where those personality chips really come into play! Your droid may exchange friendly chirps with other droids, or they may act scared or aggressive while in the First Order area. There are many surprises to unlock depending on your droid’s personality!

These unique capabilities really make your droid the perfect travel companion during you adventures in Galaxy’s Edge.

Playing With Your Droid at Home

The fun doesn’t stop when you’re off world, there are even more ways to interact with your droid once you return home!

First, you will want to download the free Droid Depot mobile app.

With this app, you can ditch the remote and use your phone to maneuver your droid. You can also challenge your droid to a game of Tic-Tac-Toe, or choreograph a dance for your droid to some of DJ R3X’s popular beats.

Even those without a droid can download the app and design their own virtual custom droids. My son has created quite the collection!

Overall, building your very own custom companion at Droid Depot is a fun, interactive, and immersive experience. For fans, this is an opportunity to live out your very own Star Wars story, while preserving the memory with an awesome keepsake. ‘Til the spire!

Looking for other Star Wars-related content? Check out our Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Recipes to Make at Home and our Star Wars Birthday Party!