Located near the bustling marketplace of Batuu, Droid Depot offers you an immersive experience where you can build your very own droid.
Open from park opening to closing, you’ll want to allocate about 30-45 minutes to get the full experience. It isn’t cheap, though. Prices start at $119.99 for a customizable droid that you assemble yourself and while walk-ins are welcome, reservations are highly recommended to ensure you don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind adventure.
Read on to find out more about how this unique droid experience works, including all the options you’ll find for building your very own customized droid.
More than just building customized droids
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge has a lot to offer, but if we’re honest, most of what is there is better suited for adults and older kids.
But, that isn’t true at Droid Depot.
Here you’ll find one of the best experiences for kids in all of Batuu: customized droid building.
Yes, this spot is a little loud and crowded, but it’s the one thing at the Black Spire Outpost where both young and young-at-heart Star Wars fans can experience a bit of the Star Wars fun.
Probably the most important thing to start with is how the entire process itself works.
The building where Droid Depot actually has 2 different parts:
- a gift shop selling all the best droid merchandise, and
- an immersive mechanical shop where you can build custom Astromech Units.
If you are here reading this, you’re most likely wanting to learn about building a droid. If so, keep reading. If you are interested in the gift shop, you can jump down to read more about that.
Where is Droid Depot?
Droid Depot is located at Black Spire Outpost in Galaxy’s Edge.
If you’ve never visited Galaxy’s Edge before, you’re in for a real treat, as even non-Star Wars fans are impressed with the lengths Disney went to create a completely immersive Star Wars environment.
It is *so* real looking, that if you didn’t see people walking around with fanny packs and cameras, you might even think you were really walking around Batuu. (Ok, maybe that is an exaggeration, but trust us: it is really, really cool).
To stay on-theme, the signage throughout Galaxy’s Edge is all in Aurebesh – the language of Star Wars. Unless you are fluent in it, you probably won’t be able to read the signs hanging outside that mark the entrance to Droid Depot.
But, Disney has used other clues to make it crystal clear that you’re in the right place.
Of course, you could use a map or My Disney Experience for navigation:
You’ll know if you stumble upon a collection of droids and droid parts that you’re in the right place:
The trick here, though, is that there isn’t any signage directing you where to go once you arrive.
It’s probably easiest to think of visitors to Droid Depot fitting into 3 different categories:
- People who just want to shop
- People who want to build a droid but do NOT have a reservation
- People who want to build a droid and DO have a reservation
Knowing which category you fit into can save you from the possibility of needlessly standing in a long line.
If you just want to shop, the easiest way to get inside is to go through the doors near this signage shown in the image below. If you don’t read Aurebesh, the sign says “Sales,”, “Service,” and “Trades.”
If you would like to build a droid, but you don’t have a reservation, you’ll want to look for this sign and join the line:
If the line isn’t long, you may not see this sign. In that case, just head towards the door and ask the Cast Member where you should go.
And, if you have a reservation, your best bet is to find a cast member near a door and ask them to direct you to the correct line inside.
Building a droid
Reservations
Once inside, there are 2 different lines.
The left-hand one (that is longer) is for people without reservations, while the one on the right is for ones with reservations.
You can see just how much of an advantage you have if you go into this experience with a reservation, and in fact, we highly recommend you do just that to avoid having a long wait.
You can make reservations online to build a customized droid up to 60 days in advance on the official Walt Disney World website.
Cost
The cost for building a droid is $119.99, and you have to pre-pay before you build it.
That cost includes 1 droid and a carrying box.
Carrying backpacks are also available for an additional cost ($49.99) and unlike the droids, they are eligible for an Annual Pass discount.
R Series, BB Series, and C Series options
When you pay, you’ll have to declare which type of droid you want to build, either an R-series (like R2-D2):
or a BB-series (like BB-8):
Or a C Series like Chopper:
Parts Station
Once you decide on your style, you’ll be directed to a station positioned on a conveyor belt.
This is one of the coolest parts of the entire process because as you stand there, all the different parts available are moving past you, and you get to pick out each piece for your droid!
There are instructions and graphics at each station showing you exactly what to look for.
If you are building a BB-Series droid, these will be the pieces you choose:
- Dome
- Dome Connection Plate
- Body Sphere
- Motivator
If you are constructing an R-Series droid, these will be the pieces you’ll be able to select:
- Dome
- Body
- Center Leg
- Set of Side-Legs
And C-Series droids select:
- Dome
- Body
- Center Leg or Center Wheel
- Set of Side-C Legs
- If using Extender with Body, pick up Set of Side-R Legs
The pieces come in many colors, like purple and red and orange and even clear.
You can mix and match to your heart’s desire.
We can say from personal experience, it was a lot of fun watching the kids around us pick just the right pieces for their droids, and the combinations they came up with were super fun!
And, of course, if you’re having trouble finding what you need, there are several Cast Members working the area to help you out.
Build Station
After you have all of your parts selected, you’ll be directed to an assembly station.
Again, you’ll find handy, easy-to-follow instructions on a place mat to get you started putting your droid together.
There were a few of these steps that were a bit trickier, but there are Cast Members nearby to lend a hand.
Activation
Once you are done putting your droid together, you get to activate it!
This part of the experience is a definite “WOW!” moment and is comparable to when the lightsabers are turned on for the first time at Savi’s Workshop.
This is also the part of the assembly where you get your remote control.
Once you have your droid activated, the last thing to do is to get him secured for transport in either the free box or the cute backpack that is available for an extra charge.
Customization
If you’d like, you’ll have a few more ways you can customize your droid.
First of all, you can add a personality chip to your droid.
The personality chips change how your droid sounds and interacts in the park.
These chips can be used in all 3 droid styles (C-Series, R-Series and BB-Series) and cost $14.99 each.
Adding them to your droid is relatively easy – you just pop it back open and insert it into the empty slot.
Visitors that purchase R-Series droids have additional customization options, including decals and accessory panels.
Custom Droid Rules
As you can imagine, there are some rules for when you can use your droid.
The most important rule is that the droids may not be used inside the parks.
The bluetooth technology inside the droids do allow them to react to their environment and other droids. You’ll feel your new friend moving and beeping from inside their box (or in the backpack), but you can’t take them out and set them on the ground.
Disney recommends this experience for guests ages 3 and up, and, in addition, visitors 7 years old and younger must be accompanied by somebody at least 14 years old.
When building, each paying customer will be allowed 1 guest.
Disney didn’t seem to be as strict about the 1 guest/builder rule here as they are at Savi’s Workshop, and even though the overall space is larger, the building stations are not, so the 1 guest rule seems like a good one to follow except in rare cases like when the number of children outnumbers the adults.
VIDEO: Building a Droid at Droid Depot
Droid Depot mobile app
The fun doesn’t have to stop after you get home.
Disney now has a free app that you can download that brings your BB-series or R-series astromech droid units to life back on your home planet.
Even guests that haven’t yet had the opportunity to build a droid can join in on the fun because the app lets you design and build your very own virtual version for free.
Available now in both the App Store and in Google Play.
FAQs
Can you bring your own carrying bag?
Yep! If you don’t want to use the box or buy a bag, you can put your droid in a bag you bring.
How long does it last?
It takes about 30 minutes or so.
What is the best age?
This is a great kid-friendly activity in Galaxy’s Edge, but ideally, we’d say 5 and up.
How much are the non-customized droids?
The BB-Series and R-Series ones start at $99 and DJ-Rex is $149.99.
What if I need help operating my droid?
You don’t get a manual when you purchase your droid, but Disney does have them available online:
What is the better choice – building a droid or building a lightsaber?
These are 2 totally different experiences.
The droids are adorable and a toy, but the lightsabers are high-quality display pieces (not something you’d use as a toy).
They are at a similar level as to what you might find with serious cosplayers.
Is it worth it?
This is such a subjective question, but we can say without hesitation that for us, it was worth it.
The experience was fun and engaging (and adorable!) and getting to walk away from it with a cute BB-Series droid was the cherry on top.
Droid Depot Gift Shop
Prefer to skip the droid building experience but you still want to check it out?
There is a “regular” gift shop attached, where you can find a bunch of Astromech apparel and souvenirs.
From shirts and mugs:
to these cool gift cards:
to $25,000 full-scale R2-D2 models:
Droid Depot at Black Spire Outpost is one of those spots not to be missed on your journey to Galaxy’s Edge. Even if you aren’t planning to build a droid, you should still pop in to check it out.
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dawn
Tuesday 2nd of April 2024
Want to set up grandson for this experience. Curious if there is an advantage for child (5) to have the backpack to enjoy features more easily as opposed to pulling in and out of box? Also, are there favorite personality chips? Should we allow for more than 1? Are there other add-ons to consider?
Keith Maxwell
Thursday 4th of January 2024
It appears the Droid Depot app is not available to those who live outside the US. Seems like a stupid thing to restrict. This makes the Personality chip useless and restricts you to just using the supplied remote.
jason
Saturday 18th of November 2023
i have a battle droid stoped talking grumbeled and want to change battery? help ?
Christine Doucette
Monday 17th of July 2023
I understand the personality chip affects how the droid interacts in Galaxy’s Edge, but what about at home? Is this just a novelty when at the park or does it change the sounds when it’s home too?
Paula McKinnon
Sunday 4th of June 2023
I bought the pre-built R2 (with plastic dome) from the DW Emporium but would really like to find the metal dome for it, I'm guessing actual build pieces are on-property-only acquires?