Star Wars Land Build Your Own Lightsaber at Disney REVIEW – Worth It?

Savi’s Workshop is where you can design and build your own lightsaber at Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Many guests often balk at the high price tag of $219.99 per Disney Star Wars lightsaber so our Savi’s Workshop review is here to help you decide if it’s a price investment that will be worth it for your group to build your own lightsaber at Disney!

We will talk about the different options for building your own Star Wars lightsaber at Disney, the storyline of this Star Wars lightsaber store plus our review of building our own Star Wars lightsaber at Disneyland.

What is the Star Wars Lightsaber Disney Experience?

Essentially, guests can get the chance to build their own Star Wars lightsaber with guidance from the workshop Master. Guests can customize and build their own lightsabers and learn the ways of the Jedi during this experience. This is a popular interactive experience for both kids and adults, especially Star Wars fans.

Guests will choose four disciplines for their Star Wars lightsaber: Power and Justice, Power and Control, Elemental and Nature, or Protection and Defense. Each one of these disciplines offers different styles for building your own lightsaber so it helps to review these before your visit to decide which Star Wars lightsaber is best for you.

After that, guests will choose their kyber crystal for their Star Wars lightsaber which determines what color their lightsaber will be. The workshop Master will give then give guests a set of 10 lightsaber pieces to combine to create your custom Star Wars lightsaber.

This is more than just shopping for a Star Wars Lightsaber but a fully immersive experience that will truly make any Padawan feel that they’ve stepped into the Star Wars universe to build their own Star Wars lightsaber at Disney. The Star Wars lightsaber shop only holds 14 builders at a time and the experience is 15 minutes long.

The culmination of the build ends with a small show that highlights the significance that lightsabers hold in the Star Wars universe.

Build Your Own Lightsaber Disney Reservations

For guests visiting Savi’s Workshop reservations are required to build your own Star Wars lightsaber! Here is everything you need to know about making a reservation at Savi’s Workshop at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

This experience is popular and reservations are recommended if you want to build your own Star Wars lightsaber.

Savi’s Workshop, the location where you build your Star Wars lightsaber, is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

These locations are exactly the same and there is no notable difference in either lightsaber building experience.

 

Disneyland Savi’s Workshop Reservations

• Guests can make a reservation up to 60 days in advance online or via the Disneyland app.
• Occasionally, a few same-day reservations will be released at 7AM PST each morning.

Hollywood Studios Savi’s Workshop Reservations

• Guests can make a reservation up to 60 days in advance online or via the My Experience app.

This experience becomes even more in demand during peak times of the year (think holidays, spring beak, etc.) so make sure to book as soon as your 60-day window opens up for the best chance at securing a reservation.

• A credit card number is required at the time of booking. A $249.99 per lightsaber no-show fee per builder will be applied to such credit card if you fail to check in for your reservation. No cancellations are allowed for same-day reservations. You will have to cancel 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged.
• Guests should arrive no later than 20 minutes prior to their reservation time at the check-in location in front of Savi’s Workshop.
• Be prepared to present your reservation confirmation email, photo ID, and the credit card provided at the time of booking the reservation. You can pay with a different payment method when you show up, like a Disney gift card, if you prefer.
• You will be able to bring one non-paying guest into the experience with one paying builder.

Star Wars Lightsaber Price

• $249.99 per lightsaber, plus tax
• Carry case included
• Additional customization items can be purchased at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities
• Age Recommendation: 5+
• Custom lightsabers are nonrefundable and are not eligible for Magic Key or other discounts

Is the Star Wars Lightsaber Worth the Price?

The quick answer is YES. The experience of building your own Disney lightsaber is one that cannot be beat. During my experience, I enjoyed the lightsaber building at Disney with a group of close Star Wars friends and we all agreed it was one of the best experiences Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge offers. I also revised this experience later when my son built his first lightsaber and it was just as good the second time around. After doing this experience twice now, I am confident this is money well spent because of the lightsabers we have to display on our walls but also the memories that were made. Be sure to keep scrolling to read my full review to see why I consider this experience worth it.

Are the Disney Star Wars Lightsabers Good Quality?

As for the quality of the Disney Star Wars lightsabers, they are lesser than more high-end brands like Hasbro or Neosabers which offer significantly more bright LED sabers which higher quality materials. However, Hasbro lightsabers start at just under $300 and can go up in price so these sabers are a cost higher than the Disney Star Wars lightsabers and without the building experience. If you compare with the popular Neopixel lightsabers originally sold by Neosabers, these lightsabers average around $350 and can go as high as $600 depending on the character.

But as Disney keeps raising prices (the Disney Star Wars lightsaber originally started around $200) the “worth it” answers get a bit more subjective for quality as the lightsabers are becoming comparable to the cost of these higher-end lightsabers made by Hasbro and other companies.

However, Disney does stand by their quality when it comes to their lightsabers. This is why it is important to keep your receipt! If you have any issues with the quality of your lightsaber after your experience, you can often get a replacement part. My lightsaber had a defective battery compartment that did not allow me to open it when the batteries died and Disney was able to ship me a replacement part as long as I provided proof of purchase. That is great customer service, especially since I reached out to them months after I built the lightsaber.

Aside from the quality of the Star Wars lightsaber offered by Disney, you need to also consider the experience that comes with this lightsaber which is one of a kind and is worth doing at least once for every Star Wars fan. That is something that is a bit harder to put a price on.

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Star Wars Lightsaber Design Choices

Like all the experiences in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the storyline to building your own Star Wars lightsaber aims to be fully immersive.

This secretive group of people who run this shop, the Gathers, have dedicated their lives to restoring balance in the galaxy by passing on their knowledge of the Jedi and the Force. Once the Gatherers know you are to be trusted, they will be willing to share their great collection of stories, kyber crystals, and other Star Wars lightsaber parts from around the galaxy. These ‘Keepers of the Force’ are ready to pass down the knowledge to those visiting Batuu. The character the shop is named after, Savi, was one of the original Gatherers and a friend to Lor San Tekka (whom we briefly met at the beginning of Star Wars: A Force Awakens) and his salvage business is a front to hide his mission of guiding the next generation of Force wielders.

Star Wars Lightsaber Themes and Options

There are four different styles of Star Wars lightsaber options to pick from when building your own lightsaber at Disney:

Peace and Justice: Salvaged from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships, these lightsaber pieces were created for Force wielders of the Republic era. The simple designs reflect the commitment to the devout life of those whom they were created by – the Jedi Order – the once guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy.

Power and Control: Reclaimed from the ashes of the rumored Sith homeworld and abandoned Sith temples, these lightsaber pieces were originally forged by the Sith of their time. Characterized by sharp and strong forms, these pieces showcase the brutality and relentlessness of the Sith’s insatiable desire for power and control.

Elemental Nature: As we have been told, The Force is an energy field created by all living things; it surrounds us, penetrates us and binds the galaxy together. These lightsaber pieces are born of that same Force. They are as unique as the user and as the elements of nature: the wood from a Brylark tree, a bone of the Cartusion whale or even a tooth from a Rancor.

Protection and Defense: Cultivated from a time forgotten, these earliest lightsaber pieces contain designs and inscriptions that are shrouded in mystery. Believed to be created for protection and defense, conferring anonymity and symbolizing emotional detachment, a lightsaber made from these pieces reconnects the user with the most ancient wellspring of the Force.

Star Wars Lightsaber Kyber Crystal Colors

There are four different Star Wars lightsaber kyber crystals to choose from. Kyber crystals are essentially what color your lightsaber will light up as. Blue, green, and violet have all been associated with Jedi while red has been associated with the Sith. Here are some popular Star Wars characters and their lightsaber colors.

• Blue: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia Organa, Rey, Ben Solo
• Green: Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Ahsoka Tano
• Violet: Mace Windu
• Red: Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Kylo Ren

You can also purchase kyber crystals in yellow and white along with the other colors at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities for $17.99 each if you want to change your lightsaber color. White is often associated with Ahsoka Tano once she leaves the Jedi order and Rey switches to a yellow lightsaber at the end of the sequel saga.

Star Wars Lightsaber Included Parts

And here are all the pieces of the Star Wars lightsaber that you will use to build your own lightsaber at Disney:

• kyber crystal, which is available in red, blue, green or violet.
• 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. These are not included in your Star Wars lightsaber package.

Finally, the Gatherers will masterfully connect your hilt to a 36” lightsaber blade so you’re ready for anything the galaxy puts in your path! Keep reading to see why building your own lightsaber at Disney is worth the hype!

Customizable Disney Star Wars Lightsabers

These Star Wars lightsabers from Savi’s Workshop are also built with a universal blade and kyber crystal system meaning that you can later customize your lightsaber and purchase replacement blades (some are offered in shorter lengths) and also change the kyber crystal if you want a different color lightsaber.

Guests also have the option of purchasing “scrap metal” to further customize their lightsaber builds. These extra lightsaber pieces are just further options to change the hilt or combine different build designs together. If you go outside Savi’s Workshop and ask for available “scrap metal” they will show you what other options they have which is usually the extra hilt pieces from the different lightsaber styles. Each piece of scrap metal costs $24.99 or two pieces for $39.99

Legacy Lightsabers vs. Build Your Own

There are two different types of Star Wars lightsabers sold at Disney: the build-your-own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop and the Legacy Lightsabers sold at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities.

These lightsabers work nearly identically with many (not all, some exceptions!) offering the option to customize with different kyber crystals and lightsaber blades.

The main difference is the Legacy Lightsabers are designed to be specific lightsabers of well-known Jedi and Sith in the Star Wars Universe. Some of these Legacy Lightsabers have also been released as limited edition, collector items with well-designed cases to match.

You can see an example of one of these in the above picture. The Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi Battle of Heroes set which plays Duel of the Fates when you open it.

The limited edition Legacy Lightsaber sets sell out fast and are extremely popular. These limited edition Star Wars lightsabers are often sold on ShopDisney and released in the parks. You can expect long, long lines for Dok Ondar’s at opening when these lightsabers are released and cast members will limit occupancy in the store during these releases.

Build Your Own Disney Lightsaber Review

I did the Savi’s Workshop experience with a group of dedicated Star Wars fans at the Disneyland Resort and it was like a spiritual experience if you enjoy Star Wars. Here is my Savi’s Workshop review to help you get an idea of what this experience is like to build your own Star Wars lightsaber.

The Savi’s Workshop experience is hands down one of my favorite things in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! I made a reservation on the Disneyland website for my group- I decided to do the reservation for the evening so that way when we emerged with our Star Wars lightsabers it would be dark so they’d be glowing extra bright for photos.

The check-in process was pretty simple, we checked in and then proceeded to each pay for our Star Wars lightsabers. Even though my card was used to guarantee the reservation, it wasn’t required to use that same card to purchase all of the Star Wars lightsabers. We were easily able to pay individually and I paid for mine with a Disney gift card.

When you get to the register, you will be asked to pick your type of Star Wars lightsaber so make sure you’re ready to make that decision. You will be given the corresponding pin that matches your lightsaber choice and be led to the waiting area with your group.

When it’s time to enter, one of the cast members will come retrieve everyone to build their Star Wars lightsaber. This is where the immersion truly begins- the cast member we had was so perfectly in character and remained in character for every single moment of the experience. After we reassured her we weren’t working for the First Order and were indeed, just here for ‘scraps,’ she led us all inside.

Once inside the room, we were able to all get our spots at the table and I easily felt that we had enough room. My son had plenty of space to hang out behind me with his droid. Because I had already fully researched my type of Star Wars lightsaber (I chose Elemental) and the pieces, I had already made up my mind on what I wanted so I was done building mine before many of the other people.

That was okay as I had plenty of time to take in the details of the room. They keep it darkly lit with candles (made out of Tauntaun wax, they told us) surrounding the walls and the cast member leading the experience imparts upon you the wisdom of the force and the responsibility of wielding the legendary Star Wars lightsaber. It was amazing and was quite easy enough to close your eyes and pretend for a moment that you are a Jedi!

I won’t spoil too much of the experience of building your own lightsaber at Disney, watch the video at the end of my Savi’s Workshop review if you want that, but the moment when your Star Wars lightsabers light up is truly magical. Be ready to shed a tear, if you’re a hardcore Star Wars fan like our group is. The experience altogether took about 30 minutes including the time to check in. Once it’s finished, they give each of you a carrying case for the Star Wars lightsaber and you’re sent on your way!

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy Star Wars lightsabers for children? Again, that depends. If money is no object, then why not! But the hilts are heavy metal and they definitely are heavier to wield than the general plastic toy. I did not purchase one for my son this visit and instead opted to get him a droid. When he turns 10 next year, I told him he’d get one then. But every parent is different- just know that they are heavy for smaller kids to try and hold.

Can I bring Star Warslightsaber on the airplane? The airlines have officially said that they consider the lightsabers to be ‘carry on’ items. They easily fit in overhead bins. On our flight at the SNA airport, the airline didn’t even look twice at mine (even though our basic economy ticket via United doesn’t allow any carry-ons) and I was even able to put it at my feet during the flight since I removed the hilt prior to boarding. TSA was also easy to go through, again they didn’t look twice. I think if you’re flying out of the SNA or LAX airports, they’ve already seen quite a few at this point. I wouldn’t stress too much about it! It definitely will not fit in many suitcases because even after the hilt is removed the blade is 34 inches long.

How long did building a Star Wars lightsaber take? From the time of check-in to completion it was about 30 minutes total.

Are Disney Star Wars lightsaber good quality? Yes, they absolutely are! If you do a little research about the typical cost of lightsaber replicas from Star Wars fan websites or comic cons you’ll see that the price of these lightsabers is actually pretty cheap in comparison to others you can find.

How many people can watch me build a Star Wars lighstaber? Each paying guest making a Star Wars lightsaber can bring two non-paying guests to watch the experience.

Does the card I put down to hold the reservation have to be the one used to purchase the lightsaber? A credit/debit card is required to hold the reservation but when you can arrive you can pay with any payment method you want. I was able to use my card to hold the reservation for four people and then we all paid individually.

Will Star Wars lightsabers fit in lockers? Can I bring them on rides? No, they don’t fit in lockers, and on some rides you will not be able to carry them on. Cast members are well versed now in handling this and for the rides we weren’t able to carry them on, like Matterhorn, we were able to do a ‘Rider Swap’ to ensure we all got to ride. If you build them earlier in the day I do recommend taking the time to run them back to your hotel because they are hard to carry around with you.

Savi’s Workshop Review- Tips and Tricks

• If you’re like me and have a hard time making up your mind on the spot at experiences like these- research the Star Wars lightsaber designs online first. They do give you at least ten minutes to build your saber but if you’ve never seen the designs until that moment it may not feel like enough time. I felt pretty prepared after looking at numerous pictures of all the designs before we came so I had my heart set on the elemental nature one and the specific choices in that design itself.
• Stay off your phone and be in the moment for this experience. I’m lucky that I had my son, photographer extraordinaire, taking pictures for me for our site so I could focus on the moment.
• Allow some time afterward to take some PhotoPass photos with your lightsabers. The photographers were great with our group and took tons of pictures with lots of cool poses in front of the Millennium Falcon.
• Be aware that the Star Wars lightsabers do not fit in the lockers and you will have to carry them afterward if you don’t plan on returning to the hotel. The cast members at the Matterhorn Bobsleds let us ‘Rider Switch’ with ours so we went in turns while half the group rode and the other half held them and then we swapped. When it came to Big Thunder Mountain, the cast members didn’t even say anything and they fit fine at the bottom of the ride vehicle. They were a pain to carry around though but since we did them at the end of the day it wasn’t a big deal.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and easily one of my favorite parts of my visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I mounted my Star Wars lightsaber on the wall (you can easily find cheap ones on Amazon) and it makes for a great display. And when we go to comic cons, I can easily incorporate it into my Jedi outfits. (I said I was nerdy, right?)

Full Savi’s Workshop Experience Video with Spoilers

If you’re looking to see a play-by-play of the whole building your own lightsaber experience, filled with spoilers, check out the video below:

I never recommend watching videos of experiences like this before your visit so if you can manage, try to go in with as little spoilers as possible to get the full effect! Regardless, we hope our review of building lightsabers at Disney helped give you a good idea of what to expect and if this experience is worth the splurge for you!

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