Wish families staying at Give Kids The World Village got an extra-special experience this week. They got to explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! The resort’s newest land is set to open August 29, however, thanks to our friends at Walt Disney World Resort, our guests can get a sneak peek of Galaxy’s Edge.

One of those guests was 12-year old Owen, a huge Star Wars fan from Higginsville, Missouri.

At Galaxy’s Edge, he and his family were completely immersed in the planet of Batuu. They built their own droids and lightsabers, browsed the marketplace, and taste-tested delicious blue and green milk.

“My favorite thing was the Millennium Falcon,” said Owen. “I got to be the pilot … twice.”

Owen was born with a congenital heart defect but has taken heart surgeries and doctor appointments in stride. This week, he got to explore everything Central Florida has to offer, with Galaxy’s Edge being the cherry on top of an exciting trip.

“We really let Owen guide us,” said wish mom Brenda. “We got to do everything he wanted and soaked it all up. We can’t tell you what this means to us.”

On Tuesday, Walt Disney World Resort even stopped by the Village to announce this special surprise.

“It’s so incredible to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they walk into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” said a Walt Disney World Ambassador. “And that they get to experience it before the general public is really something special.”

Walt Disney World Resort has been a committed partner to the Village since we opened in 1986 and continues to provide families like Owen’s with one-of-a-kind experiences. We are so excited for families to explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and thankful for everything Walt Disney World does for our wish families.