Anyone regret making droids/lightsabers?

[Critter3]

It does shut off after two minutes if it isn't moved.

Dang. Thanks for the reply.

 

[DharmaLou]

We have a BB droid and a light saber and don't regret it. They are both mostly showpieces though. I do want to make a R2 unit.

 

[MomOTwins]

R2 Droid broke when we got it back to the hotel. Bunch of wasted time getting it fixed. Have two lightsabers, gently handled, but the batteries don't last very long and are a PITA to replace, and one stopped working altogether about a year later. Seems like for the prices they charge they should be a bit more durable.

 

[ironband74]

Dang. Thanks for the reply.

There is a video on YouTube which shows how to rewire the Saber blade to keep it from turning off. Depending on your comfort with basic electronics it is definitely do-able. It also shows how to disable the sound, so in theory it could be made into a night light, especially if you use an AC adapter to power through the battery compartment.

 

[CodeGoddess]

R2 Droid broke when we got it back to the hotel. Bunch of wasted time getting it fixed. Have two lightsabers, gently handled, but the batteries don't last very long and are a PITA to replace, and one stopped working altogether about a year later. Seems like for the prices they charge they should be a bit more durable.

You might contact Disney as it sounds like you may have been part of a bad batch (Star Wars pun intended haha) . We have one built at Savi's, one premade from the store at Galaxy's edge and both are solid (circa Feb 2020). We change the batteries and crystals often as our four year old loves to play lightsaber battles with us. We are planning to do a Savi's build again this trip (this time for my spouse) and then get a dark saber for my office.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We have two droids, one of each style. My son really loved building it, choosing the colors, activating it, etc. The droids are really cute. They don’t get played with a ton but when we bring them out they are always a hit. I might secretly love them more than even the kids do.

If you do buy a droid keep your receipt. The elf of one of our droids stopped working about a year after we built it. I had the receipt and Disney mailed us a replacement leg and now it works perfectly.

 

[sjmac42]

I built a BB-8 Christmas 2019 and have no regrets, it still comes out sometimes and watching the cats reaction to it is hilarious
For those of you who are not using your droids much, or at all, do yourselves a favour and take the batteries out. You don’t want them to corrode and make it useless and smelly.

 

[l4dyj8]

The Bell Services cast member at the DLH helped us to remove the battery packs and showed us how to change the batteries as well. Otherwise he stated that it will drain the batteries over time and they can risk exploding a battery (which is a pain). I wish there were a few more of those technical tips in the building process.

I wish there was a manual (with troubleshooting info and tips) And I had no idea there was an app! I don’t know how we missed that. I had concerns about the battery.

We got ours (BB8 model) on opening weekend. Maybe we were told about the app but it was a little chaotic. My family probably has no regrets and I agree that it was a fun experience. But it hardly gets played with. And when we took it out after months of neglect, we forgot about the controls. Sure, it’s pretty basic. Sure I can look it up and watch all the YouTube videos. But even the on button is hidden. Black on black mixed with fake parts. But on opening weekend, although a fun discovery on how interactive it was, didn’t know about it. And they had that limited entrance window. We have no plans of bringing it back

Basically we bought a showpiece souvenir vs an expensive toy. So maybe no regrets for some.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I don’t regret either, but I have no place to display them right now! I love showing them off though, especially my lightsaber!

 

[pharmama]

I wish there was a manual (with troubleshooting info and tips) And I had no idea there was an app! I don’t know how we missed that. I had concerns about the battery.

We got ours (BB8 model) on opening weekend. Maybe we were told about the app but it was a little chaotic. My family probably has no regrets and I agree that it was a fun experience. But it hardly gets played with. And when we took it out after months of neglect, we forgot about the controls. Sure, it’s pretty basic. Sure I can look it up and watch all the YouTube videos. But even the on button is hidden. Black on black mixed with fake parts.

Basically we bought a showpiece souvenir vs an expensive toy. So maybe no regrets for some.

The Droid Depot app was introduced for Star Wars day (5/4) in 2020- quite a while after SWGE opened. So you didn't miss anything/CM didn't forget to tell you if you got your droid on opening day (or any time Droid Depot was open before COVID shutdown, actually). We do think they are a little easier to control with the app than the remotes and IIRC there are few more things you can do.

Annoyingly, the only instructions that actually come with the droid are on a flap of the carrying box and they are minimal. So if you didn't notice/keep those, you're right that there's pretty much no manual.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

No regrets but definitely not made with good materials. Built my lightsaber in August 2019 and when we got it home the batteries died almost immediately. Went to change the battery and the tiny screw that opens it was stripped, couldn't get it open. Disney eventually sent me a replacement piece (had to wait for the parks to reopen) but now that lightsaber dies within minutes. I mean minutes, I change the batteries- we turn it on and it lights up and works for about ten minutes and then it dies. Pretty sure I got a faulty one.

I don't regret it because building it was an amazing experience and I display the hilt, Since I don't intend on using it for cosplay or anything it's not the end of the world that it's defective but it's definitely a bummer. I definitely shed a few tears during the experience so I really do mean it when I say no regrets! Since I'm sure I got a faulty one I've debated just doing it again lol!

The droid we display as well and my son had a blast building it. It's really worth it for the experience if you're a big Star Wars fan.

 

[Gypsybear]

Well, we did both experiences.

Regrets: None. The experiences were both memorable, and we love the finished pieces.

Sabers: I will say that we just got back from SWAD at DL, and for the event, we bought some heavy duty sabers beforehand online. Very good quality. I even dropped the hilt on mine in the security line at DL, and no problems. The ones we built at Savi's are display pieces for us. We even created our own leather light saber carrying cases for the blades. We strap it on over our shoulder, and sooooo much easier to carry. When we're ready for pics, we pull over to the side, and attach the blades (quick to do with an allen wrench aka hex key - approx 2 mins each). When we're done, we take the blade off and wear the hilt on our belts.

Droids: We built R2 units (we're that old, so it was more nostalgia based for us). We love them. Do they get played with? Yes, at the office. And at Christmas time, we put Santa hats on them for desk decor. They're not played with constantly, but frequently enough. And it just puts smiles on our faces. We love remembering the shared experience.

For younger kids, I would definitely recommend the sabers from Tomorrowland.

 

[Disco Lemonade]

I think the droid experience is worth it when you consider how expensive Disney merchandise is. I did an R2 style one a few years ago and at some point will probably do it again as my daughter missed out on the experience and wants to do one (I tried to create it to her specifications while she was off doing something else). Does it get played with a lot? No. But that is ok. The lightsaber thing seems scary to me as I saw kids fighting with them multiple times and cringed when i heard them crack together, because that is $400 plus getting knocked around. The droid can be played with more gently.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

While speaking about droids, did folks who purchased accessories like the backpack and the personality chips appreciate them? Or are they unnecessary?

 

[CodeGoddess]

While speaking about droids, did folks who purchased accessories like the backpack and the personality chips appreciate them? Or are they unnecessary?

Bring a bag from home or buy one off Etsy made for it. The one we saw my niece get in park park was pretty low quality. She was disappointed in what she got for the price bag wise not droid wise.

 

[Gypsybear]

We bought the drawstring backpack/bag (pre-covid), and we like it. It has plenty of foam padding inside, that we weren't concerned about knocking it about. I don't know what they have now, whether it's the same bag, or not.

 

[chezcurrie]

While speaking about droids, did folks who purchased accessories like the backpack and the personality chips appreciate them? Or are they unnecessary?

I got my boys clear backpacks on amazon that worked really well for the droids - they were still able to interact while in GE, and are now their travel backpacks (I dislike single use items). Got lots of compliments on them. Once son got a personality chip, but it was a more in the moment spontaneous purchase.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I got my boys clear backpacks on amazon that worked really well for the droids - they were still able to interact while in GE, and are now their travel backpacks (I dislike single use items). Got lots of compliments on them. Once son got a personality chip, but it was a more in the moment spontaneous purchase.

Were they the bb8 or the r2 style droids? I'm finding a lot of options on Amazon that look like they would world well for bb8, but might be too short for the r2.

 

[midnight star]

While speaking about droids, did folks who purchased accessories like the backpack and the personality chips appreciate them? Or are they unnecessary?

I have the backpack and first order chip. I liked having the backpack to carry it around. Didn’t seem unnecessary. Now I’m not sure how the prices are, but it wasn’t insanely expensive in 2019. The chip was ok. Although I prefer how it sounds with it than without lol I think the droid is probably my favorite souvenir I have from the parks even though I don’t play with it.

 

[chezcurrie]

Were they the bb8 or the r2 style droids? I'm finding a lot of options on Amazon that look like they would world well for bb8, but might be too short for the r2.

Both! One did a BB and one and R. They are a “drawstring” version (but with thick padded straps) so you can adjust the tie at the top if something has to poke out. I also can tie the straps to make them shorter to fit my 6 year old’s smaller frame. great purchase.