They don’t give you an option, really.
Even if you show up in an Empire Scout Trooper ‘gang’ themed jacket and clearly long to hug every Stormtrooper in site (while whispering “Remember Endor”):
They don’t recruit you right as you enter Galaxy’s Edge, though The First Order is a lot less subtle than The Resistance in their public attempts to do so.
On either end of Batuu, you’ll find the dueling recruitment strategies. If you enter from the Toy Story area of Disney Hollywood Studios (then head towards the Blue Milk), you’ll find yourself faced with the First Order TIE Echelon:
Occasionally you’ll find it being patrolled by some First Order troops (see featured image at the top). Despite many threatening postures, my new best friends don’t make good on confiscating ‘data pads’ (phones) etc. All they see are some harmless hangers about, really (and in my case, a big fan).
On one route over to the (not very well kept) secret Resistance encampment on the other side of Batuu, you may pass this scavenger who is up to no good. Ignore her. Walk fast (as she can apparently do some pretty wild stuff with her…mind?):
If you want to stay low-key and hide inside the hustle and bustle of the Batuu marketplace instead, you’ll ultimately find yourself in the midst of some hunk of junk of a ship:
If you’re not careful, you’ll end up as part of a crew on that ship (they’re always wrangling pilots, gunners and engineers), working for some pirate-gone-good (?) named Hondo. This is the first subtle attempt to recruit for the Resistance, as the mission is to use this Millennium Falcon to shuttle supplies for them.
I will say, though, that this ship does have a pretty sweet spot to chill out and play some holo-chess:
Shame most of the time is spent being thrown around the cockpit, thanks to some amateurish pilots:
Once (if) you survive this supply mission, head towards & past the transport shuttle you see above. You’ll need to pass through some more of this marketplace (keep your head down and move quickly, as they will stop at nothing to separate you from your money):
Past this is the Resistance encampment. You’ll know you’re nearing this area when you come across the X-Wing & A-Wing Starfighters:
This is where things seem to get complicated rather quickly. Throngs of people gathered around this encampment, apparently in a desire to join the Resistance. Most were up before dawn in an attempt to join a boarding party on one of their missions.
Join them, if you can. You’ll see the First Order in all it’s glory soon enough. Not before being recruited by The Resistance, however. You *are* in their encampment, after all. That super-powered scavenger shows up again. Just keep your head down and try to blend in:
After this briefing, just ‘follow orders’ and follow the crowd. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you pass this T-70 X-wing starfighter (one of the few Resistance ships I’ve longed to fly). Don’t approach it, though. That astromech droid is *abusive* to strays:
You’ll make your way into some rickety Resistance transport, after which your boarding party will be subjected to some push & pull between them and The First Order:
The rest of the escapade is a bit of a blur, but rest assured you will be able to spend some quality time ‘in the company of’ your First Order friends, as well as with some ‘higher ups’ in interrogation:
The Resistance is pesky, and appears to enjoy inciting chaos. Your journey will ultimately be your own, but I’ll leave you with some images from the chaos I endured (taken under duress):
Ultimately, any time spent with ‘family’ is time well spent…in my opinion. Chosen family, or otherwise:
Chasing Geekdom 