Disneyland's Galaxy’s Edge Is Finally Opening the Door to Every Era of STAR WARS
For years, one of the biggest debates around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been its strict place in the timeline. When the land opened at Disneyland in 2019, it was locked squarely between the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, designed to make guests feel like they’d stepped directly into a living, breathing chapter of the saga.
That idea was cool in theory, but it also boxed the land into a very narrow corner of the galaxy. That’s about to change in a major way.
Starting April 29, some of the most iconic characters in all of Star Wars history are finally arriving at Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader will all begin appearing in the land, marking the first time Galaxy’s Edge fully embraces multiple eras of the franchise. For longtime fans, this is a big deal!
The original vision for Galaxy’s Edge was ambitious. Guests weren’t just visiting a themed area. They were meant to exist within canon, joining the Resistance, evading the First Order, and interacting with a story unfolding in real time.
The downside became obvious pretty quickly. By anchoring Batuu so tightly to the sequel trilogy, the land couldn’t naturally feature heroes and villains from the Original Trilogy, and it had no flexibility to respond to new movies or shows as they arrived.
Disney is now loosening those creative restraints. According to the official announcement: “New storylines will be brought to life on Batuu, spanning multiple eras of the planet’s rich history.” Disney’s website reads.
“These updates will enable you to experience the Galactic Civil War and New Republic, as well as the Age of the Resistance and First Order.”
Luke, Leia, and Han will appear in their classic, younger forms. Darth Vader will once again loom large over the area. John Williams’ legendary original score will be heard more frequently throughout the land, not just the Batuu-specific themes that currently dominate the soundscape.
Hearing music like “The Imperial March” echoing through the streets is exactly the kind of sensory hit fans have been waiting for.
Now, the newer era isn’t going anywhere. Characters like the Mandalorian, Grogu, Ahsoka, and Rey will continue roaming Batuu, giving Galaxy’s Edge a much broader Star Wars identity that reflects the franchise as a whole instead of a single chapter.
The changes don’t stop with characters. Experiences like Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop will see light updates as well. A new droid family is taking over Droid Depot, and Luke Skywalker himself will now help guide guests through the lightsaber-building experience at Savi’s.
Expect new merchandise to follow, because Disney rarely makes a move like this without giving collectors something shiny to chase.
All of this leads into the first major attraction upgrade Galaxy’s Edge has seen. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is getting a Mandalorian and Grogu themed overlay beginning May 22, refreshing the ride with a story that reflects the massive popularity of the Disney+ series.
These changes are currently exclusive to Disneyland in California. When asked if Walt Disney World’s version would follow suit, a Disney spokesperson confirmed:
“This change is only coming to Disneyland at this time. By evolving the experience at Disneyland while keeping Walt Disney World’s offering as is, guests can immerse themselves in different stories within the Star Wars galaxy.”
More details are expected soon, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how Galaxy’s Edge continues to evolve as it finally becomes a home for the entire saga.