Disneyland is pivoting on ‘Star Wars’ Land. Here’s why.

by

Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is turning back the clock.

The land will move away from the setting of the newer “Star Wars” films. This means Kylo Ren won’t be appearing as a character you can meet, and instead, iconic characters like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia will be featured in the Black Spire Outpost area.

Currently, these changes only affect the Disneyland version of the land and aren’t planned for Walt Disney World. They represent a shift from the original vision for the area, which aimed to be a highly interactive and immersive space, moving away from typical theme park experiences like character greetings and standard rides. Instead of a traditional soundtrack, the intention was to create a realistic, bustling atmosphere with sounds of radio chatter and everyday life, making Black Spire Outpost feel like a genuine, lived-in outpost.

I always loved how Disneyland felt like a truly immersive experience, like you were stepping right into the stories. But things are changing a bit! They’re going to be playing John Williams’ iconic “Star Wars” score throughout the park, which is exciting for a huge fan like me, but it means the more subtle, ambient sounds will be dialed back. The change is happening on April 29th, though Disney says we might hear bits and pieces of it even sooner. It’ll definitely be a different vibe, trading that ‘living theater’ feel for a more orchestrated soundscape.

Rey, the character from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” will still be seen in the Star Wars area of the park, but now only in the wooded section near the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction. That ride is scheduled for some regular maintenance starting January 20th, but park officials say the ride itself won’t be changed and will continue to feature Kylo Ren and the First Order.

Soon, guests will have the chance to meet Kylo Ren in Tomorrowland. Popular characters from Galaxy’s Edge like Chewbacca, Ahsoka Tano, the Mandalorian, Grogu, and R2-D2 will continue making appearances in the land as well.

Overall, Galaxy’s Edge now feels more like a collection of the most popular moments from the “Star Wars” films. When it first opened in 2019, the idea was to make guests feel like the main characters in their own stories, with the ability to make choices and influence the adventure. The land included its own unique language and a detailed game within the Play Disney app that was meant to monitor a guest’s standing and impact their experience. Originally, Disney planned for cast members to be able to identify whether a guest sympathized with the Resistance, the First Order, or preferred to remain neutral. However, these ambitious plans never came to fruition.

Galaxy’s Edge at the theme park was a test to see how much guests would immerse themselves in a detailed environment. However, keeping that immersive feeling going proved difficult. As the land aimed to feel like a living, breathing place where things were happening, it required a lot of ongoing activity to maintain the illusion. Ultimately, Galaxy’s Edge didn’t deliver on some of its promises – for example, the anticipated encounters with smugglers in the cantina never materialized. When a themed area tries to tell a story, visitors quickly realize when something is missing or when the environment feels empty.

Theme parks are constantly changing, adapting to new ideas and what visitors want. During a recent announcement, Disney limited questions, but their decision to update an area with classic characters—the ones people remember most—suggests they recognize guests often prefer familiar experiences over complex, ongoing storylines. It’s also likely this approach is simply easier to manage long-term.

Asa Kalama, a creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, explained that the team always intended Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to be a place for telling stories. That’s why they created the town with a somewhat undefined, ‘Wild West’ feel – it provides a flexible setting where they can introduce different narratives.

Kalama explained that with the 50th anniversary of the first “Star Wars” film next year and the upcoming release of “The Mandalorian & Grogu” this May, it was the perfect time to change the direction of the land. Starting May 22nd, the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride will get a new mission, meaning the land’s two rides will soon be set in different eras of the “Star Wars” universe.

The ride is getting a major update with three new settings inspired by the “Star Wars” movies: the city planet Coruscant, the cloud city of Bespin, and the remains of the second Death Star near the forest moon of Endor. Each group of riders will choose where they go, and passengers in the engineer seats will be able to interact with Grogu, often known as “baby Yoda.”

Travel & Experiences

I’m so excited! Disneyland just revealed what’s happening in 2026, and I’ve got all the details on what’s new at the resort next year (as of right now).

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is designed to take place between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and the ships reflect the look of those movies. When visitors meet characters, the interactions are meant to feel like a real encounter on the planet, with characters trying to figure out who’s on whose side. According to Michael Serna, a creative director at Disney, this immersive and playful experience will continue to be a key part of the land.

Rumor has it Darth Vader is on the planet Batuu, searching for Luke Skywalker. Luke himself is reportedly exploring the area, looking for ancient Force relics. Meanwhile, guests can find Leia and Han near the Millennium Falcon and Oga’s Cantina—a tempting spot for Han, and where Leia is looking for new recruits. The land’s shops and bars are being updated to match the time period of the classic characters, though dedicated fans might notice some inconsistencies, like Oga’s DJ, Rex, who had a different role during that era.

For a while, Galaxy’s Edge had been leaning towards more popular and accessible themes. The changes made to the Smugglers Run ride first signaled that Disney was moving away from the land’s original vision. Later, the introduction of Luke Skywalker for limited appearances in 2025, following the Mandalorian and Grogu, continued this trend. Many visitors had also wished for the iconic music of John Williams to be included, and now, familiar themes like the “Main Title,” “Han Solo and the Princess,” “The Desert and the Robot Auction,” and “The Emperor” will be played throughout the land.

Travel & Experiences

For Subscribers

First look: Inside Meow Wolf L.A., a psychedelic wonderland that celebrates the movies

A group in Santa Fe, New Mexico is turning a former cinema into a wildly imaginative space, featuring moving candy at the snack bar and seats that seem to hover in the air.

I’m so excited to hear that Galaxy’s Edge will continue to feel dynamic and engaging! What I took away from what Imagineering’s Scott Serna shared is that the land isn’t just a backdrop – it’s meant to be a place where we, as guests, really get involved and feel like we’re part of the story. He described it as a truly ‘living’ place, and that’s exactly what I hoped for!

Galaxy’s Edge blending different time periods and characters actually fits right in with the rest of the resort. Think about it: no one questions seeing ghosts and pirates alongside a charming bakery in New Orleans Square. Similarly, we accept that the character Doc Hudson from “Cars” is depicted as both alive on the ride and deceased in the current movies—and even honored with a memorial display during the Halloween season. This kind of storytelling is already a hallmark of the Disney experience.

Theme parks remain a place where imagination reigns.

Read More

2026-01-14 20:32