As A Longtime Star Wars Fan, It’s About Time Disneyland Announced These Big Changes To Galaxy’s Edge

by

In 2019, Disneyland unveiled its largest-ever expansion: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I was among the first to experience it, and I was immediately struck by how immersive it felt, truly transporting me to a faraway galaxy. However, it’s become apparent that some visitors aren’t completely satisfied with the land’s overall setting and initial design.

Batuu, the planet featured in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, was a new setting introduced into the Star Wars universe, taking place between the events of the more recent films. Some longtime fans were hoping to see classic characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader there, but that wasn’t possible at first. Starting in April, however, guests will finally be able to experience that very scene.

Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge Is Transforming, And It’s About Time

For the past few years, Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been subtly expanding beyond the original storyline. Characters from shows like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka have occasionally appeared. Now, Disneyland has officially announced it’s shifting the focus away from the sequel trilogy and towards the classic Galactic Civil War and the New Republic era, beginning April 29th.

I enjoy the Star Wars sequel trilogy overall, though the final film wasn’t my favorite. I also love that the Batuu setting offers a fresh location for a Star Wars theme park. However, like many fans, I grew up with the original trilogy, and I’m really excited to see a story set right after those films, featuring the characters I’ve always loved.

People who didn’t like the original idea are thrilled with this change, while others are just happy to see something new. It’s expected to revitalize the area and give returning visitors a fresh experience.

Han Solo, Leia, And Darth Vader Will Join Luke Skywalker On Batuu

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge first opened, a key part of its appeal was how immersive it felt. The characters on the planet Batuu didn’t just stand in place for pictures – they roamed around, stayed in character, and genuinely interacted with guests as if they were part of the Star Wars universe. While Rey would occasionally pose for photos, she was usually seen moving around and avoiding the First Order, adding to the sense of realism.

Galaxy’s Edge is getting some exciting updates! You’ll now have a chance to meet Luke Skywalker regularly in Batuu, and he won’t be alone – he’ll be joined by his friends Han Solo and Leia Organa. Luke previously made a short appearance during last year’s Season of the Force at Disneyland.

Plus, you’ll get to see Darth Vader himself! Spotting him patrolling Batuu and searching for Luke Skywalker will really make you feel like you’ve stepped right into a Star Wars movie.

Major Batuu Locations Will Change Along With The Story

These changes will affect how the story of Batuu unfolds. When Galaxy’s Edge first opened, Oga’s Cantina was led by a powerful woman who ruled the planet’s criminal network. Now, the story will show Oga arriving on Batuu decades earlier, just starting to build her reputation and influence.

Some shops are also getting makeovers to better fit the Star Wars setting. For example, First Order Cargo will become Black Spire Surplus and offer different items, and Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will also be refreshed with a new collection.

The areas where guests build lightsabers, Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop, are getting some minor story updates to fit the latest Star Wars timeline. There’s a good chance you might even encounter Jedi Master Luke Skywalker while at Savi’s Workshop!

Some fans felt Galaxy’s Edge was missing a key element: the memorable music from the Star Wars franchise. That’s being fixed with a new update that will fill the land with John Williams’ iconic scores, helping guests feel more immersed in the Star Wars universe.

Sequel Trilogy Characters Will Still Hang Out Around Rise Of The Resistance

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’m relieved to hear that Rey and the Resistance aren’t disappearing from Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland! The Rise of the Resistance ride is, in my opinion, the best one there, and it’s staying put. Because of that, the whole area surrounding the ride will continue to be themed around the Resistance era, which is fantastic news for fans like me.

Rey and other characters from the sequel trilogy will be located in this section of the Star Wars land. Walking between the two areas will feel like traveling through both time and space. Because Galaxy’s Edge is so expansive, this setup works perfectly. The two sections won’t overlap, and each will create a distinct atmosphere for its particular time period.

Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge Will Remain, Giving Fans A Choice

You’re hearing a lot of Disney World fans calling for fairness to Florida. However, those hoping the popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area will be affected by these changes will be disappointed – it won’t be updated anytime soon.

Although some people might not agree, I really like this idea. I’ve long believed that building identical Galaxy’s Edge areas at both Disneyland and Disney World was a mistake. They could have created a similar land at each park, but placed them in different time periods with slightly different versions of the rides and experiences.

I’m still waiting to see the final details, but it’s great that the Galaxy’s Edge areas at Disney World and Disneyland will be noticeably different – it gives guests a reason to visit both parks. I’m hoping Disney World’s version will focus more on characters from the sequel trilogy films and offer experiences you can’t find at Disneyland.

These Galaxy’s Edge Changes Are Coming At The Perfect Time

With a new era of Star Wars films on the horizon, Disney is preparing for a second wave of releases. After delivering a new trilogy and a few standalone movies, Star Wars films have been absent for a while, but that’s about to change.

I’m so excited! With The Mandalorian and Grogu now in theaters, Disney announced that the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run ride is getting a new adventure starring them. Considering all the other updates happening in Galaxy’s Edge, I think this change at Disneyland is here to stay – it doesn’t seem like just a temporary thing at all!

It’s a great time to refresh Galaxy’s Edge and make it even more memorable. I’m really excited about the changes coming on April 29th and can’t wait to experience them on my next visit to Batuu.

Read More

2026-01-14 20:10