- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expands beyond a single era at Disneyland
- Characters such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo will become permanent fixtures from April 29, 2026
- The update deepens the immersion and includes a new soundscape featuring the iconic work of John Williams
It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost 7 years since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. These themed lands marked the first time you could essentially set foot inside the Star Wars universe.
In the years since, East Coast and West Coast Galaxy’s Edge has evolved – we’ve seen more lightsabers, bugs, scrap metal, come to the fore, and new visitors like Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, the adorable BDX droids, as well as The Mandalorian and Grogu arrive from time to time.
Now, however, Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland is updating its story. While both countries have focused on the latest trio of films since launch – allowing Rey and Kylo Ren to roam – the West Coast version goes back in time a bit, and I simply couldn’t be more excited.
Disneyland has confirmed that from April 29, 2026 – that’s 103 days away if you’re counting – Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker will all be permanent fixtures at Galaxy’s Edge. Batuu – the formal location name for Galaxy’s Edge – will effectively contain multiple timelines or parts of the Star Wars universe.
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll finally be able to have a park-goer moment with Han and Leia in front of the Millennium Falcon, with Chewbacca nearby. Darth Vader, along with Imperial Stormtroopers, will be on Batuu looking for Luke Skywalker, who will be prowling the outpost.
Luke, Leia and Han will be closer to stores and the Millennium Falcon, while Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers will take over the former First Order area. R2-D2, The Mandalorian with Grogu and Ahsoka Tano will also roam.
Rey will remain near the resistance part of the country, home to one of the most impressive rides – Rise of the Resistance. It’s a personal favorite and one that combines multiple ride systems into one—seriously, watch the walkthrough on Disney+ (and check out the deal below for a cheap subscription if you’re not currently signed up).
To increase immersion and match the new locales you’ll begin to see in Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s team—along with members of Walt Disney Imagineering—will be updating props throughout the land and updating surface graphics. I’m eager to see this, but even more exciting is a new soundscape.
Galaxy’s Edge is already packed with speakers that are hidden in plain sight so you can immerse yourself in Batuu. Many parkgoers, myself included, instinctively look up when they hear a ship whip by, burst fire, or other environmental effects.
Complementing Vader will no doubt be the Imperial March at points, but Disneyland doesn’t mess around when it comes to authenticity.
Six scores from the Star Wars films, composed by John Williams, will be used as you enter Batuu and wander the land. As you pass through the main tunnel into Galaxy’s Edge, Force Theme and instantly recognisable Main title will play along with lines like The emperor, Han Solo and the Princessand The desert and the robot auction.
Oga’s Cantina – a bar and eatery since Galaxy’s Edge opened – is getting a bit of a makeover. Since it will be set during the Galactic Civil War and founded by Oga Garra, it makes sense that Cantina Band will often be played there.
The Mandalorian and Grogu will arrive on the Millenium Falcon in May
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The official start date for this redesign is April 29, 2026, although you can see improvements and props before then. Disney Experiences has also confirmed that Rise of the Resistance will remain unchanged, while the new ride experience for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is still on track to debut on May 22, 2026.
This update is a major engineering feat for Walt Disney Imagineering, which has deepened its partnership with Epic Games as the ride system uses the Unreal Engine for real-time rendering. Essentially, it powers all the displays in the Falcon’s cockpit, and with the update it will be upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.
The ride will be themed around The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the timing of May 22, 2026 is no coincidence – the movie The Mandalorian & Grogu coming to the cinema the same day.
The updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run debuts in both Disneyland and Disney World in May 2026, but only Galaxy’s Edge on the West Coast will receive Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo (finally!) and Luke Skywalker starting April 29, 2026. That’ll likely make the Disney World faithful for now—at least for now.
And if you’re headed to Galaxy’s Edge in either park, I’d highly recommend checking out the Batuu Bounty Hunters experience. It’s free via the Disney Play app on iOS and Android and uses augmented reality with the MagicBand+ as you explore the land. I’ll be curious to see if it gets updates in Disneyland in April or wider Mandalorian tie-ins in May 2026.
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