Disney Is Finally Letting Galaxy’s Edge Be Star Wars
Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge is officially abandoning the strict timeline Imagineers originally built into the Star Wars–themed land. Beginning April 29, 2026, Disney will introduce new storylines spanning multiple eras of the Star Wars saga.
Since opening, Galaxy’s Edge has largely been anchored to the Age of the Resistance, pitting the First Order against the Resistance in a very specific moment in the timeline. That rigidity has softened in recent years with the arrival of characters like Mando, Grogu, Ahsoka, Hera, and even Luke Skywalker. Now, Disney is taking the final step and discarding the original narrative altogether. Galactic Civil War and New Republic characters and events are being fully embraced:
“Black Spire Outpost will roll back in time several decades, thoughtfully introducing beloved characters from across the Star Wars timeline, new props and graphics in some areas, musical selections from Star Wars film scores throughout the land and more. Each era will be brought to life with the same care and attention to detail that the land was originally designed with, masterfully weaving together stories from across time and space in one location.”
Disney Parks Blog
Galaxy’s Edge characters
While Disney is ditching the rigid timeline, they’ll keep characters who’ve never met from interacting with one another. Rey will hang around Batuu’s outskirts, preserving the First Order vs. Resistance timeline near Rise of the Resistance.
At times, you’ll find Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers as they search for Luke Skywalker in Batuu. When they’re not around, Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca will entertain guests near the spires and the Millennium Falcon.
It also sounds like Han might spend some time in Oga’s Cantina:
“Han Solo also will linger around his prized ship, tempted by the local cantina.”
We already know John Williams’ “Cantina Band” will occasionally play inside the bar. Hearing that music kick in as Han walks through the door? That’s pure Episode IV energy.
Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, and Grogu will hang out near the marketplace. Finally, R2-D2 will roam wherever he likes.
That leaves Kylo Ren. In order not to mix the timelines, he’s moving to the Disney Visa character experience in Tomorrowland. There’s only so much space in Batuu.
Updated shops
In addition to new character experiences, several Galaxy’s Edge locations are getting meaningful refreshes.
First Order Cargo will be reimagined as Black Spire Surplus, described as “a military salvage operation offering artifacts from across the history of the galaxy, including Imperial and Rebel items from the Galactic Civil War.”
Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will also evolve, with new merchandise rotating in as “the curiosities and artifacts in his shop certainly change with the times.”
Droid Depot will remain in the hands of the Mubo family, but this version takes place earlier in their story. The updated timeline centers on the family prototyping a BB-series droid.
Finally, Savi’s Workshop may be getting its most intriguing narrative addition yet. Disney says Luke Skywalker could play a role here, as he’s interested in speaking to the shop’s proprietor as part of his search for knowledge about lightsabers and the Force.
Our thoughts
I respect Imagineers for swinging for the fences with the original vision for Batuu. It was ambitious and well executed. I also respect Disney for realizing that, while the idea was bold, it didn’t quite land the way they hoped.
Most fans aren’t walking into a Star Wars land worried about timelines. They want to see familiar characters. Meeting Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth Vader will do more to make Galaxy’s Edge feel like Star Wars than any carefully maintained timeline ever could. And if that doesn’t do it, John Williams’ scores certainly will.
Finally, I’m asking Disney to do the right thing here. Be fair to Florida. Hollywood Studios deserves all of this.
Read more: We Met the Mandalorian and Grogu in Hollywood Studios
