After 7 Years, Disneyland Finally Has A Galaxy’s Edge For All Star Wars Fans

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It’s been seven years since Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in 2019, and the Star Wars-themed land is now appealing to fans of all eras. When it first launched, Galaxy’s Edge, set on the planet Batuu, was designed to fully immerse guests in the world of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. However, Disney has been making changes to move away from that original focus, and some exciting new updates are arriving this week.

As a long-time Star Wars enthusiast, I have to admit that Galaxy’s Edge, since it opened in 2019, always felt a little limited, especially considering the vastness of the Star Wars timeline and all its different stories. Let’s be real, not everyone loves every era of Star Wars – those sequel films, for example, definitely sparked some debate! But I’ve got some fantastic news: Disney is rolling out some major changes in 2026, and I’ve seen them firsthand. Trust me, they’re exactly what Galaxy’s Edge needed.

With the addition of experiences centered around The Mandalorian, familiar faces from the original Star Wars trilogy like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, nods to different time periods within the Star Wars universe, and the classic music of John Williams, Galaxy’s Edge now feels like a place for all Star Wars fans, not just those who love a specific era.

This Week Makes It Official: Galaxy’s Edge Finally Caters To Multiple Eras Of Star Wars Fans

Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge received some big updates in 2022, starting in late April, but this week marks one of the most significant changes yet. On May 22nd, the movie The Mandalorian & Grogu comes out, and Disneyland is simultaneously launching a major *Mandalorianthemed makeover of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction.

The new version of the ride will feature a completely fresh adventure with Din Djarin and Grogu. A big improvement is giving the Engineers a more important job – they’ve always felt a bit overlooked compared to the Pilots and Gunners. Instead of just handling background tasks, Engineers will now be responsible for keeping Grogu safe during the mission. While this update to Smuggler’s Run is thrilling, it’s just one of several significant changes happening in Galaxy’s Edge in 2026.

A new segment, “The Curious Child,” was added last week to the popular “Shadows of Memory” projection show, which illuminates the rock formations behind the Falcon. The debut featured stars Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver, along with director Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm’s new president, Dave Filoni.

The show originally covered the story of the first six Star Wars movies, but now a new version, ‘The Curious Child,’ features Grogu recounting the events of The Mandalorian series, with hints about the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu movie. These updates come after exciting changes were made to the land in late April, just before May the Fourth celebrations.

You’ll now find characters from the original Star Wars trilogy – like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader – appearing throughout the park. They’ve joined newer favorites from the recent shows, such as Ahsoka, Din Djarin, and Grogu, who have become regular sights. Characters and themes from the sequel trilogy are also still present. Rey and Chewbacca can now be found near the Rise of the Resistance attraction, while Kylo Ren and the First Order have moved to Tomorrowland, close to the recently updated Star Tours ride.

Honestly, walking through Galaxy’s Edge now feels right. It’s like stepping into different moments in the Star Wars timeline, which is how it should have felt all along, you know? They’ve even started adding in little nods to shows like The Clone Wars and Andor, which is a fantastic touch for fans like me.

My Recent Visit To Galaxy’s Edge Was The Best Yet (Star Wars Nites, Darth Vader, And More)

I recently went to Star Wars Nites around May the Fourth, and I was really impressed with Galaxy’s Edge. It felt better than any of my previous visits. While it might not be quite as intensely immersive as before, the change is worth it because the land now feels more connected to all of Star Wars and its different time periods.

As a huge Star Wars fan, wandering through Batuu with John Williams’ music playing is just magical – it’s pure nostalgia done right. Honestly, I can’t believe it took until this year for Darth Vader to actually appear in Galaxy’s Edge! When he emerged from the TIE Echelon right at midnight, the crowd absolutely lost it the second we heard that iconic breathing of his. It was an incredible moment!

After almost 50 years, the enduring success of Star Wars comes from its ability to connect with multiple generations. Fans have different entry points – some loved the original movies, others discovered it through the prequels, The Clone Wars series, or the recent Disney+ shows. Now, the Galaxy’s Edge area at Disneyland is celebrating this broad appeal, making it an even more rewarding experience for fans of all ages and backgrounds.

The new Mandalorian update for Smuggler’s Run opens May 22nd at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

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2026-05-20 05:39