Stay calm!! The moment you Star Wars fans have been waiting for is here!
Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors to Batuu may find Darth Vader inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif., as the land expands its timeline to include more Star Wars eras. Read more about the exciting updates coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland at DisneyParksBlog.com. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened on May 31st, 2019, at Disneyland Resort, we’ve been exploring the entirely original planet of Batuu. Characters like the Mandalorian, Grogu, Rey, and Kylo Ren are certainly highlights — but Disney has just announced that some OG Star Wars characters are coming to the land later this year, and to say we’re freaking out is an understatement!
We know where every Star Wars fan will be on April 29th, because that’s when FOUR of the most iconic characters will be roaming Galaxy’s Edge!
Luke Skywalker has visited Batuu before, but only for a limited time. In April, he will become a permanent resident! You’ll find him roaming, seeking any and all knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building and kyber crystals.
Luke Skywalker is coming back to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland
Luke’s sister, Leia Organa, and Han Solo are also coming to Batuu! This is especially exciting because Disney announced that they worked with Lucasfilm to create a new look for Leia. We were able to get a sneak peek, but Disney has not publicly released the costume just yet. It’s a unique look inspired by earlier appearances in the 2015 comic book series and Star Wars: Battlefront. Find her near the Falcon — she may even recruit you to help Luke!
This means Han Solo will be there to welcome the changes coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run on May 22nd! He’ll be watching his ship, but he’s often tempted by the local cantina (Oga’s Cantina, of course!). Read all about those updates here.
©Disney/Lucasfilm
The final character? If you guessed Darth Vader — ding, ding, ding — you’re correct! One of the most iconic villains in movie history is set to roam the land on a mission to find Luke Skywalker. Just be careful to stay out of his way, or you might be in trouble!
Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors to Batuu may find Darth Vader, Imperial Stormtroopers, and other iconic Star Wars characters inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif., as the land expands its timeline to include more Star Wars eras. Read more about the exciting updates coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland at DisneyParksBlog.com. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
Disney revealed some other important changes. Rey will fittingly be moved towards the Resistance camp, so keep an eye out for her after you ride Rise of the Resistance!
Rey
Chewbacca will stay over by the Millennium Falcon. After all, he’s gotta help Han Solo fly the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!
R2D2 will continue rolling through the land. If I were you, I’d try to find him near Droid Depot!
You want Chewie mode on the Millennium Falcon
Kylo Ren will be the new villainous resident of the Disney Visa Cardholder exclusive meet and greet in Tomorrowland, replacing Darth Vader as he goes to intimidate Batuu visitors and search for Luke.
Kylo Ren
These changes are only happening at Disneyland Resort, so if you’re a huge OG Star Wars fan, it’s time to plan that trip to Anaheim, California. We’ll be in the parks when the characters debut their new looks, so stay tuned to DFB for a sneak peek!
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In related news, Mario will start to appear in Universal’s Epic Universe this year. Oh, wait, that’s right: UO didn’t wait seven years to incorporate its signature character in its new themed land.
I hope they plan on replacing the rectangular radar dish on the Falcon with the original round dish. That’d be Disney-worthy attention to detail!