Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is about to undergo one of the biggest pivots since the land opened, and it’s happening fast.

Galaxy’s Edge

Beginning April 29th, Disney will officially expand Galaxy’s Edge’s once-strict timeline, allowing characters and storylines from multiple Star Wars eras to coexist in Batuu. That means familiar faces from the original trilogy, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and beyond will now appear together in the land, marking a major change from Disney’s previous insistence on keeping Galaxy’s Edge locked into a single point in the sequel trilogy timeline. So why the sudden change of heart? And why now? Let’s break down exactly what’s changing and what Disney really stands to gain from it.

A Quick Overview of What’s Changing

Disney has announced that Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland will begin representing a much broader slice of the Star Wars saga, spanning between The Galactic Civil War, The New Republic era, The Age of the Resistance, and The First Order era. Importantly, the rides, food, and core experiences aren’t going anywhere. Guests can still enjoy Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and all of the dining and shopping offerings they’re used to. The projection shows, Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga and select performances of Fire of the Rising Moons, will also continue. What is changing is who you’ll see walking around Batuu.

Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge

Guests can now expect encounters with:

• Darth Vader, searching Batuu for Luke Skywalker, accompanied by Imperial Stormtroopers
• Luke Skywalker, roaming the outpost in search of Force knowledge, kyber crystals, and lightsaber lore
• Leia Organa, near the Millennium Falcon, recruiting allies to help keep Luke safe
• Han Solo, lingering around his iconic ship and Oga’s Cantina
• Chewbacca, reunited with the classic crew
• Ahsoka Tano, appearing near the marketplace
• The Mandalorian and Grogu, also spotted around the market area
• Rey, still appearing around the Resistance Camp
• R2-D2, continuing to roam near Droid Depot and the garage

In addition, the Disney Visa character meet-and-greet location, previously home to Darth Vader, will now feature Kylo Ren. Ahead of these changes, Disney is also releasing a brand-new comic on April 22nd titled Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — Echoes of the Empire, designed to narrate the bridge between the different storylines guests will encounter in the park.

Learn More About the Characters Coming to Galaxy’s Edge

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)

There are also going to be changes to a few merchandise locations, like the Droid Depot and Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. These changes will help reflect the changes in the timeline and allow the stores to sell more merchandise across the Star Wars timeline.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities

Why Disney Is Finally Breaking the Timeline

When Galaxy’s Edge first opened, Disney was extremely specific about its place in the Star Wars canon. The land was locked into a narrow window between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, and characters outside that era were largely off-limits. That rigidity is now gone, and there are several very practical reasons why.

1. Most Guests Don’t Actually Care About the Timeline

For hardcore Star Wars lore fans, timelines matter. For the average park guest? Not so much. The reality is that most people visiting Galaxy’s Edge just want to see iconic Star Wars characters, ride great attractions, and eat themed food. Whether Darth Vader and the First Order technically exist decades apart isn’t something that factors into the experience for most guests. Beloved characters, over-the-top atmosphere, and cool moments always win. By loosening the narrative rules, Disney immediately makes the land more accessible and more exciting for a much broader audience.

Galaxy’s Edge

2. This Unlocks Way More Merchandise Opportunities

From a business perspective, this change is enormous. A single, sequel-era timeline limited Disney’s ability to sell merchandise tied to the Original Trilogy characters, Disney+ series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, and Legacy characters like Luke, Leia, and Darth Vader. Now? Almost everything is fair game. That means more variety in lightsabers, apparel, collectibles, and souvenirs, and far fewer restrictions on what can be sold in shops. For a land where merchandise sales are likely a major source of revenue, this flexibility is a big advantage.

Opening the door for more merchandise to be sold

3. It Future-Proofs Galaxy’s Edge

This shift also helps Galaxy’s Edge stay relevant long-term. The Original Trilogy remains massively popular decades later, while enthusiasm for the sequel trilogy can be mixed. By broadening the land’s scope, Disney ensures Batuu doesn’t feel tied to a single era that may fade in popularity over time. Instead, Galaxy’s Edge becomes a timeless Star Wars sandbox where they add in new shows, movies, and characters are introduced over the next decade (or longer).

Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

At the end of the day, this move signals a major evolution in how Disney views its lands. Could this be a shift away from strict storytelling rules to more flexibility and guest appeal? For most fans, it’s simple: more characters, more variety, and more reasons to keep coming back. And if you want to stay on top of every change and update coming to Disneyland, be sure to keep following Disney Food Blog for more.

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