Credit: DisneyDisney is preparing to reshape one of its most immersive theme park lands, and longtime visitors to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge may soon find Batuu looking and feeling very different.
After nearly seven years of operation, Disneyland Resort has confirmed a sweeping evolution for its Star Wars-themed land. Originally designed to exist within the timeline of the sequel trilogy, the experience is now shifting direction, opening the door to characters and stories spanning multiple eras of the franchise.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge remains one of Disney’s most expansive and detailed lands, placing guests directly into the Star Wars universe at both Disneyland Park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.
Instead of recreating iconic film locations, Disney Imagineers introduced Batuu, a remote Outer Rim destination centered around Black Spire Outpost. The land surrounds visitors with towering rock formations, unique architecture, and a sense of ongoing activity—from Resistance operations to First Order patrols.
Two major attractions anchor the experience. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run allows guests to step aboard the galaxy’s most famous ship, assigning each rider a role that influences how their mission plays out. That attraction is set to receive a notable update in late May, aligning with the upcoming release of The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026). Characters from the Disney+ series, including Din Djarin and Grogu, will be incorporated into the experience.
Meanwhile, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance continues to deliver a large-scale, story-driven attraction that blends multiple ride systems with live-action elements, placing guests in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.
Beyond the rides, Galaxy’s Edge has built its reputation on immersive storytelling. Guests can visit Oga’s Cantina for themed drinks, try a variety of galactic-inspired foods, or take part in interactive experiences like building a custom lightsaber or assembling a droid. Every corner of Batuu is designed to feel like part of a living world rather than a traditional theme park land.
Now, Disney is expanding that storytelling in a major way.
“Beginning April 29, 2026, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in different points of the Star Wars saga inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland park as they never have before,” Disney Parks Blog announced earlier this year, “with characters and storylines that capture the heart of what draws guests to this galaxy far, far away.”
And those new storylines come with some very familiar faces. For the first time, guests will encounter the original trilogy’s central heroes inside Galaxy’s Edge. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia—portrayed by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher—will officially become part of the Batuu experience beginning April 29. Disney has outlined where and how these characters will appear:
Darth Vader’s search for Luke Skywalker will bring him to Batuu. This Sith Lord will be joined by Imperial Stormtroopers, and as they seek the elusive Jedi, they may find hints of the Force around the outpost.
Leia Organa and Han Solo will be reunited with Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca amid the rocky spires.
Luke Skywalker will roam the outpost seeking knowledge of the Force and artifacts related to lightsaber building, kyber crystals, and more.
Leia Organa may be spotted near the Millennium Falcon, where she’ll recruit travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe.
Han Solo will also linger around his prized ship, tempted by the local cantina.
Disney also confirmed that current characters such as Rey, the Mandalorian, and Ahsoka will continue appearing throughout the land, creating a mix of personalities from across the Star Wars timeline.
This marks a significant shift for Galaxy’s Edge. By blending characters from different eras, Black Spire Outpost will no longer be tied strictly to the sequel trilogy timeline. Instead, it becomes a more flexible setting that allows Disney to highlight fan-favorite characters from across the saga.
While some fans may question how this affects the land’s original story framework, many visitors will likely welcome the chance to see legendary characters like Luke Skywalker during their visit. However, with the arrival of new faces, Disney is pulling the plug on other character experiences.
One of the most notable departures involves Vi Moradi, a Resistance spy who has been a regular presence around Black Spire Outpost since the land first opened.
For those unfamiliar with the character’s origins, Vi Moradi first entered Star Wars canon in Delilah S. Dawson’s “Star Wars: Phasma” (2017). From there, she became part of the in-park storytelling at both Disneyland Resort in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where guests could encounter her as she carried out missions tied to the Resistance.
Back in August 2019, StarWars.com shared the character’s history, saying, “Vi is a long-time member of the Resistance, and she’s responsible for keeping the spark of hope alive, undermining and fighting the First Order whenever she can.” However, that chapter is now coming to a close.
According to a post shared on Instagram by @thatcornerincoruscant, a performer portraying Vi Moradi revealed that the character has been reassigned to a new mission beyond Batuu. This in-universe explanation aligns with the larger timeline changes coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The update is set to take effect on April 29—the same day Disney introduces its broader shift in storytelling across the land. With Vi Moradi’s mission taking her off-world, she will no longer appear in Black Spire Outpost moving forward. Commenters on the post have shared their disappointment with Disney removing Vi Moradi from the parks. One user wrote, “Wish they’d just move her to the area around Rise; [she is too good a] character for young black girls to have someone that they relate to,” while another commented, “No Vi can’t leave we need to fight to keep her on Batuu.”
In practical terms, this means guests visiting Galaxy’s Edge after that date should not expect to see or interact with the Resistance operative during their visit. While Disney has not issued a formal statement specifically addressing her removal, the character’s exit fits into the wider transformation of Galaxy’s Edge into a setting that draws from multiple eras of the Star Wars saga.
As new characters arrive and the timeline expands, some existing story elements are being reworked—or, in this case, written out entirely—to make room for the evolving experience.
The changes won’t stop at character encounters. Guests walking through Batuu will begin hearing music from across the original six Star Wars films, including John Williams’ “Main Title,” the Force Theme, and tracks such as “Han Solo and the Princess,” “The Desert and the Robot Auction,” and “The Emperor.” Oga’s Cantina will continue featuring the recognizable “Cantina Band,” now reflecting the era of the Galactic Civil War.
Retail and interactive experiences are also being updated to match the evolving storyline. First Order Cargo has transitioned into Black Spire Surplus, “a military salvage operation offering artifacts from across the history of the galaxy,” while Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will rotate in new collectibles.
Additional tweaks include updates at Droid Depot, where guests will encounter earlier Mubo designs for BB-style droids, and continued experiences at Savi’s Workshop, where lightsaber building remains a centerpiece as Luke Skywalker searches for deeper knowledge of the Force.
Nighttime entertainment will remain part of the lineup, including “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” and select performances of “Fire of the Rising Moons.” Some of these enhancements will roll out gradually, with the full transformation set to debut on April 29, 2026.
With these updates, Disney is clearly reimagining Galaxy’s Edge as a celebration of the entire Star Wars saga rather than a single chapter in its timeline.
How do you feel about all these changes coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!