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Credit: LucasfilmDisney has unveiled some major changes heading to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but not all fans are happy.
As confirmed yesterday, Disneyland Park is about to undo one of its most controversial aspects. While several elements of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge were met with a warm reception upon opening, there are also those who have long criticized the decision to root the land in the franchise’s divisive sequel trilogy. From April, Disney will pull away from this focus, instead integrating characters and details from the original Star Wars films into the land.
That means guests visiting the Anaheim version of Galaxy’s Edge will be able to encounter the likes of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Leia Organa on a regular basis.
To say that fans are happy with the change is an understatement. However, some have criticized one decision made regarding Leia’s character.
Disney Reveals Costume For Leia in Galaxy’s Edge
When fans meet Leia in Galaxy’s Edge, they will encounter the iconic princess-turned-general in a battle-ready white outfit with her hair in a crown braid.
If that sounds familiar, that’s because it’s extremely similar to the outfit Leia wears throughout most of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
“This is Leia’s adventure look,” Lucasfilm senior creative executive Matt Martin explained (via StarWars.com). “It’s inspired by some comic book appearances from this era, as well as the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II, the video game. But this is really the first time we get to see it physically created on a person.”
NEWS:
Lucasfilm have revealed Leia will wear her Star Wars Battlefront II “Adventure” appearance in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland from April 29th.
“It’s the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II with a crown braid. This is the first time we get to see it physically.”
NEWS:
Lucasfilm have revealed Leia will wear her Star Wars Battlefront II "Adventure" appearance in Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland from April 29th.
“It's the look that she had in Star Wars Battlefront II with a crown braid. This is the first time we get to see it physically.” pic.twitter.com/SsKdixaMPT
— Daily Star Wars Games (@Daily_SWGames) January 14, 2026
Some fans feel like this is a misstep. While the majority of Star Wars viewers will recognize Leia in this outfit, more casual watchers – or those who have never actually seen the films – may not realize who she is without her most recognizable outfit, which is arguably her white dress from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), complete with her hair in two donut-like buns.
“Your average park attendee will not know that’s Princess Leia,” said one critic on X, formerly Twitter.
“Good news to the 7 people who played this campaign,” another said. “Just give her the normal dress god damn.”
One complained, “Why can’t they just do the thing? Just dress them up in the most recognizable way lol.”
A Common Issue With Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Attraction
Disney’s attempts to integrate Star Wars into the parks have previously faced criticism for targeting the more niche fans. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the immersive role-playing hotel outside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, relied on diehard fans to keep it alive, but shuttered for good in September 2023.
Similarly, one of the most common issues raised about Galaxy’s Edge in general is that it didn’t capitalize on the franchise’s most visually recognizable characters or locations, and instead decided to base itself in an entirely new environment, aka Batuu.
Why Has Disney Ditched Leia’s Iconic Dress?
One could argue that the decision not to have Leia meet guests in her white dress is pretty fitting, considering Carrie Fisher’s thoughts on wearing the costume during A New Hope. “I wore that damn white thing for the whole first movie,” she previously complained, recalling that Star Wars creator George Lucas refused to let her wear a bra with the dress due to his belief that there was “no underwear” in space.
Another reason for the decision to change Leia’s outfit may also come down to practicality.
While Disney has previously dressed Leia in her iconic white gown for meet-and-greets during Star Wars Nite at Disneyland, this time around, Leia will be roaming near the Millennium Falcon, where she’ll apparently “recruit travelers and locals to help keep Luke safe.” A white, long, shapeless dress doesn’t exactly lend itself to adventures around the area when the Southern California sun hits its peak.
Leia’s evolving role in the franchise may also be a factor. She enters Star Wars as a princess aligned with the Rebel Alliance in A New Hope, but by the time audiences reconnect with her in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), she has risen to the rank of general. This look lands squarely between those two identities.
What do you think of Leia’s costume in Galaxy’s Edge?