At a Glance
- Luke, Leia, Han, and Darth Vader will start greeting guests in Batuu on April 29, 2026
- Music from the first six Star Wars films, composed by John Williams, will underscore the land
- The expansion lets visitors hop across Galactic Civil War, New Republic, and First Order timelines
- Why it matters: Fans can now meet the classic trio and Vader inside Galaxy’s Edge, completing the saga’s character roster
For six years, Galaxy’s Edge has delivered the smells, sounds, and scenery of Batuu, but one ingredient stayed missing: the original film heroes. That gap closes next spring when Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Darth Vader begin daily appearances inside Disneyland Park.
Characters Span Every Era
Beginning April 29, 2026, guests walking the black-spired outpost can stumble upon:
- Luke Skywalker in his farm-boy tunic or later Jedi robes
- Leia Organa sporting her classic white gown or forest-camouflage poncho
- Han Solo with holstered blaster and Wookiee co-pilot contract in hand
- Darth Vader, helmet polished and lightsaber ready
The quartet joins R2-D2 and Chewbacca, who have roamed Batuu since opening day. Together they let visitors witness the Galactic Civil War and New Republic eras without leaving the land.
Music From the Films Arrives
To sharpen the time-travel effect, News Of Losangeles confirmed that selections from John Williams’ scores for the first six movies will loop through hidden speakers. The swelling themes replace the mostly ambient Batuu soundscape, adding cinematic punch to character encounters.
Multiple Timelines in One Land
Disneyland’s team framed the rollout as a way to “experience multiple eras of the planet’s history,” officially folding Original Trilogy lore into what has been a sequel-era setting. Guests may now:
- Sip blue milk while watching Vader patrol the marketplace
- Snap photos with Luke beneath the T-70 X-wing engines
- Trade banter with Han near the Millennium Falcon cockpit
The change keeps Galaxy’s Edge fresh midway through its first decade and aligns the land with the ever-expanding Disney+ timeline that stitches together Star Wars stories across centuries.
How to Catch the New Faces
Disney has not posted specific meet-and-greet schedules, but Amanda S. Bennett noted the characters will “make appearances around Batuu,” implying roaming encounters rather than fixed queues. Veteran visitors know:
- Early mornings and late evenings usually offer shorter waits for photos
- Character locations shift daily; check the Disneyland app for real-time pins
- Photopass photographers accompany most hero sightings
The expansion debuts just before Disneyland’s busy summer season, giving travel planners a new headline reason to book spring or early-summer trips.
Key Takeaways
- April 29, 2026 marks the first daily appearances of Luke, Leia, Han, and Vader inside Galaxy’s Edge
- John Williams’ iconic scores enter the land’s soundtrack the same day
- The additions complete the Star Wars character timeline, letting guests step from First Order showdowns to Rebel Alliance heroics in a single visit
