Disneyland Is Quietly Rewriting Galaxy’s Edge — Sequel Era Timeline Shelved Starting April 29

For years, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has been Disney’s boldest Star Wars swing.

Not because it had the most characters.

But because it tried something far more ambitious: an in-universe Star Wars land where you were the main character — not a visitor waiting in line for a photo with Darth Vader.

Now Disneyland is changing course.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland will no longer be primarily set in the sequel trilogy era, and starting April 29, the land will shift toward a more “classic” Star Wars lineup — including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.

And yes: that means Kylo Ren is being shelved as a walk-around character in the land.

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Why this matters now

This is one of the biggest philosophical changes Disneyland has made to Galaxy’s Edge since it opened.

The land’s original identity was built on a very specific concept: Batuu as a living moment in the Star Wars timeline, anchored to the sequel era conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.

But the new approach is closer to what many casual park guests have always wanted:

Star Wars “greatest hits.”

And Disney appears to be leaning into that reality.

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What’s changing at Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge (starting April 29)

The changes are specific to Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge (Anaheim), and Disney told the LA Times these updates are not currently planned for Walt Disney World’s version.

Here’s what is confirmed in the report:

Kylo Ren shelved (as a walk-around character in the land)

Kylo Ren will no longer appear in Galaxy’s Edge as a roaming character.

Rey reduced to a smaller presence

Rey will still appear, but she will now be limited to the forest-like area near Rise of the Resistance.

Original trilogy icons moving in

Disneyland will add classic characters including:

• Darth Vader
• Luke Skywalker
• Han Solo
• Princess Leia Organa

John Williams’ Star Wars theme will finally play in the land

In another huge tone shift, Disneyland will start broadcasting John Williams’ Star Wars orchestrations throughout Galaxy’s Edge.

That’s a big move, because Galaxy’s Edge was intentionally designed to avoid traditional theme park music — leaning instead on radio chatter and ambient sound to maintain immersion.

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Rise of the Resistance isn’t changing (and Kylo still exists there)

One important clarification: the LA Times notes that Rise of the Resistance will still feature Kylo Ren and the First Order, and Disneyland reps described its upcoming closure as routine refurbishment with no planned land changes tied to it.

Kylo’s not being erased from Star Wars.

He’s just being repositioned.

In fact, the report says guests will still be able to find Kylo Ren at a Tomorrowland meet-and-greet.

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The real story: Disney is trading immersion for familiarity

Galaxy’s Edge was designed as a “living theater” experiment — a playable land with reputation, story beats, and interactions that made guests feel like they weren’t in a theme park.

But the LA Times points out what many fans have quietly noticed since 2019:

A lot of the most ambitious “living land” elements never fully materialized.

And maintaining that kind of immersion is expensive, staffing-heavy, and hard to keep “alive” day after day.

So the pivot makes sense.

If guests walk into Galaxy’s Edge and ask for Luke, Vader, Han, Leia — Disney can either fight that… or give them what they came for.

And as of April 29, it sounds like Disney is choosing the second option.

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What this means for Star Wars fans

This change will hit different depending on what kind of fan you are:

If you loved the immersive Batuu “canon land” concept…

This is a step backward.

It turns Galaxy’s Edge into something more traditional: characters you recognize, music you recognize, moments designed for photos rather than roleplay.

If you wanted Galaxy’s Edge to feel more like Star Wars you grew up with…

This is a win.

Because for many guests, Star Wars isn’t about timelines and eras — it’s about the icons.

And Disneyland just made those icons the center of the experience.

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The takeaway: Galaxy’s Edge is becoming a “Star Wars greatest hits” land

Disney isn’t closing Galaxy’s Edge.

They’re not rebooting Batuu.

But they are reshaping what the land is.

The sequel-era “in-universe” framing is being softened.

The music is getting more classic.

The character roster is shifting toward the original trilogy.

And in the process, Galaxy’s Edge is turning into something far more familiar:

A Star Wars land where you’re less likely to feel like a smuggler on Batuu…

…and more likely to feel like you walked into a living highlight reel of the saga.

Starting April 29, Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge won’t just be Star Wars.

It’ll be Star Wars: the greatest hits.

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