History of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in Timeline

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a 14-acre themed area at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios, immersing guests in the Star Wars universe. Set in Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, it features attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The area includes themed shops, restaurants, and entertainment, all designed to make visitors feel as though they've stepped into a real Star Wars location. It offers an interactive experience with droids and characters from the films, aiming to give fans a fully immersive Star Wars experience.

2014: Development Slowed on Star Wars Projects

In 2014, Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, decided to slow down development on all Star Wars-themed projects by Walt Disney Imagineering, postponing creative development until the sequel trilogy and anthology films were released.

August 15, 2015: Galaxy's Edge Announcement

On August 15, 2015, the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands were officially announced, marking the beginning of a new era for Star Wars fans at Disney parks.

January 11, 2016: Attractions Closed for Construction

On January 11, 2016, several attractions in Frontierland and Critter Country were closed to facilitate construction of Galaxy's Edge, including the permanent closure of Big Thunder Ranch and temporary closures of the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America.

January 2016: Concept Art Released

In January 2016, a first look at how the changes due to the Galaxy's Edge construction would impact the park was revealed when concept art depicting the northern bank of the river after construction was completed was released.

March 2016: Construction Announcement

In March 2016, Bob Iger announced that construction on both versions of Galaxy's Edge would begin the following month, in April 2016.

April 2, 2016: Attractions Closed for Galaxy's Edge

On April 2, 2016, several attractions closed at Disney's Hollywood Studios to make way for Galaxy's Edge, including the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure, as well as the surrounding New York-San Francisco backlot facades, restaurants, and shops.

April 14, 2016: Construction Begins

On April 14, 2016, construction commenced at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios for the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands, signaling the physical realization of the highly anticipated themed areas.

April 2016: Construction Begins

In April 2016, construction began at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios on the new Galaxy's Edge themed lands.

February 2017: Opening Schedule Announced

In February 2017, Bob Iger stated that the lands were scheduled to open in 2019 at both Disneyland and Hollywood Studios.

June 2017: New Circle D Ranch Opens

In June 2017, the new Circle D Ranch opened in Norco, California, replacing the previous facility used for training and exercising the park's horses.

June 16, 2017: Tom Sawyer Island Reopened

Tom Sawyer Island reopened to the public on June 16, 2017, after being temporarily closed due to the Galaxy's Edge construction.

July 2017: Themed Lands Named and Disneyland First

In July 2017, at the D23 Expo, Bob Chapek revealed that the themed lands would be called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and that the Disneyland version would open first.

November 2017: Planet Batuu Announced

In November 2017, Scott Trowbridge announced that the planet portrayed by the land is called Batuu, which appears in the 2018 novel Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances.

May 2018: Black Spire Outpost Revealed

In May 2018, Scott Trowbridge revealed the village in which the land is set would be called Black Spire Outpost, a location briefly mentioned in the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story. It was also announced that the Disneyland version of the land would open in summer 2019, followed by the Disney's Hollywood Studios version in late fall 2019.

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November 2018: Musical Score Recorded

In November 2018, William Ross and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded nearly an hour of musical material at Abbey Road Studios for Galaxy's Edge.

November 2018: Attraction Names Announced

In November 2018, during the D23 Destination D event held at Walt Disney World, the names of the two new attractions at each location were announced.

2018: Planet Batuu Appears in Novel

In November 2017, it was announced that the planet portrayed by the land, Batuu, appears in the 2018 novel Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances.

March 7, 2019: Opening Dates Announced

On March 7, 2019, Bob Iger announced the official opening dates for both Galaxy's Edge locations.

April 2019: Comic Miniseries Introduces Area

In April 2019, Marvel Comics introduced the area's location in a five-issue comic miniseries.

April 2019: Galaxy's Edge Comic Miniseries Published

In April 2019, the five-issue miniseries Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, written by Ethan Sacks with art by Will Sliney, and published by Marvel Comics began publication.

May 3, 2019: Symphonic Suite Released

On May 3, 2019, a five-minute Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite, composed by John Williams, was released digitally by Walt Disney Records. The suite was first heard in its entirety at Star Wars Celebration Chicago in 2019.

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May 29, 2019: Disneyland Galaxy's Edge Dedication

On May 29, 2019, the Disneyland version of Galaxy's Edge was dedicated. In attendance at the dedication ceremony were Bob Iger, Star Wars creator George Lucas, and series actors Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Billy Dee Williams.

May 31, 2019: Disneyland Galaxy's Edge Opens

On May 31, 2019, the Disneyland version of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge officially opened to the public, inviting guests to experience the immersive Star Wars environment for the first time.

August 29, 2019: Hollywood Studios Galaxy's Edge Opens

On August 29, 2019, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios, allowing east coast guests to experience the new Star Wars themed land.

September 6, 2019: Oga's Cantina Playlist Released

On September 6, 2019, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Oga's Cantina: R-3X's Playlist #1 was released by Walt Disney Records, featuring eighteen tracks heard at Oga's Cantina inside Galaxy's Edge.

October 2019: Crowds at Hollywood Studios

In October 2019, some visitors reported that Disney's Hollywood Studios area was crowded during their visit to Galaxy's Edge.

2019: Galaxy's Edge Lands Scheduled to Open

In February 2017, it was announced that both Galaxy's Edge lands at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios were scheduled to open sometime in 2019.

March 1, 2022: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Opens

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser themed hotel, associated with Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios, opened on March 1, 2022.

September 30, 2023: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closes

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser themed hotel, associated with Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios, closed on September 30, 2023.

October 2023: BD-X Droids Play Test

In October 2023, Walt Disney Imagineering conducted a play test with roaming BD-X droids in Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland.

2024: New Nighttime Show Debuts

For the 2024 "Season of the Force" event at Disneyland, a new nighttime show debuted titled, Fire of the Rising Moons, which uses selections from composer John Williams' Star Wars film scores for the park's fireworks shows viewed from within Galaxy's Edge. Fire of the Rising Moons remained in Galaxy's Edge after "Season of the Force" ended.

2024: BD-X Droids Appearances

In 2024, the BD-X droids began making scheduled daily appearances in Galaxy's Edge during the park's "Season of the Force" event from April 5 through June 2.

March 28, 2025: Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga Debuts

For the 2025 "Season of the Force" event at Disneyland, it was announced that a new nighttime projection show titled Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga debuted on March 28, 2025, in Galaxy's Edge. Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga remained in Galaxy's Edge after "Season of the Force" ended, while projection effects were added to the updated version of fireworks show.

July 2025: BD-X Droids Appearances Announced

In July 2025, it was announced that the BD-X droids would make appearances in Galaxy's Edge from July 16 to August 30, 2025.

August 30, 2025: BD-X Droids Appearances End

In July 2025, it was announced that the BD-X droids would make appearances in Galaxy's Edge from July 16 to August 30, 2025.

January 2026: Galaxy's Edge Timeline Expansion Announced

In January 2026, it was announced that Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland will expand its timeline beginning April 29, 2026, to include the original trilogy era of Star Wars, which will include character appearances by Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia. In addition, Star Wars film scores will be heard throughout the land, and the shops in Black Spire Outpost will receive updates.

April 2026: Film Scores Played at Galaxy's Edge

Beginning in late April 2026, John Williams' film scores will be played throughout Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, including the Cantina Band music in Oga's Cantina.

April 29, 2026: Timeline Expansion

Beginning April 29, 2026, the location at Disneyland will expand its timeline to include the original trilogy era of Star Wars, and will include character appearances by Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, joining the existing character appearances by Ahsoka Tano, The Mandalorian, Grogu, and R2-D2. Guests will also continue have the opportunity to meet the sequel trilogy character Rey near the Rise of the Resistance attraction.