Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

Bright Suns! Throughout this year we have celebrated Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary by looking at the nine lands of the park. And as the celebration continues in Anaheim, we continue our celebration here on Disney Insights. Today we look at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. This is perfect because this land especially references the last three film series in the larger trilogy. This week Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out ten years ago into the movie theaters. So much of that film and the two others that fall after it tie into the Black Spire Outpost of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. We’re going to relive the opening of this themed land at Disneyland, talk about the similarities and differences to its twin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and then share with you my top 7 Easter egg-style references to Star Wars within this land. Join us as we celebrate Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge on Disneyland’s 70th anniversary.

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My Visiting the First Time

I feel so fortunate to have been one of the first to have visited this new land when it first opened in Anaheim back in 2019. It was memorable and looking back at it, am so grateful I took the time and money to come out to visit. During the first days of opening, guests who were fortunate to get in were only allowed 3 hours to visit. I made the best I could have the experience, which did not include Rise of the Resistance, an attraction that didn’t open until nearly the end of the year, after Walt Disney World had a chance to open it first.

You can also see this video on YouTube!

Here is a list of what I experienced in only three hours:

• Entered the park prior to guests entering
• Queued prior at Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland
• Awaited entry with hundreds of others at the Galactic Grill, also known as The Tomorrowland Terrace
• Entered the land for the first time by way of the fantasyland entrance.
• Took a photo with Chewie
• Tested blue milk 
• Consumed Kat Saka’s Kettle Popcorn and a Coca Cola in a detonator cup.
•  Purchased a  Batuuan Spira Credit Medallion
• Purchased a Rex Droid at Droid Depot
• Experienced Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run for the first time.
• Tried a ronto wrap with green milk
• Stood standby and got into Olga’s Cantina.
• Followed Rey around the Resistance forest
• Took over 400 photos and over 100 videos

I will say, that I will forever look back on the experience of being there during this special preview. Of hundreds of times I have been in Disneyland Park, this was truly one of the most memorable of experiences.

Similarities & Differences Between it and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Similarities

• 98% is identical at 14 acres
• Both Placed in the Back of the Park
• Both Host Two Major Attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Rise of the Resistance
• Receiving Updates to Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

Differences

• Opening Day was First and Last–DL opened first, but their Rise came after the Studios opened their Rise. There was a bigger Opening Event at Disneyland with Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and George Lucas joining Bob Iger. It was Bob Chapek and park characters with the Studios
• Three Entrances & Exits-DL utilizes Canyon rock and forest/WDW utilizes a Figueroa Street Tunnel similar to Who Framed Roger Rabbit

• Lighting–Land faces South at Disneyland and to the North at Walt Disney World
• Color Palette Different
  • Walt Disney World (East): Uses warmer, deeper, and more varied colors, with darker brown spires and potentially more rockwork detail to counteract the intense Florida sun and create a more lived-in feel.
  • Disneyland (West): Initially perceived as more monochrome or muted but features unique weathering and textures, with its overall look affected by the California sun and distinct lighting.

• Landscaping Different–The actual plants used differ due to the climates of California and Florida, but the foliage in Florida appears greener and more vibrant, while the California location’s plant life often appears drier and more sparse, mimicking a “dead” or arid look consistent with the environment of the remote outpost of Batuu.

• Rise of the Resistance: The Caves have a slightly different flow than the ones of the Studios and is a little more themed or even distinct from one cave to another.

• Food Options
  • Docking Bay at Disneyland offers a more limited menu, but with interesting selection like Kublag Curry (Shrimp and chicken dish) as well as fried chicken Baos buns. Four selections at DL and six at Studios. Both have vegetarian options.

• Docking Bay 7 offers a dining package during their nighttime gatherings that consist of a sort of bento box and special viewing section for $89. With this, standard dinner ends earlier at 7, while the studios stays open until 9.
• Kat Saka’s Kettle offers more than popcorn and drinks to include a Life Day Cheese Branch (croissant style pastry) and a Kerkoiden Cold Hot Chocolate.
• Ronto Roasters is open much later at Disneyland–even until 11:00 pm–and adds a Fried Falumpaset Cheese skewer. Studios adds pork rinds and two plant based options. Studios closes theirs at 3:00 pm
• Both parks have different snacks and drink variations at the Milk Stand. While both offer the Blue and Green Milk, only the Studios offers an alcoholic version of both.
• At Oga’s in DL there are 10 alcoholic drinks, 4 snacks 9 non-alcoholic drinks. At the studios there are 11 alcoholic drinks, 7 non-alcoholic drinks; and 4 snacks as well
• More Characters & Droids–Pretty much the same although Boba Fett & Fennec Shand have made occasional appearances. Both had BDX Droids thought DL had theirs during Star Wars Nite

• More Events and Fireworks
  • Disneyland has an after dark separate ticked event called Star Wars Nite. There are four this year, though they had 8 last year. (Some 20 events at DL in 2026 total)
  • Disneyland has Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga which tells the story of a young potential Jedi who led to the dark side. A droid on the tower above the Millennium Falcon tells the story.
  • Disneyland also has Fire of the Rising moon which matches the fireworks from Wondrous Journeys but to a completely different soundtrack and theme.

• Other: DL had no Starcruiser at one point. Of course the Studios no longer has one either.

Favorite Easter Eggs

The beauty of this land is that it offers more layers of thematic detail than the casual Star Wars viewer may know. Yet, because it’s not inherently part of a particular film location, people just don’t get it. But believe me, there are deep cuts for Star Wars fans who really love this kind of thing. I am not a big Star Wars fan, but I am a Disney fan, and there are so many references to the Star Wars world than we could ever cover in one podcast. So I want to cover just seven of my favorite and maybe come back to the list another day. Know that if you invest the time, you will not be disappointed by what you find. But also know that because of the decision to make a place unlike anything else movie goers saw on the big screen or even read in a book, you have to look harder to find those connecting points.

Want to Visit Disney?

Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!

David & Leah Zanolla

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Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!