In 2019, Disneyland Park opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This innovative land is docked firmly in the Star Wars universe but with a story all its own. You absolutely do not need to know Batuu’s history or even anything about Star Wars to enjoy this incredible land. Still, we think knowing the story enhances the experience. So, we are going to take a broad look at how Disneyland’s Star Wars themed land fit with larger Star Wars lore. Here is a primer on Batuu, Black Spire Outpost and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland.
Star Wars and Disney
We will start with a brief look at the relationship between Star Wars and Disney.
The Star Wars universe was imagined into reality by George Lucas with the original Star Wars trilogy of films: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983). “Wait…” you say, “these were the first three films but they are numbered four through six?”
Yes, after the massive success of those original films, more movies (plus television shows, books, comics…) came along. These additional stories were set before, after and in-between the timeline of those first stories. With each successive movie and other media, the Star Wars universe expanded.
In 1987, Star Wars even got its first ride! Disney Imagineers worked with George Lucas to open a Star Wars attraction in Disneyland Park called “Star Tours.” This simulator attraction has continued to receive enhancements over the years, though it is still located in Tomorrowland.
In 2012, the Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm, including the Star Wars franchise, and started producing Star Wars content at an accelerated pace. This creative outpouring even took physical form as Walt Disney Imagineers created a whole new land dedicated to everything Star Wars. This land is called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and it opened in Disneyland Park in 2019.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Batuu in Disneyland
There are some common themes and story line in all of the movies, books, television shows and rides we just mentioned. The Star Wars universe is animated by something called “The Force.” Diverse individuals and groups attempt to wield this mysterious Force and to live with it. Perhaps most famous among these Force wielders are the Jedi (think Luke Skywalker, Yoda and Rey) and the Sith (think Darth Vader and Kylo Ren). In the Star Wars films, the Sith use the dark side of the Force to work with the Empire and then the First Order. They attempt to exercise power and absolute control over the galaxy. The Jedi use the light side of the Force to fight with others in the Resistance to defy and defeat the Empire and later the First Order.
The Disneyland Park land, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is situated in the midst of this ongoing battle for the galaxy. Princess Leia and her rebel friends have defeated the Empire, the but First Order has emerged to continue the Empire’s quest for dominance. The Resistance, along with the remnants of the Jedi order, have mounted a well, resistance, to the First Order.
At least that is how the land was originally conceived. When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge first opened in 2019, it was placed within this particular time frame in the larger Star Wars saga: roughly around the time of the film Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi. The timeline has become more flexible in the years since opening. That is why you may now encounter Grogu and the Mandalorian in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge along with Rey and Chewbacca. In 2025, characters from those original films (episodes IV-VI) started making visits.
Batuu
So that is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in time, but what about space? The Star Wars land is physically situated in the northwest corner of Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. There are three entrances into the land from Bayou Country (formerly Critter Country), Frontierland and Fantasyland. (The clever ways Imagineers found to create smooth transitions between these lands are themselves worthy of a visit.)
If you are really ready to immerse yourself in the story, you could also say that the physical location of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is in Anaheim, but creatively, it is situated on Batuu.
As you enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland, you are entering the Imagineered planet of Batuu. Imagineers created Batuu as a whole new location with the Star Wars universe. Batuu is cleverly tied to the existing stories but has a history independent of those stories. It is a planet on the edge of “Wild Space,” a position which makes it a perfect place for smugglers, rebels and others who want to remain outside the notice of the First Order. (Again, the “First Order” represents the “dark side” in this story.)
Black Spire Outpost
The largest village on Batuu is Black Spire Outpost. This rugged and lively settlement is built on the remnants of an earlier civilization. As you look around, you will see the old and new mixed together in gorgeous detail. Around Black Spire Outpost, you will see the petrified trees which give the village its name. In the winding streets of the village, you can find some of Disneyland’s best food. There is even a lively cantina (actually serving alcohol in Disneyland). Black Spire Outpost is also home to some curious shops and colorful characters.
If you want to join, ahem, forces with one such character, look around for “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” The Millennium Falcon, easily the most famous ship in the Star Wars universe, is docked at Black Spire Outpost. The ship has come under the (questionable) ownership of Honda Ohnaka. This opportunistic businessman is willing to hire you for a quick smuggling mission. To take your own ride on the Millennium Falcon, line-up for the attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This attraction is also accessible with Lightning Lane Premier Pass and Lighting Lane Multi Pass.
Rebel Camp
Outside Black Spire Outpost, the Resistance has set-up their own outpost. They have hidden their camp among the trees in the wilds of Batuu. So, you will need to venture through the forests to reach it.
As you walk, listen for the wildlife. Rather than traditional background music, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has an ambient soundscape. If you hear music, it is coming from the residents of Batuu. You may also hear insects native to the Batuu forests, beasts in the undergrowth or a conversation in an alien language.
The centerpiece of the rebel encampment is the spectacular ride Star Wars: Rise of Resistance, which usually boasts the longest wait times in Disneyland Park. If you want to skip the standby line, you can opt to use Lighting Lane Premier Pass here or Lighting Lane Single Pass. We think this ride is incredible and some of the most impressive work done by Disney Imagineering. If you like thrill rides, you should be able to enjoy it no matter how much you know, or do not know, about Star Wars.
Batuuese
Cast members around Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are all in character as residents of, or visitors to, Batuu. They may greet you in the morning with the local expression “Bright Suns” or in the evening with “Rising Moons.” There are also distinct characters from the films wandering the land including Storm Troopers, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, Rey and the Mandalorian with Grogu by his side.
You can participate in this imaginative environment as much or as little as you wish. You can go ahead and use the local expressions, build your own lightsaber and deal in credits instead of US dollars. If that does not appeal to you, you can just enjoy the scenery and the attractions and stay in your own character. It is up to you.
The Imagineers envisioned Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland as a place where visitors could live out their own Star Wars stories. They imagined guests choosing to align with the First Order or the Resistance. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is a truly interactive attraction while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is next level immersive. The Play Disney Parks mobile app is at its best in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge with elaborate missions and side stories. Wearing a MagicBand+ will allow you to participate in a bounty hunter game. Again, your level of immersion is up to you.
Visit Black Spire Outpost on Batuu in Disneyland Park
To visit Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, you will need valid admission to Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is located in the northwest corner of the park. We recommend that you plan to spend some time there, because there is a lot to see and do. Plus, the longer you stay, the more you can immerse yourself in the life of Batuu in Disneyland.
The two rides in this Star Wars land are Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. You can enjoy some of our favorite meals in all of Disneyland at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or Ronto Roasters. If you would rather grab a snack on the run, you can visit one of the varied stands including Kat Saka’s Kettle, Jat Kaa’s Coolers or the Milk Stand. Oga’s Cantina serves imaginative beverages with or without alcohol in an equally imaginative setting. Shoppers can visit Black Spire Outfitters, Creature Stall, First Order Cargo, Resistance Supply, Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and Toydarian Toymaker. For an immersive merchandise experience, the stand-out shops are Droid Depot (build your own!) and Savi’s Workshop – “Handbuilt Lightsabers at the Disneyland Resort.”
Much of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge offerings are included with your general admission to Disneyland Park, but some come with an extra cost. Any food or merchandise is a separate purchase. To experience that lightsaber building, you will need to buy one (the experience is included with the purchase). The activities on the Play Disney Parks app are free; the bounty hunter game requires a MagicBand+. The rides, character encounters, general viewing for shows and the amazing ambiance are all included with admission.
Extra Star Wars Fun at Disneyland
For some extra Star Wars fun, you can visit Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (remember that?) still in Tomorrowland. You can also visit Star Wars Trading Post in the Downtown Disney District without using an admission ticket at all!
At the time of writing, you can even enjoy some Star Wars themed nighttime spectaculars: Fire of the Rising Moons and Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga. Those are both viewed from inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Check the entertainment guide for showings during your visit. During certain times of year, Disneyland takes things even further with a seasonal festival called Season of the Force and after-hours hard ticket parties called Star Wars Nites.
You get to choose your own adventure and live out your Star Wars story!
Frequently Asked Questions About Star Wars (and Batuu in Disneyland)
Before we wrap things up, here are some quick answers to frequently asked questions about Star Wars in Disneyland. These answers are drawn from the preceding post.
Do I need to know a lot about Star Wars to visit the land in Disneyland?
No! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (aka the Star Wars land) is the newest land in Disneyland Park. Even if you have never seen a Star Wars movie, we think you will be impressed by the meticulous detail of this wondrous environment. The land’s two rides are a lot of fun, and the food is some of our favorite in all of Disneyland. Our kids like visiting, and they have not seen any Star Wars media yet.
Going to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge feels like visiting an incredible foreign world. This is true whether you have seen every Star Wars movie a dozen times or have never heard of the Jedi. We think anyone can enjoy the experience of discovery.
How much does it cost to visit Star Wars land in Disneyland?
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—with its two rides, shows and characters—is a land in Disneyland Park. Entrance to this Star Wars land is included with general admission to Disneyland Park. For information about purchasing admission to Disneyland, see Essential Tips for Disneyland Tickets and Reservations. The other Star Wars ride at Disneyland Park, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues, is also included with admission.
There is no charge or admission required to visit the Star Wars Trading Post store in Downtown Disney District.
Food and merchandise, beverages and merchandise cost extra. Droid Depot and Savi’s Workshop have interactive experiences that only come with the purchase of merchandise.
Where can I find Star Wars in Disneyland?
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the name of the Star Wars themed land in Disneyland Park. It is located in the northwest corner of the park. There are three entrances into the land from Bayou Country (formerly Critter Country), Frontierland and Fantasyland.
Outside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you can ride Star Tours – The Adventure Continues in Disneyland Park’s Tomorrowland. This is the original Star Wars ride at Disneyland! Plus, in Downtown Disney District, you do not even need a ticket to check-out the Star Wars Trading Post store.
During Star Wars Nites or Season of the Force, you might find additional Star Wars offerings outside of these locations.
What is Batuu? What is Black Spire Outpost?
In creating the land of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney Imagineers also created new locations within the imagined Star Wars universe. These places are the village of Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu. When you visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you are visiting these locations.
Why did someone at Disneyland say Bright Suns to me? Why did someone say Rising Moons to me?
In creating a new Star Wars land at Disneyland, Disney Imagineers created new stories and even languages to go with it! On this imagined planet, “bright suns” is the local greeting during the day (the equivalent of “good day”) while “rising moons,” is the greeting during evening hours (like saying “good evening”). To say goodbye, a local might say “til the spire!”
As a visitor, you are welcome to use these greetings, or you can simply speak your own language. You will be welcomed either way.
Are there rides in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland?
Yes, there are two rides in the Star Wars land at Disneyland Park. They are Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. There is a third Star Wars ride at Disneyland Park located in Tomorrowland; it is called Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.
Are there things for kids to do in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars land at Disneyland?
The neat things about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is that it really invites everyone to play a little make believe. We love that kids can see their parents getting into a game of pretend, so we think that makes this Star Wars land a great place for kids.
Unfortunately, all of the Star Wars rides do a have height requirements and may be intimidating for some young children. We encourage you to check the minimum height as well as the warnings for these rides before your visit.
On the light side… everything else in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is accessible to kids. Even though Oga’s Cantina is essentially a “space bar,” children are allowed inside (though obviously they cannot order an alcoholic beverage).
Can I wear a costume to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland?
As a guest at Disneyland, you are certainly encouraged to get into the spirit of fun and imagination. However, Disney also wants to keep everyone safe and to guard against other guests mistaking you for an official character!
We encourage you to check the Disneyland website before your visit to make sure that your attire falls within Disney’s dress code for the parks. We are including some guidelines from the Disneyland website below to help you get an idea for the dress code, but ultimately we recommend that you do your own research and remember that Disney cast members have the final call.
Disneyland Rules About Costumes.
During regular admission times, guests over fourteen years old cannot wear costumes, but they can wear themed clothing. This means you are welcome to dress-up within certain guidelines. This is from the Disneyland website:
- Capes may be worn if the length does not go below the waist.
- Themed T-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts and hats are acceptable.
- Acceptable accessories include: transparent wings, plastic Lightsabers, toy swords and tutus.
- Headwear may be worn as long as it does not cover the face.
- Masks of any kind may not be worn, except for medical purposes.
These rules are sometimes different during themed events like Star Wars Nites. Here are Disney’s modified rules for clothing at special events. Again, be sure to do your homework and check the fine print on any tickets you have for special events. From the Disneyland website:
- All Guests may dress as their favorite character, but may not pose for pictures or sign autographs for other Guests.
- Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable or violent.
- Costumes may not contain any weapons that resemble or could easily be mistaken for an actual weapon.
- Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another Guest.
- Layered costumes or costume props that surround the entire body are strongly discouraged and may be subject to additional security screening.
- Costumes may not reach or drag on the ground (e.g., full-length Princess dresses)
How do I skip the line for Star Wars rides at Disneyland?
The three Star Wars rides at Disneyland all use some form of Lighting Lane passes. The Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is accessible through Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Both Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Tours – The Adventures Continue have Lightning Lanes that are accessible through Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. To learn how to use these Lightning Lanes, see Disneyland Lightning Lanes: How to Super-Charge Your Visit.
In addition to a Lightning Lane, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run also has a Single Rider line that can save you a lot of time. (Just be aware the Single Riders rarely get to fly in the most popular “pilot” seats.)
For other advice on how to save time in line, see Maximize Your Disneyland Experience: Beat the Lines & Save Time
Should I visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland?
Yeah, we think so.
Thank you for reading! We hope that we have given you an understanding of how Batuu and Black Spire Outpost fit into Star Wars and Disneyland.
For an overall guide to planning your Disneyland visit we recommend our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. If you want more information about using Lightning Lanes to speed your way onto the Star Wars attractions, see our guide here. Finally, please consider subscribing to our newsletter below, and get posts like this in your email inbox. Thanks again for reading (and may the Force be with you)!
