Star Wars at Disneyland- Star Wars Bar, Rides, Lightsaber Building

The Star Wars experiences at Disneyland feel absolutely endless. From the 3 Star Wars rides and 1 ride overlay, the exclusive merchandise, the Star Wars-themed food, and even the characters you get to meet, Disneyland created a place where Star Wars fans can truly immerse themselves!

Believe it or not, the Star Wars franchise has a long history with Disney – and it dates back to long before Disney’s acquisition of LucasFilm. And good thing too, because without their relationship, we wouldn’t be enjoying all of the Star Wars rides and experiences at Disneyland.

I’ve ridden the Star Wars rides at Disneyland countless times and sometimes have spent half of my Disneyland in Batuu and I want to share with you everything there is to know about all the Star Wars offerings at Disneyland. This is your guide to all things Star Wars at the Disneyland Resort!

Star Wars at Disneyland Overview

Star Wars at Disneyland includes year round Star Wars rides plus an entire land themed to Star Wars with shopping, dining, and characters.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the land devoted to Star Wars which includes two main attractions (Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run) plus a Star Wars themed bar. Shopping opportunities include the chance to build a droid and lightsaber and interactive character moments.

Star Tours is the third ride at Disneyland located in Tomorrowland. This iconic ride has been a part of the park since 1987.

There are also seasonal events that take place throughout the year at Disneyland including May the 4th celebration, Disneyland After Dark events plus a brand NEW event coming this year. Let's get into all the seasonal events and the permanent Star Wars attractions at Disneyland.

Season of the Force: NEW Star Wars Disneyland Celebration in 2024

New for 2024, Disneyland recently announced the Season of the Force which will take place during late Spring/early Summer at the Disneyland Resort. An event that originally came about to celebrate Star Wars: The Force Awakens, this event will take place from April 5 through June 2, 2024, meaning it will overlap with both the Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite events and the “May the Fourth” celebration.

Season of the Force at Disneyland will see some returning favorites (which we’ll cover below) as well as some new additions, including a “fresh perspective” on the Disneyland fireworks in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

May the Fourth

Whether or not you’re a fan of the Star Wars franchise, you’re likely familiar with the phrase “May the Force be with you.” Coming from many of the beloved characters throughout Star Wars lore, this phrase was used to wish an individual or group of people good luck or goodwill.

Although not created or declared by Lucasfilm at the time, because of their similar sounds, this famous phrase turned May 4th into what we now know as “Star Wars Day,” a holiday in celebration of our love of all things Star Wars.

While plans for “May the Fourth” haven’t been announced for 2024, the past can show us what may be in our future. In 2023, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was the place to be! For the celebration, guests enjoyed new Star Wars merchandise, unique PhotoPass opportunities, and special “May the Fourth” treats. Have a look at all the things offered last year! Let’s highlight a few things that are part of May the 4th.

May the Fourth Merchandise

There was an endless supply of new products celebrating “Star Wars Day” at Disneyland, including a “Return of the Jedi” coffee mug, Ahsoka-inspired Corkcicle tumbler and sport canteen, new hilt adaptors and accessories at Savi’s Workshop, and new Legacy Lightsaber collectible hilts! If last year’s release of products is any indicator of what’s coming up this year, I’d expect new Legacy Lightsaber hilts, newly designed coffee mugs, and new Loungefly bags at least!

Photo Opportunities and PhotoPass Service

Over in Downtown Disney, the youngest jedi were able to capture special moments with a photo opportunity celebrating the Disney+ series “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” near the Star Wars Trading Post.

However, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Disney launched several PhotoPass Service opportunities, including appearances by BB-8 or BD-1 while standing in front of a life-sized Millennium Falcon.

Hyperspace Mountain

A massive fan favorite (certainly one of my favorite overlays), the Star Wars overlay of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland is a wonderful way to fly through a galaxy far, far away. Dubbed “Hyperspace Mountain” and only available for a limited time, guests were able to fend off crossfire from New Republic X-Wing starfighters and Imperial TIE fighters battling it out for the galaxy!

Tasty Star Wars Treats

When it comes to food at Disneyland, Disney does not mess around. There was Star Wars-themed food all around the Disneyland Resort, including a Five Blossom Bread with Mustard Cream at Oga’s cantina, a cute Grogu Candy Apple at Marceline’s Confectionary, and a Ginger Daiquiri at Hearthstone Lounge. My personal favorite is the Darth by Chocolate Parfait at Galactic Grill. The rich chocolate in it brought me out of this world!

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Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite

In recent years, Disneyland guests fell in love with the many Disneyland After Dark events: separately-ticketed, themed evenings with unique entertainment, beloved character appearances, specialty food and beverage, and exclusive merchandise offerings. Oh, and since this is a separately-ticketed events, attending guests would enjoy after-hours theme park and ride access with less wait times!

For 2024, Disneyland is bringing back Star Wars Nite, with more scheduled nights than ever before! Better yet, these nights will take place during the “Season of the Force,” from April 5th – June 2nd, 2024:

• April 16, 18, 23, 25, 30
• May 2, 7, and 9

Note that May the Fourth falls into this timeline but does not coincide with one of the Star Wars Nites, leaving you plenty of time to celebrate May the Fourth at Disneyland Resort!

Like the Jedi, let’s look into past event offerings to see what might be offered this year!

Characters and Photo Locations

Star Wars fans rejoice, because some rare characters come out on these special nights to take photos with. In 2023, not only could you meet Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and Rey (who you could also meet during the day in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). You could also meet Darth Maul, Emperor Palpatine and His Royal Guard, Ewoks, and even Queen Amidala!

Disneyland even pulled out some extra stops and brought out surprise characters like Anakin Skywalker and even Mickey and Minnie in their R2-D2 and BB-8 outfits! My favorite? Ezra and Sabine, from one of my favorite Star Wars series, “Rebels.”

Entertainment at Star Wars Nite

The entertainment during these nights felt endless. From watching the March of the First Order with Captain Phasma to the Galactic DJ Party Zone, Lightsaber Masters Training to musical appearances by Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, your night will be galaxy-packed with Star Wars experiences. And of course, who could forget the Celebrate the Nite Fireworks Show, complete with music from the iconic Star Wars films?

Exclusive Access to Star Wars Rides & All Disneyland Attractions

During these Star Wars events at Disneyland, guests were able to enjoy after-hours access to attractions, including Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. And don’t forget about Hyperspace Mountain, which we discussed earlier!

Exclusive Star Wars Treats

If any of the treats we mentioned earlier sounded tasty to you, you’d probably be drooling over some of the Star Wars Nite exclusive treats guests were only able to purchase during Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite. Over at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, guests were able to feast on the Galactic Princess Sundae. Mint fans were able to grab the Mossy Mint Churro at the Frontierland churro cart. Red Rose Taverne even served up a Harissa Tip-Yip Bowl for a savory treat!

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Mecca of Star Wars at Disneyland

In 2019, guests were able to expand their own adventures into the far reaches of space at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. According to the Walt Disney Company, “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney Park” and is “one of the most ambitious, advanced, and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.” Both Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike can step foot into this land can easily understand why.

The Star Wars Offerings are Truly Endless

Shortly after entering the planet Batuu, guests feel like they leave Disneyland Resort and truly immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe. Let’s check out the food options offered at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Dining at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests can choose from 1 of 5 dining locations, each with its on unique menu items. Let’s take a look at what each location offers! We rate some of these as top restaurants at Disneyland.

• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo: Here, guests can dine on a variety of Star Wars themed dishes inside of a cargo loading area, including pork ribs, poke, stir fry, and the tip-yip. They also offer plant-based options.
• Kat Saka’s Kettle: This location is a great spot for a quick snack. The most popular items here are different flavors of popcorn and the cold brew. Choose from the blue Buttered Blue Grains popcorn or the more adventurous Outpost Popcorn Mix, a mix of sweet and spicy flavors. The Cold Brew Black Caf is extremely popular among Disneyland Resort guests and is topped with sweet cream cheese and chocolate puffs.
• Milk Stand: Want an adventurous Star Wars drink? Look no further, because here, you can find the famous blue or green milk. Both drinks are a plant-based blend of coconut and rice milk. While the green milk is more citrus-y, the blue milk has more of a fruity taste. Which team are you on – Team Blue milk or Team Green Milk?
• Oga’s Cantina: For those looking to sip on an alcoholic beverage, mosey on into the extremely popular Oga’s Cantina and listen to DJ R-3X’s galactic beats while sipping on an out-of-this world beverage. Note that while reservations aren’t required, they are highly recommended.
• Ronto Roasters: Known for its Ronto Wraps, Ronto Roasters heats their food up with a pod racer engine, which quite frankly, is pretty awesome in terms of Star Wars theming. Different wraps are available for breakfast versus lunch and dinner. They also offer plant-based and allergy-friendly wraps!

Experiences at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

The immersion into Star Wars doesn’t stop with setting foot into Batuu. There’s 2 hands-on experiences that guests can enjoy:

• Savi’s Workshop: Here, you can build your very own custom lightsaber. This is an experience I have yet to enjoy, but from speaking to friends and family who have done this, it’s truly an awesome must-do experience! The reason I haven’t done this yet? I spent a lot of my hard earned cash on Legacy Lightsaber hilts at Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities! These hilts are modeled after some of my favorite Jedi and Sith characters.
• Droid Depot: Here, you can put together your very own droid and then take it for a spin on the nearby playpad!

If you choose not to partake in any of these experiences, don’t worry, because there are plenty of characters (on both the Light side and Dark side) to run into in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! While there aren’t specific spots or schedules for character meet-and-greets, you never know when some of our most beloved Star Wars characters roam Batuu, making your trip that much more special. You may see the likes of Rey and Chewbacca, Kylo Ren with his Storm Troopers, or even The Mandalorian with Grogu!

If meeting characters isn’t quite your style, take out your data pad (on your mobile device) and play interactive games on the Play Disney Parks app! The possibilities truly are endless!

Shopping at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

One of the things I absolutely love about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the feel of walking through an international marketplace. Walking in from the Critter Country entrance, you’ll make your way into a covered area with a variety of shops. Here, you can check out Black Spire Outfitters, Creature Stall, and Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Find everything from Sabacc, the popular Star Wars game, Jedi clothing, or creatures from across the galaxy.

On opposite ends of Batuu, you can find First Order Cargo or Resistance Supply. As their names imply, these locations offer merchandise specific to either The Resistance or The First Order. Which team are you on?

Star Wars Rides at Disneyland Resort

Enough about these offerings though! Let’s go over the Star Wars rides at Disneyland.

The Ride That Started it all: Star Tours

George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars, has been a Disney fan ever since he was a child. In fact, he first visited Disneyland during its opening week in 1955. So it was no surprise that after Star Wars became such a big hit in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lucas partnered with Disney CEO Michael Eisner to develop a Star Wars-themed ride for Disneyland.

Located in Tomorrowland, this was Disneyland’s and Walt Disney World’s first modern simulator ride where guests can ride in a flight simulator modeled after the ones used for training pilots and astronauts.

Note, for 2024, guests will be able to experience new adventures on this ride, going to even more of their favorite Star Wars planets!

The Ride Queue

When guests enter the queue, they feel like they’re in an airport (or a “Starport” in the Star Wars universe). Next to the life-sized Starspeeder, a large video screen displays a list of arrival and departure times to familiar Star Wars destinations.

In the ride queue, guests also get to see a small droid examining luggage moving through an x-ray machine. Stay sharp, because you never know what familiar things you might see in that x-ray machine! Just before boarding your Starspeeder, pay attention to another droid who takes body scans of guests in line. That droid will sound oddly familiar if you’ve ridden Soarin’ over the World over at Disney California Adventure (or Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove!).

Similar to other rides at Disneyland, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. While the standby queue for this ride has a lot to fun details to experience, Star Tours does offer w via Genie+ so that guests can save time. Individual Lightning Lanes go fast, so grab one as soon as selections open.

This ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park open everyday for guests staying at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels.

The Ride: Why You’ll Want to Ride Again and Again

The pre-boarding video overhead shows a series of mishaps that causes your Starspeeder to launch too soon, with our familiar Star Wars friend C-3PO finding himself in the cockpit of your starship. A droid on the video then gives guests the necessary safety precautions before boarding the ride.

Soon after your Starspeeder takes flight, guests find out there is a Rebel spy on board. Make sure to keep your eye on the small video screen to the right. No spoilers here, so ride the attraction to see what we mean!

The beauty of this Star Wars ride is its re-rideability factor. With 54 different ride combinations, guests never know what they might experience. Possibilities include visiting popular Star Wars destinations like Hoth, Naboo, and Tatooine and encountering characters like Boba Fett, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader.

After landing, guests exit through The Star Trader gift shop, which contains enough Star Wars merchandise for your heart’s content.

Star Tours: Important Information to Know When Riding

Since the ride is a flight simulator that features jolting action, Disney recommends that guests who are expectant mothers or are dealing with back or neck problems should avoid riding. Star Tours also features digital 3D video (requiring 3D glasses) and various special effects which may affect guests who are sensitive to motion.

The height restriction is 40 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who traveled to Disneyland with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Star Tours does offer a “Ride Switch” option, which allows one adult guest to take turns riding while the other waits in line with their child.

Guests using ECVs at Disneyland must be able to transfer into a wheelchair for the queue and then transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning are available. Finally, service animals are not allowed on this ride.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

The first of the two Star Wars rides at Disneyland that opened in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run gives guests the chance to fly Han Solo’s legendary Millennium Falcon, the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy,” on a mission for the pirate Hondo Ohnaka. Located between Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, this ride is hard to miss. The life-sized Falcon greets Disneyland guests and makes for a stunning photo backdrop.

The Ride Queue: It’s all in the Details

Straight away, the queue for this ride is lengthy – be prepared to walk and stand around a lot! However, Imagineers made up for the queue length with its immersiveness. Guests get to walk through an engine room, and mechanic shop, and get wonderful views of the Falcon from above. It’s a wonderful experience for both Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike. Don’t forget to take advantage of the interactive queue that guests can experience through the Play Disney Parks app!

Similar to other rides at Disneyland, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. Smugglers Run does offer Lightning Lane via Genie+. Individual Lightning Lanes go fast, so grab one as soon as selections open.

Smugglers Run also offers a Single Rider line so that guests can save time. Keep in mind that even if your whole group joins the Single Rider line, you will all likely be separated when it comes time to board. This ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park open everyday for guests staying at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels.

Toward the end of the queue, the pre-show takes place in Hondo Ohnaka’s command center, where Hondo explains the mission he has for you. So his story goes, Hondo cut a deal with Chewbacca to use the falcon for some – sketchy – transportation business.

After the ride pre-show, guests enter the Falcon through an umbilical bridge and are assigned to a flight crew of up to six people. While waiting for your group to be called, you can explore the ship’s main hold – a life-sized recreation of the beloved Falcon from the Star Wars movies!

The Ride is a Supersized Arcade Game

When called, your flight crew heads toward the Falcon’s cockpit. Your mission: steal supplies from the First Order to sell on the black market. Each rider receives their role: the pilot and copilot steers the ship and activates hyperdrive, two gunners shoot down enemy fighters, and two engineers repair the ship when needed.

While similar to the flight simulator that Star Tours uses, Smugglers Run is different from other Disneyland rides in that it’s more interactive: it uses buttons, switches, and levers that enhances guests’ experiences. Think of it like an arcade game on an astronomical level! When riding, watch for the indicator rings to light up around key controls to clue you in on when to use them. Additionally, the ultra-HD domed video screens in front of the cockpit aren’t attached to the ride vehicle, making the ride seem more realistic and reducing the potential for motion sickness.

Smugglers Run: Important Information to Know When Riding

In the end, since the ride is a flight simulator with intense high speed moments, Disney recommends that guests should be “in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.”

The height restriction is 38 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who traveled to Disneyland with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Smugglers Run does offer a “Ride Switch” option just like Star Tours.

Guests using an ECV or wheelchair at Disneyland can use their assistive device for the queue and then must transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning are available. Finally, service animals are not allowed on this ride.

The (Not so Secret) Secret to Unlock: Chewie Mode

One final feature about this fun ride: Many Disneyland guests heard of Chewie Mode, which when unlocked, will allow guests to hear Chewbacca’s voice during the entire ride instead of Hondo’s voice. To unlock this mode, guests must do the following before the Cast Member leaves their cockpit to start their ride:

• Pilots must push their controls to the extreme left/right or up/down, hold that position, and then hit their activation button.
• Gunners must press and hold one of the white buttons directly next to their display and then press their activation button.

Let’s move on to the final (and arguably the most exciting) Star Wars ride at Disneyland.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Tucked into a scrubland forest soon after entering Galaxy’s Edge, from Critter Country is a mobile Resistance gun turret marking the entrance of the ride. Set sometime during the Star Wars trilogy sequel, this ride fully immerses guests in a battle between the Resistance and the First Order, featuring popular Star Wars characters such as Rey, BB-8, and Kylo Ren.

The Ride Queue: It’s all in the Details

Similar to the queue for Smugglers Run, this ride queue is also very lengthy. Additionally, the first part of the standby queue is outdoors, so be prepared to spend time in the California heat if you’re visiting Disneyland during the summer months. Despite its length, it’s also very immersive and full of details. Guests eventually find themselves inside a resistance base with plenty of Star Wars artifacts along the way. Just like Smugglers run, this is also an interactive queue that guests can enjoy courtesy of the Play Disney Parks app.

Similar to other rides at Disneyland, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. Rise of the Resistance is far-and-away the more popular of the two rides at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, so don’t be surprised to see standby wait times balloon past 60 minutes. Additionally, this ride is notorious for breaking down frequently, which can easily add 30 minutes or more to the standby wait time. Just like Smugglers Run, this ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park open everyday for guests staying at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels.

Guests can also purchase an Individual Lightning Lane via Genie+ to save time, especially if this ride is a priority. Individual Lightning Lanes go fast, so grab one as soon as selections open.

The Ride Pre-Show “Wows” Guests Every Time

Inside the Resistance military outpost, BB-8 rolls in to initiate the pre-show, accompanied by a hologram of Rey, who recruits you to fight the First Order. Guests then board a standing-room-only shuttlecraft piloted by Liuetenant Bek. All is well until a Star Destroyer captures your shuttlecraft in its tractor beam and takes you into its belly.

When your shuttlecraft reopens, guests truly feel like they’re inside of the massive spacecraft that took them prisoner, complete with an army of Stormtroopers, TIE Fighters, and a bay window looking into outer space. First Order officers (Cast Members) then herd their prisoners into holding rooms to await interrogation by Kylo Ren and General Hux.

The Ride is the Most Technologically Advanced Ride at Disneyland

Just when all hope is lost, Resistance fighters come through and free guests from their cell, guiding them to an escape pod. This is where you board your ride vehicle. The entire ride then follows your escape from the Star Destroyer ship. Guests enter an 8-passenger troop transport with an animatronic droid driver, then set off on a thrilling ride full of animatronic characters and enormous sets with video projections making for an incredible ride environment.

Guests get to ride beneath the legs of two towering AT-ATs while dodging laser fire, come face-to-face with Kylo Ren himself, and board an escape pod to crash land back to Batuu. This heart-stopping multi-story plunge enhanced by digital projections is not as intense as Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!, but it’s an incredibly exciting way to cap off this Star Wars Ride.

Rise of the Resistance is (and arguably will be for a while) the most technologically innovative ride at Disneyland. This ride integrates at least 4 different ride experiences of past Disneyland attractions: trackless ride vehicles, a motion simulator, walk-through environments, and an elevator drop. It’s difficult to truly grasp what this all amounts to until you ride it for yourself!

And yes, you read that right: an elevator drop! All-in-all, this ride can be scary at times for kids, even ones who love Star Wars. The elevator drop, darker areas, and character interactions (especially with the First Order) may be too much for some.

Rise of the Resistance: Important Information to Know When Riding

In the end, Rise of the Resistance is a simulator ride with intense high-speed moments and life-like sensations of flying and falling, guests may experience motion sickness on this ride. Disney recommends that guests should be “in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.”

The height restriction is 40 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who traveled to Disneyland with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Rise of the Resistance does offer a “Ride Switch” option just like Star Tours and Smugglers Run.

Guests using an ECV or wheelchair at Disneyland can use their assistive device on the entire queue and part of the attraction. They then must transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning are available.

Star Wars at Disneyland: Endless Offerings

There’s no question that the Star Wars ride and experience offerings at Disneyland make both Star Wars and non-Star Wars fans alike sing with joy. After reading this exhaustive list of offerings of Star Wars rides at Disneyland, which ones have you done? Better yet, which ones haven’t you done that you want to do next?

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