Disneyland Resort’s Season of the Force, a park-wide celebration of all things Star Wars, makes its epic return this year. Set in the same universe that takes place in a galaxy far, far away, guests can immerse themselves into the mythology, where they can become part of the resistance or join the first order at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
While this year’s celebrations comes with new character meet-and-greets, new culinary eats, the return of Star Wars overlays at Hyperspace Mountain, a new nightly projection show on the Black Spires of Batuu, there are also some concerns about where this world could improve when it comes to having more diversity and representation.
Starting today and running until May 11, 2025, Season of the Force welcomes all Disneyland guests to participate in something special. Of course, since this is all for a limited time, Star Wars fans must make their way to Galaxy’s Edge to meet characters like Luke Skywalker and the “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga,” a projection show that takes guests on a storytelling adventure across the galaxy.
Such additions to the Star Wars canon emphasize the importance of integrating popular stories into the park, which also happens to coincide with the release of shows like Ahsoka and The Mandalorian. So when guests meet Luke Skywalker, it isn’t the Luke of A New Hope or even the Luke of Return of the Jedi; it’s the Luke we meet in the final episode of The Mandalorian season 2.
“As we have evolved, our land over the past. Galaxy’s Edge has evolved over the past few years,” Michael Serna, Executive Creative Director, Disney Live Entertainment, said. “We wanted to kind of embrace stories that people are loving right now. So when we created Galaxy’s Edge, Mandalorian didn’t exist. Now the Mandalorian arrived, and we knew that fans wanted to meet Mandalorian, that worked for us to tell that story in our land.”
The appearance of new fan-favorite characters like the Mandalorian helps enhance the guest experience while also reflecting the canon. Guests no longer have to wonder where their favorite characters are because they’ll eventually travel to Batuu. So when Ahsoka, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Sabine Wren, and Hera dropped by for a visit, fans not only got excited to see their characters in the parks, but it also coincided with the release of key shows, making the experience much more memorable.
“Luke’s appearance into Mandalorian was sort of a beautiful moment for us to say, well, then maybe that makes sense that in this world where the Mandalorian has arrived here, maybe Luke is following him across the galaxy and has come here to find him,” Serna continued. “So it felt like a perfect way to bring this character that we know people have been asking for for years, to meet in person in our land, in the experience of Galaxy’s edge.”
While it’s impossible not to feel a sense of nostalgia when meeting Luke, who is draped in his black shadowy cloak, there is also a noticeable absence of more characters that reflect the diversity I see around me. That is not to say the parks haven’t made an effort to bring such characters or any other person of color into the parks. Certainly, fan favorites like Fennec Shnand and Sabine Wren are fun to see. Considering that many of the characters that have made their way to Batuu are post-Return of the Jedi, some, like Rogue One and Andor’s Cassian Andor, may be unable to visit because it would probably throw off the canon. Or creative teams could figure out a way to have these characters without crossing with others from different parts of the saga.
On a side note, if one wanted to see Cassian Andor, Diego Luna reprised the character for a brief appearance on a Star Tours Starspeeder flight in Tomorrowland. Guests may also see holographic messages from Ahsoka Tano or Din Djarin and Grogu.
Though it’s exciting to see these characters from the Skywalker Saga when it comes to original characters explicitly made for Galaxy’s Edge itself, one has to wonder where are the stories of the heroes are shaped by different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. For every Vi Moradi who graces the Resistance’s ranks, there’s a glaring void for other characters of color. Mordai’s introduction to the Black Spire Outpost storyline enhances the guest experience and the narrative of the Galaxy’s Edge. As such, her inclusion went beyond the parks and into the broader Star Wars canon where she appeared in the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge novel “Black Spire” by Delilah S. Dawson — which also ties into the parks.
So it’s great to see how the acknowledgment of that need to have a reflection of the world we live in is seen in characters like Moradi, but there’s is room for improvement.
That being said, this year’s Season of the Force leans heavily towards the nostalgia with the addition of Luke Skywalker. The Skywalker name is the beating heart of the Star Wars saga, and Luke’s coming-of-age story and redemptive arc resonate across multiple generations, reminding everyone that one can be a hero.
Season of the Force goes beyond just the characters you can meet at Batuu. There are also new limited-time foods to consider eating while you roam the park. Considering that Docking Bay 7’s Dewback Chili Noodles and Fried Chicken Baos aren’t new, I decided to try out Ronto Roaster’s Fried Falumpaset Cheese Skewer and Keshian Spiced Milk Tea. The milk tea is a fascinating combination of different cultures, from the Tawainese milk tea base to a Mexican-inspired horchata jelly and Korean-inspired caramel sugar crisp. I didn’t notice the horchata jelly, to be honest, as there was a gingerbread-like flavoring that overpowered it, but in the best way possible. And the caramel sugar crisp reminded me of a dalgona. And yet, I couldn’t get enough of the drink.
While the Keshian Spiced Milk Tea works independently, it pairs well with the Fried Falumpaset Cheese Skewer. If you’re a fan of Korean cheese corn dogs, this is what you should get from Ronto’s Roasters. The fried potato cube exterior provides a nice, warm, crispy crunch with every bite, and the gooey mozzarella core beautifully stretches as you pull it. And the mustard-cheese dipping sauce adds a tangy flavor to the party. Although, I’m not entirely sure I would call it a mustard-cheese because I tasted more mustard than cheese. Having the two together makes for a perfect snack that balances the cheese’s richness and the milk tea’s sweetness.
It’s nice to see how they can bring these kinds of global flavors to a place like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. By doing so, it introduces delectable snacks and drinks from places worldwide, but it just so happens that they can be found in a galaxy far, far away.
However, if you want something with more substance, then Tomrrowland’s Galactic Grill is the place to go. And I highly recommend splitting a lot of the food. For one thing, the Galactic Gyro Burger isn’t for those who already had their fill of food and drink. The burger is an Angus beef and vegetable patty with a Havarti cheese slice, feta tzatziki sauce, cucumber, tomato, and red onion served on a toasted ciabatta bun. It is as advertised. I may not eat a lot of gyros, but the patty was packed with flavor, which was balanced out by the cool and creamy feta tzatziki sauce. The diced cucumbers and sliced red onions gave the burger a nice crunch, while the tomato provided some nice umami. Unfortunately, the bun was more like two large pieces of bread, which made the burger more filling than it should have been.
As for the Loaded Outpost Fries, it isn’t something out of the ordinary or something that you must get, but if you are a fan of loaded Irish nachos with a twist, then this item is what you are looking for. Crinkle-cut fries and onion rings topped with BBQ pulled pork, cheddar, and Monterey jack blend, pickled red onions, roasted corn, sour cream drizzle, and green onions. It’s not exactly clear, for me at least, how to properly eat something that is so layered, but I suggest starting with the onion ring, then topping it with the other components – that way you get that crunch from the onion ring batter and corn, the sweetness of the bbq sauce, the coolness of the sour cream, the sharpness of the cheeses, and the savoriness of the pork. It may sound like a lot at first, but it is an indulgent dish worth sharing.
Finally, there’s the Pi-Co Punch, a piña colada-like drink that is lightyears better than the blue milk that is served at the Milk Stands at Batuu. It’s a refreshing balance of sweetness, creaminess, and citrus from the respective pineapple juice, coconut milk, and lime juice. While the pineapple chunks help intensify the pineapple flavorings and give it a bit more of a body, the blue-colored lotus root doesn’t do much for it. For one thing, it’s just there for what appears to be aesthetics and texture. The lotus root helps it look galactic while giving it a bit of a bite, but it doesn’t do much else to give the drink more flavorful depth.
The epic Star Wars overlays on attractions like Hyperspace Mountain helps make the Season of the Force more fun. Guests board their ship and fend off crossfire from swarms of Rebel X-wing starfighters and Imperial TIE fighters. Also at Tomorrowland is the Star Tours — The Adventures Continue. Guests hop aboard Starspeeder flight, with C-3PO serving as their guide, hoping to see picturesque destinations only to have Darth Vader accuse someone on board of being a dangerous spy. After receiving urgent messages from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, or Din Djarin and Grogu. These are the same messages received from Season of the Force in the past. So, if you have yet to experience the over 250 different storyline variations, you might want to take a tour across the galaxy again.
The grand adventures come to a close with a new nighttime spectacular projection show, “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga.” As a fan of Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars, “Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga” represents the best of visual storytelling that utilizes projection mapping on spires to create a cinematic experience that feels almost like a dream coming to life. Using John Williams’ iconic musical score set against projected recreated key moments from across the Skywalker Saga, guests can watch Episodes I-IX unfold before their eyes. There will be moments of excitement and joy in pod racing, tragedy, and terror in the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Sith, and hope to overcome fear when Luke discovers his true calling. Though, like most stories passed down from generation to generation, some things may appear distorted.
“You’re gonna see a way of storytelling we’ve never done in any of our parks before,” and never done with the Star Wars story. And so I think it’s gonna be nostalgic at times, but also very surprising to see things represented in ways we have never seen them before,” Serna said of the new nighttime spectacular. “We’re embracing the mythology, this idea of the Skywalker sagas as a story passed down over time, and maybe some things are kind of distorted a little bit in the way that you perceive these stories, as we do when we tell stories down many times over.”
Matt Martin, Sr. Creative Executive, Lucasfilm Ltd, helps manage the adherence to creative direction and narrative continuity across the Star Wars franchise with a focus on Disney Parks, said, “It’s like Star Wars have become kind of a modern myth for us in the in the real world, and now we’re getting to see kind of like, what the story of Star Wars as a myth with Star Wars.”
Finally, “Fire of the Rising Moons” is the other nighttime spectular that guests can experience. The show isn’t strictly separate from Mickey’s Mix Magic with Fireworks, but a smaller-scale nighttime spectacular and more closely tailored to the Star Wars atmosphere. These fireworks are drawn from the same pool of fireworks used for the larger Disneyland fireworks show but specifically fit the immersive experience of Galaxy’s Edge. So there are likely to be a few lulls in the show, considering the regular Disneyland fireworks show was meant to be seen in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle. That said, it still feels like one is a part of a Star Wars victorious grande finale.
Season of the Force at Disneyland offers an unforgettable experience for Star Wars fans, blending nostalgia with fresh, exciting additions to the Star Wars canon. From meeting iconic characters like Luke Skywalker to experiencing breathtaking projection shows such as Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga, guests are invited to immerse themselves in the heart of the galaxy far, far away. While the Season highlights beloved characters and moments, it also underscores the importance of greater diversity in both the stories and characters that populate Batuu. Hopefully, future Season of the Force continues to embrace the saga’s enduring legacy while looking toward the future by offering something special for fans of all generations and backgrounds.
So if you’re a Star Wars fan then make the jump to hyperspace and head on over to Anaheim, California now. The celebration lasts from now until May 11, 2025.
