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Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge could grow–but how, and where?
The Walt Disney World Resort is amid major change. At multiple parks across the Central Florida destination, Disney Experiences is pushing ahead with large-scale developments like the Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom and the Tropical Americas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom will also be home to Villains Land in the years to come, with the area introducing new attractions (including a Maleficent-themed coaster) and dining experiences. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, work is well underway at the former Grand Avenue area where Monstropolis is taking shape.
Hollywood Studios recently welcomed The Magic of Disney Animation at the overhauled Animation Courtyard space last month, while Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opened earlier this year. All of these changes signal a park in motion, where evolution is the name of the game.
Prior to these recent changes at Hollywood Studios, the last major development at the park was the 2019 opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge; before that, it was Toy Story Land in 2018. But, with seven years of operation under its belt (as well as a defunct hotel experience), fans are looking ahead at what may come next for the Black Spire Outpost at Batuu.
While talk of an expansion at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge continues to circulate, a growing number of Disney fans believe the land’s biggest problem isn’t its size. According to a recent Reddit discussion, many guests feel Batuu needs to make better use of the space it already has before Walt Disney World looks at building outward.
The most popular comment in the thread, which earned more than 750 upvotes, put it plainly: “They don’t need to expand it. They need to fill it. We need the table service restaurant and live entertainment that we were supposed to have in the first place.”
It’s a sentiment that has followed Galaxy’s Edge since it opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2019. Over its first few months of operation, the land opened two headline attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, but some fans have long argued that elements discussed during its development never materialized.
Several users pointed to the uneven flow of guests through the land. Reddit user mdnightman94 wrote, “Yeah, it feels very empty if you aren’t by the rides. Seems like the area closer to Toy Story Land needs something to draw people over there.”
Others want Batuu to feel more alive moment to moment. User jedislurpee suggested Disney should “liven it up more. More characters, more action (some firefights taking place on the rooftops or something, maybe a little drone action that looks like space battles, idk). A Yoda meet & greet on Dagobah would be awesome.”
The Case for a Slower-Paced Attraction
A recurring idea in the discussion was the addition of a gentler ride to sit alongside the land’s two thrill-heavy offerings. User Markymarcouscous noted that the land “could do with a slow-moving ride, as was originally designed. A full-service restaurant would also be fun.”
The original poster, Jayzone456, agreed, writing, “I agree that a Bantha people mover like ride that was originally planned, where you take a nice tour around the land, would do wonders for Galaxy’s Edge. Especially since Hollywood Studios is lacking in these smaller-scale, non-E-Ticket, more relaxed rides.”
The idea of the “Bantha” ride has been discussed previously, with Blog Mickey writing in 2024: “The ride has been talked about quite a bit, informally referred to as the ‘Bantha ride’, and would feature a giant creature named Elee that would interact with guests and give some guests a ride around the land.”
In fact, Frank Mezzatesta, a former Walt Disney Imagineering employee who worked for the Mouse House for 41 years, confirmed that plans for the attraction were “pretty far along” but were cut as a “cost-saving move.” The demand for a People Mover-esque ride points to a wider gap at Hollywood Studios, where much of the attraction lineup leans toward high-intensity experiences, leaving fewer options for families with younger children or guests looking for a more relaxed pace.
Galaxy’s Edge or Pandora First?
The conversation also turned to which Walt Disney World land might be next in line for investment. User WorldlinessThat2984 asked, “A better question might be what you think gets expanded first: Pandora or Galaxy’s Edge (both could benefit from a TSR and a third attraction)…”
Jayzone456 replied, “My guess would be Galaxy’s Edge gets expanded before Pandora. If they were to expand one.”
Disney Experiences has not confirmed any plans for new dining, entertainment, or attractions in either land, and with so much on the slate across both Disney World and Disneyland Resort, it is unlikely anything will be announced any time soon.
How do you think Disney Experiences should expand the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments down below!
