Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line will join a year-long celebration of Star Wars’ 50th anniversary in 2027, Lucasfilm and Disney announced today. The celebration starts in January, and Disney promises “reimagined Disney Parks and Cruise Line offerings” along the way. There are no specifics yet for Walt Disney World or the fleet, but Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios has already changed a lot this year. Here’s the latest.
Disney Parks and Cruise Line Will Celebrate 50 Years of Star Wars
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Disney confirmed Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line will take part in the Star Wars 50th anniversary but named no attractions, ships, or dates.
- Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios added a new Smugglers Run mission, new lightsaber effects, and a new Mandalorian meet-and-greet in 2026.
- The 1977 film returns to theaters February 19th, with more dates through May 2027 to plan a trip around.
Star Wars turns 50 in 2027, and Lucasfilm and Disney shared a first look 50 days before the new year begins. Most of the announcement covers movies, streaming, events, and collectibles. The parks and ships get one line of text, but for anyone planning a Disney vacation next year, that line matters most.
Disney says the global celebration “will honor five decades of storytelling with new project announcements, anniversary merchandise, dedicated fan events, archival releases, and reimagined Disney Parks and Cruise Line offerings.” That is the only reference to the parks or Disney Cruise Line in today’s announcement. Disney did not name a park, a ship, an attraction, or any other info. It also didn’t say whether Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and/or the international parks will all take part.
“Reimagined” points to changes to existing Star Wars experiences, though Disney hasn’t said what will change. On land, that list includes Galaxy’s Edge on both coasts and Star Tours. At sea, Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge sits aboard the Disney Wish. More announcements will follow later this year and into 2027, according to Disney, and parks and cruise details could arrive with them.
Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios Already Looks Different in 2026
Some of the groundwork for a big Star Wars year is already in place in Florida. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run picked up its Mandalorian and Grogu mission on May 22nd at both Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. We covered the new pre-show with Hondo Ohnaka ahead of that debut. That update also swapped the old Chewie Mode for a new “Grogu Mode” in the gunner seats.
In August, Imagineering announced a Smugglers Run crossover with Fortnite. Guests who link their Disney and Epic Games accounts unlock a bonus mode, and rewards carry between the ride and the game. Savi’s Workshop followed in October with new lightsaber effects, including thermal cutting, spinning, and deflection effects that work with every hilt theme.
Characters have shifted, too. The Mandalorian and Grogu now meet guests beside the Millennium Falcon in a traditional meet-and-greet, and Chewbacca moved to Mando’s old spot at the end of the Marketplace. More is on the way at Droid Depot. Disney says the Batuu Adventure Buddies collection, which started at Disneyland with an interactive Ewok, will eventually reach Hollywood Studios.
Will Disney World Follow Disneyland’s Original Trilogy Shift?
Each coast has taken a different approach with Galaxy’s Edge this year. Disneyland expanded the timeline of its Galaxy’s Edge on April 29th. Original trilogy characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader now roam Black Spire Outpost in California. The forest around the Resistance camp stays tied to the sequel trilogy.
Walt Disney World went the other way. At the time, Disney said Galaxy’s Edge in Florida “will continue to celebrate the sequel era throughout the land.” The 50th anniversary centers on the 1977 film, and its theatrical rerelease is the headline event of the year. A celebration built around that film could change the plan for Hollywood Studios, but Disney hasn’t said so, and it remains speculation until park details arrive.
Star Wars 50th Anniversary Dates for Your 2027 Trip
On February 19th, a restored version of the original Star Wars returns to thousands of screens worldwide. Formats include IMAX 70mm, 70mm, 35mm, 4DX, and D-BOX, among others. Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan called the rerelease a highlight of the year: “It is incredibly special to mark the 50th anniversary by returning the original version of Star Wars to theaters so audiences can experience this part of film history on the big screen.”
Here’s the calendar so far:
- January 1: Seven new LEGO Star Wars 50th anniversary sets go on sale.
- January 20: Ahsoka Season 2 premieres on Disney+, with Rosario Dawson back in the title role.
- February 13: Star Wars: The Experience, an exhibition, opens at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
- February 19: The restored Star Wars (1977) returns to theaters.
- March: Cosm debuts a Shared Reality version of Star Wars: A New Hope at its venues in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles.
- April 1-4: Star Wars Celebration takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event is sold out.
- April 2-3: Anthony Daniels hosts Star Wars in Concert: The Skywalker Saga at the Hollywood Bowl.
- May 4: The Hero Awakens, a documentary on the making of Star Wars from R.J. Cutler, arrives on Disney+.
- May 28: Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, opens in theaters.
Hasbro preorders for new figures inspired by the 1977 film open November 13th. Other partners include adidas, Mars, Aston Martin, Steinway, and Hajime Sorayama presented by Complex. Disney didn’t say whether any of the anniversary merchandise will reach Walt Disney World shops or Disney Cruise Line ships.
Keep Reading
- Smugglers Run now links to Fortnite, and our breakdown of the Smugglers Gambit crossover explains how rewards move between the ride and the game.
- Building a lightsaber soon? See every new Savi’s Workshop effect, plus current prices and booking tips.
- The Mandalorian and Grogu mission arrived during a packed stretch at Hollywood Studios, and our guide to the park’s biggest week in years covers everything else that opened in May.
- Heading to Hollywood Studios this holiday season? Our Disney Jollywood Nights 2026 map and event guide lists every attraction open during the event.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!