Disneyland Resort is making a quiet yet notable change to one of its popular experiences, signaling a shift in how guests will interact with a key Star Wars attraction.
For nearly 70 years, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, has stood as the birthplace of Disney’s theme park magic, evolving from a single park into a global empire spanning three continents. While Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, dwarfs its West Coast counterpart in size, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park continue to hold a unique place in the hearts of fans, offering that classic Disney charm and nostalgia.
Over the years, Disneyland Resort has kept up with the times by integrating some of Disney’s most successful Intellectual Properties (IP) into its parks. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge arrived in 2019, followed by Avengers Campus in 2021, cementing the resort’s status as a must-visit destination for fans of both franchises. Looking ahead, an Avatar-themed expansion is also in the works, bringing Pandora to the West Coast for the first time.
Galaxy’s Edge remains one of the most popular areas at Disneyland Park, offering guests the chance to live out their Star Wars fantasies through attractions like Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The land also boasts interactive experiences, including Savi’s Workshop for custom lightsabers and the Droid Depot, where guests can build their own astromech droid.
Currently, reservations are required for both of these hands-on activities, but that’s about to change—at least for one of them. Disney has quietly announced that, starting March 17, 2025, reservations will no longer be necessary for the Droid Depot experience at Disneyland Park. Guests will instead rely on walk-up availability.
“Incoming transmission: Droid Depot in Disneyland Park will no longer offer reservations starting March 17, 2025, but walk-ups are always welcome!” reads the official Disneyland Resort website.
The move raises some interesting questions. Could this indicate a decline in demand for the experience? With a price tag of $99.99 plus tax, building an astromech at Droid Depot is one of the pricier add-ons at the park. By removing reservations, Disney may be adapting to shifting guest interest or aiming to streamline park operations.
For now, this change applies only to Disneyland Resort. Guests visiting Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios will still need to make reservations for the Droid Depot experience. Similarly, no adjustments have been announced for Savi’s Workshop, meaning lightsaber-building remains a pre-booked affair.
This update comes as Disneyland Resort—and Disney Parks as a whole—continue to evolve. With new attractions in the works, a rapidly expanding Lightning Lane system, and growing competition from Universal Studios, Disney is clearly adapting its strategies. While the removal of Droid Depot reservations may seem minor, it’s another example of how the guest experience is shifting in real-time.
What do you think? Is this a welcome change, or does it signal something bigger? Let us know in the comments below!
