Fire of the Rising Moons Fireworks at Disneyland
Some Disney additions feel forced. Others feel like they were always meant to be there. Fire of the Rising Moons falls firmly into the second category. Seen from inside Galaxy’s Edge, this fireworks experience feels natural. It does not interrupt the land. Instead, it fits right in.
Although it syncs with Disneyland’s nightly fireworks, the view from Black Spire Outpost changes everything. The music, lighting, and atmosphere turn a familiar show into something that feels distinctly Star Wars.
What Is Fire of the Rising Moons?
Within the story of Galaxy’s Edge, Fire of the Rising Moons is framed as a celebration on Batuu. Villagers and visitors come together to honor freedom, heroes, and legends from across the galaxy.
In practice, it is a Star Wars–inspired musical and atmospheric overlay experienced during Disneyland’s nightly fireworks. There are no projections and no live characters. Instead, the show relies on sound, sightlines, and Disneyland Firework.
The Story Behind the Celebration
The ceremony is introduced by Tohan Lege, the Lore-weaver of Black Spire Outpost. After making Batuu his home, Tohan recorded its history and spirit so the stories would endure.
To preserve those stories, he restored an old astromech droid using scrap parts and a little luck. He named the droid Bard. Each night, Bard shares the Lore-weaver’s words as Black Spire celebrates the Fire of the Rising Moons. The storytelling is light but meaningful. It adds context without overpowering the moment.
Why It Works Inside Galaxy’s Edge
Galaxy’s Edge was designed to avoid traditional theme park interruptions, and Fire of the Rising Moons respects that approach. Rather than pulling guests out of Batuu, the sky becomes part of the environment. Fireworks burst overhead while the land’s soundscape stays intact, making the moment feel like something happening within the world, not on top of it.
The experience features music inspired by John Williams’ Star Wars film scores and can be enjoyed from several areas, including the Black Spire Spaceport near Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the TIE Echelon docking platform near First Order Cargo, and the speeder garage near Droid Depot.
Guests wearing MagicBand+ get an added layer of immersion, with coordinated lights and subtle vibrations that enhance the atmosphere.
It Feels Like Star Wars
Fire of the Rising Moons does not feel like a standard Disney fireworks show with Star Wars music added. It feels like a Star Wars moment that happens to use fireworks.
The pacing is controlled. The music carries emotion. By skipping projections, the focus stays on mood and immersion rather than spectacle.
For Star Wars fans, that difference matters.
Why Walt Disney World and Why It Hasn’t Happened
Fire of the Rising Moons feels like it belongs in Galaxy’s Edge. The concept fits. The storytelling works. And the experience proves the land can support nighttime moments without breaking immersion.
That said, Disneyland and Walt Disney World are very different parks.
At Disneyland, fireworks are a nightly constant and woven into the park’s rhythm. Galaxy’s Edge naturally becomes a place to experience them in a new way. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the park operates differently. There is no park-wide fireworks show. Fantasmic is contained to its stage. Projections on the Chinese Theatre do not include fireworks.
I still miss Star Wars: Galactic Spectacular, the fireworks show that once defined nighttime at the Studios. A casualty of the pandemic, it never returned.
Because of those differences, Fire of the Rising Moons feels less like a missed opportunity for Walt Disney World and more like a reflection of Disneyland’s unique character.
For more from Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge be sure to check out the Story Behind the Story, Opening Day interviews, an interview with Doug Chiang, a special D23 Expo look at creating the Music of Galaxy’s Edge, DJ Rex in action at Oga’s Cantina, An Overview of Batuu, a look at creating galaxy’s edge with an Imagineer, merchandise, Star Wars Comic Books, Star Wars Myths & Fables, Galaxy’s Edge Cookbook, a look behind the Galactic Starcruiser, a Galaxy Far Far Away stage show, and Star Wars Galactic Fireworks from Hollywood Studios.
