Disney has introduced the debut date of the brand new mission that includes Mandalorian and Child Yoda for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This submit shares dates & particulars, and every little thing we all know concerning the change–plus our tried and true commentary about Star Wars modifications.
This information was introduced throughout Disney’s characteristic presentation, “The Way forward for World-Constructing at Disney,” throughout South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Leisure Co-Chairman Alan Bergman took the stage, together with some particular friends, to share insights concerning the way forward for storytelling at Disney Parks and past, specializing in the intersection of creativeness and innovation. Principally a variety of fluff, but it surely’s enjoyable.
Amongst these on stage have been Jon Favreau, director and producer of the upcoming Star Wars movie, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” who was joined onstage by Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama to speak about what’s coming quickly to Batuu. One of many tasks they supplied an replace on was the brand new mission that includes the Mandalorian and Grogu coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as a synergistic tie-in to the upcoming movie.
“One of many cool issues about Disney is how we are able to inform our tales in so many alternative codecs,” Favreau informed the gang. “We’re already taking Mando and Grogu from the TV display to the film display, and on the similar time, [The Mandalorian executive producer] Dave [Filoni] and I are working with Asa to deliver this story to the Disney parks, too.”
It’s one thing that may solely be achieved at Disney, bringing avid Star Wars followers nearer to the tales they know and love through the modern magic at Disney Parks. This replace is simply a parsec or two away! This new mission in Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will debut on Might 22, 2026–the identical date “The Mandalorian and Grogu” arrives in theaters!
“Opening an attraction and such a large film on the identical day wouldn’t be potential with out the relationships we’ve got inside Disney,” Kalama added. “Jon and Dave have shared their story with us, and now we’ve all labored collectively to provide you with a brand new mission for Smugglers Run that performs into this narrative.”
Right here’s a take a look at a number of the new Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run scenes in Cloud Metropolis, Endor and Tatooine:
Working alongside The Mandalorian staff, the Imagineers captured scenes for the attraction on the film set, and also you would possibly see some acquainted (and beloved) Star Wars places aboard the Millennium Falcon. Take care of a visit to Cloud Metropolis, anybody?
“This isn’t going to retell what occurs within the film – it’s extra like collaborating in one thing that’s taking place simply off-camera from what you see within the movie,” Favreau defined.
Right here’s every little thing else we all know concerning the new Smugglers Run story based mostly on what’s been beforehand shared, adopted by our commentary…
This was first introduced throughout final yr’s D23 Expo, when Star Wars inventive govt Dave Filoni joined Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro and people from Epic Video games onstage to debate the upcoming addition to the attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at each Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.
As Dave defined, the Lucasfilm staff makes use of Epic’s Unreal Engine to create a number of the digital units for “The Mandalorian.” Now, with the expanded partnership between Disney and Epic Video games, Unreal Engine will assist deliver to life the most recent journey in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
“The intersection of storytelling and innovation has all the time been central to Lucasfilm and we’re excited to see the place this collaboration will take us subsequent,” Dave informed the gang again at D23 Expo. “Simply think about it: you’ll be capable to fly alongside Mando and Grogu on thrilling, and harmful, missions.”
Turning to commentary, I’m actually enthusiastic about Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run being up to date. I’m additionally shocked it’s taking place so quickly. The attraction is simply ~5 years previous (time flies), which continues to be fairly new within the grand scheme of issues.
It’s additionally a lot sooner than Imagineering would usually begin engaged on a refresh. The older Avatar Flight of Passage wasn’t up to date for the primary the sequel to that movie, regardless of it being (one other) James Cameron field workplace darling. And there’s no signal of an replace earlier than the third movie.
The plain distinction is reputation. Avatar Flight of Passage is a visitor favourite, routinely having one of many longest strains and highest wait occasions in all of Walt Disney World. It scores extremely properly on visitor satisfaction surveys, and nonetheless regularly elicits a spherical of applause on the finish. This isn’t to say friends dislike Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (they don’t!), but it surely’s no Flight of Passage.
In our view, Smugglers Run is a narrative of squandered potential.
It’s arguably the third-best Star Wars trip. Or, acknowledged otherwise, the worst. Rise of the Resistance is the clear #1. And each time I do Star Excursions, I’m reminded of how good it’s. I’ve actually loved the entire additions over time, which maintain it related and contemporary.
I really like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and assume it’s a greater general expertise from begin to end, however the trip portion of Star Excursions blows it away. Think about how nice Smugglers Run might be if it mixed the settings of Star Excursions with the interactivity and full bundle of the Millennium Falcon?!
As a substitute, Smugglers Run is the Star Wars equal of working for UPS. (For many who get pleasure from deliveryman simulators, would possibly I counsel Dying Stranding?) Heck, the asteroid subject delay scene is best than the precise core gameplay of Smugglers Run!
Level being, Smugglers Run has a lot unrealized potential. The whole bundle of the attraction across the gameplay is implausible and there’s so much to be mentioned for the want achievement of stepping contained in the Millennium Falcon cockpit, pulling the lever to leap to lightspeed, and so on. However then there’s the mission itself, which falls flat.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run might be a ten/10 attraction–the most effective on each coasts–and a extra compelling mission would get it there. Suffice to say, the addition of Mandalorian and Grogu might be an entire sport changer, elevating Galaxy’s Edge as a complete together with the brand new mission.
Earlier than we get carried away puffed up what Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run might be with this new mission, we must always level out that Imagineering hasn’t shared full particulars.
The above operates underneath the implicit assumption that this will likely be all-new gameplay, a mission constructed from the bottom up. It’s totally potential that can not be the case, however reasonably, that the brand new story that includes Mandalorian and Grogu will recycle belongings from the present mission. Or that there will likely be programming or tech limitations that forestall a significant overhaul.
It’s potential this will likely be a Star Excursions-style change, with a brand new section with Mandalorian and Child Yoda spliced into the present story. It’s additionally potential that an all-new mission will likely be developed, but it surely’ll in some way be worse. In any case, it is a interactive attraction that friends of all ages and backgrounds want to have the ability to choose up rapidly and play with out a prolonged tutorial or studying curve.
Nonetheless, I stay optimistic. As famous above, the present asteroid subject delay scene is one of the best gameplay loop in Smugglers Run–and that’s not even a part of the primary mission. This might be easier and higher, simply providing the satisfaction of seeing cool settings and acquainted characters, blowing stuff up, and beating the unhealthy guys. I don’t assume it must be extra advanced or difficult to be good. It may be easier and extra satisfying. They’re not mutually unique.
Now that we all know when the brand new mission will debut in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the massive unanswered query is what else will change with the attraction?
Let’s begin with what we don’t count on to vary: Hondo Ohnaka or Ohnaka Transport Options, his smuggling operation that ‘borrows’ the Millennium Falcon. Hondo has a wry humorousness, is a lovable scoundrel, and the Audio Animatronics of Hondo within the pre-show is really spectacular.
None of that should change, even when nobody is aware of who Hondo is (no offense Clone Wars followers). Realistically, it additionally received’t change as a result of it will be approach too costly, ballooning the finances and timeline. I suppose they might throw a helmet on Hondo and provides him new threads, however I extremely doubt that. Extra possible, any new story goes to suit the framework of the attraction and never require bodily modifications to something.
Past that, it’s unclear whether or not the brand new Mandalorian mission will necessitate a closure or be achieved in a single day just like the added scenes in Star Excursions. As a extra elaborate attraction, my hope is that Smugglers Run will go down for not less than just a few weeks for minor modifications to make the queue and pre-show mesh with the mission.
My guess is that this is not going to be the case. That as a substitute, the brand new mission will likely be framed in such a approach that no pre-show dialogue wants to vary, not to mention any bodily options of the ship. I might see just a few easter eggs being added to the queue pulled from the Disney+ collection or the film simply to provide followers one thing to search for and discuss, however I wouldn’t rely on that.
Once more, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run continues to be new (by Disney requirements) and the attraction has ‘good bones.’ In order a lot as I’d prefer to see a complete reimagining, there’s additionally a way of “don’t repair what isn’t damaged.” On this case, the one factor right here that wants altering is the gameplay/mission, and that aspect can most likely be swapped out in a single day.
In relation to a closure, there’s additionally the query of timing for the Disney’s Hollywood Studios model. As mentioned in When Will Rock ‘n’ Curler Coaster Shut?, there’s the consideration of not having a number of headliners down on the similar time. With RnRC now trying prefer it is perhaps reimagined sooner reasonably than later, this most likely isn’t a significant concern at this level. (It’s a complete non-factor at Disneyland as a consequence of a considerably bigger trip roster.)
In the end, I’m actually happy by all of this Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge information. Between this mission and the BDX Duckling Droids, it lastly appears like Imagineering is being truthful to Florida. Subsequent up, getting Luke Skywalker and the entire different characters already showing in Batuu West to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. My hope is that and extra is available in 2026, alongside this new mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
I really like that Imagineering had the chance to take an enormous swing with Galaxy’s Edge, however over 5 years later, it nonetheless hasn’t fairly lived as much as its promise. It appears like that’s beginning to change, first with the introduction of the walk-around Mandalorian and Child Yoda characters, and now all this. Given their ongoing reputation, I can solely think about what this Mando mission goes to do for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run wait occasions!
I’m not going to rehash my factors about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge needing to interrupt the principles…but it surely does. Imagineering getting the change to reimagine Batuu right into a vibrant canvas for adventures that comport extra carefully with visitor expectations could be an enormous win. The land might really feel alive and thrilling, even when it turns into much less coherent from a storytelling perspective. Even when massive modifications don’t occur in 2026, and Disney continues with the incremental strategy, it’ll occur finally. Every transfer Imagineering has made that has “bent” the storytelling and timeline guidelines has been greeted with a good response by friends.
It’s solely a matter of time. Informal guests hear “Star Wars land” and count on to have the ability to see Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, C-3PO, and different characters they really know and care about. The land has a lot unrealized potential, and a smooth reboot of Galaxy’s Edge might be precisely the shot within the arm that’s wanted. It is also the marketable addition that’s wanted on each coasts in 2026, with no new rides on faucet.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited to see the Mandalorian and Child Yoda in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run beginning on Might 22, 2026? Do you hope the brand new mission is definitely thrilling? Do you assume Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge ought to break its personal guidelines or keep on with the mounted timeline and story? What about Darth Vader and different unique trilogy characters? Assume Galaxy’s Edge ought to concentrate on enjoyable, canon, or a mixture of each? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
