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The Mandalorian, Grogu, and Enhanced Controls Coming to Smugglers Run
Excitement emerged from Star Wars Celebration Japan with the announcement of significant updates to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, as revealed during a Walt Disney Imagineering panel. Imagineers Anisha Deshmane and Michael Serna joined Lucasfilm’s Matt Martin to discuss the creative development behind current and future Star Wars experiences at Disney parks and resorts worldwide. Building upon previous announcements at SXSW, the panel unveiled details set to enhance the popular attraction.
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Unprecedented Control with New Crew Powers
Beginning May 22, 2026, guests at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort will experience Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run with expanded navigational control. For the first time, flight crews will have the ability to determine their own destination, opening up the possibility of adventures on diverse locales such as Bespin, the debris field surrounding Endor’s destroyed second Death Star, and the newly revealed city-planet of Coruscant. Furthermore, engineer positions will incorporate a new gameplay element allowing for communication with Grogu during the mission.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Integrate into the Adventure
These updates are scheduled to coincide with the release of Lucasfilm’s upcoming title, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” However, it’s important to note that the attraction’s narrative will diverge from the film’s storyline.
The new Smugglers Run narrative casts Hondo Ohnaka in the role of a quest giver, informing riders of a deal unfolding on Tatooine involving ex-Imperial officers and a pirate faction. A lucrative bounty is offered for their capture, prompting guests to “borrow” the Millennium Falcon and partner with the Mandalorian and Grogu in a mission to track down the targets and explore the galaxy.
The enhancements to the attraction are made possible through a collaboration with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), whose expertise allows riders to take control of their own destinies within the experience. The technology underpinning these updates is built on Unreal Engine 5 by Epic Games, the same engine employed by ILM in the Disney+ series, “The Mandalorian.”
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