The long-awaited Smugglers Run Update touches down on May 22, 2026, at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Walt Disney Imagineering previewed the new details in the latest episode of We Call It Imagineering: Research and Development, and the changes mark the first upgrade to the attraction since it opened.
This new version blends a brand-new mission, updated roles, characters from the latest move, The Mandalorian and Grogu. Along with film‑grade visual upgrades using the Unreal Engine 5. The result is a ride that feels more reactive, more cinematic, and more connected to Star Wars storytelling.
Team Up With Din Djarin and Grogu
The new mission features Din Djarin and Grogu joining your crew aboard the Millennium Falcon. For the first time, the story places them directly in the story with you, adding emotional stakes and familiar faces.
In the episode, Imagineering confirmed that the Mandalorian story elements were developed using assets from Lucasfilm. Ensuring that every ship and environment looks exactly like what appears in the latest Movie and Disney+ Library.
Real-Time Rendering With Unreal Engine 5
Imagineering demonstrates how cockpit graphics now run in real time, powered by Unreal Engine 5.
This upgrade replaces the original pre‑rendered scenes with a system capable of reacting to every movement inside the cockpit. Instead of a fixed film, the Millennium Falcon now responds to the crew the way the real ship would on screen. When the pilots pull right or swing wide through a canyon, the visuals shift instantly. Consequently, every motion feels more connected to the world outside the viewport. Lighting changes with every engine burst, reflections move across the viewport, and the motion syncs with the story in a way that feels alive. This is the first time Smugglers Run has used the same real‑time rendering style that powers modern Star Wars productions, and the team explains that this new approach keeps the visuals “authentic to the film,” matching the tone and texture of The Mandalorian more closely than ever before.
The Engineer Role Gets a Major Upgrade
One of the most exciting changes is the shift in crew roles. The Engineer now has deeper responsibilities that affect the mission. Engineers will choose the next destination, respond to hazards in real time, and shape how the narrative unfolds.
This aligns with Imagineering’s goal to make every position feel meaningful, and it should help make all six seats equally exciting.
The Engineer Role Gets a Major Upgrade
One of the most exciting changes is the shift in crew roles. The Engineer now has deeper responsibilities that affect the mission. Engineers will choose the next destination, respond to hazards in real time, and shape how the narrative unfolds.
This aligns with Imagineering’s goal to make every position feel meaningful, and it should help make all six seats equally exciting.
What This Update Means for Star Wars Fans
This isn’t just a refresh—it’s a shift in how Galaxy’s Edge can grow over time. Real‑time graphics and flexible mission design give Galaxy’s Edge room to grow in ways the original version of the attraction couldn’t support. Because the visuals no longer rely on pre‑rendered film files, Imagineering can introduce new planets, expand storylines, or tie the attraction into upcoming Star Wars releases without rebuilding the entire experience. It turns Smugglers Run into a living platform—one that can evolve with the franchise, react to new characters, and even adapt to seasonal or limited‑time story events. The update shifts the attraction from a fixed narrative to a continually expanding one.
This update pushes Smugglers Run closer to what fans imagined when Galaxy’s Edge first opened. Real-time rendering means every ride-through can change. Adding Din Djarin and Grogu ties the attraction directly to the most popular Star Wars stories of the decade.
