Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is changing just in time for The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Beginning TODAY, guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park can fly a new Smugglers Run Mandalorian mission inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The update arrives the same day The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters and IMAX.
That timing is the story. Disney is not just adding Mando and Grogu to a ride. It is using the movie opening to make Galaxy’s Edge feel connected to what is happening in Star Wars right now.
The new mission brings bounties, cargo crates, Grogu interactions, and branching destinations to the Millennium Falcon cockpit. It also gives every role a little more purpose, especially the engineers.
The Movie Tie-In Comes to Batuu
The new mission starts with Hondo Ohnaka doing what Hondo does best. He has a deal, a profit angle, and a job for your crew. This time, the Falcon is tracking high-value bounties on Tatooine while Din Djarin and Grogu are also part of the action.
The setup keeps the spirit of Smugglers Run intact. You are still flying the Falcon. You are still trying to bring the ship back in one piece. Hondo still cares about cargo and credits. The new mission gives the attraction a stronger connection to the current Star Wars moment.
You can see The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters, then step into Galaxy’s Edge and fly a mission alongside those same characters. That is the kind of same-day Disney storytelling that makes this update feel bigger than a simple overlay.
The Big Change Is Choice
The original Smugglers Run mission was impressive, but familiar after a few rides, and the queue wait times reflected that. This update adds a major twist: your crew can choose where the adventure goes next.
After the Tatooine chase, one engineer launches homing beacons toward escaping bounty ships. The other engineer chooses which beacon to follow. That choice sends the Falcon to Bespin, Coruscant, or the wreckage of the second Death Star above Endor.
That gives the attraction something it needed: more variety. Instead of every crew having the same basic flight, different groups can walk off with different stories.
How to Fly This New Mission
The biggest practical change is that each cockpit role now feels more connected to the outcome.
Pilots still carry the pressure. The left pilot controls side-to-side movement, while the right pilot controls up-and-down movement and handles the jump to hyperspace. A smoother flight helps the whole crew, because less damage means a better score and fewer emergency repairs.
Gunners still defend the Falcon. First-time riders may want automatic mode, which keeps targeting simpler. More experienced riders can choose manual mode for a bigger challenge and more control.
Engineers now have the most interesting upgrade. They repair damage, collect cargo, call Grogu, launch homing beacons, and help determine where the mission goes next.
So, if you usually think of engineer as the “back row” role, this version may change your mind.
Three Routes, Three Different Star Wars Moments
The new mission can send your crew to one of three locations after Tatooine. Bespin brings the Falcon near Cloud City, with freighters, Tibanna gas canisters, tug-ships, and TIE fighters filling the skies. Coruscant takes the chase into the Uscru Entertainment District at night, with city traffic, tunnels, bright lights, and a possible system reboot moment.
Endor sends the Falcon into the wreckage of the second Death Star, where debris, a Trandoshan pirate, and a possible Mando and Grogu rescue moment raise the stakes. Each route gives the mission a different feel. That is what makes the update more interesting than a single new scene.
Cargo Adds a New Scoring Twist
Hondo’s cargo is not just background business this time. During the mission, engineers can use the Falcon’s tractor beam to collect crates. When the crew returns to Batuu, Hondo opens the haul and tallies the results.
Some crates may contain galactic credits. Others may include Kyber crystals or even baby rancors. That makes the end of the ride more interesting. It gives guests another reason to compare missions. Which route did you get? How many crates did your crew collect? What was inside them? Who had the highest score?
That kind of post-ride comparison is exactly what an interactive Star Wars attraction needs.
Sam’s Disney Diary Take
This is the kind of update Galaxy’s Edge needs more often. The Millennium Falcon cockpit has always been incredible. Walking into that space still feels like a Star Wars dream. But the original mission could become familiar after a few flights.
The Mandalorian and Grogu update gives Smugglers Run a stronger reason to ride again. It adds characters people want to see. It ties directly to the new movie. It makes the engineer role more interesting. It adds destination choice, cargo surprises, and multiple Star Wars outcomes.
Most importantly, it makes the attraction feel connected to the moment. Starting today, Star Wars fans can watch The Mandalorian and Grogu on the big screen, then head into Galaxy’s Edge and fly with them inside the Millennium Falcon.
That is exactly the kind of cross-platform Disney storytelling this franchise was built for.
