This is EASILY the biggest change Smugglers Run has seen since Galaxy’s Edge opened.
Today officially marks the debut of the brand-new The Mandalorian and Grogu overlay for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, completely changing the attraction’s storyline, mission structure, and even some of the gameplay mechanics inside the cockpit.
The updated version of the attraction launches alongside the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu film. It introduces guests to an entirely new bounty-hunting storyline featuring Din Djarin and Grogu themselves.
Hondo Ohnaka Has a Completely NEW Mission
The attraction still begins with Hondo Ohnaka recruiting guests aboard the Millennium Falcon, but the context of the mission has now changed significantly.
Instead of the original coaxium smuggling storyline tied to the First Order and Resistance conflict, the updated mission focuses on tracking down high-value Imperial targets alongside Din Djarin and Grogu.
Disney also updated the pre-show dialogue and attraction storyline to better align with the newer Galaxy’s Edge timeline changes happening at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
One major story change? Hondo is now portrayed as outright stealing the Millennium Falcon instead of merely borrowing it from Chewbacca.
Guests Can Now Visit MULTIPLE Star Wars Locations
One of the biggest additions to the ride is the ability for missions to branch into multiple destinations depending on choices made during the experience.
New locations featured in the overlay include:
- Tatooine
- Bespin / Cloud City
- Coruscant
- The wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor
Each environment comes with its own flight paths, action sequences, enemies, visuals, and obstacles.
The Bespin sequence sends the Millennium Falcon racing through Cloud City while avoiding TIE fighters and chasing an Imperial officer aboard a Zeta-class shuttle.
Meanwhile, the Coruscant route features high-speed flying through dense nighttime city traffic, tunnels, neon skylines, and heavy pursuit action.
The Endor sequence appears to be one of the most visually dramatic additions, weaving the Falcon through shattered Death Star debris fields floating in orbit.
And honestly? These new environments look WAY more cinematic than the original ride footage.
Engineers FINALLY Have More To Do
Possibly the biggest gameplay improvement involves the engineer role.
For years, many guests considered the engineer to be the least exciting position aboard the Falcon. Disney appears to have directly addressed that criticism with the new update.
Engineers now:
- Communicate directly with Grogu
- Trigger additional interactions
- Influence destination choices
- Assist with mission progression
- Interact with new comm systems and screens
Some fans are already referring to the update as “Grogu mode” because of how heavily the tiny Jedi now factors into the engineer gameplay experience.
And honestly? This may finally make all six cockpit positions feel equally important.
The Attraction Features New Music, New Visuals, and Updated Technology
Disney also introduced:
- New projection footage
- Updated ride programming
- New transitions between scenes
- Additional cockpit effects
- New mission dialogue
- A fresh score featuring Ludwig Göransson’s iconic Mandalorian themes
Disney Imagineering reportedly utilized Epic’s Unreal Engine technology to help create some of the updated visuals and environments for the attraction.
The result feels noticeably more dynamic and reactive compared to the original 2019 version of the ride.
Even the Ending Has Changed
Once guests return to Batuu, the finale sequence now shows Din Djarin and Grogu successfully securing one of their captured bounties while Hondo reviews the crew’s success collecting cargo and credits throughout the mission.
Guests may also notice new visual details in the hangar area involving bounty captures and cargo connected to the Razor Crest storyline.
And honestly? Disney clearly wants this version of Smugglers Run to feel more connected to current Star Wars storytelling than ever before.
We’ll continue following additional Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge updates, ride changes, easter eggs, and guest reactions to the new Mandalorian and Grogu overlay, so be sure to check back soon for more Disney Parks news and coverage.
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