Disney Parks added three new Mandalorian-and-Grogu themed missions to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride on May 22, 2026 [1].
The update serves as a promotional tie-in for the upcoming Star Wars project "The Mandalorian and Grogu." By integrating new narratives into an existing attraction, Disney is leveraging its most popular characters to refresh the guest experience without building an entirely new ride.
The new content debuted simultaneously at Disneyland in California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida [2]. The update follows approximately 18 months of development [1]. Guests can now engage with three distinct new missions [3], which include destination-choice options and interactive elements featuring Grogu [2].
Disney Imagineer Morgan McDowell was involved in the process, which the company said incorporated extensive guest feedback to refine the experience [4]. The additions allow riders to interact with the story in a more dynamic way, reflecting a shift toward more customizable ride paths.
These changes represent a significant software and narrative overhaul of the attraction. The integration of Grogu is designed to appeal to the broad fanbase of the Mandalorian series, bridging the gap between the cinematic Star Wars universe and the theme park environment [2].
“The update serves as a tie-in to the upcoming Star Wars film/series “The Mandalorian and Grogu””
This update demonstrates Disney's strategy of 'evergreening' its attractions by layering new intellectual property over existing infrastructure. By utilizing guest feedback to implement destination choices, Disney is moving toward a more non-linear storytelling model in its theme parks to encourage repeat visits from the same guests.
