Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has added the characters Mandalorian and Grogu to the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction at Disneyland Resort [1].
The update introduces a themed overlay to the ride in Anaheim, California, designed to increase interactive storytelling and emotional connection for guests [1, 4]. By integrating these popular characters, the park aims to refresh the existing experience within the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land [1, 4].
Under the new system, guests can choose from three different Star Wars locations during their flight [1]. These destinations include Coruscant, Bespin, or the wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor [1, 2].
The modification allows ride engineers and guests to interact with the Mandalorian and Grogu as part of the mission narrative [4]. This shift toward more character-driven missions represents a change in how the attraction utilizes its digital storytelling components to keep the experience fresh for returning visitors [1, 4].
While some reports suggested the addition of other figures, the primary update focuses on the Mandalorian and Grogu [1, 2, 3]. The new locations provide a broader scope of the Star Wars universe than previous iterations of the ride [1].
“Guests can choose from three different Star Wars locations during their flight.”
This update demonstrates Disney's strategy of using 'overlays' to evolve existing attractions without rebuilding them from scratch. By leveraging the massive popularity of the Mandalorian series, the park can drive repeat visitation and modernize the narrative of Smugglers Run to align with current franchise trends.
