Smugglers Run Is Getting a Mando & Grogu Makeover And The Timing Is No Accident

For many Star Wars fans flying in from the UK, taking the controls of the Millennium Falcon is practically a pilgrimage. Since the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, this ride has been a must-do attraction. It’s the experience that is the source of family debates about who will be pilot. It’s the unforgettable opening encounter with the second most complex animatronic Hondo Ohnaka in Walt Disney World. And it’s the experience that takes guests on a coaxium heist.

But that familiar heist adventure is coming to an end and soon a new adventure will begin.

Disney has confirmed that the original Hondo-led mission is being retired at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. The attraction isn't closing, but the storyline we've known since Galaxy's Edge opened is entering its final chapter. What’s even more exciting is that the next chapter is going to align perfectly with Star Wars' big-screen return in 2026.

A New Mission Powered by New Tech

This new mission isn't a light refresh or a seasonal update; it's a full rewrite backed by a major tech upgrade for the ride.

Until now, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run has used pre-rendered ride footage which means the ride visuals were fixed clips playing in front of guests. Disney is going to swap that system for a real-time rendering engine. This system is the same technology Lucasfilm uses for The Mandalorian.

That shift alone makes it impossible to keep the old Hondo storyline as the visuals and the story were built to run on a different platform. The new engine pushes the Falcon into an entirely new league of ride experience and visuals.

When the switch happens, the current mission will be removed completely. No dual versions, no nostalgia weekends; it's a clean break and the Hondo story will gone.

Mando and Grogu Take Over in 2026

From 22nd May 2026, guests will join Mando and Grogu for an entirely new adventure across multiple planets. While Disney hasn't revealed the exact locations for the storyline, the attraction is designed to sit squarely within the Mandalorian era visually, narratively, and emotionally.

And the date for the change is no coincidence. On this occasion UK fans will be able to feel some of the thrill of the new ride, even if they don’t have a trip booked for the ride opening. But before we share than news, there’s even more exciting news about guest’s ride experience.

Inside the Cockpit, Roles Are Evolving

The experience in the cockpit is going to feel different for guests too:

• Pilots will have expanded controls and more real-time influence.

• Gunners will feel stronger, more responsive weapon feedback.

• Engineers will take on far more meaningful tasks - including direct interaction with Grogu at key moments.

With Lucasfilm assets plugged straight into the attraction, the visuals will hopefully finally look like modern Star Wars movies, not the slightly softened video game sequence that has been experienced so far.

Why Timing Links With UK Fans

The ride's transformation syncs perfectly with Star Wars' long-awaited return to cinemas. The Mandalorian and Grogu will debut in UK cinemas on 22 May 2026.

The film will bring Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu back to the big screen for the first Star Wars theatrical release since December 2019. There’s a sense of poetic timing that the last Star Wars film release was the same year as Galaxy’s Edge opened, and that this major update to the ride will coincide with the next major Star Wars movie release.

This new film, directed by Jon Favreau and co-written with Dave Filoni, will follow Mando and Grogu working as New Republic-aligned bounty hunters. Check out the trailer for the film below:

Picking up the story from The Mandalorian season 3 the film will feature starship chases, underwater sequences, droid battles, and bar fights. Expect to see returning characters like Zeb Orrelios and new faces like Sigourney Weaver's, Colonel Ward

Expect to see those familiar Star Wars central themes of mentorship, growth, and generational bonds played out in this film.

What This Means for the Ride

Disney Parks rarely change an attraction's storyline to time with a film with this level of precision making this timing significant. For families visiting Walt Disney World after seeing the movie, stepping into the Falcon with Mando and Grogu will be the closest thing to a direct continuation of the film's story.

It's synergy in the truest Disney-Lucasfilm sense.

Retiring the original Hondo mission marks a major narrative shift. It also signals a broader update to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge itself, which has long been anchored to a specific point in the Star Wars timeline. Introducing characters from The Mandalorian is a clear sign that Disney is ready to evolve the land to match the version of Star Wars most people are watching today.

What UK Travellers Should Know

If you are planning a trip over Christmas 2025 or in early 2026 and want to experience the original Hondo mission, this is your last window. Disney has said the storyline is in its final stretch, and once the changeover begins, the old version will not return.

If you’re booking a trip for the second half of 2026 or 2027, you'll be among the first to fly the Falcon with Mando and Grogu, just as the film renews global interest in the duo.

For families travelling with younger fans this will likely be a highlight for them, especially if the yare Star Wars fans. Kids who know Star Wars through Disney+ rather than the original films may find the new storyline far more exciting and recognisable.

Magic in a Minute

The Smugglers Run storyline is being retired and a new Mando & Grogu mission is set to launch at the same time as Star Wars' return to cinemas in May 2026. It’s time to get excited for the next era of Star Wars in Walt Disney World where the Falcon will be ready and waiting with a new adventure for fans to enjoy.