There are two kinds of people in the galaxy: those who should pilot the Millennium Falcon, and those who absolutely should not.
After experiencing the newly updated version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I can confidently say our Publisher belongs in the second category.
Courtesy Disney Parks
Beginning May 22, guests visiting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can now join The Mandalorian, better known as Din Djarin, and everyone’s favorite tiny green chaos goblin Grogu on an all-new mission aboard the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, arriving just as excitement builds around the next chapter of the Mandalorian story. And yes, it absolutely feels like stepping directly into a Star Wars adventure.
That means your mission could send you soaring through the clouds of Bespin, weaving through the wreckage surrounding the second Death Star near Endor or navigating the massive cityscape of Coruscant. The branching destinations make the attraction feel fresh and unpredictable, adding a level of replayability longtime Disney (and Star Wars) fans are going to love. Of course, every mission still depends heavily on the competence of your flight crew.
This is where things began to unravel for us.
Within seconds of jumping to hyperspace, our ship was ricocheting off structures, scraping through obstacles and taking enough damage to make Hondo Ohnaka reconsider every hiring decision he has ever made. Imagine handing a learner’s permit to someone during a meteor shower while a toddler presses random glowing buttons nearby. That was essentially our flight experience. And somehow, it made the attraction even more fun.
The addition of Grogu throughout the mission adds an entirely new layer of charm and humor. Engineers can now directly interact with him during gameplay, creating moments that feel surprisingly personal inside the chaos of the mission.
The attraction still divides riders into pilots, engineers and gunners, but the updated storyline makes every position feel more important. Pilots steer and jump to hyperspace, engineers scramble to repair damage and interact with systems, while gunners attempt to protect the ship from incoming threats. Success or failure truly depends on how well your crew works together, which is both exciting and mildly terrifying when traveling with competitive family members or friends.
Courtesy Joshua Sudock
What Disney has done especially well here is lean fully into the unpredictability of Star Wars storytelling. No two missions feel exactly alike. Between the selectable destinations, interactive elements and frantic team coordination, the experience captures the same sense of improvisational adventure that made the original films so beloved. Even if your crew flies like ours did.
The updated mission also gives fans more face time with Din Djarin himself, whose calm, collected demeanor serves as a sharp contrast to the absolute panic unfolding inside our cockpit. Meanwhile, Grogu continues his reign as Disney’s most marketable source of intergalactic emotional support.
For guests who have never experienced Smugglers Run before, the premise remains wonderfully simple: the notorious pirate Hondo Ohnaka needs discreet flight crews willing to transport valuable cargo across the galaxy. No experience is necessary, which honestly explains a lot.
The result is one of the most immersive attractions inside Galaxy’s Edge and now, thanks to these new additions, one of the most replayable.
Just maybe don’t let our Publisher touch the controls.