Walt Disney World has posted a teaser on its official Instagram account, and it points squarely at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
The image reads "New Mission. New Stories. This Is The Way." - with a countdown timer showing a transmission incoming in just under 24 hours. That puts the reveal on the afternoon of April 23 2026.
Disney isn't saying exactly what's coming, but the language lines up directly with the May 22 update to Smugglers Run, which introduces a new Mandalorian and Grogu storyline, selectable destinations, and upgraded visuals across the cockpit.
We may hear more details, or news of possible soft openings ahead of the offical debut on May 22, 2026 at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
What's Coming to Smugglers Run on May 22
Here's everything confirmed so far about the updated attraction.
A New Storyline
Hondo Ohnaka picks up chatter about a shady deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a crew of pirates. With a bounty on the line, guests borrow the Falcon and join Din Djarin and Grogu to track down the culprits across the galaxy.
The new storyline runs separately from The Mandalorian and Grogu feature film, which opens the same day - May 22, 2026.
You Choose the Destination
For the first time, the crew controls where the Falcon goes. You'll be able to set a course for one of several Star Wars locations:
- Bespin, the cloud city above a gas giant
- The wreckage of the second Death Star, floating above Endor
- Coruscant, a bustling city-planet
Each run could play out differently depending on where you end up, giving the ride genuine replayability.
New Interactions for Engineers
Engineers get a new gameplay feature that lets them communicate directly with Grogu during the mission, triggering reactions as the story unfolds. Pilots and gunners also see improvements, with clearer tasks and better feedback across every position.
Upgraded Technology Throughout
Walt Disney Imagineering rebuilt the attraction's visual system using Unreal Engine 5 - the same real-time platform used to produce The Mandalorian on Disney+. Every cockpit now runs on upgraded NVIDIA hardware, with all media rendered in real time.
Working with Industrial Light and Magic and Epic Games, Imagineers pulled 3D assets directly from Lucasfilm's production library. Every environment and ship model in the cockpit is the same asset used on set, adapted for the ride's five-projection-surface dome layout.
The update rolls out simultaneously at Walt Disney World and Disneyland on May 22, 2026.
Check back on WDWMAGIC tomorrow for the full announcement details.
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