Mando Is Now Your Mission Briefer on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Starting May 22

If you’ve ever boarded the Millennium Falcon and thought that Hondo Ohnaka’s mission briefing was getting a little old, you’re in luck. Disney has revealed a first look at the new mission briefing coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — and this time, it’s Mando himself delivering your orders. The updated experience launches May 22, 2026 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, and the changes go far deeper than a new face on the screen.

Quick Summary

• Din Djarin (Mando) and Grogu now deliver the mission briefing via a transmission from the Razor Crest
• The millennium falcon smugglers run mando update 2026 launches May 22 — the same day The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in cinemas
• Riders can now choose their own destination mid-mission: Bespin, the Death Star wreckage above Endor, or Coruscant
• Engineers can interact directly with Grogu during the ride
• Pilots and gunners get improved controls and responsiveness
• The experience now runs on Unreal Engine 5 with real-time rendering across all five cockpit surfaces
• 3D assets come directly from Lucasfilm’s own production library

Incoming transmission!💫📡 Here’s a first look at your mission briefing, straight from the Razor Crest. A new adventure awaits on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, debuting May 22, 2026 at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. #MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/kmcCmfhCIt

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) May 4, 2026

Mando Now Delivers Your Mission Briefing

Disney released the first clip of the new pre-show as a social post framed as a transmission from the Razor Crest. In it, Din Djarin holds Grogu as he addresses your crew directly with the mission details: “Listen up. Crew, our bounties are two Imperial officers and a pirate. Our goal is to capture them and collect any crates they’re transporting. Thanks to Hondo’s intel, we know they’re on Tatooine. Grogu and I will meet you there.”

Short. Direct. Very Mando. Once the briefing ends, you take the Falcon — and from there, the new experience takes over.

You Now Choose Your Destination Mid-Mission

One of the biggest changes to the attraction is that riders can now choose their own destination during the mission. Three locations are on the table: Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star above Endor, and Coruscant. This adds genuine replayability to an attraction that previously ran the same route every time. Different crew, different destination — you’ve got a reason to go back.

New Interactions, Better Controls

The role of Engineer gets a notable upgrade: you can now interact directly with Grogu during the mission. If you’ve been jealous of pilots and gunners getting all the action, your time has come.

Pilots and gunners also benefit from the update, with improved controls and responsiveness across the board. The cockpit now feels more tactile and connected to what’s happening on screen — a complaint that many riders had with the original version.

Unreal Engine 5 Powers the New Experience

Under the hood, the update is a significant technical overhaul. The attraction now runs on Unreal Engine 5 with real-time rendering across all five cockpit projection surfaces simultaneously. The 3D assets were pulled directly from Lucasfilm’s production library — meaning what you’re seeing on those screens is the same quality that was used to make the actual show and film. The visual leap from the original version is going to be noticeable.

When Does It Open — and Why May 22?

The updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run debuts on May 22, 2026 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney didn’t pick that date by accident — it’s the same day The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in movie theaters. The tie-in is deliberate, and if you’re planning a park trip around the film’s release, you’ll get the full Mando experience both on-screen and in the cockpit.

What This Means for Your Next Galaxy’s Edge Visit

If Smugglers Run has been sitting lower on your priority list, this update changes the calculus. The ability to choose your destination alone makes this worth re-riding. Add Grogu interactions for Engineers, sharper visuals, better controls, and a mission briefing from Mando himself — this isn’t a minor refresh. It’s a ground-up rebuild of the experience that should make it feel genuinely new even if you’ve flown this ship a dozen times.

Mark your calendar for May 22 and make sure Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is near the top of your Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge list.

Conclusion

The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is one of the most substantial attraction overhauls (in such a short time period) Disney has announced in recent years — new story, new tech, new interactions, and the ability to pick your own destination. It launches May 22 at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, timed perfectly with The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters. This is the version of Smugglers Run fans have been waiting for.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!