The launch of the new The Mandalorian and Grogu mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run marks the most significant update to the attraction since its opening. By migrating the ride’s engine to Unreal Engine 5 and introducing branching mission paths, Imagineering has transformed a static ride into a highly replayable interactive experience.
The New Mission Experience
The core of the update is player agency. While the mission still begins on Tatooine with Hondo Ohnaka, the Flight Engineers now serve as the mission directors, selecting the destination for the second half of the flight. This, combined with new responsive flight controls for pilots and manual/automatic targeting toggles for gunners, makes every seat feel essential.
Destination Rankings: A Pilot’s Perspective
Based on recent mission reports and flight data, here is how the new destinations compare:
- 1 – Bespin – The Pilot’s Paradise. Navigating the Falcon through the upper atmosphere of Cloud City offers breathtaking scale. The maneuverability required to dodge freighters and Tibanna gas tankers provides the most satisfying and cinematic flight path.
- 2 – Endor – The High-Stakes Thrill. The wreckage of the second Death Star creates a claustrophobic, high-intensity obstacle course. The “trench-run” aesthetic is a major nostalgic win, and the high-energy rescue sequence makes it a standout for long-time Star Wars fans.
- 3 – Coruscant – The Technical Challenge. While visually dense and impressive, the constant stream of civilian traffic and city architecture can feel cluttered. It is a fantastic environment for gunners to practice targeting, but it lacks the iconic “freedom of flight” found in the other two. This was our least favorite due to it feeling very similar to the original Smugglers Run mission
Key Takeaways for Your Next Flight
- The “Grogu Factor”: Engineers should prioritize their new role: communicating with Grogu. Being able to check in on the Razor Crest via your console adds a delightful layer of narrative depth that was previously missing.
- Hidden Mechanics: Keep an eye out for the new “Grogu Mode” Easter egg. If your cockpit crew works in perfect sync, you can unlock special interactions that go beyond the standard mission objectives.
- Repeatability: Because the mission branches based on destination choice, cargo collection, and team performance, you will likely need to ride multiple times to see all the variations in dialogue and flight paths.
With the new branching paths and the ability to interact directly with Grogu, do you think you’ll be aiming for the Engineer seat on your next visit to Galaxy’s Edge?
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83