This summer is an exciting time for Star Wars fans. Along with getting the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland has a lot of exciting new things to experience. This includes updates to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the expanded timeline of the land, the return of the BDX Droids, and new food and merchandise! As the summer kicked off, Daps Magic was invited to check out the new offerings found throughout the Disneyland Resort. This included these new offerings in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. During a media event at the Disneyland Resort, Mr. Daps interviewed Asa Kalama from Walt Disney Imagineering and Michael Serna from Disney Live Entertainment.

During the interview, these two leaders discussed the expansion of the timeline for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the updates now available on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (see all versions here). During this discussion, they shared about the collaboration that brought these new offerings together, Easter Eggs to look for, and some other things to look out for! Check out the interview below!

Interview Highlights

The Brand-New Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Mission

• Mando & Grogu Adventure: A new bounty hunting mission is launching on the attraction, designed in tandem with the upcoming The Mandalorian & Grogu feature film.
• Choose Your Destination: For the first time, the flight engineers in the cockpit will make a critical gameplay choice that decides which iconic planet the crew visits: Bespin, Endor, or Coruscant.
• Close Collaboration: The ride’s update was developed over 18 months in close partnership with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni to ensure the story themes directly align with the film.

Upgraded Cockpit Controls & Gameplay

Imagineers have enhanced all three crew roles to provide better playability and responsiveness:

• Pilots: Feature even more responsive flight controls while guaranteeing a smooth, cinematic experience no matter how you fly.
• Gunners: Received physical upgrades to their seats for better physical feedback, making shooting down TIE fighters feel much more satisfying.
• Flight Engineers: Now have an expanded list of critical duties, including repairing the ship, tractoring in cargo for Hondo Ohnaka, calling Grogu on the video screen, and choosing the planet destination.

Timeline Expansion on Batuu

• The Ultimate Star Wars Mashup: Building on the success of adding the Mandalorian and Luke Skywalker in recent years, the land is permanently expanding its timeline.
• Classic Characters Arrive: Guests can now encounter Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Princess Leia on Batuu, alongside existing characters like Rey and the Mandalorian, creating a comprehensive “best of all worlds” experience for fans.
• A Platform for Storytelling: Imagineers emphasized that the land and the ride were always built as evolving storytelling platforms designed to change as the Star Wars canon grows.

Massive Behind-the-Scenes Collaboration

• A Blended Team: The updates are the result of years of work from massive teams spanning Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Live Entertainment, Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Skywalker Sound, and John Williams’ music team.

Insiders’ Tips & Hidden Details

• ILM Easter Eggs: Asa Kalama revealed that the visual effects team at ILM hid fun, subtle nods and nuggets throughout the new ride media (especially on Tatooine and Endor) for sharp-eyed fans to spot.
• The Music of the Land: Michael Serna shared that hearing John Williams’ iconic score—including Darth Vader’s theme playing live in the land during character arrivals—completely transforms the immersive experience.

Here is a look at the updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run:

Here is a tour of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge after the timeline was expanded:

What do you think of all of these new experiences at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? What are you most excited about? What did you like most about this interview? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!