Disney clearly hoped the launch of the new Mandalorian and Grogu mission inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge’s Smugglers Run would generate fresh excitement around the franchise. Instead, the rollout appears to have landed with a shrug from parkgoers.
The updated Mandalorian version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run officially launched over Memorial Day weekend at both Disneyland Park in Anaheim and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando. But the attraction failed to produce the kind of crowds typically associated with a major Disney Parks debut.
The posted wait time for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run at Disneyland on May 23, 2026 at 11 a.m. – Photo Credit: Park Hoppin
READ: The Mandalorian and Grogu Officially Earns Lowest Box Office Opening in Disney Star Wars History
On Saturday, May 23, just one day after the experience opened to guests, wait times at Disneyland reportedly hovered around just 30 minutes at 11 a.m.
The posted wait time for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 23, 2026 at 4 p.m. – Photo Credit: That Park Place
Over at Walt Disney World, the attraction sat at roughly 25 minutes around 3 p.m. before dropping to only 20 minutes an hour later. Right now, as of this writing at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026) the attraction only has a 35 minute wait in Orlando.
The posted wait time for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, at 10 a.m. – My Disney Experience
For longtime Disney Parks fans, those numbers are eyebrow-raising.
Disney Attraction Openings Usually Bring Massive Crowds
New Disney experiences — especially those tied to major IP launches — traditionally generate enormous demand during opening weekends. Holiday weekends often amplify that even further, with annual passholders and locals flooding the parks to experience the latest addition.
But that rush never materialized for the new Mandalorian and Grogu overhaul of Smugglers Run as it opened for Memorial Day Weekend.
And while technically this is an update to an existing attraction rather than a brand-new ride system, Disney marketed the experience as a major refresh featuring new story content tied directly to the theatrical film. In practical terms, many guests viewed it as a new version of the attraction entirely.
Crowds at Frontierland Re-opening Day of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – YouTube Attractions Magazine
Under normal circumstances, that kind of synergy would be expected to drive long queues and social media buzz.
Instead, the response appeared muted.
The Weak Turnout Mirrors the Film’s Box Office Performance
The lack of excitement surrounding the updated ride comes at the same time The Mandalorian and Grogu is struggling theatrically.
As previously reported, the film officially posted the lowest domestic opening weekend for a Disney-era Star Wars movie. When adjusted for inflation, its global debut also ranks as the weakest opening for Disney’s theatrical Star Wars era.
That’s a staggering development for a franchise that once dominated pop culture.
The posted wait time for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 23, 2026 at 3 p.m. – My Disney Experience
The film’s disappointing launch has already sparked broader discussions about audience fatigue, the long-term damage done to the brand, and whether Disney+ conditioning has made audiences reluctant to pay theatrical ticket prices for what many view as streaming-style “content.”
That criticism has followed the movie heavily online, with many viewers arguing the film feels less like a cinematic event and more like an extended Disney+ episode assembled from familiar franchise tropes and nostalgia bait.
Galaxy’s Edge Has Never Fully Reached Its Original Potential
The muted response to the new Smugglers Run mission also reignites long-running debates about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge itself.
When Disney first announced the land years ago, expectations were sky high. But the final product faced criticism for avoiding iconic Original Trilogy locations and characters in favor of sequel-era storytelling tied heavily to Disney’s newer direction for the franchise.
Promo Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks; Princess Leia and Han Solo at Disneyland Galaxy’s Edge
Since then, Disney has quietly shifted strategy.
In Disneyland, classic characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader have become increasingly prominent in park appearances and marketing, while sequel-era focus has steadily diminished. In Orlando, however, Galaxy’s Edge remains slavishly anchored between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
Even merchandise trends inside the parks have reflected that shift, with Original Trilogy items often receiving stronger fan response.
A photo of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park via Disney Parks blog
The lukewarm reception to this Mandalorian and Grogu overlay may reinforce the growing perception that Disney no longer has the cultural grip on Star Wars that it once expected.
Has Disney Trained Fans to Wait for Streaming?
Another issue Disney may now be facing is one largely of its own making.
For years, Star Wars has been pushed primarily as Disney+ content. Major characters, storylines, and events have been conditioned into at-home viewing habits rather than theatrical anticipation. Audiences have been trained to expect Star Wars on streaming shortly after release rather than as must-see cinema.
That becomes a problem when Disney suddenly asks viewers to treat a streaming-style continuation as a theatrical blockbuster event.
A piece of the Mandalorian and Grogu movie poster – Disney
The park response may be another warning sign of that disconnect.
If fans were overwhelmingly excited about The Mandalorian and Grogu, a revamped Smuggler’s Run experience tied directly to the film should have generated substantial crowds during a holiday weekend.
Instead, wait times suggested many guests simply weren’t prioritizing it. For Disney, that may be the most troubling signal of all.
Are you surprised that the Mandalorian and Grogu Smugglers Run retheme didn’t draw massive crowds? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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