Scaffolding appeared overnight around the Millennium Falcon, one of Walt Disney World Resort‘s most iconic structures.
Millennium Falcon Gets a Touch-Up
BlogMickey reported on Monday that scaffolding and beige scrim had been installed on part of the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run structure at Disney's Hollywood Studios, with a photo shared on Facebook showing the construction wrapped around a section of the iconic ship's exterior. Walt Disney World Resort has not issued any public statement about the work, but the scope suggests routine maintenance, such as a paint refresh or cosmetic touch-up, rather than anything structural.
The timing is the telling detail. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is set to launch an entirely new mission storyline on May 22, timed to coincide with the theatrical premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026). With that date approaching, Disney is likely sprucing up the show building's exterior before the updated experience draws fresh attention to the attraction.
The new mission marks a significant creative shift for the ride. For the first time since Smugglers Run debuted in 2019, guests will get to choose their own adventure, with Hondo Ohnaka dispatching crews to capture a group of ex-Imperial officers and pirates mid-deal on Tatooine. The mission takes travelers to one of several destinations, including Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor, or the city-planet Coruscant. Grogu also factors into the new storyline, with crews communicating with the now-iconic character along the way.
More Changes Coming to Galaxy's Edge
The scaffolding isn't the only shift underway in the land this week. Walt Disney World Resort also installed new signage on the former Docking Bay connected to Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Disney's Hollywood Studios, quietly erasing one of the last remaining references to the shuttered immersive hotel experience.
That update arrives as Disney prepares a broader timeline shift for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge on both coasts. Later this year, the land's existing sequel-era setting will expand to incorporate elements of the original trilogy, opening the door for Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa to appear in the area. Half of Batuu will remain set in the sequel timeline.
Disneyland Resort is first, with the change taking effect on April 29. Walt Disney World Resort has not announced its own date for the timeline shift.
Are you excited about the new storyline on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
