Disney has announced significant updates to the Smugglers Run attraction featuring a new mission centered around The Mandalorian and Grogu. Starting on May 22, guests will join Hondo Ohnaka in an interactive bounty hunting adventure across various Star Wars locations. The updated experience expands responsibilities for all cockpit roles including pilots, gunners, and engineers with greater impact on mission outcomes. Pilots control flight maneuvers while gunners choose between automatic or manual targeting modes to engage enemy ships. Engineers now select destination locations after the opening sequence and repair the Falcon during the chase. Three distinct environments await crews including Cloud City in Bespin, Coruscant city streets, and wreckage fields above Endor. The new mission incorporates randomized elements like crate rewards containing credits, crystals, or even baby Rancors to enhance replayability. This major update represents one of the largest enhancements to Galaxy’s Edge attractions since its original opening.
Category: Disney Parks
Disney is preparing to launch Bluey’s Wild World at Animal Kingdom as part of its Cool KIDS SUMMER celebration beginning May 26, 2026. The temporary experience will operate daily from 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m., requiring guests to secure entry through the virtual queue system available in the My Disney Experience app. Participants must obtain their boarding group at 7 a.m., and they can do so without being physically present inside the park. The attraction is situated at Conservation Station, accessible only via the Wildlife Express Train from the Africa section near Harambe Market. Visitors should anticipate interactive games, dancing, and appearances by Bluey and Bingo throughout the experience. Activities inspired by the show include Keepy Uppy and Magic Asparagus, designed for both children and adults to enjoy together. This offering is scheduled to run through September 8, 2026, making it a significant highlight for families planning summer visits to Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World has introduced new kid-friendly room enhancements to improve safety and comfort for families traveling with young children. The resort is retiring traditional metal toddler bedrails in favor of soft, cushioned bed bumpers that provide a seamless barrier under fitted sheets. These new bumpers are designed to prevent active sleepers from rolling out of bed while offering a more comfortable and modern solution. The updated amenities are part of Disney’s ongoing commitment to enhancing complimentary offerings for guests with infants and toddlers. Families can request these soft bed bumpers free of charge, either before arrival or during their stay at any resort hotel. These improvements arrive just in time for the upcoming Cool KIDS SUMMER celebration, which runs from May 26 through September 8, 2026.
Universal Studios Florida has unveiled a special summer tribute store celebrating the director Steven Spielberg ahead of his upcoming film Disclosure Day. The exhibit features iconic movies such as Jaws, E.T., and Jurassic Park with authentic props and costumes on display for visitors to enjoy. Guests can explore detailed displays including storyboards, behind-the-scenes photos, and original film items like the mechanical shark blueprint from Jaws. The store also showcases memorabilia from E.T. including animatronic parts and merchandise alongside props from the groundbreaking Jurassic Park franchise. This immersive experience highlights Spielberg’s significant contributions to cinema through carefully curated artifacts and interactive photo opportunities throughout the Hollywood section of the park.
The highly anticipated Walt Disney Studios officially opens at Hollywood Studios on May 26th. This area is set to include cool character meet-and-greets, an all-new animation experience, and transport guests into the magic of the popular Once Upon A Studio short, along with the Burbank animation studio. And today we’ve gotten lots of exciting updates, including the courtyard area opening to the public and a sneak peek at the brand-new background music! In a recent post to Instagram, Walt Disney Imagineering uploaded the following video, where they teased the new music and explained the thought behind it. Here, Brett, the Senior Creative Director of Music, explained that crafting the music for this area was a crucial part of the Imagineering process. He noted that music is a powerful storytelling tool, and it really sets the tone of whatever environment you are in.