Credit: Inside the MagicFor about 24 hours, Star Wars fans thought Disney had officially flipped the switch.
If you searched for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run on the Walt Disney World website or inside the My Disney Experience app yesterday, you didn’t just see the familiar attraction name. Instead, it appeared as “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – A New Mission.” That small subtitle carried big implications. It suggested the ride wasn’t just getting an update — it was entering a new chapter.
Then, just as quickly as it showed up, it disappeared.
Today, the subtitle is gone. The attraction is once again listed simply as Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. No extra tagline. No visible rebrand. Just the original name fans have known since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened.
And now, naturally, people are asking what happened.
A Name Change That Lasted Less Than a Day
The timing felt intentional. Walt Disney World is preparing to debut a brand-new mission on Smugglers Run beginning May 22, 2026. The updated storyline will bring Din Djarin and Grogu into the experience, allowing guests to take part in a mission inspired by the upcoming film release.
So when “A New Mission” appeared in search results on February 24, it didn’t feel random. It felt like a soft launch of the ride’s next evolution.
The interesting part? The subtitle didn’t consistently appear everywhere. It showed up in search results on the website and in the My Disney Experience app, but not necessarily across every official ride page. That inconsistency already had fans questioning whether the rollout was complete.
By February 25, the extra wording was gone entirely.
The name reverted back. Clean. Simple. Familiar.
The Update Is Still Happening
Even though the subtitle has been removed, the new mission itself is very much still on the way.
Beginning May 22, 2026, guests will be able to join Din Djarin and Grogu on a galaxy-spanning mission to track down ex-Imperial officers. This isn’t just a cosmetic tweak. Disney is expanding the gameplay.
For the first time, crews will have control over their destination. Instead of following a single pre-determined route, the mission may take riders to locations such as Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor, or even the bustling city-planet of Coruscant.
Engineers will also gain a new interactive element: the ability to communicate with Grogu during the mission.
That’s a meaningful enhancement. It refreshes the experience for repeat riders and keeps the attraction aligned with current Star Wars storytelling.
So while the name has reverted, the content expansion remains.
Why the Rollback Feels Intentional
When something changes on the Disney website or app, it’s rarely accidental. These systems go through internal approvals, especially for something as visible as a ride name.
The quick appearance — and equally quick disappearance — of “A New Mission” suggests one of a few possibilities.
First, Disney may have pushed the change live slightly ahead of schedule. Marketing campaigns often operate on precise timelines, especially when tied to theatrical releases. If the name update went live too early, removing it could have been a simple correction.
Second, Disney may have reconsidered the branding decision altogether. Adding a subtitle can unintentionally signal that the original version of the ride is gone or permanently altered. Smugglers Run isn’t being replaced. It’s being expanded. Keeping the original name maintains brand continuity.
Third, this could have been a test. Disney sometimes experiments with naming conventions and messaging before committing long-term.
Regardless of the reason, the speed of the rollback suggests this wasn’t a technical glitch. It felt deliberate.
Disneyland Didn’t Mirror the Change
Another curious detail: Disneyland’s version of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run did not reflect the same temporary name change.
The new Mandalorian-inspired mission will also debut in California on May 22, 2026. Yet the Disneyland app and website never displayed the “A New Mission” subtitle.
If Disney intended to permanently rename the attraction, you would expect both coasts to align. The fact that only Walt Disney World briefly reflected the updated name raises questions about whether this was a Florida-specific marketing move or simply an early test.
Consistency matters in branding. And right now, consistency favors the original name.
The Bigger Picture at Hollywood Studios
This isn’t happening in a vacuum.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in the middle of significant evolution. Between upcoming lands, refreshed attractions, and strategic IP integration, the park is shifting.
Galaxy’s Edge originally launched with a very tight timeline placement in the Star Wars universe. Over time, Disney has gradually loosened that structure. Characters and stories that once felt locked to a specific era are now blending more freely.
Bringing Din Djarin and Grogu into Smugglers Run is part of that broader shift.
Instead of freezing the land in one specific moment of the saga, Disney is allowing it to evolve alongside current Star Wars storytelling. That keeps the land relevant and encourages fans to return.
But evolution doesn’t always require renaming.
Sometimes the experience changes while the marquee stays the same.
Marketing vs. Permanence
There’s a difference between promoting a new storyline and permanently altering a ride’s identity.
Adding “A New Mission” to the official title would signal a long-term rebrand. It would suggest that the attraction’s original narrative has fundamentally shifted.
Keeping the core name intact while updating the description allows Disney to market the new mission heavily without creating confusion.
It also prevents the ride’s name from becoming overly complicated. “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” is already a mouthful. Adding a permanent subtitle makes signage, maps, and digital listings more crowded.
Sometimes simplicity wins.
Fans Are Watching Closely
The Star Wars community is incredibly attentive. The moment the new subtitle appeared, screenshots circulated online. When it vanished, the speculation only intensified.
Was Disney testing fan reaction?
Was it a preview of marketing to come?
Will the subtitle return closer to launch?
At this point, no official explanation has been offered. The app simply reflects the original name again.
But the temporary change did something important: it reminded fans that something new is coming.
And it sparked conversation.
What to Expect Moving Forward
As May 22, 2026 approaches, expect Disney to lean into promotion of the new mission. That could include updated signage, special events, merchandise tie-ins, and digital campaigns highlighting the new destinations and gameplay features.
Whether the subtitle returns or not may ultimately depend on how Disney chooses to position the update.
For now, the attraction remains Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
The new mission is still on the launch schedule.
The subtitle has vanished.
And once again, Disney has proven that even the smallest digital tweak can send the fan community into hyperspace-level speculation.
One thing is certain: when it comes to Star Wars at the parks, fans are paying attention — and every change, no matter how brief, feels like a clue.