Timeline Reset: Why Hondo Just Stopped Mentioning the Resistance at Smugglers Run

If you walked into the briefing room of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run this morning, you might have noticed that the “galaxy far, far away” sounds a little more mysterious—and a lot less specific.

Guests in the cockpit of Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run Mandalorian concept art — Credit: Disney

As of May 11, 2026, Disney has officially begun the “Timeline Reset” of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. While social media has been flooded with rumors that The Mandalorian and Grogu have already hijacked the pre-show, the “boots on the ground” reality is actually a clever bit of narrative housekeeping.

In preparation for the massive May 22 launch of the “Mando & Grogu” mission, Disney has quietly debuted an “Era-Neutral” pre-show at Hollywood Studios. This update effectively “scrubs” the attraction of its Sequel Trilogy ties, making room for the diverse stories coming later this month.

The Scrubbed Script: What Hondo is Saying Now

The most significant change is found in the dialogue of the Hondo Ohnaka Audio-Animatronic. For seven years, Hondo’s pitch was tied directly to the Resistance and their fight against the First Order. As of today, those references have been completely deleted.

Hondo Ohnaka animatronic on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run. — Credit: Disney

The Comparison:

The Old Script: Hondo would tell Chewbacca (on screen) that they would “help the Resistance” while he kept the profits, warning guests that “the First Order will never know we were there.”
The New Script: Hondo now tells Chewbacca that the Falcon is “perfectly safe” at the spaceport. He pitches the mission to guests as a generic high-stakes transport job, ending with the line: “I found you the perfect ship. Move along, my friends!”

By removing the “Resistance” and “First Order” keywords, Disney has created a narrative “blank slate.” This allows the park to run the original Coaxium heist alongside the upcoming Mandalorian mission without causing a massive continuity headache for fans.

Where is Mando? (Hype vs. Reality)

Contrary to reports circulating online this morning, The Mandalorian and Grogu do not appear in the physical briefing room yet. The confusion stems from a promotional “Mission Briefing” video released by Disney on May 4th. While that footage—showing Din Djarin delivering orders from the Razor Crest—is destined for the park, it has not been integrated into the daily attraction loop.

The Mandalorian Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu — Credit: Lucasfilm

What guests are seeing today:

Pre-Show: The updated “Era-Neutral” Hondo briefing (No Mando).
The Ride: The original 2019 Coaxium heist mission (for the vast majority of flights).
The Tech: Unreal Engine 5 is currently being utilized for “Technical Rehearsals” in select cockpits. If you are lucky enough to be part of a soft opening, you may experience the Mandalorian mission, but it is not yet the standard for all guests.

Unreal Engine 5: The Silent Upgrade

While the pre-show change is the most audible update, a massive technical shift is happening under the hood. In partnership with Epic Games, Smugglers Run is transitioning to Unreal Engine 5.

Guests riding Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run — Credit: Disney

This engine is currently powering the limited soft-openings of the Mando mission. Guests who have experienced these technical rehearsals report a staggering leap in visual fidelity. The planets look more atmospheric, the lighting is more dynamic, and the “lag” between the pilot’s controls and the viewport has been virtually eliminated. This tech will become the park standard when the Mando mission officially takes over on May 22.

Survival Guide: Visiting Galaxy’s Edge This Week

If you are at Hollywood Studios between now and the May 22nd grand opening, keep these tips in mind:

disney family poses with chewbacca at galaxy's edge in disney's hollywood studios park — Credit: Disney

Don’t Skip the Pre-Show: Even without Mando, the new Hondo dialogue is worth hearing for the “timeline lore” alone.
Request a Soft Opening: While Cast Members cannot guarantee it, you can ask if any cockpits are running “Technical Rehearsals.” Your best chance for this is typically in the late evening, shortly before park close.
Single Rider Warning: As always, the Single Rider line will bypass the Hondo briefing. To hear the new “Era-Neutral” script, stay in the Standby or Lightning Lane queues.

Conclusion: Preparing for the Bounty

The “Era-Neutral” update is the first step in a larger plan to make Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a living, breathing timeline. By moving away from a fixed point in the Star Wars saga, Disney is opening the door for Batuu to host characters from the High Republic, the Prequels, and the “Mando-verse” simultaneously.

Grogu eating a cookie in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' — Credit: Lucasfilm

The theatrical debut of The Mandalorian & Grogu on May 22, 2026, marks a seismic shift for Disney. By launching the Smugglers Run update in lockstep with the film, Imagineers have finally bridged the gap between the silver screen and the cockpit. It’s no longer just a movie release—it’s a total immersion event for every fan. This is the way.

Hondo has scrubbed his records, the Falcon is prepped, and the bounty is almost here. This is the way… to prepare for a grand opening.

Are you excited for the Falcon to move past the Sequel Trilogy? Join the discussion in the comments below!