Credit: DisneyDisney’s Hollywood Studios is about to get a whole lot busier over the next several days. Between major attraction updates, Annual Passholder previews, brand-new merchandise releases, and a huge push tied directly to the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu theatrical release, Walt Disney World is preparing for one of its biggest Star Wars surges in recent memory.
Fans heading to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge soon may notice that Disney is already preparing for the crowds before they fully arrive. Operational adjustments, stricter purchasing limits, and potential crowd-control measures are all becoming part of the conversation as the resort gets ready for thousands of additional guests flooding into Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the same time.
And honestly, Disney probably has good reason to prepare.
Several major additions are about to hit the park all at once, and the timing could create serious congestion inside one of the resort’s busiest lands.
A New Mission Is Arriving at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
One of the biggest additions coming to Galaxy’s Edge is the new Mandalorian and Grogu mission being added to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The update arrives alongside the growing excitement surrounding The Mandalorian and Grogu, which officially hits theaters on May 22.
Disney clearly understands how popular Din Djarin and Grogu have become over the last several years. What started as a Disney+ phenomenon has now evolved into one of the biggest modern Star Wars storylines, and fans have been waiting to see the characters receive a larger presence inside the parks.
That is exactly what is about to happen.
The new Smugglers Run experience gives guests an updated mission aboard the Millennium Falcon tied directly to the Mandalorian universe. Naturally, that is expected to pull enormous crowds into Galaxy’s Edge almost immediately after launch.
Smugglers Run already handles heavy traffic on normal days, especially during the morning and evening rushes. But adding a brand-new mission tied to one of Disney’s most popular franchises completely changes the equation.
Disney knows fans will rush to experience the new storyline as quickly as possible.
Hollywood Studios Faces Extreme Crowds
The timing of this update may create an even larger issue for Disney’s Hollywood Studios operations team.
Just days before the new mission arrives, Disney is also hosting previews for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets for Annual Passholders on May 21, 22, and 23. The attraction officially reopens to the public on May 26 after its transformation away from Aerosmith.
That means Disney’s Hollywood Studios could suddenly become one of the busiest parks on property during a stretch that already looked crowded because of Memorial Day travel.
Now add the Mandalorian mission update, new merchandise drops, Passholder previews, and summer vacation crowds into the mix, and things could escalate quickly.
Hollywood Studios already struggles with packed walkways during major entertainment launches. Galaxy’s Edge especially becomes difficult to navigate once crowds begin stacking around the Millennium Falcon courtyard area.
Disney has dealt with similar situations before, and that is where operational restrictions could become very important over the next week.
How Will Disney Manage Capacity?
While Disney has not officially announced a virtual queue for the updated Smugglers Run mission, it absolutely remains a possibility if wait times spiral out of control.
Disney used virtual queues heavily in recent years for major ride launches and special merchandise releases. Although the company has backed away from them lately, Galaxy’s Edge presents unique challenges, as the area can feel crowded during peak traffic.
If standby waits reach extreme levels, Disney could temporarily switch Smugglers Run to a virtual queue system to reduce congestion in the land.
That would not surprise many longtime Disney fans.
There is also the possibility that Disney will adjust the physical queue structure itself. Overflow lines could potentially stretch outside the normal entrance area to avoid disrupting nearby foot traffic around Docking Bay 7, the marketplace pathways, and the central Falcon courtyard.
Disney has quietly modified line operations many times in the past whenever new attractions or entertainment offerings caused bottlenecks inside the parks.
With several major additions arriving simultaneously, fans should probably expect at least some operational adjustments once crowds begin building.
New ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ Merchandise Will Bring Even More Demand
As if the attraction update was not enough, Disney is also releasing several new collectible items themed directly to The Mandalorian and Grogu.
One of the biggest items arriving soon is the new BDX Droid Bucket. Disney created the bucket to celebrate the upcoming theatrical release while also paying tribute to the expressive, roaming droids developed by Walt Disney Imagineering over the last several years.
The collectible is already generating major excitement online.
Disney is also introducing a Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper, which fans expect to sell out very quickly once it becomes available.
That creates another challenge for Disney operations.
Limited-edition popcorn buckets and sippers routinely attract massive lines at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
More Policy Changes Ahead of ‘Star Wars’ Launch
Disney is spreading sales of the new Star Wars collectibles across multiple locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to help reduce crowd buildup.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper will reportedly be available at
- Backlot Express
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Hollywood Hills Amphitheater Refreshments near Fantasmic!
- ABC Commissary
- Fairfax Fare
- A cart near the park’s main entrance.
Meanwhile, the new BDX Droid Bucket will be sold at select locations around the park, including areas inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and select popcorn carts.
Even with the added locations, lines could still become substantial once the collectibles launch.
Disney is also imposing purchase limits. Guests will be allowed to buy only 2 collectibles per person, per transaction, while supplies last. The company is likely trying to slow reseller activity while also keeping inventory available for more guests.
With these releases arriving during an already busy week at Hollywood Studios, additional crowd-control measures remain a real possibility.
Disney Fans Should Prepare Before Visiting
The next several days could end up serving as a preview of how aggressive Disney’s Star Wars expansion plans may become moving forward.
Between the new Smugglers Run mission, Passholder previews for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, collectible merchandise releases, and the theatrical momentum behind The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is preparing for a potentially chaotic stretch heading into Memorial Day season.
Guests planning to visit should probably expect longer waits, heavier crowds, and possible operational changes throughout the park.
And if Disney does decide to tighten restrictions further through virtual queues, modified line structures, or additional merchandise limits, it will likely happen very quickly once crowds begin overwhelming Galaxy’s Edge.
For now, though, one thing already feels certain: Disney knows a massive wave of Star Wars fans is about to arrive.
