WDW Daily News

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an anchor attraction inside the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, opening May 31, 2019, at Disneyland Park in California and Aug. 29, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida.* It combines immersive storytelling with interactive gameplay to make guests the protagonists of their own Star Wars adventures in a way never before undertaken by Disney Parks.

Lovingly described at various times as a “piece of junk” or “bucket of bolts,” the Millennium Falcon is the most famous of all Star Wars starships. On Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests 38 inches or taller climb aboard the Falcon in all her ramshackle glory and settle into the cockpit to operate “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” They could just discover the ship has a few surprises left in her, because the Millennium Falcon may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts.

Following the events of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Chewbacca brought the Falcon to Black Spire Outpost for repairs at this spaceport on the edge of the galaxy. In exchange for some much-needed replacement parts, Chewie is loaning the Falcon to Hondo Ohnaka, a smuggler who is now making good use of the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. It is at this point guests enter the story of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Who Is Hondo Ohnaka and What Does He Want?

• A fan-favorite miscreant from the “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels” animated television series, Hondo is a Weequay pirate always looking for the next big score.
• Hondo is running a “legitimate business” out of the spaceport, called Ohnaka Transport Solutions. When guests meet Hondo in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, he tells them he has more cargo than he can handle and needs extra flight crews to make some runs for him – especially crews that won’t ask too many questions about the cargo or how Hondo acquired it!

Step Aboard the Falcon

• When guests accept Hondo’s offer, they enter the Falcon via an access hatch on the ship’s starboard airlock. Once aboard, they spend some time in the ship’s main hold and lounge, where they can sit at the famous Dejarik (chess) table or poke around at other equipment in the room.

Three Roles to Play – One Goal

• When it’s time for the mission to begin, guests strap themselves into the Falcon cockpit in groups of six. Each person is assigned one of three critical roles to complete their mission, and guests know it’s their turn to act when buttons light up in the cockpit:
  • Pilots (2) – Work together to steer the ship – the left pilot controls horizontal motion, the right pilot controls vertical motion – avoiding obstacles that could cause damage
  • Gunners (2) – Use blasters and missiles to defend the Falcon and its precious cargo (switching to manual targeting creates an even greater challenge!)
  • Flight Engineers (2) – Keep the Falcon from falling apart on its mission by managing the ship’s systems, repairing any damage the ship encounters and take control of the “special modifications” Hondo installed for these unusual missions

Interactive Gameplay

• Industrial Light & Magic (the visual effects division of Lucasfilm) collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to create the gaming platform and interactive media for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
• Guests begin their adventure by powering up the Falcon and making the jump to lightspeed. From there, Hondo Ohnaka (with occasional input from Chewbacca) helps guide guests along their mission.
• If the Falcon sustains damage – such as smashing into obstacles or taking enemy fire – and is not properly repaired, the ship’s handling is affected.
• At the end of the mission, Hondo informs guests how well they accomplished their objectives.

Authenticity in the Details

• Walt Disney Imagineers worked with Lucasfilm to ensure authenticity in every detail of the Millennium Falcon – down to the hoses, pipes, switches and even the stickers on the exterior hull. Imagineers visited Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom to study Falcon film sets and pored over archival Lucasfilm photographs of the ship.
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run marks the first time Hondo Ohnaka has been seen in any form other than an animated on-screen character. Walt Disney Imagineering consulted Hondo’s creator, Dave Filoni, in designing the smuggler’s physical look, ensuring the essence of his character was authentically captured in his Audio-Animatronics figure inside the attraction.
• Over time, the Millennium Falcon has undergone many modifications. For this mission, Hondo altered the control sticks for the pilot and co-pilot and supplemented the Falcon’s arsenal with a harpoon, among other tweaks.
• If guests’ mission aboard the Falcon doesn’t go quite as well as planned, the ship’s hallways will show damage as they leave the attraction.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Lamplight Lounge is now serving up brunch in the downstairs dining room. Your clients can sit back and relax while they take in stunning views of Pixar Pier and indulge in a delicious brunch menu featuring a variety of unique dishes and cocktails. 

One of the favorite dishes on the menu is the Indulgent French Toast with cinnamon-brown sugar challah bread, Irish cream whip, maple syrup, and macerated berries garnished with a crunchy piece of house-made almond brittle. For a little protein, your clients can take a bite out of the Brunch Burger, which features a grilled custom burger blend served with American cheese, one egg, roasted green chile, lettuce, and paprika aïoli on a toasted Amish bun. If eggs are more your clients’ style, then the Crab and Potato Cake Benedict or the Egg White Frittata Bake are for them. The Crab and Potato Cake Benedict comes with sautéed spinach, soft poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise, and fresh fruit. And the Egg White Frittata Bake features hen of the woods mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, roasted peppers and onions, smoked salmon, goat cheese sour cream, avocado, and confit potatoes.

Other entrées include Potato Flautas and Lamplight Chilaquiles. The Potato Flautas are made with plant-based chorizo, vegan piquillo crema, serrano-tomatillo salsa, arugula salad, and escabèche. Our one-of-a-kind Lamplight Chilaquiles feature house-made tortilla chips with cheddar-jack cheese, two eggs, queso fresco, red onions, cilantro-serrano sour cream, and sliced avocado, topped with a 3-chile red sauce and pepitas. 

Your clients can also try the New York Avocado Toast with sourdough, avocado mash, New York Steak, one egg, piquillo-butter sauce, arugula salad, pickled red onions, and confit potatoes.

And we can’t forget the kiddos! On the Budding Artists menu, kids can choose from a Brunch Quesadilla or an Omelet (both served with egg whites and cheddar-jack cheese), a smaller portion of the Indulgent French Toast, or a Mini Brunch Burger.

For the adults, hand-crafted specialty beverages include options such as the Beermosa with blood orange IPA and fresh orange juice and a Cinnamon Toast Cocktail with vanilla vodka, hazelnut and cream liqueurs, and cinnamon cereal-infused milk. For a savory beverage, the Morning Glory comes with vodka, spicy Bloody Mary mix, dill pickle brine, and a dash of celery bitters. Of course, what brunch would be complete without MIMOSAS? Your clients can try a variety of seasonal flavors with the Mimosa Flight, featuring classic orange juice mimosas as well as versions with mango, watermelon, and more!

Lamplight Lounge Brunch occurs on Saturdays and Sundays only from park open to noon in the downstairs dining room.

The world of “The Princess and the Frog” will come to life in new ways on the Disney Wonder with the addition of an exciting New Orleans-themed lounge that will transport your clients deeper into the heart of the city’s iconic French Quarter. A perfect complement to Tiana’s Place Restaurant on the Disney Wonder, the French Quarter Lounge will feature live music and themed activities for everyone in the family. Also debuting on the Disney Wonder this fall will be a sleek new space for teens and a redesigned café just for adults.

Here’s a look at enhancements sure to enchant: 

“The Princess and the Frog” Comes to Life in a New Family Lounge
The French Quarter Lounge will be a perfect companion to Tiana’s Place Restaurant on the Disney Wonder, both inspired by the Disney animated feature “The Princess and the Frog.” The jazzy atmosphere of the French Quarter Lounge will evoke an airy outdoor space in New Orleans, surrounded by touches of iconic architecture such as wrought-iron balconies, classic brick walls and shutter-framed windows. Decorative details including a life-size trolley car and nods to the film, with signs and icons on the walls, add to the ambiance of the space. 

Days and nights get a touch of bayou hospitality at the French Quarter Lounge, where your clients will enjoy live music on the gazebo stage and sip specialty drinks at an updated whimsical bar. The French Quarter Lounge will be a natural precursor to dinner at Tiana’s Place Restaurant or the perfect destination for entertainment and libations. The story will continue in the lounge all day long with New Orleans-themed family activities, trivia and character encounters. There may even be a glimpse of Princess Tiana herself as she stops by to welcome your clients.

Redesigned Retreats for Teens and Adults
Vibe, a club reserved for teens ages 14-17, will transform into a contemporary place to hang out with friends while at sea. The space will be given a timeless feel with an open, bright redesign, a light color palette and industrial metal work. A new coffee bar and updated virtual reality technology add to the list of activities for teens to enjoy in this exclusive club. 

Adults will have an updated space all their own in the Cove Café, after a redesign that will transform the look and feel of the café into a local coffee shop, complete with warm, comfortable and trendy décor. Ample seating and a relaxed atmosphere will invite your clients to indulge themselves in this peaceful retreat. The newly redesigned Cove Café will be the perfect place to sip specialty coffee or tea throughout the day or partake in wine, cocktails and light bites during the evening.

Adult beverage tastings will be available at select times for an additional fee. Just steps away, Signals Bar is also undergoing a transformation with a similar look.

The new enhancements debut on the Disney Wonder’s four-night sailing from Vancouver to San Diego on Sept. 30, 2019. These additions are part of an overall commitment by Disney Cruise Line to invest in its ships, helping to deliver incredible family vacation experiences for years to come. While making these enhancements, crews perform regularly scheduled and wide-ranging maintenance to keep the fleet in tip-top shape, further demonstrating the unwavering commitment by Disney Cruise Line to continually elevate the experience. 

Clients sailing on the Disney Wonder can experience a variety of itineraries and ports of call throughout the year, including summer sailings to Alaska, cruises to the Mexican Riviera and voyages to the Caribbean and Bahamas. For the first time, the Disney Wonder will also call New Orleans home in 2020 with Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from this new home port beginning Feb. 7.

If your Clients are big “Toy Story” fans, they won’t want to miss the newly-opened Toy Story Drop! pop-up experience this summer at Disney Springs®. Toy Story Drop! is a new mobile game that is fully themed in the “Toy Story” universe where you can interact with new and beloved characters anywhere and anytime. Guests who visit the pop-up experience now through Aug. 9, 2019 can play the game for free, take a selfie with The Claw, and receive a limited-edition Toy Story Drop! pop socket (while supplies last). Guests will find the pop-up experience just outside of Paddlefish. 

Toy Story Drop! is available now for iOS, Google Play and Amazon. Players progress through gameplay by matching, dropping and clearing hundreds of exciting puzzles to help favorite characters like Woody and Buzz Lightyear overcome larger-than-life obstacles as they journey across iconic locations such as Andy’s Room and Pizza Planet. The new game includes characters, friendships, locations, environments and motifs from the entire “Toy Story” universe, including “Toy Story 4”, which opens in theaters June 21, 2019.

There are hundreds of details to see inside the Chess Room for Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run but we wanted to give you a look at a few of them. Let us know what your favorite part of the area is once you are able to enjoy the attraction.

Disney World has unveiled a huge new 270-acre solar farm, consisting of half-a-million 50 megawatt solar panels. To put that in perspective, the farm is nearly twice the size of the Magic Kingdom Park.

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At Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, a brand-new additional experience is coming, drawing on Disney’s rich heritage of wildlife animation, inspired by Walt Disney’s own passion for ensuring his animators could develop realistic characters and settings by spending time with animals. 

In celebration of Disney’s “The Lion King,” Disney will be launching The Animation Experience at Conservation Station, offering your clients the opportunity to learn how live animals have inspired some of the most iconic characters from this beloved “tail.” You will learn more about some of the animals who call Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park home and then have the chance to create a personalized piece of Disney art through an instructor-led animation class. Some of your favorite characters from “The Lion King” will be the stars of The Animation Experience, which will start when Rafiki’s Planet Watch reopens on July 11. You can learn how to draw Simba, Zazu, Pumbaa, Timon and more. Each session will be different so your clients should visit often to complete the collection. Disney FastPass+ Service will be offered for the experience, and your clients can make those selections starting later today. 

For more than 60 years, animals have been a part of Disney storytelling, and these stories continue today alongside efforts to protect wildlife and habitats around the world, as well as provide immersive experiences that connect kids and families with the magic of nature. Disney looks forward to offering your clients this new way of connecting with the animals in the park in addition to the other unique opportunities that Rafiki’s Planet Watch offers. Disney is excited to welcome your clients back to greet and hug the animals at Affection Section, catch a glimpse of medical procedures at the veterinary treatment window, learn how the animal care experts prepare meals for and care for the park’s animal residents and more.

Just in time for warm summer nights, “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular returns to Disneyland® Park starting this evening! The street-to-sky celebration, which first debuted during Disneyland’s 60^th anniversary and Diamond Celebration, features sparkling pyrotechnics, immersive projections and other effects that transform Disneyland into a magical canvas.

A fan favorite, “Disneyland Forever” envelops you in an enthralling, breathtaking journey. They’ll be literally surrounded by timeless Disney stories—from soaring over London with Peter Pan one moment, to journeying across Simba’s Pride Lands the next.

Adding to the magic, there are multiple viewing areas for “Disneyland Forever” throughout the park, including Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America and near “it’s a small world.” Each spot lends a different feel to the show, so consider them all!

Listen, if you are a foodie, then you are going to have a hard time when you visit the Disney Parks. There is seemingly an unlimited amount of options to choose from, whether you’re settling in for lunch or just looking for a mid-afternoon snack. It doesn’t matter if you are a sweet or salty type of person, there is guaranteed to be a delectable food item to satisfy your taste buds.

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