Walt Disney World Weekly News: Mando Joins Smugglers Run, Fantasmic Moves to 9 PM, and Vacation Fun Goes Down (Week of April 20, 2026)

Walt Disney World had one of its biggest announcement weeks of the spring. Disney officially unveiled a brand-new Mandalorian mission for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run timed to the new film, Fantasmic! is shifting to a later standard showtime, a Hollywood Studios short-film experience is heading out for months of refurbishment, and two of EPCOT and Animal Kingdom’s biggest next-chapter additions got hours and opening logistics confirmed. Here’s your scan-friendly rundown for the week of April 20, 2026.

Image: Disney Parks Blog

1. Mandalorian & Grogu take the cockpit on May 22

Announced on April 23, 2026, Disney is launching a brand-new “The Mandalorian and Grogu” mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge) on Friday, May 22, 2026 — the same day the feature film The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters.

What’s new compared to the original mission:

• Branching destinations. For the first time since the ride opened, the crew can actually influence where the Falcon goes next. Possible routes include Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, and — making its theme-park debut — the just-announced city-planet Coruscant.
• New crew controls. Engineer positions can now communicate directly with Grogu during the mission, adding a gameplay beat the original flight didn’t have.
• Story beat. Hondo Ohnaka hears about a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and pirates; Din Djarin and Grogu bring you along to intercept.
• Ride name. Disney briefly updated the attraction's official name to “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – A New Mission” earlier this month before reverting back to the original “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” as the May 22 debut approaches.

The update takes the ride from a single-scenario flight into something much closer to a replayable experience — easily the biggest change to Smugglers Run since it opened.

Sources: Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today, Inside the Magic, Disney Tourist Blog.

2. Fantasmic! moves to a 9:00 PM standard showtime starting April 24

Beginning tonight — Friday, April 24, 2026 — Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios shifts to a new nightly standard showtime of 9:00 PM, up from the previous 8:30 PM slot.

Image: Inside the Magic

• Standard showtime: 9:00 PM nightly, through at least the published June calendar.
• Second show Fri/Sat: An additional 10:30 PM performance runs on Fridays and Saturdays through May 9, 2026.
• Practical impact: The later start shifts the evening flow at Hollywood Studios — expect later dinner reservations to become the sweet spot, and plan extra time for post-show park exits.

Sources: WDW News Today, Inside the Magic, AllEars.Net.

3. “Vacation Fun” short closes April 28 for multi-month refurbishment

Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is closing for an extended refurbishment. Last day to catch the current cut is Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the short going down starting April 29.

Image: The Disney Food Blog

Disney hasn’t given a specific reopening date — the only commitment is “later in 2026,” which could land anywhere from late summer to the holiday season depending on what’s being swapped in. The theater itself (in the Echo Lake area) isn’t being rebuilt; the speculation among the trade press is a new short or a refreshed version of the current one.

Sources: WDW News Today, Inside the Magic, MickeyVisit.

4. Soarin’ Across America locks in a May 26 debut at EPCOT

Disney confirmed hours this week for the limited-time Soarin’ Across America film debuting at EPCOT as part of the company’s Semiquincentennial (“America 250”) celebration.

Image: Disney Parks Blog

• Opens: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 — the day after Memorial Day, timed with the start of Disney’s Cool Kids’ Summer.
• Hours: Regular park hours — typically 9 AM to 9 PM — plus Early Entry at 8:30 AM for eligible resort guests.
• Closure gap for Around the World: Soarin’ Around the World closes May 14 for the film swap; the attraction is fully unavailable from May 14 through May 25.
• Limited-time. Across America is positioned as a celebration-season overlay, not a permanent replacement.

Sources: WDW News Today, Disney Tourist Blog, DVC Shop.

5. Bluey’s Wild World confirmed for May 26 at Animal Kingdom

Bluey’s Wild World — the interactive Bluey experience Disney announced for Conservation Station at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — also opens Tuesday, May 26, 2026. New reporting this week clarified what the experience actually looks like and what’s happening to the surrounding area:

Image: Fantasy Land News

• Not just a meet-and-greet. Guests play and dance alongside Bluey and Bingo during an interactive excursion inside Conservation Station, with games from the show staged with an animal twist.
• “Rafiki’s Planet Watch” is going away. Disney is retiring the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area name and restoring the original “Conservation Station” branding at the train terminus.
• Affection Section becomes Jumping Junction, featuring animals native to Australia — tying the petting-zoo redesign back into the Bluey theme.
• Train status. The Wildlife Express Train, Affection Section, and Animation Experience have all been closed since February 23 to enable the transformation.

Sources: WDW News Today, Disney Tourist Blog, Fantasy Land News.

Quick hits

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — reopens May 3, 2026 at Magic Kingdom after 16 months down. New track, refreshed trains, a lowered 38” height requirement, and a brand-new Rainbow Caverns scene. (Disney Parks Blog)
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — still closed as it’s re-themed into a Muppets-starring version; reopening summer 2026. (WDWMagic)
• Kona Cafe menu refresh — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort updated the Kona Cafe menu on April 22 with new dishes and beverage options. (WDW News Today)
• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival — runs through June 1, 2026. The runDisney Springtime Surprise weekend wrapped up April 16–20 with a delayed EPCOT open on April 19. (Walt Disney World)
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — back in business since April 7 with upgraded projection effects, a new Buddy robot show scene, updated blasters, and a digital high-score board. (Disney Tourist Blog)

Image & reporting credits

This roundup summarizes and links to original reporting by the outlets credited above. Photos appearing in this article are credited to their original publishers — Disney Parks Blog, WDW News Today, Inside the Magic, The Disney Food Blog, Fantasy Land News — and Walt Disney World Resort. Click through to each source story for the original reporting and additional photography.

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