It's Time To Fly On The Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run

Are you ready to pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy? The latest "Ride & Learn" video from Disney takes us on a journey to another world aboard the Millennium Falcon. 

I was lucky enough to ride Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run three times last year, twice as one of the pilots. It is amazing. I can't wait to fly her again!

Star Wars Treats Coming To Disney World

All images: Disney

With May the 4th just a week away, Disney has shared several Star Wars inspired sweets and treats that will be popping up soon across Disney World. They're out of this world!

Hollywood Studios 

ABC Commissary and Rosie’s All-American Café ⭐️

• Jettison Juice: Minute Maid Lemonade and watermelon served with a glow cube 🧋

Backlot Express ⭐️

• Jettison Juice: Minute Maid Lemonade and watermelon served with a glow cube 🧋
• Darth Vader Cupcake: Chocolate cupcake with chocolate-peanut butter buttercream, dipped in dark chocolate ganache, edged in chocolate flakes, and topped with a chocolate Darth Vader 
• Wookiee Cookie: Two oatmeal cookies with vanilla cream filling garnished with a milk chocolate sash on top

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

• Oi-Oi Puff: Raspberry cream puff with passion fruit mousse 💫
• Light Up! Acid Spitter Orb Sipper with Lanyard includes choice of fountain beverage at time of purchase ✨️

PizzeRizzo

• Dark Side Chocolate Creation: Malted milk chocolate mousse dome with raspberry mousse filling, slivered almonds, and chocolate shortbread cookie 💫
• Jettison Juice: Minute Maid Lemonade and watermelon served with a glow cube 🧋

The Trolley Car Café 💫

• Dark Side Chocolate Creation: Malted milk chocolate mousse dome with raspberry mousse filling, slivered almonds, and chocolate shortbread cookie

Churro Carts at The Market 💫 and Grand Avenue and Anaheim Produce ⭐️

• Lightsaber Churro served with chocolate sauce

Ronto Roasters 

Light Up! Acid Spitter Orb Sipper with Lanyard includes choice of fountain beverage at time of purchase ✨️

Resort Hotels

Polynesian Village Resort

Pineapple Lanai 🌟

• Millennium Falcon Star Wars Soft-serve Sundae: Galactic gray vanilla soft-serve with mint flavor, chocolate cream cookie crumbles, chocolate drizzle, white chocolate pearl stars, brownie asteroid pieces with stardust sparkles, and a Millennium Falcon white chocolate piece 

Disney Springs 

The Ganachery

• Queen Amidala Chocolate Piñata: Dark chocolate piñata filled with ruby chocolate and raspberry bark 🪐
• Ahsoka Pop: Plant-based coconut and blueberry swirl pop enrobed in dark chocolate 🪐
• Millennium Falcon Pop: Milk chocolate pop with crisp pearls

Swirls on the Water ⭐️

• Loyal Astromech Swirl: DOLE Whip Mango swirled with habanero soft-serve in a red velvet cone with toasted graham cracker crumbs, chocolate rocks, and a BB-8 edible garnish ✨️

🌟 Available May 4th Only

💫 Available May 4th & 5th

🪐 Available May 1 - 31

⭐️ Available May 4 - 31

✨️ New

🧋 Non-alcoholic

Star Wars at Williams-Sonoma

This weekend, I was in our local Williams-Sonoma and they had finally marked down the Star Wars cookie cutters-embossers, pancake molds, and sandwich cutters in the tin lunchbox. All of the sets look like spaceships from the Star Wars Universe and are on sale for $9.99. The cookie cutters, including the Death Star, Millennium Falcon, Vader's Tie Fighter, and X-Wing Fighter, and pancake molds, Millennium Falcon, Tie Fighter and X-Wing Fighter were originally $19.99 each. The tin lunchbox featuring are from the original Star Wars, episode IV, has two metal sandwich cutters, the Millennium Falcon and Darth Vader's Tie Fighter, and was originally $29.99. I thought that the sale price was fantastic, so I bought a set of each. The pancake molds are huge, but awesome. I can't wait to try them out. Bean was super excited too. We recently got her hooked on the old Star Wars films, and she thought eating spaceships would be awesome.

The Mandalorian and Grogu At Disney World

All images: Disney

To celebrate the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, lots of fun new treats and collectibles are headed to Disney World on May 22nd. From blue cookies and backpack sippers to an all-new adventure on

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, there's something for everyone. First up, the food and foodie collectibles. (✨️ - New)

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios

Kat Saka’s Kettle

• Grogu Cookies: White chocolate-dipped macaron cookie with pineapple cream ✨️
• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo

• Sweet-and-Spicy Puffer Pig Pasta: Flat noodles with pork belly, bok choy, sweet-and-spicy soy sauce, and hard boiled egg ✨️
• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Oga's Cantina

• Oga’s Obsession: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade, cotton candy flavor, and blueberry fruit juice-filled pearls with a bursting dried fruit mixture and gummy candy frogs

• Rodian Ration: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple Schnapps Liqueur, green apple, and Sprite with fruit juice-filled pearls and gummy candy frogs

• Spotchka: Hendrick’s Gin, honey syrup, Lillet Blanc Aperitif, lemon juice, and Bols Blue Curaçao​ Liqueur served in a jet chill glass

Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Backlot Express

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Fairfax Fare

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Ice Cold Hydraulics

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Hollywood Hills Amphitheater Refreshments near Fantasmic

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️
• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Select Popcorn Carts

• BDX Droid Bucket ✨️

Cart near the Main Entrance

• The Mandalorian and Grogu Jetpack Sipper ✨️

Disney Springs

The Ganachery 

• Beskar Ingot Pop: Dragon fruit ganache covered in 65% dark chocolate ✨️

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Din Djarin and Grogu join Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run for an exciting new adventure. Here's the official description from Disney:

In this new storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has caught wind of a high-stakes deal unfolding on the sands of Tatooine, where ex-Imperial officers have crossed paths with a ruthless band of pirates. With a hefty bounty on the line, you’ll take possession of the Millennium Falcon, join forces with Mando and Grogu, and launch into a daring pursuit across the stars.

Adding to the fun, each role introduces fresh gameplay moments, new interactions, and unexpected surprises along the way. A new interactive feature allows the engineer position to check in on Grogu throughout the mission, and make the pivotal planet choice that charts the course.

New collectibles such as toys, puzzles, water bottles and clothing will be available at multiple locations in the Parks and at Disney Springs: Tatooine Traders, Mission: SPACE Cargo Bay, Star Wars Galactic Outpost, or World of Disney.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu blasts into theaters this Friday, May 22nd.

Hondo Ohnaka

I really enjoy the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios. It's so fun to fly the Millennium Falcon on a dangerous mission to liberate coaxium from the First Order. The smuggling operations are run by a rather familiar face from the Star Wars animated series, Hondo Ohnaka.

Hondo first appeared, causing more than a bit of trouble for Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. After a few episodes, the Weequay pirate really starts to grow on you, so when he popped up again in Star Wars Rebels, it was unexpectedly delightful. After many disreputable adventures, he opened Ohnaka Transport Solutions in Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, "borrowing" the Millennium Falcon for a smuggling run or two.

These Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures Shorts Explore the Fun of Galaxy's Edge

Lucasfilm

The Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures shorts are a brief glimpse into the Star Wars universe that are perfect for kids. The latest stories take place in the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, the home of Galaxy's Edge.

In "Black Spire Outpost", Chewie's Porg friend explore the town. He wanders into Dok Ondar's Den of Antiquities, dances in Oga's Cantina, finds Vi Moradi, the Rebel spy, and follows his nose to Ronto Roasters before Chewie catches up with him.

In "Millennium Falcon - Smuggler's Run", a group a young rebels become Hondo Ohnaka's flight crew aboard the Millennium Falcon. 

In "Rise of the Resistance", a young rebel joins the Resistance on the adventure of a lifetime. 

Millennium Falcon Power Up

LEGO/Lucasfilm

The new SMART Play bricks from LEGO sound like a lot of fun. They light up, emit sounds, and contain motion sensors for things like lightsaber battles. I can't wait to try them out! Here's a fun animated Star Wars short showing how they work.

Subway Star Wars Kids Meals

It seems that Subway has new bags for their kids meals. With artwork inspired by the Force Awakens, each bag also contains a glowstick lightsaber with a handle that you decorate with a sticker. They're kinda cool! There are 8 different bags available: a blueprint of the Millennium Falcon, BB-8, two Stormtrooper bags, Kylo Ren, and two with everybody. My favorite is the Millennium Falcon bag, how about you?

Solo: A Star Wars Story On Blu-ray

Lucasfilm

Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives on Blu-ray today. The movie was unexpectedly fun. Although it took me awhile to get used to the young cast in place of familiar faces, I enjoyed the chance to see how my favorite smuggler and rogue got started on his life of crime. We learned how Han, Chewie, and Lando met, and we finally saw what happened on the mysterious Kessel Run. Solo: A Star Wars Story may not be as intense as other Star Wars films, but it is still a decent story that I'm sure I'll watch again and again.

There are a few different Blu-ray sets available, but all of them come with the following bonus features:

• Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable
• Team Chewie - A behind the scenes look at what it take to bring Chewbacca to life
• Kasdan on Kasdan - An interview with the father and son team that wrote the script
• Remaking the Millennium Falcon - From swanky to stripped, track the ship's transformation
• Escape from Corellia - A behind the scenes look at the high-octane chase
• The Train Heist - Explore the thrills of a remote location and spectacular effects
• Becoming a Droid: L3-37 - Meet the newest droid
• Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards: Welcome to Fort Ypso - Tour the rough-and-tumble bar
• Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run - See how this legendary moment unfolds
• Deleted Scenes: Proxima's Den, Corellian Foot Chase, Han Solo: Imperial Cadet, The Battle of Mimban: Extended, Han vs Chewie: Extended, Snowball Fight!, Meet Dryden: Extended, Coaxium Double-Cross
• The Millennium Falcon: From Page to Park - An Exclusive look at the history and development if the most famous hunk of junk in the galaxy and how it will appear in Disney parks

Photo of the Week

Anyone up for a game of Dejarik? I love all of the detail in the queue for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

Take a Look Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Disney

Are you ready to travel to a galaxy far, far away? Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge won't open at Hollywood Studios until next fall, but so far, it looks incredible! The detail in the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run ride is absolutely astounding.

Unexpected Star Wars Merchandise

Have you seen the fun new Star Wars merchandise that arrived in stores recently? There are many, many new items to surround fans in all things Star Wars.  Here are a few of my unexpected favorites.

Do you enjoy popcorn with your movies? Who doesn't,  right? Well, PopSecret had created four collectible popcorn buckets featuring Star Wars characters. The Yoda, Darth Vader, R2-D2, and Stormtrooper buckets each come with a single bag of microwave popcorn and are available for under $5. I recently received the R2-D2 bucket for my birthday.

General Mills is also getting in on the fun with a mini poster collection. Each specially marked box of General Mills cereal contains one poster celebrating a single film from the series.  There's also a special mini poster available only from Target that features all six films on one poster. (That's the one I chose.)

Finally, Band-Aid has created a series of four collectible tins to store your bandages. Each tin features a famous Star Wars spaceship: the Millennium Falcon, a Tie Fighter, an X-Wing Fighter, and the Death Star. I got the Death Star (because it was the only one available). It came with two boxes of Star Wars 20 count Band-Aids in two sizes and cost just under $5.

Photo of the Week

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run is a blast!

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is Looking Incredible

Disney

While Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge won't open at Disney's Hollywood Studios until 2019, Disney recently shared a video flyover of the construction and it's looking amazing. The size of this new land was hard to picture when all we could see was a model, but, as you can see, it's absolutely huge! I can't wait to see it completed.

Here's the official description from Disney:

At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, guests will be transported to the planet of Batuu, a remote outpost on the galaxy’s edge that was once a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes. Here, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action at two attractions that take detail and immersion to the next level: one that lets guests take the controls of Millennium Falcon on a customized secret mission, and an epic Star Wars adventure that puts guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance.

It's going to be awesome!

More Star Wars Treats at Disney World

All images: Disney

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney World is now open. In addition to the wildly creative new foods found within the land itself, several other locations are offering Star Wars inspired treats as well.

First up, treats at the resorts:

Chewbacca Cupcake

At Everything POP (Pop Cenury) and Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation) until September 21

• Chewbacca Cupcake - a chocolate cupcake filled with chocolate-hazelnut spread, topped with chocolate-hazelnut buttercream and a chocolate candy sash

At Contempo Cafe (Contemporary) August 29-31

• Wookiee Cake - chocolate cake filled with caramel custard, topped with chocolate buttercream fur and a chocolate sash

The Dark Side Dessert

At the Beach Club Marketplace and the Market at Ale and Compass (Yacht and Beach Club) August 29-September 29

• The Dark Side Dessert - red velvet cake with cream cheese swirl and chocolate ganache on top of a sugar cookie

At Pineapple Lanai (Polynesian Village)

• Yoda Cone - Lime Dole Whip served in a green cone and topped with white chocolate Yoda ears

Next, treats at Disney Springs:

At the Ganachery August 29-September 7

• Millennium Falcon Chocolate Pop - milk chocolate lollipop that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs

Chewbacca Cake

At Amorette's Patisserie August 29-September 12

• Chewbacca Cake - Full-sized dome cake available for pre-order with options of 4 different flavors. Call (407) 934-3500 or swing by the shop at least 72 hours in advance to order.

There are fun sweets and treats to be found throughout Hollywood Studios, too.

Lightsaber Churros, A galaxy Far, Far Away Espresso Mousse, Galaxy Margarita, Bantha Skewers, and Two Suns of Tatooine Hummus

Some are available at multiple locations:

• Lightsaber Churros (various outdoor carts) - churros dusted with red or blue sugar
• Galaxy Margarita (various bar carts) - tequila, blue curaçao, and lemon-lime mix
• Two Suns of Tatooine Hummus (Backlot Express) – red pepper hummus topped with fried chick peas, and spicy plant-based meat crumbles and plain hummus topped with cucumber, tomato, onions, and cilantro served with pita chips and greens
• Bantha Skewers (Catalina Eddie’s) – chermoula-marinated beef skewers with cous cous salad topped with yogurt sauce
• Darth Vader Savory Waffles (Hollywood and Vine) – Darth Vader waffles topped with bourbon maple glaze
• A Galaxy Far, Far Away Espresso Mousse (ABC Commissary and PizzeRizzo) – caramel and espresso mousse with chocolate ganache

Resistance Shake

• Resistance Shake (Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant) – Pineapple Dole Whip and Orange Dole Whip swirl with a sugar rim and topped with a Rebel Alliance chocolate piece

Galactic Funnel Cake

• Galactic Funnel Cake (Epic Eats) – funnel cake with strawberries, cookies and cream crumbles, and candy rocks

Photo of the Week

Smuggler's Run in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is fantastic! Where else can you fly the Millennium Falcon? (Even if you aren't the best pilot. Just remember, tiny adjustments, tiny adjustments.)

The Porgs Are Coming!

Courtesy of Disney/ Lucasfilm

It seems everywhere you look these days, someone is talking about the Porgs of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The cuddly, bird like creatures are quite darling, with tiny fuzzy wings and giant black eyes.

The creators of the Porgs were inspired by the puffins of Skellig Michael, the Irish island used in the final scene of The Force Awakens. Porgs are natives of Ahch-To, the island home of the first Jedi temple and Luke Skywalker. Porgs can fly, make nests, and have babies called "porglets". But don't let their adorable appearance fool you. The Porgs have razor sharp teeth and can bite when provoked.

They're very curious little critters, and seem to have an affinity for Chewbacca. There's a photo of Chewie and a Porg in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. There's even a children's book called "Chewie and the Porgs" due out on December 15.

Finally, you can expect the Porg madness to extend to toys this Christmas. A plush Porg which makes sounds has already been announced. The Chewbacca figure also includes a tiny Porg. It seems the Porgs are set to take over, but they're so cute, you can't really mind.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Trailer and Poster

Lucasfilm

Are you ready for another journey to the Star Wars universe? The latest trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story looks like quite a thrilling adventure. It should be fun to see how Han met Chewie and Lando, as well as what kinds of trouble they will inevitably stir up. Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25.

Here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm:

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Teaser Trailer & Posters

Lucasfilm

Solo: A Star Wars Story is the latest addition to the Star Wars Universe. It looks like an over-the-top adventure featuring Han, his buddies Lando and Chewie, and a few new characters. Check out the teaser trailer below.

There are also four new character posters for the film.

Lucasfilm

Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo

Lucasfilm

Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian

Lucasfilm

Emilia Clarke as Qi'ra

Lucasfilm

And finally, Chewie

And here's the official synopsis from Lucasfilm:

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in theaters on May 25.

Photo of the Week

I love the Porgs from Star Wars almost as much as I love the Little Green Men from Toy Story. When I heard there were Porg nests in the queue for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, I had to search them out. This one is in the exit tunnel.