Disneyland Resort is rolling out a loaded summer 2026 calendar anchored by a new mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, timed to the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. The updated attraction experience launches May 22, 2026, and is designed to drive repeat visits from guests who want a fresh reason to return to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
The resort's 70th Celebration — already underway — continues with limited-time food, merchandise, and entertainment offerings through Aug. 9, 2026. The addition of "Bluey's Best Day Ever!" at the Fantasyland Theatre rounds out a family-centric programming slate that positions Disneyland as a multi-day destination for guests with young children. For hospitality operators in the Anaheim corridor, that translates directly into extended hotel stays, higher food-and-beverage spend per party, and increased foot traffic at off-property dining and retail.
Special ticket and hotel packages are being marketed to families planning summer vacations, with flexible options intended to lower the planning barrier. Bundled resort pricing of this kind historically supports occupancy at both on-site and nearby hotels — a dynamic that hospitality operators in drive-to leisure markets have leaned on heavily since the post-pandemic travel rebound.
The summer push is part of a broader strategy Disneyland has pursued through its anniversary year: layering IP-driven experiential updates onto the park's classic infrastructure to sustain visitation momentum. For food and beverage vendors — both inside the park and throughout the greater Anaheim tourism zone — summer 2026 looks like a high-volume period worth staffing and sourcing for accordingly. Industry observers tracking theme park and entertainment-district F&B trends have noted that anchor attractions with film tie-ins consistently correlate with longer dwell times and higher per-cap spend.
Operators should also note the Grogu effect: the character's near-universal recognition among families with children under 10 makes the Mandalorian tie-in one of the stronger marketing hooks the resort has deployed in recent summers, likely to sustain interest well beyond opening weekend.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
