This is the way! In an unannounced surprise move, Disney World has just debuted two of the beloved characters in the entire Galaxy. The stoic / heroic Mando (aka Din Djarin) and the adorable / meme-able Grogu (aka The Child or Baby Yoda) have just made their WDW debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The duo can be found inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
This exciting news perfectly timed for the premiere of the third season of “The Mandalorian,” which also launched today on Disney+.
Just like at Disneyland, the walk-around characters are incredibly detailed and realistic, with Mando’s helmet and armor looking as if they were taken straight from the show. Imagineering did a fantastic job realizing Grogu as an animatronic sitting in Din’s pouch. Grogu’s large, expressive eyes are sure to evoke an “awwwww” or two, and both characters have tons of different lines and interactions to make the experience of meeting them feel one-of-a-kind.
Mando and Grogu are just the latest in several exciting new characters at Hollywood Studios, including Powerline Max, Vacation Goofy, and Chip and Dale in their Rescue Rangers costumes.
Where to find Mando and Grogu at Disney World
Fans of the series will now have the chance to meet and interact with Mando and Grogu, who can be found roaming around Galaxy Edge’s marketplace.
A different kind of meet and greet
This isn’t a traditional meet and greet like meeting with Mickey at Magic Kingdom, where you wait in line and then pose in front of a PhotoPass photographer. To fit in with the immersive nature of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mando and Grogu will be appearing periodically throughout the land, walking around and interacting with guests.
While there is no set time or line to meet these two, guests can take pictures with them and even interact with them.
Guide2WDW’s Take
The debut of the Mando and Grogu walk-around characters at Hollywood Studios comes several months after they debuted at Disneyland late last year. One reason that was often cited for not including characters like Mando and Boba Fett at Disney World was Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is supposed to take place in a very specific point between Episodes 8 and 9, and Galactic Starcruiser furthers that story. Since guests at Starcruiser make an expedition to Batuu, it was said that Disney didn’t want to break immersion by having characters that don’t fit the chronology.
However, this is a positive sign that Disney World is easing up Galaxy Edge’s strict Star Wars timeline. Personally, I was a big fan of the initial pitch of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the specific timeframe. As both a Star Wars nerd and Disney Parks nerd, it fascinated me that a theme park land could fit into Star Wars canon. And the idea of encountering a unique story as you go about the land sounded really exciting.
The reality was that many of the promised storytelling and choose-your-own adventure systems ended up getting folded into Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. That makes the Star Wars Resort a one-of-a-kind experience, but it left Galaxy’s Edge feeling a little empty (I say this as a huge fan of the land overall). Having the land filled with popular characters, even if they don’t exactly fit a timeline that the vast majority of guests won’t be thinking about, is a big win, in my opinion.
If you’re a fan of “The Mandalorian”, or just a Star Wars nerd like me, head over to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios and keep your tracking fob locked to Mando and Grogu.
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