Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Disney Hollywood Studios

25 July 2024 by Steve Bell and Erin Schreiver Leave a Comment

In a galaxy far, far away, at Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that is, you can visit the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

You can even pilot it! Yup, we’re talking about the Millennium Falcon.

The famed Star Wars attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, is an absolute must-do for Star Wars fans. This thrilling attraction immerses visitors in the iconic Star Wars universe by putting them in the cockpit of the legendary Millennium Falcon itself. Because this is Disney, no detail was left out, so no matter where you are at the attraction, the queue, the ride vehicle, or even just in front is the perfect photo op!

Location

Hollywood Studios | Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, positioned near the center of Black Spire Outpost. You’ll find it between Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, just past the marketplace area. The full-scale Millennium Falcon is the land’s central landmark and one of the most photographed icons in Walt Disney World. Guests can access the attraction from either entrance to Galaxy’s Edge—via Grand Avenue or through Toy Story Land.

The Queue

The attraction queue begins outside, wrapping around and behind the life-size Millennium Falcon that is the centerpiece of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The queue continues through an engine room/mechanic shop, with a cool bit of military hardware amidst the junk.

The queue then leads to the command center, where an Audio-Animatronic Hondo Ohnaka and the R5-P8 droid explain what the ride is about. The short version is that you will take the borrowed Falcon to steal some cargo for Ohnaka.

At the end of the queue, you will end up in the Falcon’s Chess Room, as it’s called, where Luke and Chewbacca played digital chess in the original Star Wars movie. Here you will be assigned your crew position. Groups of less than six may ride with other groups.

The Ride

The Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is a motion simulator attraction, based on the Star Wars film series created by George Lucas.

Riders are seated in a 6-passenger motion simulator (like an aircraft simulator for aircrew training), that represents the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit.

The ride vehicle doesn’t move on a track, it tilts and sways to simulate motion, the same as Star Tours. With that said, if you are someone who gets carsick, be aware! The motion is not intense, but it could definitely make more sensitive tummies uncomfortable.

The attraction cockpits and their associated external projection screen are mounted in groups of seven on a carousel that spins (unnoticeably) during the ride, so that while you entered the rear of the cockpit from the hallway off of the Chess Room, you’ll be exiting through an empty hallway when the rear cockpit door opens after the ride. There are two ADA cockpits that load and exit from their respective Chess Room.

Inside the attraction, guests are grouped into crews of six (sometimes less), each person is assigned a specific role crucial to the mission ahead, pilot, gunner, or engineer. Your assignment dictates where you will sit in the ride vehicle.  The cockpit features six seats divided in three rows divided by a center aisle. From front to back these are: two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers.

Pilots

The pilots take care of piloting the ship, with one controlling horizontal movements and the other vertical. They have the exhilarating task of maneuvering the Falcon through daring adventures, navigating asteroid fields, evading enemy fire, and initiating hyperspace jumps. This is THE role if you are a Star Wars fan looking to live out your lifelong dream of piloting the Falcon!

Gunners

Behind the pilots, the gunners stand ready at their stations, tasked with defending the Falcon using onboard blasters. They can rely on an automatic firing system or shoot manually, engaging in thrilling combat scenarios throughout the mission.

Engineers

In the last row, the engineers are responsible to repair any damage sustained to the Falcon, however, this is a role that basically consists of a button being pressed intermittently when it lights up to effect repairs and firing the grapple to capture the cargo. This is a perfect role for a child in your group.

Scoring

What makes Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run truly special is its interactive nature. The outcome of each mission depends on the competency of the crew.  In the end the attraction will tell you if you succeeded or failed at your mission, as well as how damaged the ship was. Because of these elements, the re-rideability is high on this attraction!

PRO-TIP: What really makes or breaks the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is the personalities of the riders on the attraction. If all 6 people are quiet and “too cool”, it will be boring and lame. If you let yourself really get into the storyline and play along, it will be like living the stories.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass

We recommend Lightning Lane Multi Pass in Disney”s Hollywood Studios and especially for the Falcon!

The Falcon is set to begin offering a new storyline in 2026 featuring the Mandolorian and Grogu to celebrate the big screen, The Mandalorian and Grogu the same year.

Single Rider

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run offers a Single Rider Line, letting solo guests board their very own mission faster by filling in empty roles within flight crews. This option is ideal for those who don’t mind teaming up with new co-pilots, gunners, and engineers and do not care what role they fill.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

You can use Rider Switch for Smugglers Run. This is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

Accessibility Information

Guests must be able to transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to board the ride. Due to the nature of the attraction, service animals are not permitted to ride.

Guests must be at least 38 inches tall to ride

Comments, Questions, be sure to leave them in the Comment Section Below!

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