Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run REVIEW AND TIPS!
It’s time for YOU to take control of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is one of what will ultimately be two attractions in Galaxy’s Edge. (Its counterpart, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will open later this year.)
And when you step into Smugglers Run, you’ll be on a mission. Through your assigned role of Pilot, Engineer, or Gunner, you’ll help your crew either succeed or fail in transporting contraband cargo as directed by Hondo Ohnaka.
Honda Ohnaka
But, you’ve got to get onboard first…
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
The Millennium Falcon
When you walk into Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll find the Millennium Falcon docked at a maintenance bay tucked in a spaceport in the middle of the Outpost. And it is a sight to behold…
Millennium Falcon
It’s hard to miss, but for reference, it’s located between Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7. And it really is massive — truly larger than life. Now I know you want to run and get in the queue, but before we continue…some logistics:
Citizens of Batuu
Remember, at this time, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run does NOT offer FASTPASS. (Fastpass signage noting “Flight Crews Wanted” and tapstyles outside of the ride indicate that it will be available in the future.) It does, however, have a Single Rider line along with the regular standby queue.
The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Queue
The queue begins by winding around the massive 110-foot Millennium Falcon itself.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
You’ll notice cargo, pipes, and plenty of grease stains under the Falcon along the way (which is clearly having some work done thanks to a recent botched mission).
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Outside, you’ll move through what looks like tunneled-out rock outcroppings from the surrounding stone structures and building.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Throughout the queue you’ll see light panels complete with switches and blinking lights (though you can’t actually press down any of the buttons).
The queue then winds guests into Ohnaka Transport Solutions where several ships are being worked on in a garage of sorts.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
This room of the queue is about two stories tall (and feels somewhat like the waiting area for Tower of Terror or Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout).
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
You’ll go up a series of winding ramps, and there are vignettes to check out as you move through the industrial setting. (Your nose will even pick up on the strong smell of tire rubber and grease!)
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
As you first walk in, you’ll notice a card table to your left where it seems some of the mechanics were enjoying some downtime with a game of Sabacc. And you’ll overhear conversations between workers — doing a little shop talk about things they need to get done, hours they’re putting in on the job, potential promotions… and you may even catch a mention of a certain lovable Wookie…
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Once you arrive at the top of the highest ramp, you can even view the Falcon from above and then from various angles as you continue, while listening to the Ohnaka crew preparing the ship.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
And the views are AWESOME.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Tools, equipment, and cargo holds further set the scene. Ship testing continues, and you may hear more talk from the citizens: “Shut that generator down. We don’t want an angry Hondo Ohnaka on our backs!”
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
You’ll enter the first loading room, and gather in front of one of two sets of automatic doors, and even get a few pointers on repairing ship damage. (Gee, I wonder why you’ll need that?)
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
And then, the doors open…
The Mission
Weequay pirate Hondo Ohnaka is in need of some assistance from more flight crews. You’ll encounter him in the Command Center, where he’ll present you with “the opportunity of a lifetime!”
Hondo Ohnaka
And let me say… you truly do encounter Hondo Ohnaka, as this state-of-the-art audio-animatronic is something you have to see to believe. He’s incredible.
Hondo Ohnaka
And he’ll tell you a thing or two, while he’s at it: “You’re insulting my honor, and I have very little honor to insult.”
Hondo Ohnaka
The space pirate is accompanied by his droid, R5-P8, who is busy repairing equipment just below him.
Hondo Ohnaka
Behind them, you’ll catch a few more glimpses of the Millennium Falcon before it settles into the hangar bay.
Hondo Ohnaka
And you’ll catch more than a glimpse of Chewbacca, who appears on screen to converse with Hondo.
The last thing you hear from Hondo? “The better you work together, the more you earn.”
Flight Crew Assignment
Then you’ll head down a hallway to receive your role — Pilot, Gunner, or Engineer — by way of a cardboard card with your assignment.
Flight Crew Assignment
Flight Crew Assignment
The Chess Room
Next, it’s time to enter the main hold of the ship. And THIS might be the place that feels most like, as Han Solo said to Chewie, “HOME.”
The Chess Room
It’s the chess room. Riders can gather ’round the Dejarik table like Chewbacca and snap photos while awaiting their flight.
The Chess Room
FOR REAL.
Dreams really do come true in Disneyland, folks.
Flight Crew Positions
In the last moments before you board the ship, a Cast Member will inform you that you may barter amongst your group to change positions within your Flight Crew of six, if you like. Again, those positions are:
- Pilots (2): in charge of boosters, landing gear, and… HYPERSPACE JUMPS!
- Engineers (2): It’s up to you to keep systems running smoothly when things break down
- Gunners (2): Basically, shoot back at everything that shoots at the Falcon
Flight Crew Position
And Hondo Ohnaka will present the pre-flight info for your safety by way of a monitor.
THE RIDE
At last, IT’S TIME… for YOU to control the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
The six riders create three rows: pilots in the front, gunners in the middle, and flight engineers in the last row. Activation of the cockpit buttons, switches, and levers commences, and the hangar bay of Ohnaka Transport Solutions is projected onto a domed screen outside the cockpit windows.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
The six of you work together as a team to fly the Millennium Falcon through Smugglers Run to gather cargo and fly back. (From a comparison standpoint regarding the style and intensity of the ride, think Mission: SPACE in Epcot meets Star Tours.)
As for the individual jobs, I do think the pilots have the best job, as they’re right up front and always steering the ship, and they have the potential to hit things and make the biggest perceived impact. PLUS, did I mention…?
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
HYPERSPACE JUMPS!
Gunners and Engineers press some buttons a couple of times, but it doesn’t make much perceptible difference to the mission, from what I experienced.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
At any rate, that’s all fine and good, until you find yourself smack in a battle with First Order TIE Fighters.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
And your performance?
Well, IT COUNTS… somewhat. In truth, the ride itself was less interactive than I anticipated.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
While I do think there are different outcomes based on your team’s level of success on the mission (my team retrieved one item and Hondo informed us we made a “moderate profit”), I believe there are some safeguards in place in case you’re riding with young children or your group’s seats aren’t full (I know, HIGHLY UNLIKELY for, like, the next 10 years or so… but still!), so your time in Galaxy’s Edge is not ruined by a poor performance on the Falcon.
The Exit
Sadly, there does come a time when you have to exit.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
But, boy, do you leave with some bragging rights!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
No matter the results of your mission (and, by the way, the exit may look different if you’ve incurred some damage!), YOU have flown the Millennium Falcon.
Millennium Falcon
Chewie would be proud.
Visit our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge page for COMPLETE Galaxy’s Edge coverage!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
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